Finally, life was starting to go well for Gillian Songspynner. She had just won the regional bard title and was on her way to compete at The Castle for the king. But on her way down the stairs, she tripped and crushed her mandolin. Jencir, an elvish bard, begs her to take his lute, a beautifully crafted instrument with a gorgeous tone to the Elf Queen at The Castle. She cannot refuse. However, she later rethinks the elf's largess and goes in search of him. She finds Jencir, only to witness his brutal murder by a dark creature. She flees to her family, but finds that they suffered the same fate. She feels that she has no choice but to take up the dead elf's quest and to try and avenge her family's death. On her way to the Elf Queen, she will be stalked by a demon, sold into slavery, helped by kindly priests, attacked by hideous man-sized rodents and that is just the beginning...

I enjoyed the book quite a bit at first. It is not an especially unusual plot, but it was well told for the most part. However, I did have a hard time believing that so many bad things could befall one person. Also, I felt that the characterization was a little weak and would have enjoyed learning more about the main character. She was loved and admired by many and had a great many talents, but I really didn't feel anything for her. I also really disliked the ending, but I am sure that is just my personal preference. If you enjoy fantasy, I am sure that you would enjoy this book if it comes across your path, but I wouldn't go searching for it.

This is one of the rare books which is both beautifully fufilling as a fairy tale and as dark as the ugliest parts of human nature. The very rich prose should probably be taken in doses to fully appreciate it, otherwise you may find yourself completely lost in Golden's tapestry. I mean that, too: after you read this book you could easily find yourself looking at the world from an entirely different angle for a while. Only once does the plot fall back on overused circumstances, but I think it can be forgiven that for all its other wonderful qualities. The last few pages are some of the most heartbreakingly beautiful I have ever read. Intricate and impressive.

"Lord of the Clans," the second WarCraft novel (third if you count the eBook), is yet another worthy addition to the series. Taking place over a number of years, it takes place after "Day of the Dragon" and before "Of Blood and Honor." Basically, this book is just an adaptation of the cancelled adventure game of the same title that was in the works at Blizzard a couple of years ago. While Christie Golden doesn't have as fluid or readable a writing style as Richard Knaak, this book still flows very nicely, as it has a much smaller focus. Unfortunately, the story itself is very familiar - the outcast, in this case an orc, raised among humans as a slave and fighter, finds freedom, tries to fit in with his own people, and ends up, of course, excelling beyond all expectations.

"Lord of the Clans" really has nothing to do with "Day of the Dragon," but the direction this series of novels seems to be taking overall is that of a lead-in to the game "WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos," in which it seems that the Orcs and Humans, if still not friendly, are at least fighting together against a common foe. "Day of the Dragon" started out somewhat boring, with lots of expository writing, and served to introduce us to the various races of the Alliance at the end of the time of WarCraft II - namely Humans, Dwarves, and Elves. By the time of the beginning of "Lord of the Clans," the wars are over - the Orcs are essentially wiped out or being kept in large internment camps. This novel is about an Orc named Thrall, raised by humans as a gladiator, who has also picked up some other human traits - mercy, tactical thinking, and has also managed to pick up on the nobility of the Orcish clans before they were united by the evil Gul'Dan into the Horde. Thrall, once he gains freedom, begins a quest to find out who he is and ends up becoming...well, the title says it all.

This book gives us a fair amount of background on the Orcs, and is in fact very readable. Aside from a glaring grammatical error right on the first page, I found very few typos, although this novel does suffer, though not as badly, from the same problem that plagued "Day of the Dragon" - how hard would it be for them to copy a map from an old WarCraft manual and stick it in the front of the novel?

Overall, this book isn't technically as good as "Day of the Dragon," but it's very readable, and the relationships don't seem quite as forced in this book as in the previous one. J.R.R. Tolkein it's not, but "Lord of the Clans" is an engaging and entertaining fantasy novel in its own right, setting down an important chapter in the history of the World of WarCraft.

I have played Warcraft since 1993 so I had to read this. If I had recognized the author's name I may not have bought it though since I hated her book "Vampire of the Mist" (1st book in the Ravenloft series). However I'm glad I read this since it provided depth and background that was sorely lacking in regards to the orcs. Instead of stupid savage brutes bent on destruction, Warcraft3 portrayed them as noble and civilized, but there wasn't too much story there (it was only a game though so I'm not complaining).

