The Iron Throne (Birthright) [Paperback]

Simon Hawke (Author)

Book Description

Series: Birthright | Publication Date: November 1995

Anuire, the great empire rose from the wreckage of gods-death, from the tumbled lands where the pantheon had died to stop one of its own from destroying the world. In the chaos after Deismaar, Roele founded an empire that would span the continent and last a millennium.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

From birth, Michael Roele has been destined to rule the Anuirean Empire. Forces within his domain, however, conspire to challenge his right and claim his power for their own. The latest novel by veteran fantasy author Hawke (The Broken Blade, LJ 5/15/95) launches a series of books set against the background of TSR's new BIRTHRIGHTTM role-playing game, where a feudal world of lords and ladies, mysterious elves, shadow-walking halflings, and minions of darkness exists. High adventure and sympathetic characters should attract most fans of epic fantasy to this well-written tale.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 504 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast; First Edition edition (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786903570
• ISBN-13: 978-0786903573
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #974,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the best TSR book ever?, May 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Iron Throne (Birthright) (Paperback)

Knowing that TSR's produced some real stinkers (approximately a third of the grossly exploited Dragonlance series for example), it's great to see something that captures the essence of the high fantasy genre while putting in some interesting spins. The female characters are great, and rather than being simple sex objects and baby machines, in a very real way the story revolves around them. For example, the immediate effects of the seductress' actions were still being felt a generation later, her nefarious achievements far outstripping anything the men accomplished, including even the Mordred-like Gorgon. As for the high fantasy feel, it seemed that finally elves were magical, 'halflings' weren't just cloned from Tolkien (I can't stand kender either), and the monster was a formidable beast and enemy of a thousand years who still had a weak spot. Birthright is perhaps the best AD&D world created, even if it never really got the chance it deserved. The book reflects this.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The First in TSR's new series Birthright is a success., August 26, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Iron Throne (Birthright) (Paperback)

The author, Mr. Hawke, was an excellent choice to start TSR's new world of Birthright. Characters, while not fantastic, were believable and likable. Hawke took many old ideas and gave them a new face in this book, something I have found that not many authors are able to do, especially within the fantasy genre. The story and plot were good, and I was also pleased to see some new races in the story. If the author had spent as much time on the characters as he did on the history of the world of Cerilia, Iron Throne would have definitely been worthy of a ten. A word to readers: This book would not be good for young readers, as well as people looking for an easy, unintellectual read. For those preferences, a great book would be the second in this series, Greatheart, by Dixie Lee McKeone

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun story, June 24, 2008

By 

D. S. Haasenritter "Spence" (Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Iron Throne (Birthright) (Paperback)

I liked the Birthright setting as a game world.This book puts a little extra color to the landscape of the world.The main character is the chamberlain to the Prince who is thrust into a war by the death of his father.It is a very enjoyable read.