With Warstalker's Track being the last book in the David Sullivan series, you'd suspect that Tom Deitz would go out with a bang. He doesn't disappoint on that at all. In fact, he goes over the top and throws everything *including* the kitchen sink at you in one last throw-down winner take all book that includes his best battle scene to date. If you've been following this series - it's a *must* to add to your collection. If you haven't - what the hell is wrong with you??? Get this book anyway, the good thing about Deitz is he's the master of the one to two page summary. You'll be able to get into the book and the mythos of the Tom Deitz without too much problem within the first few chapters.

I have read every installment in the David Sullivan series, have seen the characters grow up from teenagers to confident and competent young adults. I have enjoyed every one thoroughly. This final one is certainly no exception. A previous reviewer stated that you can pick this one up and get involved in the story even if you haven't read the earlier books. I don't really disagree with that, but I would still recommend reading the earlier ones first. All this assumes that this really is the last one. Like most writers, Deitz has left a few loopholes that might lead to another book, although he has wrapped up just about all of the ongoing story lines. If this is the last one with these characters, then it was an action-packed finale, which also showed the very human successes and failures of the mortal and Faery participants. If there is to be a continuation, it will most likely feature Calvin's heritage, I would think. Either way, this was a very good book, which I suggest you read as soon as you can.

The riveting sequel to WINDMASTER'S BANE; Lady Morwyn verch Morwyn ap Gwyddion has just been informed of the death of her beloved son, Fionchadd mac Aillil, by the hand of his own father. Despite the punishment laid upon Aillil, Morwyn desires vengeance upon the man she once loved. Enter David Sullivan, whom she kidnaps to assist her in her plans for vengeance. However, Aillil's mad sister, Fionna, also desires vengeance upon the mortal who brought her brother low -- David!

Add in the Horn of Annwyn, which can summon mysterious hounds capable of devouring the souls of their quarry, and watch the adventure begin! Great fun!

Bloodwinter has all of the elements of a good fantasy book. Warriers, reluctant magician (although this first book does not really ackowledge that), great odessey's, and enough subplots to keep the reader wondering what will happen next. After I was done with the book I wanted to purchase the next installment, which has not been published yet. My only complaints with the book are that some of the relationships do not ring very true, and that the author seems to pull rabbits out of a hat to either save characters or cause them problems.

It took me almost seven weeks to finish this book. I liked it, but in some parts it is so boring that you just have to skip the chapter. Sometimes you can read forever and understand practically nothing about what is going on. Others, however, can be very exciting and well worth the read. I think there are too many characters, though. Sometimes you have no idea who is talking, and it can get rather confusing. I found no point in the prologue. The characters in that chapter never returned again and you don't know who else dies, or what happens to them. After that chapter it goes straight into the main story, with totally new characters. I thought it was a good plot though, and can not wait to get a hold of the second book.

I'm not usually a fantasy reader, preferring Asimov and Ellison to Tolkien. Deitz's books in the past have been entertaining, however I've mostly read them because I wanted to support a fellow UGA alum and to see if I recognized characters/places. Bloodwinter is terrific on its own. From the beginning the story takes a hold of the imagination and keeps it to the last page. It's not often that a book grips you so that you stay up 'til 1 AM to finish it (and risk your boss's wrath in sneaking a few pages here and there at work.) Three days after finishing the book I was wishing I was reading more of the story.

This one was very disappointing for me. While I think Deitz'streatment of Ron Dillon's crafting of the oracular Head was great inits detail and humor, that was about the only thing I liked.

Itwas the little things. For instance, Deitz's treatment of Gil, one ofRon's uncles is very negligent. Gil, we find out, has been releasedfrom prison where he did time for a rape charge. Dion, Ron's otheruncle, makes joking references to Gil's lechery. Since Deitz didn'tbother to come up with an excuse for Gil's incarceration (like,perhaps, he was convicted on a false charge), the reader is left toassume that Gil is in fact a perpetrator of violence towards women.When the Welches and Dillons are assembled to witness the passing of arelative, Gil's crime is not an issue and everyone happily hugshim.

Another thing that bothered me was Ron and Lew's criminallyinsane sister, who wants to be the new Master. While she could havebeen a great villian, the intimate relationship that develops betweenher and Lew isn't so much gripping as nauseating.

...

Too bad.This trilogy could have been really spectacular.

Wordwright is the final of the trilogy of Ronny Dillon. Enough twist and turns to keep me interested. While at the same time, since not having read the previous two books gives good character descriptions and believable personalities that this is not a disadvantage....more an incentive to find copies of earlier books.

Novel with great characters, plenty of pace and the ability to not want to put it down. Well worth the read, as Ron deals with his past, and the potential of the future.

I picked up this book with the hope of being as impressed as I was with Deitz's "Soulsmith". While he does succeed in developing newcomer, Brandy Wallace into a very interesting character with a fantastic goal--an artist who is going about building a castle (dubbed Brandy Hall) in Welch County that is straight out of Tolkien or Mervin Peake, Deitz seemed to struggle with providing adequate reasons as to why Brandy and Ron Dillon should build a relationship. Sure, they were both artistic geniuses with the ability to realize their wonderful dreams; but they also had planet-sized egos and neither one of them wanted to bend.

While characters like this can still be interesting and believable, in comes the improbable Van Vannister: handyman extraordinare with the almost magical ability to do everthing around Brandy Hall perfect the first time.

Throw in the idea that Vannister seemed to be insane, and that he (along with Ron) wanted to engage in amorous activities with Brandy on an almost constant basis, and you come away with a scenario that's more R-rated soap opera than good fantasy.

Not Deitz's best work.

This was decent fantasy novel but I thought it was probably the weakest in the series.Once again Deitz takes us to the war-torn land of Eron where Avall the war hero and reluctant young king must try to find ways rule his country by keeping the various clans happy.But Avall's problems become worse when a fanatical clan called the Priest cult plots to overthrow him and seize the magical jems that Avall used to defeat Ixians in the war.The problem I had with the book is that the characters behaved in stupid matter and even though the priest cult was suitable fanatical in the aims they were poor villians in comparision to King Baraxx from the previous two books.

I am disappointed in the conclusion to this series ..
The series started out great with the first couple of books
and I thought that maybe we have a storyteller to compete
with Goodkind, Jordan and Martin..
NOT>...
It is almost like the author lost interest in the saga and
filled in the last couple of books with banalities...
There was no anti-climax there was no build up to a climax
in short NO SATISFACTION with the conclusion to this series..
I would not recommend this series now, but if you had asked me
after reading the first two books I would have said YES!!
Maybe the author spread himself too thin to give himself
enough time to do the story justice...

Can you give negative stars? I've been a Deitz fan from "Windmaster's Bane". Followed that whole series (which he kind of aludes to being the basis for the AU he sets up on this bumpy ride) What can I say? This is your average wacked out leftist PETA lovin green fanasty made real. He has created a world where magic has spilled out - the straight tracks are gone and humanity is divide - he wraps poorly researched Irish folk tales with Native American myths. The characters are emotionally crippled and spend so much time in self involved introspection that the reader forgets what the plot - no matter how contived was supposed to be about.

This was a sever disappointment. More so, because he has show the abilty to craft a fine tale in the past.