Thrall's character is completely revealed and I actually cared about him. The antagonist was well done also as I wanted Thrall to kill him, but the author didn't make him a cheesy villian type; rather he was just an abusive SOB alcoholic. It's too bad these types can't get the sword more often in real life because the author made his character so realistic that I believe she has had experience with these people.

Overall the plot was interesting, although it mainly just introduced a portion of the Warcraft world (just like the other two Warcraft books). The character development was excellent. The action was great too; it was exciting without the unbelievable heroics of a Jean Rabe character (yuck).

My only criticism is that the book weighs in at a palty 278 pages, which I blasted through in about 2.5 days (it's very easy reading). This to me was not worth the seven bones plus tax that I coughed up for it. Better to borrow it.

There is nothing more to say but a great book , a fan of the game , or not . You'll totally enjoy this book , i had a hard time putting it down. Totally 5 stars

In yet another example of the misinterpreted, confused history of Sir Tristen Hiregaard, we have TEW, Christie Golden's third (and worst) RL novel. However, that is not to say it is bad. Quite the opposite, it is well done and a rousing tale.

Let me clarify my above statement by saying Sir Tristen Hiregaard (not Tristan, as it is in this book) is known for having the worst continuity of any RL character, having no less than four histories, this being the third such. To help, however, the "true" one can be found in Domains of Dread, the hardcover sourcebook for the Ravenloft role-playing game.

This book, however, take all of the previous histories (which coincided fairly well) and tossed it out the window, giving us a strange tale that is not only completely opposite to Tristen/Malken's character, but completely opposite to the very history of Nova Vaasa itself.

But, I am speaking as a fan of the game world. As a fan of the novel series, I still have to say it is an excellent read (though not as good as Vampire of the Mists or Dance of the Dead, Golden's other contributions), even if it is non-canon.

After reading 4 other Ravenloft books back-to-back-to-back-to-back and not really liking any of them, this book was a nice change. It wasn't fantastic, but based on the other 9 Ravenloft books I've read thus far, this one easily ranks in the upper half. I found the story to be quite interesting and had no problem reading it from beginning to end without ever feeling bored. I do recommend this book but as always, "Vampire of the Mists", "I, Strahd" (both of them) and "Knight of the Black Rose" was better.

An excellent telling of the story of one of Ravenloft's more tragic darklords. The ending leaves you satisfied, but wanting more.

After reading the comment, "The title left a LOT to be desired," it suddenly hit me why so many people are so disappointed in Christie Golden over this story. It's the title!!! Have you ever seen a ST novel before that's named after a character? If the next Voyager novel published is entitled "B'Elanna" or "Tuvok," what are you going to expect? (That was a rhetorical question because the answer's obvious, but I'm going to give it to you anyway.) You would expect a novel in which plot takes second place to characters, *especially* to that certain character. A good example is "Mosaic"--most people agree that the "present" plot is way inferior to the "past"--but even this one wasn't called "Kathryn." Whoever decided on the title for this book made a HUGE mistake (and I also really like the "Sing a Song of Sixpence" idea). It was obviously expected to sell better if everybody knew simply by the title that Seven was the star (even read the synopses on Amazon.com and you know nothing new about plot--just that, duh, it's about Seven). So we all expected some awesome revelation into Seven's past or personality. When we got another plot-driven story instead, greater-than-usual disappointment resulted in at least one person throwing this book against a wall (give me a break). To wrap up, just read this novel like it's any other "Voyager" story, because that's ALL it is. Oh yes, if you want to read Christie Golden at her best, go for "Marooned." And be looking forward to that novel that they HAVE to write eventually (although I wish they'd hurry)-- "Scorpion"!!!

Wow. This is a must read for Voyager fans and fans of Seven of Nine. Although it's not a life story of Seven, it is partly biogrpahical. I will leave it at that. The writing is mesmerizing. I could not put it down, I read it over two days, about 8 hours. Of course this is biased, I am a fan of the character Seven of Nine, so take my review as you will, Thanks for letting write down my thoughts on the book. The cover art is also very nice as well as the contents inside, a story that gives depth and emotion to a crewmember with a mysterious past. The book is well written, the characters are genuinely interesting and developed, the story flows from page to page with building tension. A must for Star Trek fans.

Unlike most of the Voyager novels, I didn't rush right out and buy this book the day it was released. Contrary to the norm, I am not much of a Seven of Nine fan. I like Jeri Ryan very much, but I just felt the character was drastically over used, and frankly, I was tired of her. But, I am a devoted Christie Golden fan, and am unable to resist anything written by her.

