Customer Reviews

Dragons of Winter Night (Dragonlance Chronicles, Volume II)

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Tanis, Flint, Tass, Sturm, Caramon, Raistlin, and the rest are back. Tanis' part must recover the Great Dragon Orbs and Dragon Lance. If they fail to recover these relics, all hope of fighting the Dragon Armies will be lost.

This book is marvelous. It combines humor, love, action, mystery, and suspense to create a perfect novel. For an example of a little humor, When there is no hope of escape from captivity; Tass is stealing things and cracking funny jokes about the guards and such, as they are being taken to the dungeons.

This book is good because it is long, but never boring. This book is a book that you never want to end. Unlike other book it does not progressively get better, it is perfect all the way through! At the beginning when you normaly are getting to know the setting and characters, it jumps you right into a little action and suspense.

I recommend this book to everyone! It is the second book in the Chronicles trilogy so I recommend you read Dragons of Autumn Twilight first.

That sums it up! Hooked For Life! If you read Dragons of Autum Twilight, the first book in the series, you might have said "eh...whats the big deal with these books and why have they made so many?" Well my friend by the time you finish chapter seven of this book you will know. After chapter seven every chapter becomes an earth shattering, wild riding, can't put it down, good read!
After this book I went out and bought 40+ more of the Dragonlance Books! Read it today!

The second installment of the now classic Chronicles Trilogy picks up shortly after the events detailed in "The Dragons of Autumn Twilight". The second volume shows the companions scattered across the continent of Ansalon, with each member battling personal demons as well as the minions of Takhisis. The parties search desperately for weapons to use against the spreading evil such as the dragon orbs and the legendary dragonlance, and throughout the novel Weiss and Hickman continue to develop their memorable cast.

The climax of the novel is one of the most vivid scenes in the entire Dragonlance saga, as Sturm Brightblade and a paltry force of loyal Knights defend the High Clerists tower against overwhelming forces. The increasingly powerful Raistlin Majere dangerously flirts with darkness, and Tanis is torn between beautiful women, one of darkness and one of the light.

"The Dragons of Winter Night" is a worthy successor to Chronicles Vol. 1, and is easily the darkest of the three novels. Fans of fantasy should be well pleased, and the Dragonlance series is a great way for younger readers to become introduced to the genre.

The message has already been carried. This book is a completely flowing sequel that will lead you all the way to the gates of the third novel, but not without bringing more life to the world already laid before us.

Some may find it useful, others annoying, that each book will detail the past events of the other novels and the characters. So really, you could read from any book if you so chose, however you'd be missing out on more than you'd care to if you only knew.

I haven't read these books since high school, more than ten years ago. I wanted to re-read them as I was feeling nostalgic. After re-reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight I was a little concerned that the book was not living up to the memory I had of it. Autumn Twilight was fun but the writing quality wasn't quite what I remembered and the story, while it had some good moments, lacked a really epic scope. Still, I understood it had to set up all the characters so I was more optimistic for this second book.

Dragons of Winter's Night did not disappoint. It really picked up the action and the story became much richer and more fast-paced. The dialogue and charaterizations become much more realistic and the varied locales and new characters and races help make the story much more epic than the first book.

The companions are given more depth and dimension. Tanis is a good example of more complicated character, but Laurana becomes a much richer character also, since her part in book one was somewhat shallow. And Sturm's storyline and trials to become an actual Knight gripped me much more now than they did years ago. That was what really sold me on Weis and Hickman's improved writing, in that they were able to make Sturm more than just a one-dimensional chivalrous knight and gave him a deep soul. It was easier to understand his motivations in condemning the petty divisions in the knighthood, even though he knew it will keep him from ever becoming a knight, which was his life's dream. I also liked Sir Gunthar Uth Wistan and how he handled the political infighting within the Knights of Solamnia and his support of Sturm, how even though he used Sturm he still genuinely cared for him.

Tas is amusing, as other readers have pointed out, although I'm glad they kept the Gnomes to a minimum. A little of them go a long way.

All in all, this book was as good as I had hoped it to be. I really enjoyed it after all these years and recommend it to any curious reader.

