revennaras's review
5.0
The book series that started it all for me. The first two trilogies hold massive nostalgia in my life.
thejameswhitman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
marguax's review
3.0
Started off pretty good but I was barely able to finish. About halfway through I discover this book, like many fantasy books, followed an all too common formula. Group forms, have a destination to ask some question usually about an object. Like they must obtain a sword, get info on a staff or destroy a ring. The group faces many foes, traps, and tribulations on the journey.
The thing about a book like this, I know what's going to happen! I know that whether its in book 1 or book 14 they will reach their destination, get their answers and be hero's of the kingdom, ps some of the group will fall along the way.
Nothing in Dragons of Autumn Twilight got me excited, there were no real mysteries. The characters...I didnt feel invested in them. I didn't get much background info to understand their motivations.
I did however greatly enjoy those goofy gully dwarfs.
The thing about a book like this, I know what's going to happen! I know that whether its in book 1 or book 14 they will reach their destination, get their answers and be hero's of the kingdom, ps some of the group will fall along the way.
Nothing in Dragons of Autumn Twilight got me excited, there were no real mysteries. The characters...I didnt feel invested in them. I didn't get much background info to understand their motivations.
I did however greatly enjoy those goofy gully dwarfs.
mithrandir24601's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
alternbruno's review
3.0
My friends gave me a hard time to read this, they were really insistent and after some years, I gave in. I feel compelled to throw the warning in here because there are many reviews around this site of people pressed because this book was not up a literary standard. If you pick up this with any expectation of encountering some Ursula K. Le Guin style or Neil Gaiman prose, you will be very very dissapointed, and what's even more ironic... you would have deserved such dissapointment. This aims to be goofy, light heartead and ridiculous; it is first and foremost a Dungeons & Dragons book with no other pretense than to be amusing. This trilogy paved the way for many misfits and outcasts who -like me- enjoyed the occasional getaway excuse to a far land.
In this first book we encounter the now classical setting of a party of adventurers who embark in a quest. There is a wizard, a warrior, a ranger, a rogue, a barbarian, and I guess Flint qualifies as some sort of fighter. We have our common group with motivated and seasoned companions who by chance or maybe fate get to travel wide and far in this world. The plot is incredibly basic, there is no deep meaningful metaphysical reflection, no moral ground and cravings of social commentary or existential message. Most of the emphasis is around the relations the characters and how they tease and link with one another. That is pretty much it, that sums it up.
We have the conflicted brothers because one is brutish and noble while the other is ambitious and cunning, the depressed sadboi who is half human half elf, the grumpy dwarf, and other myriad of clichés. There is obviously deux ex machina to give and take up and down and it is more predictable than a lifetime movie in several ways. Even the "traitor" phase is telegraphed by a mile and unless you are 12 or with questionable wits, it may come as a huge surprise.
Having said all of that, I'd say go for it. The jokes are pathetically dim-witted, the situations are impossible and the combats are just bloody enough to make them interesting. It is a masterclass on how to be a Gamemaster or how to start twisting your character if you have already been playing for a while. In this, the book widely excels because it shows the basic personality traits, how to portray the essence of a character without a lot of theatricality. You can also have a very general yet clear idea of what happens inside a long term chronicle because there is so much going on, and the omniscient writers try to keep everything on track and not letting the ends loose.
You could have a blast while you read the descriptions of a fireball and feather fall while you imaging the dice being rolled or a major bummer because this is not tolkienesque enough, the choice is just 1d20 away...
In this first book we encounter the now classical setting of a party of adventurers who embark in a quest. There is a wizard, a warrior, a ranger, a rogue, a barbarian, and I guess Flint qualifies as some sort of fighter. We have our common group with motivated and seasoned companions who by chance or maybe fate get to travel wide and far in this world. The plot is incredibly basic, there is no deep meaningful metaphysical reflection, no moral ground and cravings of social commentary or existential message. Most of the emphasis is around the relations the characters and how they tease and link with one another. That is pretty much it, that sums it up.
We have the conflicted brothers because one is brutish and noble while the other is ambitious and cunning, the depressed sadboi who is half human half elf, the grumpy dwarf, and other myriad of clichés. There is obviously deux ex machina to give and take up and down and it is more predictable than a lifetime movie in several ways. Even the "traitor" phase is telegraphed by a mile and unless you are 12 or with questionable wits, it may come as a huge surprise.
Having said all of that, I'd say go for it. The jokes are pathetically dim-witted, the situations are impossible and the combats are just bloody enough to make them interesting. It is a masterclass on how to be a Gamemaster or how to start twisting your character if you have already been playing for a while. In this, the book widely excels because it shows the basic personality traits, how to portray the essence of a character without a lot of theatricality. You can also have a very general yet clear idea of what happens inside a long term chronicle because there is so much going on, and the omniscient writers try to keep everything on track and not letting the ends loose.
You could have a blast while you read the descriptions of a fireball and feather fall while you imaging the dice being rolled or a major bummer because this is not tolkienesque enough, the choice is just 1d20 away...
savage_savant's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Love this when I was thirteen. When I re-read it now, it feels more like notes to a D&D campaign.
dmblackblood's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
madameroyale's review
I really enjoyed the first half of this book and thought it had a great ensemble vibe. All the characters played well off one another, and the little romance between Goldmoon and Riverwind was very sweet. Unfortunately the gully dwarf sequence about midway through was so goofy that I lost interest in this book and never managed to regain it. I started speed-reading and then decided to just give up. 😞