As usual, she did not disappoint. This book is without a doubt about Seven of Nine, but Ms. Golden wrote it in a wonderfully creative manner that included all the characters. She has a knack for capturing the essence of the Voyager characters that makes her writing a sheer delight to read. The same is true of this book.

The story is engaging, the aliens are creepy, and Seven is interesting and very, very likable. Those are words I do not say easily, believe me. This is a terrific book! Even if you aren't part of the masses that think Seven is the best thing since peanut butter, you'll enjoy this story.

If you saw the series finale of Voyager, "Endgame," on television, no need to read this book. It offers very little insight beyond the television show itself. This book is somewhat disappointing when compared to Diane Carey's other works, for it lacks her usual wonderfully detailed description of characters and setting (e.g., "Star Trek Voyager: The Captain's Table - Book #4). The book also has one too many typos of toleration. The best aspect of the book is its four chapter excerpt of the upcoming book and continuing adventure of Voyager's crew, "Homecoming."

I found this a great book. It had a ceative idea, and it was transferred from the TV episode to the book very well. I also like how it shows that there is more to the story. (In the next book, homecoming)But I found the relationship between Seven of Nine and Chakotay dissappointing, since throughout the series, he's seemed to have chemestrey with Janeway. But that didn't nearly ruin the book. It's a great finale that any Star Trek: Voyager fan should read!

In a word fascinating, a great adaptation on the script. We get more details of what's going on with the characters, something lacking with the time restraints of TV.

Tom Paris, his father and new born child and wife B'Elanna for instance. Janeway and Chakotay together. Capt. Janeway and Admiral Janeway, the Janeways vs. the Borg Queen and Tuvak with a disease.

Fighting the Borg and their Queen and out foxing the Borg yet again. Using technology from the future to give the Borg something to assimilate if they can. And yet another way home via the Borg all for good fast reading.

This book moves fast and is a good wrap up, but there is a hint of the final wrap up in "Homecoming" that is sure to answer the rest of the questions concerning the Voyager crew.

A very fast read with a few typos, but nonetheless very fascinating, enjoy it. Then we hope "Homecoming" will give us the final answers, but with all good Sci-fi, there never is and end.

The book, Tales of the Slayer vol. 1, is indeed a most interesting work, that features 7 short stories of slayers through out time.
The reader is taken on a historical voyage through time with a long line of slayers. From ancient Greece to the revolutionaire period in France, to the swamps of Florida, this book offers a new look on the popular tv series. It is indeed a good idea that has been concieved in the making of this book, because a lot of people are missing a bit of historical depth in Buffy the vampire slayer. However, only a few of the authors are really capable of creating a convincing setting, filled with historical facts.

I have found that the best story is Unholy Madness, by Nancy Holder. A most entertaining plot is revealed in this story, and it is highly recomendable. So in conclusion, a refreshingly new spin on the tv series BTVS, that is recomendable.

There have been hundreds of Slayers over thousands of years of human history and this first volume of "Tales of the Slayers" begins to reveal the past. We have seen Lucy Hanover in several of Nancy Holder's books, walking the Ghost Roads and doing what she can to help Buffy and the Scoobies in the here and now, but only "Spike & Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row" by Christopher Golden and Holder's "The Book of the Fours" have dealt with past Slayer in any substantive way. Those were novels and these "Tales of the Slayer" are short stories, a distinction that as I constructed this review.

Like any collection of short stories these tales are a mixed lot and anybody who reads them will like some more than others and visa versa. I liked "Silent Screams" by Mel Odom, set in 1923 Germany, although it, ironically is the story least about a Slayer of the seven tales. At the other end I would put the first tale, "A Good Run" by Greg Rucka, set in 490 B.C.E. Greece, which tells of the Slayer Thessily Thessilonkikki at the Battle of Marathon. While I like the idea of a Slayer obsessed with doing something important and memorable to justify her brief existence, I would have like to have seen something more creative than a footnote to the Greek battle against the Persians, not to mention something dealing with the Greek conception of vampires. But the biggest problem seems to me to be the story is 18 pages long, hardly enough time to set up let alone deliver the payoff. In contrast, Odom's story proceeds at a crisp pace and while it makes an ironic contrast to what Hitler was doing in Munich in 1923 he comes up with an even better twist on the German Expressionistic film movement in general and the classic "Nosferatu" in particular. Yes, it will remind you of "Shadow of the Vampire," but it is making a different point.

