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ericmppaq's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
blackmetalblackheart's review against another edition
2.5
Dragons of Fate, like the first book in this trilogy, suffers from an inexcusable number of typos. For a major publisher it just blows my mind. The lack of care put into this book, after the obvious issues with the first, is depressing. General quality issues aside, there are other problems as well. Like I stated in my review of Dragons of Destiny, as a life long Dragonlance fan, it is hard to review a book like this with any objectivity. Just simply being in this world and spending time with these characters again is exciting. That being said, the excitement of returning to Krynn can only take things so far.
The major issue with this book is the fact that nearly all of the major plot points are choreographed in advance. When dealing with a time travel story, that can come with the territory. However, it can also stifle the pace and energy of the story. For 75% of the book, things feel slow. The minor events crawl along and hold little weight for the major events that readers know are coming. It feels like the authors are simply filling space. And though some of that space contains good character moments, it is not enough to carry the rest. The final 25% of the book delivers some interesting action and twists on what readers already know. There is excitement and surprise. There is a good sense of tension. It would have been great to have this throughout the whole book.
The other issue with Dragons of Fate is that it suffers from middle child syndrome. It mostly feels like a vessel to get the trilogy to where it needs to be for the final book. There is certainly a standalone story arc present, but it feels so minimal compared to where things are left. We also see how a world so richly mined and written about can make a new story shrink under the weight of its own shadow. We see events we are familiar with. We see characters that have been used countless times before. We see the use of time travel as a gimmick in order to shake up a world that does not have much new to say. And in order to further the story, we see characters making stupid choices or being indecisive at points that just do not make sense.
I know this review comes off as harsh, but I expect a lot from these authors. And that is not to say there weren't elements worth praising. The end of this book leaves things in such an interesting place. I am very excited to see how things shake out in the third book. Weis and Hickman are also excellent at writing these characters. The authors know them inside and out and it shows. It allows for changes in characters like Raistlin to feel organic and believable. It allows for them to mess with the existing canon because they understand it. There are cool fights here. There are neat character moments. There is potential for a great third book. But that does not excuse the sins committed along the way. After all this time, I just expect more.
The major issue with this book is the fact that nearly all of the major plot points are choreographed in advance. When dealing with a time travel story, that can come with the territory. However, it can also stifle the pace and energy of the story. For 75% of the book, things feel slow. The minor events crawl along and hold little weight for the major events that readers know are coming. It feels like the authors are simply filling space. And though some of that space contains good character moments, it is not enough to carry the rest. The final 25% of the book delivers some interesting action and twists on what readers already know. There is excitement and surprise. There is a good sense of tension. It would have been great to have this throughout the whole book.
The other issue with Dragons of Fate is that it suffers from middle child syndrome. It mostly feels like a vessel to get the trilogy to where it needs to be for the final book. There is certainly a standalone story arc present, but it feels so minimal compared to where things are left. We also see how a world so richly mined and written about can make a new story shrink under the weight of its own shadow. We see events we are familiar with. We see characters that have been used countless times before. We see the use of time travel as a gimmick in order to shake up a world that does not have much new to say. And in order to further the story, we see characters making stupid choices or being indecisive at points that just do not make sense.
I know this review comes off as harsh, but I expect a lot from these authors. And that is not to say there weren't elements worth praising. The end of this book leaves things in such an interesting place. I am very excited to see how things shake out in the third book. Weis and Hickman are also excellent at writing these characters. The authors know them inside and out and it shows. It allows for changes in characters like Raistlin to feel organic and believable. It allows for them to mess with the existing canon because they understand it. There are cool fights here. There are neat character moments. There is potential for a great third book. But that does not excuse the sins committed along the way. After all this time, I just expect more.
berrito_s's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
grendels_mother's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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? Yes
mxsallybend's review
4.0
This was quite good, a solid 4 stars (maybe even 4.5). I'm tempted to say it's much better than the first book, but I read that during the darkest month of a very dark year, and my feelings were likely affected by that. My displeasure with it may not have been fair.
This does focus more on the characters we know and love, though, and is a better portrayal of them (they didn't feel quite right in the first book).
Surprisingly, for a time travel story where we know what had to happen and who has to die, there's a real feel of danger, genuine tension, and deep sorrow.
There are plenty of twists along the way that set up an ending that hits hard and sets up a big finale.
This does focus more on the characters we know and love, though, and is a better portrayal of them (they didn't feel quite right in the first book).
Surprisingly, for a time travel story where we know what had to happen and who has to die, there's a real feel of danger, genuine tension, and deep sorrow.
There are plenty of twists along the way that set up an ending that hits hard and sets up a big finale.
reedmorebooks's review against another edition
5.0
I doubt the day will ever come when I'll say there's too much Weis & Hickman Dragonlance. Novel after novel, decade after decade, they still bring to life some of the most endearing characters, in the most fun adventures.
DoF picks up right where the time travel shenanigans of the last book left off, dumping Destina, Tas, Raistlin & Sturm in the middle of the Third Dragon War, in possession of the Graygem, needing to find a way home and not disrupt history.
Despite the done to death time travel tropes the story moves at a great pace, and manages to continue to be both very reward for those who know the lore of the series well, but welcoming and informative to those who don't, so no one's lost.
The tone in this novel is a tad lighter than the last, and where it was Destina's story at heart, here she takes a back seat to allow Raistlin and Sturm to have a 2nd (or in Raist's case 3rd, 4th...) shot in the spotlight. Small twist to this being, that these are the characters we know, but different, as they both have and have not lived through the events of all the previous books (time travel, yay!). This allows this particular pairing to share moments they previously would not have. This change might bother some, but I found it refreshing, and it serves well for what's being done with them here. And I won't lie, I'm always just glad to be back with them again.
If you love Dragonlance, it's a no brainer, go read it!
DoF picks up right where the time travel shenanigans of the last book left off, dumping Destina, Tas, Raistlin & Sturm in the middle of the Third Dragon War, in possession of the Graygem, needing to find a way home and not disrupt history.
Despite the done to death time travel tropes the story moves at a great pace, and manages to continue to be both very reward for those who know the lore of the series well, but welcoming and informative to those who don't, so no one's lost.
The tone in this novel is a tad lighter than the last, and where it was Destina's story at heart, here she takes a back seat to allow Raistlin and Sturm to have a 2nd (or in Raist's case 3rd, 4th...) shot in the spotlight. Small twist to this being, that these are the characters we know, but different, as they both have and have not lived through the events of all the previous books (time travel, yay!). This allows this particular pairing to share moments they previously would not have. This change might bother some, but I found it refreshing, and it serves well for what's being done with them here. And I won't lie, I'm always just glad to be back with them again.
If you love Dragonlance, it's a no brainer, go read it!
jaipal's review against another edition
4.0
It is good to go back to a favourite book and give it a twist. Our adventurers go back in time and are trying to get back to the present all while ensuring they will not change the past.
Of course, with Tasselhoff Burfoot along, things don't go as expected. The ending was unexpected but a great teaser for the next novel.
I highly recommend this trilogy for fans of the Dragonlance series as well as new readers to Dragonlance.
Of course, with Tasselhoff Burfoot along, things don't go as expected. The ending was unexpected but a great teaser for the next novel.
I highly recommend this trilogy for fans of the Dragonlance series as well as new readers to Dragonlance.
isethia's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mattcubic's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0