Mystic Empire

Mystic Empire
Bronze Canticles #3
Tracy & Laura Hickman
Fantasy
3 stars
391 pages

The conclusion to the Bronze Canticles trilogy.

The goblins get a rift gate to the human world and invade. The Shuraj[dead magic] elves are going to be destroyed by the Kyree and get a gate to the human world. The elves make alliance with the humans and work together to close the gates. The gates are closed and the goblins are hunted down.

The end.

I really didn’t care for this ending. The story was cool and all the action was nice. But the whole point was the “Binding of Worlds”, which never happened. The Hickman’s just let it slide for a later time. Bleh to them!

Mystic Quest

Mystic Quest
Bronze Canticles #2
Tracy & Laura Hickman
Fantasy
3 stars
453 pages

The saga continues, in 3 stories again. Deals with a new set of people, mostly the children or relatives of those from Mystic Warrior. The human world is about a group of mystics trying to find the original city of the gods. The elven world is about a group trying to find an artifact in the capital city of the Kyree. The goblin story is about a goblin sent to spy out on a trollish city and discovers a whole library of books.

Overall, I actually liked this better than the first. More going on, and a better understanding of everything. Not sure how the 3 worlds coming together is going to work out, interesting to find out.

Mystic Warrior

Mystic Warrior
Bronze Canticles #1
Tracy & Laura Hickman
fantasy
3 stars
433 pages

3 worlds. One of men, dragons and dwarves. One of goblins and mechanical titans. One of elves, dryads, nyads, etc. One man, Galen, is taken as an “Elect”, or madman under the laws of the dragonkings. He dreams of another world. The fae world. His dreams and communications within them become real. Begins the start of humanity throwing off the chains of the dragonkings. It seems that all 3 worlds are somehow going to become one and the dreams are precursor to it. It seems that communication between worlds opens up the user to a well of “deep magic”. Plan on finishing the series.

The Seventh Gate

The Seventh Gate
Death Gate Cycle #7
Margaret Weis
Tracy Hickman
fantasy
83 / 3 stars

finishes up the tale. The good and bad dragons\serpents, along with the patryns and sartans are all locked into the labyrinth, death’s gate is shut, so no more travel between worlds but the flow between worlds still works, so life can continue. Find out alot about the Sundering and history. Glad to finish it tho.

Into the Labyrinth

Into the Labyrinth
Death Gate Cycle #6
Margaret Weis
Tracy Hickman
fantasy
83 / 3 stars

The seventh gate is revealed, as the gate where all power resides. The serpentsnakes play a much bigger role and their opposites are shown thru the single personage of Zifnab’s dragon. But the ‘goodpower’ just seems to stay hidden, very disappointing. Lots of cool things happen tho. Haplo finds his old lover and Alfred stops running and accepts his status of serpentmage.

The Hand of Chaos

The Hand of Chaos
Death Gate Cycle #5
Margaret Weis
Tracy Hickman
fantasy
83 / 3 stars

Hugh the Hand is back and makes sure Bane is killed. Haplo realizes the serpentsnakes are simply our own evilness phantasmagorized[?]. Deals with the elves and their magic system a bit more. Very interesting.

Serpent Mage

Serpent Mage
Death Gate Cycle #4
Margaret Weis
Tracy Hickman
fantasy
83 / 3 stars

the fourth world. Alfred finds the remnants of his people, Haplo finds the Sartan responsible for the Sundering and both find that they are indeed not the highest powers. More dualism, but you really only see the side of evil. Depressing to see the downside and not the upside. Made me thankful I know there is One All Powerful God, not 2 coequal opposing forces duking it out.

Fire Sea

Fire Sea
Death Gate Cycle #3
Margaret Weis
Tracy Hickman
fantasy
83 / 3stars

Another world, the remnants of the Sartan, using necromancy, degraded themselves, a Prophecy fulfilled. Alfred and Haplo see, briefly, what the other has gone thru and this creates a bond, even if hated, by Haplo.

Elven Star

Elven Star
Death Gate Cycle #2
Margaret Weis
Tracy Hickman
fantasy
83 / 3stars

Haplo on another world, no Alfred, but some funny\mysterious wizard named Zifnab. Find out there are greater powers than the Patryn and Sartan.

Dragon Wing

Dragon Wing
Death Gate Cycle #1
Margaret Weis
Tracy Hickman
fantasy
83 / 3 stars

I feel like I’ve been dropped into the middle of the story[it is done that way on purpose, I know, but still…]. But a good story. Solid characters, and some real whizbang ideas-worlds of earth, fire, water and air, 2 master races-one imprisoned, the other seemingly disappeared, etc. Very enjoyable over all.