Customer Reviews

Brothers in Arms (Dragonlance: Raistlin Chronicles, Book 2)

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Brothers in Arms, by the husband and wife team of Margeret Weis and Don Perrin is a definate must read for any dragonlance fan. This book starts off where "Soulforge" ended. It depicts the early life of the twins, right after Raistlin has taken his test. The twins who already are bonded together by blood, build their companionship throughout this book, although for different reasons. Raistlin wants power, Caramon will go wherever his brother wants to go. The twins end up in a mercenary force where they are both respected and needed.

While the book mostly centers around the twins, it also has a major supporting role from their sister Kitiara. Margaret and Don do a great job showing just what the older sister must do to live by the sword. She is already powerful and has earned a reputation, but she is still being haunted by thoughts of Tanis. The only man that she truly ever loves. This book shows Kitiara and her first meeting with Araikus, the powerful Dragon Highlord. Araikus is building up his army for an all our raid on Krynn (War of the Lance).

The book travels along between the twins and Kitiara, until they end when they are all brought together in a very crafty way. It has enough suprising twists and turns, amd a plot that is one of the most interesting ever. Margaret and Don do a great job showing the personalities of the twins and Kitiara just how we see them in the chronicles and all other Weis and Hickman books. This book is no exception to their genius. It is a smooth and quick read. The book pulls you along with an exciting plot and enough action, humor, intrigue to keep any reader hooked. For any Dragonlance fan, this book is a must! Learn about the twins and their half-sister, and watch exactly what they think, hear, see. This book is a must needed addition to anyone's Dragonlance collection.

The second book in the Raistlin Chronicles, Raistlin has finished the test and with is brother they journey to gain experience. Raistlin looks to become a stronger mage, and Caramon a more adept fighter. The book also brings in their sister, Kiatara, and her rise in the Queen of Darkness' army. Brothers in Arms successfully narrates the tension and love between Caramon and Raistlin, while foreshadowing the future to be. We also get a great insight on Kiatara's need for power, and her first meeting with Lord Ariakis. Not only does this book pull and involve the reader with the characters, it also shows us how emotionally complicated each character is. It is a great reading, and the duo of Weiss and Hickman have never let me down. Immediately afterward I began to read the Chronicles trilogy again. This book is great, and I recommend it to everyone.

I had to write after reading all the complaints! It's wrong to expect Raistlin at this young age and level of experience to be casting amazing new spells. Part of what makes him so great is his ability to draw on all his skills to get himself out of a tight spot (sleight of hand, ventriloquism, flash powder, cleverly crafted lies). The "Brothers Majere" and the original chronicles have instances of this. How boring he'd be if he was always powerful! This book depicted Raistlin in an extremely believable way that only adds new threads to the tapestry of his character. If anything, the original books offer a more monochromatic Raistlin. The feeling of the Raistlin Chronicles is not as formal as the previous works. This makes them feel more realistic. (Case in point, Soulforge is the only Dragonlance book I've read where the characters actually go to the bathroom!) It's a nice change to have the characters NOT acting like myths or legends, just as growing, changing people. When I read it I worried that people would be put off by Raistlin's somewhat geeky nature. How else could he be? He's like the kid in math class that always aces the tests and blows the curve! I loved the contrast of this young man, terrified to the point of nausea by a dragon, and the man he'll become - someone who can command a dragon! He's got alot to learn before that and he knows it. I look forward to seeing his continuing development.

A while ago I bought the hard-back version of "The Soulforge" and I was really excited that there a BOOK about Raistlin's early years. Then, when the soft-back version came out I was even more excited. There was only 1 differecce between the 2 that I could see. In the sb version, the words "The Raistlin Chronicles" were added to the cover, meaning that there will be more books in the Raistlin Chronicles. After a long wait, I finially got Brothers in Arms. I just got done reading it about an hour ago and this is what I think. It was a very good book about the mercinary days of Carmon and Raistlin. All of the characters were very well done, the plot was great, and there was plenty of action. I love the addition of the half-kender(I was just about to give up on kenders,don't get me wrong, I love Tasselhoff,besides for him,they all seemed dull, boring, annoying, and sterotypical.) Raistlin's Master was a great character, also. Kiteria 's story along with the red dragon took this book from good to great(also from short to very long.) In conclusion, This is a must buy for fantasy readers, GO MARGRET WEIS!!!!!! P.S. I hope my language teacher doesn't read this, because she would fail me immediately.

I found Brothers in Arms to be a wonderful sequel to the Raistlin Chronicles. You can actually see the transition from confused young man into the dark-souled mage we all know as Raistlin in this novel. The detail was exquisite and the depth of the charecters was phenomenal. I couldn't disagree more with the people who gave this book a bad review. I have read all of the original DL books several times over and I believe that MW has stayed true to the charecters' persona. Anyone who doesn't realize that people grow and change through the course of their life, of course, would not enjoy this book simply because they can't understand it. Brothers in Arms met my expectations and exceeded them. I can't wait for the next one.

