Customer Reviews

Dragons of Spring Dawning (Dragonlance Saga Novel: Chronicles)

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This, my fellow readers, is an absolute gem of a tale. A treasure which is a find of a lifetime. A cataclysmic tour de force.

For many a years I had settled for mediocrity fantasy deep in the belief that nothing could excel Tolkien. Now, I honestly do believe that anything is possible. This isn't just another fantasy novel. It truly is the greatest fantasy saga of all time. Several of the other readers have made comparisons to Tolkien. Tolkien set certain standards with his novels. Weis and Hickman have developed this further (and no, I didn't think that could be possible either), setting their own universal standards in the process. They certainly are the masters of the fantasy cosmos. I could not find a single flaw or make a single criticism of the entire series. I have nothing but acclamation for it.

This powerhouse has incessantly urgent plot development and intrigue, and every consequence of that plot is clearly thought out. The characters are so comprehensively defined and developed that you feel as if you know them personally; thus truly adulating or despising them. The authors achieve this by probing deep into the characters' minds and their very souls. Tanis, the tortured central figure in the universe, weighing problems upon him with the stakes of which no mortal being should ever be demanded. Laurana, an elven enchantress of eternal beauty and pure of heart, suffers as deeply as Tanis. Kitiara, an alluring yet complex presence, is chillingly captivating. The tragic loss of two key figures adds greatly to the affinity. The authors put their characters into uniquely dark situations and get their responses so correctly that the spell is never once broken.

Both the subtle and apparent use of several themes throughout the novel is flawlessly executed, and harmoniously tied together at the end. Although the style of writing remains consistent, the pace and scheme of this novel picks up greatly from Winter Night, with a suspense/thriller feel to it. The disquieting tension as the plot races to its conclusion is a reader's thrill ride. On one hand you want to read hastily and gleefully to see how the perilous tale unfolds, but on the other hand, you want to slow down to fully appreciate the authors' work; one reason why this merits a second reading.

I disagree with some of the views that Dragonlance is purely for the younger generation of readers. I believe the classic series appeals to all readers regardless of age for different reasons. As an example, when I first read the Chronicles back in the 80s, I was only 10 and I thoroughly enjoyed it for the spectacular battle scenes and the fantastic adventures our heroes go on. I read the series again not so long ago and was captivated for an altogether different reason. This time it wasn't the majestic dragons or the mythical world of Krynn that enraptured me, as I no longer have a child's imagination. Instead I was spellbound by the characters themselves and how they developed throughout the course of this trilogy. The emotional turmoil and complex relationship between Tanis, Laurana and Kitiara, culminating with the shocking twist at the end, is perhaps the best example. I failed to appreciate this during my first visit to Krynn.

At the end of it all, when you close the book and come back to reality, there is a real sense of despondency as if you cannot believe Krynn is not real. Hats off to Weis and Hickman who have written a masterpiece that allows every reader to take away with them something endearing and unique.

I personnaly think this is an excellent book, except it doesn't deal with Raistlin enough. But it was still a good book and a perfect way to end the Chronicles trilogy and a good introduction to Legends.

For those of you who have read the first two books and are dying from anticipation, Tanis finally chooses which woman he spends his life with. Tas and Flint continue bickering until the end, in more ways than one. Raistlin shows off his real personnality (something I was waiting for). Fizban loses his hat (again). And Caramon beats up some draconians.

If you are a Raistlin and Caramon fan, like I am, this book is necessary. As I have mentoined before, this is where Legends gets started (I know Legends takes place 4 years after this but everything in Chronicles leads up to Legends).

The best part of the book was the very end when Raistlin fulfils the prophecy. Out of everything in Chrocicles those few pages are what realy stood out.

"Someday you, with all your strength and charm and good looks,you, all of you, will call me master" Raistlin, Dragons Of Autumn Twilight

I must say I agree with John from Cambridge on the first page. I read this book for the first time in 5th grade, and was captivated by all the battles and the dragons. But now as a senior in high school, I thought it would be fun to reread it. I liked it for a entirely different reason this time. The intense emotion of all the characters, the overwhelmingly "human" aspect of them, the bitter realizations at the end....all of it combined to make one of the best books I have ever read. I am going to Harvard next year, and with all the classics I have read in school, I have not read a book with as hauntingly real characters as this book. They'll stay with you longer than even the Baggins and Gandalf will.

