Customer Reviews

Wanderlust (Dragonlance: The Meetings Sextet, Vol. 2)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I found this book to be a very good read. Being and avid fantasy reader, i try to explore a wide variety of books in the genre. So far, the best world i have found, is the world of Dragonlance. The books are to the point, and without the common "fillers" like a lot of authors are using now days. By this, i mean the chapters upon chapters were nothing happens to move the story forward. I have yet to find a dragonlance book that has done this. they are usually all full of excitement, humor, and intrigue. This book is no exception. I found it very funny, thanks to Tas, and full of action and adventure. It also shows the growth between Tanis and Flint, showing you their life before the chronicles series. All in all, i recommend this book if you love fantasy. Buy it, Read it, Love it.

By far one of the most amusing Dragonlance tales ever told in the series. The story deals with the meeting of Tanis Half Eleven, Flint Fireforge and Taslehoff Burrfoot. The writing is easy on the eye and the action paces nicely older readers, my however find it a tad tedious in places. The writing by Kirschhoff entertains the reader with her clever use of words as well as her interesting plot development. She doesn't seem to bore the us with overly large sentence and paints clear decisive pictures for the reader. How ever she tends to extend a bit to the extreme. She introduces too many elements and characters with out the necessary subplot to sustain them or she fails justify their existence in the greater scheme of things. However, the book is kept interesting by likeable characters, witty and often laugh out loud writing and a genuinely interesting plot. A MUST read for all fans of Taslehoff and His friends. -Craig Michael Julich-Serventy

I found this book funny, which is more then I can say for most Dragonlance books. So why didn't I rate it 5 stars? Let's just say I've read better. I rate most books 4 stars, with an exceptional few getting 5 stars.
This was about a kender, Tas (again), who stole a bracelet from a dwarf. Oh, Tas's excuse was that Flint had just left the bracelet 'laying around' so Tas was inclined to pick it up and keep it in his care until he saw the dwarf. Anyway, Flint gets the bracelet back, but then the two of them and Tanis half-elven go to the Inn of the Last Home to have a drink, and when the Dwarf and elf leave, Tas finds out that the bracelet just 'happened' to 'fall' into his pocket. He then goes to sleep, and in the morning remembers nothing about the bracelet. He leaves town, and when he's miles away, puts the bracelet on. He then finds it shows the future. Bad things, that is. Tas saves a man from hobgoblins, and then gives the bracelet to him to return to Flint, for the man was going in that direction. Tas then goes on. The farmer, in town, gets robbed, the bracelet included. Then the woman who had Flint make the bracelet comes up and wants her bracelet, and Flint is forced to tell the whole embarrassing story. And then they have to go on a journey; just a little one, to solve a few mysteries, save a squire, castle, and almost the world- nothing much.

(So far) This is the only Dragronlance book I have not liked. It is the second I have read that is not by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

This book is written like a poorly run D&D game (not like a novel), complete with 1-dimensional NPCs, and nonsensical random encounters. The authors demonstrate a lack of knowledge about the series, world, & characters, including information in Chronicles (which I would care less about if it were written better).

The worst part is that I was expecting a book about Tasslehoff (like Meetings 1 was about Flint & Tanis), with a focus on him becoming friends with Tanis & Flint. Instead the book is about a magical ring, as it passes through the possession of various characters, most of which are the 1-dimensional NPCs. Tas, Flint, & Tanis (who should be the main characters) end up being no more important to the story than Gaesil, Delbridge, Selana, Balcombe, & Blu, and all are secondary characters to the ring.

"Wanderlust" by Mary Kirchoff and Steve Winter is yet another addition to the seemingly endless Dragonlance saga (this is the second book of the "Meetings" sextet) but, unlike many of the books about the Companions not written by Weis and Hickman, this proves to be a solid book. Kirchoff was one of the key editors of the original Dragonlance team and she knows the material which is more than one can say about some of the other writers who play in Weis' and Hickman's sandbox.

The book focuses on less than half of the Companions--Flint, Tas and Tanis with Tas getting most of the attention. Kirchoff certainly knows the characters well and that is enough to guide the reader along a solid, if unspectacular, book which is a bit lighter in tone than many of the Dragonlance books. Kirchoff and Winter do not try to stage an epic in "Wanderlust"--they know their limits which is more than one can say about some of the other Dragonlance writers.

The editing seems a bit off, especially with the use of too many pronouns and some odd sentence structure. There are some funny scenes but the book often tries a bit too hard--especially with a plethora of subplots that go nowhere and odd races that do not appear in any of the other Dragonlance books. The end seemed a bit rushed and anti-climatic.

But this book was not a failure or even below average. Was this a great book? No. But it was readable and did not take away from the saga as a whole. Still, with the exceptions of some funny scenes and wordplay, there was little in "Wanderlust" that stood out. Fans of Tas will like this book and probably rate it higher than I have. Fans of the saga as a whole may give it more average marks.

If you love Tas read this book because this is Tas at his finest! Its about how Tas meets Flint. Do I really have to say much more? LOL You will be laughing through this whole book. I personally love Tas to death so I had to buy this book. My bf and I both read this book and really enjoyed it.

I read this book about 8 years ago after I finished Chronicles,Legends,and Dragons of Summer Flame.. It was an exciting novel and reaquainted me with the Sea Elves I've missed reading about..Usually anything with tas in it is bound to keep the reader smilign and laughing.. A very well writen book that introduces Tas to Flint and Tanis.. A classic indeed..

I was surprised that this book held my interest because I have never been a big fan of Kenders. The story is pretty good. It relates the events whereby Tasslehoff Burrfoot joins Flint Fireforge and Tanis Half-Elven in their travels. Flint gets pretty frustrated and nearly kills Tas on many occasions (and rightfully so). Read this book if you enjoyed the Chronicles stories.

This volume of the DL saga has tas, Flint, and Tanis meeting for the first time... and what stories they will have afterwards!

Flint is approached by a mysterious woman who would like him to craft a bracelet for her. She has very specific instructions (we find out later) as to how this is to be crafted. Needless to say that Tas enters the picture and winds up beginning the quest of a lifetime for Flint and Tanis.

"Creatures" that (to my knowledge) haven't shown up before in DL novels come into play here... especially the firey-winged humanoids, there's an appearance of a hill giant, golems in the form of minotaurs, and we get to know a little of the Sea Elves.
Magic is abundant in this novel, but the action in no way seems hampered by the lack of hack and slash (apparent in most DL). Tas is however more 'crafty' and 'take charge' than I'm used to, though... but he's still portrayed quite well.

All in all, if you like the Heroes of the Lance, or if you're interested in starting Dragonlance (heck, if you're in the mood for a good fantasy)then pick this one up... but remember to get Part 1 of Meetings too.

Following with the "Dragonlance" legacy, I felt that this book had a strong storyline and was very exciting (not that any "Dragonlance" novel featuring Tanis, Flint, and Tasslehoff isn't) At some parts it moved rather slow, and the ending occured rather quick. Overall, however, I thought that this was a good book.