This book is the bomb. I was a bit hesitant about a sequel to "The Soulforge" and because it was written by Margeret Weiss and Don Perrin. But after reading a couple chapters I couldn't put the book down. This book totally fill the readers in on what happen after Raistlins test put before the companions meet at the inn. A must read for any dragonlance fan!

I haven't read anything related to "Dragonlance" since high school. That was over 12 years ago. Back then, Raistlin was easily my favorite character but soon found myself drifting away from such fantasy characters.

This summer, I picked up "Brothers In Arms" on a whim and was shocked at how good it read. Slipping back into the lives of the twins felt as comfortable as an old glove. The novel also read far better than the dissapointing "Soulforge."

The prose was also rich and thankfully more mature than any previous Krynn storyline. However, the characterization between the twins did get a little old at times: Raistling and his terminal crankiness vs. Caramon doing his best Homer Simpson impression.

Hopefully, the next novel will ease off here, but I look forward to it.

If you don't like this book you cannot call yourself a true Dragonlance fan. I've tried reading dragonlance books not penned by weis and/or Hickman, but they never felt right, something was always missing from the characters. Brothers in arms however really gives you a feel for Raistlin, Caramon and Kitiara. I really enjoyed reading this book and was pleasantly surprised at some of the other characters in this story. For example Scrounger, at first I thought he was gonna be a Tas clone, but he was really unique and likeable. To sum it up this is simply a great Dragonlance book buy it if already read Soulforge.

Raistlin and Caramon are portrayed in their youth immediately following Raistlin's test at Wayreth and set out from Solace seeking mercenary employment to hone their combined sword/sorcery skills as their circle of friends have all sworn to depart from Solace to discover word of the true gods and to meet in 5 years(when the War of the Lance starts).
Raistlin however has been left even weaker than he was before and also strangely marked with his trademark hourglass eyes and golden skin. He is completely unaware that much of his weakness came as a result of the pact made with Fistandantilus and is bitter that none want him as an apprentice. Not wanting to either recourse to giving up his art or becoming a renegade,instead he sets off with his twin,Caramon to find mercenary work as a war mage. We felt his pain in Soulforge seeing him as a young child,untrusted and disliked. Now we see him as he starts to discover his strengths, coping with additional infirmity and knowing he is capable of killing his twin. Caramon is his usual caring, plodding self though he somehow comes off a bit cloddish and simple. He is overconfident in his combat prowess and too doting on Raistlin which gets pitiful at times and he seems to deserve Raistlin's contempt. He cannot see how anyone who is as frail as his brother not need strength and cannot appreciate how powerful magic is until much later on in the book.
Later on they discover how naive their assumptions on army life were, but valiantly pull through the rigours of training and their first battles and not only discovering their worth, but earning respect from their superiors. Raistlin is still not likeable to the people he interacts with, but starts to gather their respect instead of the derision, contempt and pity he faced before. His conquest of the dragon,who he thought was a renegade, bolstered his confidence greatly and gave him a taste of power far beyond the sucessful casting of a sleep spell, even with the help of his staff.
This battle is one of many which set the stage for the War of the Lance though most of us knew the result long before this book. This series helps fill many gaps and questions, though it is also great casual reading for it's own sake. It is written in an easygoing way,sometimes slow, sometimes hard-paced, also incorporating a side story of Kitiara's life and some background to Ariakas'army.This doesn't detract from the book though as Kitiara was instrumental to Raist's entry into magic schooling after all.We can only hope there is at least one other book to come. With Soulforge and now Brothers in Arms we see our favourite characters grow into their power. We gain insight to the heart of one of the most hated/loved characters ever of M. Weis & T. Hickman. Still, I want to know more about Raistlin's progress to dark magic,his plans for godhood,his tortures in the Abyss, his romance with Crysania and what he really thought of his friends. Also what he did when he became master of the Tower and took on Dalamar (another most delicious villain/hero)as his apprentice.
All we know really know that was the double agent role of Dalamar and his punishment. We don't know what goes on between that and Raistlin's entry into the abyss.
It may have been disappointing for some who expected more complex,showy spells on Raist's part, and I know I had hoped not to see Caramon be quite so foolish (I cringed at some of his faux pas but you still laughed or felt sorry for him)
However it's great material for avid DL lovers who grasp for more. The Chronicles and Legends were great but weren't enough for who want to know details about what made the Heroes who they were, especially out fav, Raist.
I'm still struggling to get ALL the books,and am definately looking forward to the next Raistlin Chronicles (there better be another!).

I have to admit that I haven't quite finished the book (only about 100 more pages to go), but I already am enjoying this book just as much, if not more than Soulforge. Margaret Weis once again stakes her claim as one of the best authors around (my personal fave). Also, in reference to the reader from Sydney, who claimed that "Raistlin don't seem to be 'The Master of Past and of Prensence' that I like so much," the point was missed. This book takes place well before he ever became the mega-archmagus that tried to become a god. He isn't quite the "Master of Past and Present." Not yet. While this book isn't quite up to par with the Chronicles Trilogy (but then again, what is?) it is still a must-read for any Weis/DragonLance/Raistlin fan.