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thomgeg's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
If you're an MTG fan looking to get into the lore but only want to read one book, make it The Thran. If you're willing to read two, read The Brothers War and then The Thran.
If you're really willing to stick it out then don't read The Thran until you get to the Apocalypse cycle. Be warned however, the books drop in quality as time goes on. Urza is always a fun and quirky character to see what mischief he gets up to as they go on, but you'd be better off just reading about it on a Wiki.
If you're really willing to stick it out then don't read The Thran until you get to the Apocalypse cycle. Be warned however, the books drop in quality as time goes on. Urza is always a fun and quirky character to see what mischief he gets up to as they go on, but you'd be better off just reading about it on a Wiki.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Violence
rkking's review against another edition
4.0
After really enjoying some tie-in Warhammer 40k novels, I decided to try some other tie-in fiction in the sci fi/fantasy realm. With only some limited knowledge of the Magic The Gathering lore I tackled this one.
Glad I did.
I'm very finicky with fantasy, but this book falls into the tone I like. The story of Urza and Mishra, bitter brotherly rivals turned enemies that explodes onto a world-scale of war and destruction was a great read, plus the hints of how it ties into the greater Magic universe was intriguing as well. Only criticism is that other than Urza and Mishra themselves, I didn't really give a crap about any other characters save for Gix and Ashnod.
I'll keep reading the series.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
Glad I did.
I'm very finicky with fantasy, but this book falls into the tone I like. The story of Urza and Mishra, bitter brotherly rivals turned enemies that explodes onto a world-scale of war and destruction was a great read, plus the hints of how it ties into the greater Magic universe was intriguing as well. Only criticism is that other than Urza and Mishra themselves, I didn't really give a crap about any other characters save for Gix and Ashnod.
I'll keep reading the series.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
theoryoftheafro's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cookabook's review
4.0
For a tie-in novel, The Brothers' War shattered my expectations.
From precocious adolescents following different instincts at an archaeological dig site, to master artificers smashing waves of mechs against one another in a decades-long war that strips a continent of its natural resources, Urza and Mishra are dynamic characters that really break the mold. Urza makes for a laughably awful brother, husband, and friend, and Mishra develops a cruel and mistrustful streak that likewise drives Ashnod, his closest friend and erstwhile romantic interest to abandon him—a betrayal revealed in the prologue. We have the bulk of the novel to piece together how that comes to pass.
Their close allies and associates feel reasonably well-developed as well. For a pulp fantasy novel from the 90s, Ashnod, Kayla bin-Kroog, and the Fallaji are pretty darn interesting and dimensional!
My main criticism is the pacing. It's difficult to tell an epic story that unfolds over generations. Initially the timeskips are fairly seamless, but by the third act you get the feeling the author just needs to hit the requisite beats and call it a day.
The book gives life to a story only vaguely—frustratingly—hinted at through various Magic cards. Many cards from Alpha, Antiquities, and other sets besides are subtly referenced. I've played Magic since 2006, but here I am in 2022 astounded at how much Jeff Grubb was able to grow my understanding of early Magic lore, timelines, and geography in the space of one novel.
Since this title is now decades out of print, I recommend listening to Phil Dawson's reading on the "Magic The Gathering Unofficial Audiobooks" podcast. Others have commented on the text's editing (or lack thereof), but to hear Mr. Dawson read it, you would have no idea.
From precocious adolescents following different instincts at an archaeological dig site, to master artificers smashing waves of mechs against one another in a decades-long war that strips a continent of its natural resources, Urza and Mishra are dynamic characters that really break the mold. Urza makes for a laughably awful brother, husband, and friend, and Mishra develops a cruel and mistrustful streak that likewise drives Ashnod, his closest friend and erstwhile romantic interest to abandon him—a betrayal revealed in the prologue. We have the bulk of the novel to piece together how that comes to pass.
Their close allies and associates feel reasonably well-developed as well. For a pulp fantasy novel from the 90s, Ashnod, Kayla bin-Kroog, and the Fallaji are pretty darn interesting and dimensional!
My main criticism is the pacing. It's difficult to tell an epic story that unfolds over generations. Initially the timeskips are fairly seamless, but by the third act you get the feeling the author just needs to hit the requisite beats and call it a day.
The book gives life to a story only vaguely—frustratingly—hinted at through various Magic cards. Many cards from Alpha, Antiquities, and other sets besides are subtly referenced. I've played Magic since 2006, but here I am in 2022 astounded at how much Jeff Grubb was able to grow my understanding of early Magic lore, timelines, and geography in the space of one novel.
Since this title is now decades out of print, I recommend listening to Phil Dawson's reading on the "Magic The Gathering Unofficial Audiobooks" podcast. Others have commented on the text's editing (or lack thereof), but to hear Mr. Dawson read it, you would have no idea.
asylumrunner's review
4.0
Fun and well-written, if pretty schlocky. If I had read this when I was 14 I would have been absolutely insufferably into it. Feels like it had the aspirations of being a much larger book, giving its threads, ideas, and characters way more time to breathe, but is instead constrained by the tie-in novel format into something that feels rushed.
ferzemkhan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tnau7489's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
2.0
sizrobe's review
5.0
This book has a special place in my heart, as it was the first Magic: The Gathering novelization that I read, around 20 years ago. It's essentially the origin story of probably the single most important character in MTG lore, Urza Planeswalker. The thing that surprised me is how much I'd forgotten, only remembering the main story beats. Despite being part of a franchise with the word "magic" in the title, there is almost no magic in the book. The main magical resource in the card game, mana, is only first mentioned ~330 pages into a 400 page book, and even after it's rarely mentioned.
Another thing that surprised me was the presence of several strong female characters, and the book passes the Bechdel test. Also, Urza himself comes off as borderline autistic, caring only about his machines and artifacts. He only marries a princess because he had an eye on one of the books in her dowry.
It's worth noting that the cheapest copy on Amazon at the time that I got the book was 80 bux, and I got a copy from a West Virginia library through inter-library loan for a $2 fee. Love your local library, guys.
Another thing that surprised me was the presence of several strong female characters, and the book passes the Bechdel test. Also, Urza himself comes off as borderline autistic, caring only about his machines and artifacts. He only marries a princess because he had an eye on one of the books in her dowry.
It's worth noting that the cheapest copy on Amazon at the time that I got the book was 80 bux, and I got a copy from a West Virginia library through inter-library loan for a $2 fee. Love your local library, guys.
hzcyr's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nairijan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0