I really liked the historical figure who turns out to be the Slayer in Christie Golden's "The White Doe" (and I appreciate the story even more having read the About the Authors section at the back of the book) and the encounter the Slayer and Elizabeth Bathory in Yvonne Navarro's "Die Blutgrafin." Nancy Holder deals with questions of class in "Unholy Madness" while Navarro's second tale deals with the issue of race," both of which touch on the idea that people might not be happy with who the Slayer is and where she comes from (Holder's story also offers the most chilling point in the book, bottom page 119). Doranna Durgin's "Mornglom Dreaming" also has an intriguing premise, a Slayer who does not know she has been called, which is the story I most would have liked to have seen as a novel instead of a short story. Conversely, Odom's tale is perfectly suited to this format. I suppose my compromise suggestion would have been fewer stories developed with more depth (i.e., novellas). Still, these stories reflect what you would hope from such a mixed bag of tales: Slayers learning they have been called and their final battles, with only one tale comfortable with the idea of exploring the middle rather than the beginning or the end. Yes, there is high drama to be found in the birth and death of Slayers, but the mother lode is going to be in between and that is what needs to be mined in Volume 2.

For any fan of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and especially for fans who love Slayer mythology, this is an excellent read. With short stories spanning the lives of eight different Slayers, each set around a different historical event, there's little not to love about this anthology.

The writing is strong and the tales are very engaging. If you're looking for something to tide you over in between new episodes, I highly recommend "Tales of the Slayer."

I found this story to be quite good, except for the obvious fact that the Borg have been over-used and misused by all and sundry in the Star Trek world. This is by no means the fault of the author, however, and I feel that she's created a very detailed and fairly realistic (for fiction!) continuation of the Voyager story.

The sub-story about Lt. Cmdr. Torres is a little strange and isn't really expanded upon enough, I feel. Hopefully book two will continue this. Other than that, though, overall it's a pretty good book.

Dance of the Dead was probably the Ravenloft novel I enjoyed the most. Instead of focusing on some Omnipotent Beings angst-ridden fight against themselves, the book focuses on the life and mind of a 'normal' person native to the Plane. The book moves a bit slow, avoiding the combat heavy tactics favored in most D&D novels to distract you from the paper thin characterization, and takes its time showing you who the heroine is through her actions. This is a good thing. By the end of the book, it is fairly easy to identify with her. I reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys tone and mood over displays of gore.

DotD is one of the better books of the Ravenloft series, the best at the time it came out (though subsequent releases Heart of Midnight and I, Strahd: the Memoirs of a Vampire easily topped it, in my opinion) and is Christie Golden's best novel in the series.

Why?

Well, for starters, it strays from the beaten path (Barovia and Vampire of the Mists) and doesn't toss previously-written history out the window (Nova Vaasa and Sir Tristen Hiregaard/Malken and The Enemy Within). It takes us instead on a magical riverboat (a novel idea, pardon the pun, for a book) into the mysterious island domain of Souragne, and does a fine job integrating the French/Louisianan culture into the domain, whose roots seem to stem from there.

She also gives us wonderful characters: Larissa, Willen, the Maiden of the Swamp, and even Anton Misroi. As well, we receive chilling villains: Captain Dumont and Lond. The swamp domain is well-fleshed out, and even the diffences between Misroi's previously-published past and the one presented here are forgettable (Domains of Dread, the current sourcebook for RL, takes this story over the others, for good reason).

In all, DotD is a fantastic book, with unique ideas and a well-developed, well-told tale. My only complaint is that it wasn't as long as VotM.

It's a shame when quality fiction goes out of print... and that's what seems to be happening to 'Dance of the Dead.' This is one of the finest novels published as part of TSR's Ravenloft line, and Larissa Snowmane is one of the most memorable figures created for the setting.

I liked Christie Golden's take on Souragne and Anton Misroi so much that when it came time for to rework the Ravenloft game setting for 'Domains of Dread' that I made sure the land was reshaped to be closer to the novel than it had been in previous presentation.

If you have an interest in dark fantasy or the gothic horror genre, track down a copy of this book. You won't regret it.