This book truly was the best book I ever read and I have read lots of good books like: Series of Unfortunate Events, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Thief Lord, and Artimis Fowl. Even after all of this it is still my favorite book.
Why you ask? It is full of adventure and suspence through out the whole book and it sparks the imagination.
I would compare this to LOTR (Lord of the Rings) and I would say that I would rather have seen this book as a movie other than LOTR.

This book is just as well written as the first book, and never has a sequel been written as well as the first since J.R.R. Tolkien's THE HOBBIT. Dragonlance's most popular adventurers continue in their journey, this time in search of the dragon orbs, and the long forgotten dragonlances in which to destroy the evil dragons with of course. It makes you more familiar with Laurana, Gilthanas, and a handful of new characters, and I do suggest a box of tissues for the conclusion of the novel you're going to need them. I highly recomend this book to lovers of fantasynovels. To the Ignorant: Nobody thinks this is better than Tolkien, it's merely something to read besides the king of all fantasy's novels.

The middle child of a trilogy has the most tenuous position. After all, the novelty may have worn off after the first installment, and the big ending doesn't come until the next. Many are relegated to serve as simply a bridge between the first and third installment. Dragons of Winter Night defies stereotypes with its gripping storyline filled with many tense sequences and surprising revelations. True to the title, the mood is considerably darker than in the first book, ending with the heroic sacrifice of one of the main characters. Sadness is a powerful emotion, and the ending features one of the most emotionally moving scenes I can recall since Tolkien. Yet there is beauty in tragedy, and having known the ending, I wouldn't have it any other way.

As DoWN begins, the refugees from Pax Tharkas have found a temporary home, albeit one ill-suited for them, in the kingdom of the mountain dwarves. The companions prepare to embark on their next quest, to the ancient great city Tarsis the Beautiful, in search of a better refuge. Little do they know that evil forces are already following their tracks and laying a trap for them. Events in Tarsis would force the companions to split into two groups, each searching for an ancient artifact that allows the wielder to exert control over dragons. Their adventures would take them to distant lands, fraught with dark mystery and danger. Some of the companions will have grown in power, some in knowledge, some in maturity, and some would find love along the way. In a sense, the wide-eyed innocence of the first volume has worn off. As the characters gain experience, their worries and sorrows also increase. Laurana is a case in point. She has changed greatly since leaving Qualinost. No longer the happy elfmaiden innocent to the ways of the world, she has become more and more like Tanis, wiser yet weighed down with care and sadness.

Tanis would encounter a figure from the past that would prove to be his greatest temptation thus far and force him to reconsider his beliefs and loyalty in a whole new light.

Despite the prevailing depressive mood, there are many light moments. My favorite character, Tas, is as funny as ever and is given more screen time than before. While the focus has been taken off some characters such as Goldmoon and Riverwind, Tas would shoulder more responsiblities and even makes a few crucial discoveries, unwittingly of course.

In light of its gripping storyline and powerful emotional undercurrents, it would not be unfair to characterize DoWN as a fantasy masterpiece.

Once you've started the trilogy you just can't stop.

The second volume of the chronicles continues with our familiar friends and is just as good as the previous installment. Set aside a day in mid Spring and sit outside and knock this one off in one sitting. If you were a fan of the first Winter Night does not disappoint.

I am not going to get into the plot in this review...basically I wanted to just give this book 5 stars...Anyone who knows fantasy knows all about Tanis, Tasslehoff, Caramon, Raistlin and Flint...I am not going to bore anyone with a recital of the plot... (even thought its fantastic) The Chronicles and The Legends trilogies are the pinnacle of what any writer should strive for...Characters that we all care about... I can honestly say that i wept when 2 main characters fall... (they shall remain nameless in case someone has been hiding under a rock for 20 years and hasn't read these books)
The Great thing about this series is that there is so many prequels and tangential tales published that one could delve into the magical world of Krynn for years... but we have to remember that Krynn would not be as magical (both figuratively and literally) if it were not for the companions...

Buy this series if you haven't read it... No one can love dragons without knowing this story...

Thank You Tanis, Tas, Raist, Strum, Riverwind, Caramon, Flint, Goldmoon and the people of Solace...

Oh yes, and Thanks to Mrs. Weis and Mr. Hickman