The Messenger (Dragonlance Icewall, Vol. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Douglas Niles (Author) "I can throw a harpoon as far as any man and hit the target twice as often!..." (more)
Key Phrases: ogre prince, elven sailor, ogre ship, Little Mouse, Strongwind Whalebone, Grimwar Bane (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Icewall

Cold, forbidding, remote, it stands like a dim white cloud on the very edge of sight. There Kerrick, an elf from the golden woods of Silvanesti, has been sent, an exile in disgrace. There too, a band of barbarian villagers make their stand against the remnants of an ogre empire that is determined to once again rule the frozen wastes.

In the first book of this thrilling trilogy, Douglas Niles takes his readers to a land that most in Krynn have heard of only in legen -- the legend of the Icewall.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786915714
• ISBN-13: 978-0786915712
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #407,486 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple, entertaining, but the editing!, December 16, 2001

By	T. Lin "DramaQueen" (Selangor, Malaysia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a good book, though I would not say super great. I finished it in a day, pretty rare since I've found myself getting bored of the present day's fantasy books. What this book does for me is entertain me without bogging me down with all that political intrigue that is so en vogue in fantasy books these days. I love Kerrick, the 'disgraced' elf. I suppose since I like fallen heroes, my opinion is biased - but seriously, if you want a simple and entertaining read, this is it!

The story does begin a tad slowly in the beggining, but it picks up speed towards the end. The background of the Arkos people are intriguing enough for you to wonder what's going to happen to them after they found the citadel. I found myself caring for the Highland King and Chiefwoman (can't remember her name), and I hope to see both of them more in the next book. As for Kerrick, I really can't wait till he finds out more about the fate of his parents.

Unfortunately, the editing could use some work. I mean, I'm usually not one to notice such things (since I tend to read too quickly to note anything of detail such as spelling), but I did notice and that says a lot. But don't let this bug ya, it's a good story, albeit simplistic. Can't wait for the second!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, March 29, 2003

By	"roddymccorley" (MD) - See all my reviews

Douglas Niles begins the telling of the Icewall Trilogy with the story of a young elf who is cast out of his homeland, the Arktos who lose their home and many of their people and are forced to find shelter elsewhere, and the warring ogres who rule most of Icreach. This series is a great addition to the overall Dragonlance storyline. Niles' characters are well developed: the Arktos, the Highlanders, walrusmen, Ogres, an elf and a disappearing Kender. He fills out his story with vivid descriptions of the icy region, full of realistic details about glaciers, weather, and water. This series can be read without knowing much about the world of Dragonlance. I recommend it to anyone who is an avid reader of Fantasy. See also: The Golden Orb, and Winterheim.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite fantasy series!, July 31, 2006

By	Lena LaFaye (Bartlett, TN) - See all my reviews

I first read this book in high school because a friend loaned it to me. Soon after, I borrowed it from the library, and now I own all three books. Why? Well they are great books thats why!
Maybe it was because I have never read any Dragonlance books before so was ignorant to how much *better* other ones under the genre are but I argue that this series is a nice gem of fantasy.
I disagree with those who complained it was borrish and no characters. Maybe I was reading something else! I think Kerrick the elf's character is interesting and develops well throughout the series. There are many other characters I enjoyed but mainly Kerrick and his little *imaginary friend* Coraltop whos true identity is revealed in the third book. I saw a lot of symbolism and intruge in these books and so far haven't become too impressed with the other Dragonlance books. Oh well. I do recommend giving this series a chance, who knows, you just might like it! :)