Customer Reviews

The Haunted Wizard (Wizard in Rhyme, A)

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

 

 

This book is a continuation of an interesting series by Mr. Stasheff. I like "historical" fantasy, and this is a fun little romp through an alternative England and Ireland (Bretanglia and Erin). While not as detailed and intricate as some other "historical" fantasy authors (such as Guy Gavriel Kay), this is a well written and entertaining book, with a firm emphasis on adventure and action, with plenty of political manoeuvering and backstabbing, chivalry, magic, and good vs. evil to keep anyone satisfied.

The plot in this book is somewhat predictable at times, such as the virtuous Prince who was "killed" but comes back from the dead to claim his throne from his evil brother, with the help of the good guys of course; and who killed the initial heir to the throne of Bretanglia became fairly obvious to me early on in the book. These gripes aside, I still enjoyed this book, and I recommend anyone who has enjoyed previous books from this series to read this one. However, this may not be the best book to read if you haven't read any of the other books in this series, as you may not understand all the background information that this book is refering to (in other words, read the first book, Her Majesty's Wizard, and all the sequels in order, before you read this one -- trust me, its worth it). The good thing about all the books in this series, including this one, is that each one has a distinct ending, and does not leave you hanging until the next one.

All in all, this book is a good continuation to a fun and entertaining series, and I am eagerly awaiting the next one!

In the Haunted Wizard,Stasheff spins an artful yarn that weaves several eras of English history[ in this universe anyway] into a merry old jaunt thru Bretanglia. For fans of the play and movie "The Lion in Winter", this book captures the wonderful scheming and backbiting of an ambitious royal family in medieval Europe. The use of Celtic and Druidic rituals and magic fits in wonderfully with the premise for this series. Matt Mantrell,The Lord Wizard,continues to keep one entertained in this book with his integrity, mastery of wizardry and his abilty to land on his feet. Other titles I would recommend would be Tad Williams' Dragonbone Chair;Stephen R. Donaldson's A Man rides Through;Margret Weis' The Lost King

If you like Stasheff, This book is very enjoyable. I had no problems with ordering or recieving.