DARK MATTERS, Book Two "Ghost Dance" is finally starting to go someplace. After a horrific beginning in "Cloak and Dagger," Christie Golden finds her stride in telling the story of the Voyager's 'side jaunt' to seek and destroy all Dark Matter in the universe ... an impossible, at best, premise. However, the reader finally gets a sense that this is NOT the destination the Voyager will eventually reach. If there is any disappointment here, it's that Ms. Golden has created characters and situations within the Romulan Empire and their plotting to rule the Alpha Quadrant (you'll have to read the book to understand fully how Voyager, in the Delta Quadrant, deals with events of the Alpha Quadrant), and these characters and situations are far more interesting than anything the Voyager crew is facing. Hopefully, Ms. Golden has an ace up her sleeve and can pull off DARK MATTERS with even greater light in Book Three.

This is the second installment of a three part series calld Ghost Dance written by Christie Golden.

I found that this book to be just a little under the first book in this series... not that it was bad, on the contrary, but this book brings us into to the shadow or parallel universe. Now, not only do we have the villains and the Romulans, but a new super-being is introduced.

The Voyager crew is split-up and Chakotay and Paris are now in the strange shadow universe leaving Janeway with the "Q-like" being. The Romulans are as treacherous as ever with the allied "Shepards" make an ominous pairing.

There is plenty of action here and the plot thickens. The Dark Matter which is normally at balance between the two universes is now out of balance... sucking one universe into the other.

Now, the story gets interesting, but to understand this you have to read the first book to make out "who's on first."

This book is good, but falls a tad short of the first.

Now, continue on to book three.

This was the book that sucked me into the Voyager books. Yes, I started with the middle of a series, but why not? It got me interested. The book is wonderfully written, as is the rest of the series with action and adventure. The end of the book bothered me a bit but I have read all three 3 times. I deffinatly recomend them to all Trek lovers out there.

I felt shocked and disappointed when I finished reading this book. First of all there are many inaccuracies from the events that was known from the show including the fact that Golden states that Tom Paris thought that B'Elanna's father was Klingon. Clearly Golden must not have watched episodes such as Lineage, Barge of the Dead and Faces where we witnessed the pain that B'Elanna suffered as a result of being a mixed race child, with a Klingon mother and a Human father.

I also didn't like the fact that two main plotlines revolved around the Borg and Holographic rights. Why arrest Seven and Icheb but not Admiral Janeway. As for Holographic rights, I was frankly sick and tired of seeing this issue in episodes such as Author Author. Golden makes it worse when she implies that holograms are sentient when this was NEVER stated on the show. It was also ridiculous to put the EMH into jail when they could have simply just deleted him or reprogrammed him. Why waste resources to jail a hologram?

Carrying on the saga of the starship Voyager's crew following their return to Earth is a heavy load to place on any author's shoulders. For the most part, Christie Golden (whose knack for nailing the characters impressed me in her earlier Voyager books) succeeds in bearing up under that load.

She needs a plot that will draw the crew back together, after allowing them to disperse and reconnect with those they left behind seven years earlier. What better way to do that than to pit them against a (possible) conspiracy? And what more tried and true villains are there for a Voyager story than the Borg?

This book's greatest strengths are the Borg threat's unique twist, which ties in neatly with established Voyager continuity; and that most of its characters are written with Golden's usual deft accuracy. Its glaring weaknesses are ignoring continuity where Icheb is concerned (apparently the author missed the episode in which he gave up his cortical implant?), and the silliness (I can't find a kinder or more accurate word for it) of Janeway's friendship with Mark Johnson and his wife. It's true that human beings function differently when they are relating to other people on a personal rather than a professional level, but this Janeway simply doesn't ring true on any level. If needing her to be close to a small child over a period of weeks was the reason for plotting the book this way, it would have been better to make Phoebe Janeway a mother and show Kathryn interacting with her own small niece or nephew. That would have supplied a stronger and more credible tie to one of the Borg threat's early victims, as well as sparing us from repeated sugary doses of the Johnsons.

Producing Chakotay's mother out of nowhere, just as his sister suddenly popped up toward the end of Season 7, strikes another jarring note. However, the equally out of nowhere Chakotay/Seven of Nine romance (introduced even later in the series) gets masterful handling from Golden. So although "Homecoming" isn't without its problems, on balance it is a worthy first post-series outing for my favorite Trek crew. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the tale in "The Farther Shore," due out a month from now.

I liked the book, it wasn't my favorite, it didn't wow me, but I enjoyed, and lost a whole day to reading it, I'm looking forward to the next book, and to see how other authors use this as a Spring Board to keep some of my favorite characters alive.