Definitely a great fantasy epic and one of my personal favorites, The Chronicles Trilogy- Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning, brings to life the ultimate battle between Good and Evil in the World of Krynn. The books are so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to another plane of existence and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. The authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have truly outdone themselves and have presented us with a masterpiece of literature the likes of which we have seen only in JRR Tolkien's work and RA Salvatore's The Dark Elf and Icewind Dale trilogies. A GREAT trilogy indeed and a must read along with Margaret Weis' Legends trilogy! Duty, honor, bravery, magic, dragons and heroes are all about. One should seriously start thinking about maybe turning them into movies!

This is a very good book. You find out a lot of vital information, like who Fizban is. You need to read the other books in this series though, they are Dragons of Autumn Twilight and Dragons of Winter Night. Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman are very talented authors. They created wonderful books. They are very descriptive and I thing these books are action packed.

Co-authored by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Dragons Of Spring Dawning is the third volume of DragonLance, a best-selling role-gaming fantasy trilogy about an epic war between mere mortals, mighty dragons, -- and an utterly malevolent goddess queen. A handful of heroes strive against darkness and bloodshed, yet betrayal threatens to destroy them all. As enjoyable now as when this outstanding series first introduced readers to the land of Krynn and its once-quiescent dragons, Dragons Of Spring Dawning is quite confidently recommended as an outstanding fantasy action/adventure saga.

This was my first DL novel ever, picked it up in a store that had a going out of buisness sale, so i wasn't able to get the first one, Ever since i haven't been able to stop reading DL! This was great, it hooked my interest in the first paragraph and wouldn't let me put the book down until i had finished it. Although its not the first in the chronicle series its gives a strong introduction of raistlin and caramon, tas and the others, without boring you or going into to much detail. This is what DL is all about!

If you like to read fantasy series, read the Dragonlance: Chronicles v.03 Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margret Weis and Tracy Hhickman.

But if you do, be sure to read the first two books, Dragons of Atumn Twilight and Dragons of Winters night. If you don't, you will miss a lot of important details, about the characters and the setting. You always want to read any series from the first book to the last one.

The plot in this book is very interesting and not the typical good vs bad story line. This one has a couple of interesting twists. For example, some of the main characters fight for good and have hearts and souls of evil. In this series, the characters are believable if you keep an open mind. There is a wide variety of charracters: A Dwarf, a Half--Elf, a Kender, a fighter, a magic user, a barmaid turned fighter, a cleric, a plainsman, and two Elves. There used to be a knight but he died in the second book. This keeps the series interesting to read.

The setting is very important in this book, it influences what the characters do and keeps the book interesting. The writing is very easy to follow and has great dialog. The fighter and magic user are twins, the fighter supplies the magic user physical stregth. But in the end the magic user saves his twin and then leaves, symbolozing that even the strongest bind can be broken, and the toughest obstacles can be over come.

I recommend this book only if you have read the first two. I really enjoy this book I keep rereading the entire series just to reread The Dragons of Spring Dawning.

This is the comic adaption of the third part of the Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy, first published in 1984. Unlike the first two adaptions, this one was split up into two parts, and this is the second part.
Unfortunately this graphic-novel was drawn by people with only average artistic talent.
Nevertheless the story adaption is as excellent as before and everybody who owns the previous 3 books of this adaption will want to have the final one.

There is an expectation of a happy ending with every fantasy novel and series. Dragons Of Spring Dawning, the conclusion of the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy, presents a more realistic ending which leaves much room for the saga and the heroes to roam.

With death, destruction, discovery and desperation looming and lurking at every turn The Everman, Tanis, Laurana, Tas, Flint, Caramon and Raistlin take centre stage to play their part in a drama which now actively includes Kitiara in a surprise twist. Wars rage and sorrows reign as Raistlin's prophecy regarding the death and separation of the fellows comes true.

Spring Dawning does have major flaws, as did its two prequels, in that coincidences flow illogically at every turn (the dismissal of the dragons by Fizban, the defeated magic of a Dragon Highlord at a crucial time or the appointment of Lauranathalasa) and the book still cannot rid itself of allusions and comparisons to The Lord Of The Rings (the metaphysical presence of The Dark Queen is just one instance) trilogy. Nevertheless, the ingredients for an exciting and satisfactory read are present here in more potent quantities than in volumes one and two.

The book does answer many nagging questions and puts to rest several mysteries, although there is much that still goes unexplained. Mystery, magic, myth and mages come together in an expansive and enchanting land and become sources for more fantasy trilogies to come.