What do you think?
Rate this book
Dragonlance: Heroes #5
The Gates of Thorbardin: Dragonlance Heroes
The fifth in a series of classic Dragonlance novel tales.
This attractive digital release of The Gates of Thorbardin showcases a new look for the Heroes series. Each title in the series will reflect the new series design and feature entirely new cover art.
This attractive digital release of The Gates of Thorbardin showcases a new look for the Heroes series. Each title in the series will reflect the new series design and feature entirely new cover art.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1990
19 people are currently reading
2038 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 23, 2016
AWESOME STORY
To put it mildly, this story was great!!!!!!!!
If your familiar with the Dragonlance stories, then you will love this story. Even if your not familiar with all the stories, you will enjoy the characters, because when a kender and a couple of Dwarves and a human hang around with each other, things are going to happen in a big way! (Not in a good way either).
Please enjoy this great story.
To put it mildly, this story was great!!!!!!!!
If your familiar with the Dragonlance stories, then you will love this story. Even if your not familiar with all the stories, you will enjoy the characters, because when a kender and a couple of Dwarves and a human hang around with each other, things are going to happen in a big way! (Not in a good way either).
Please enjoy this great story.
August 15, 2025
Continuing my tour of DL books I collected back when they were new, that I never read at the time, but have held on to for a rainy day (rainy decade?).
Another solid story in the Heroes pantheon is delivered with this volume. I ended up becoming quite emotionally attached to some of the side characters quite unexpectedly. What arguably was the main character, didn't quite do it for me to the same degree. So that was interesting!
Also I thought that with only a few pages left, there was no way Parkinson was going to be able to wrap up the story in the way I expected. He delivered the conclusion, but it felt truncated, or abbreviated. Definitely felt there was a big reveal or a big finish waiting for the dwarven duo at the end, but instead we got just a whisper in comparison. Another unexpected point.
And is this the first appearance of naked breasts in a DL story (going by publication order, at least)? Definitely didn't expect that, either. I'm used to villains unmasking themselves, but the ? Now that is bravery! Parkinson definitely knew his audience (presumably, teenage boys)!
Finally, and of course this is a comment on most books back then or even now. The cover art--that scene wasn't in the book! Very misleading on top of that. But the interior art by Valerie Valusek--spot on, and quite enjoyable, as readers of the first decade of DL novels would expect.
Overall, a solid story with a surprising conclusion, great art, interesting villains, and just enough ties to the War of the Lance, to satisfy the universe readers.
Another solid story in the Heroes pantheon is delivered with this volume. I ended up becoming quite emotionally attached to some of the side characters quite unexpectedly. What arguably was the main character, didn't quite do it for me to the same degree. So that was interesting!
Also I thought that with only a few pages left, there was no way Parkinson was going to be able to wrap up the story in the way I expected. He delivered the conclusion, but it felt truncated, or abbreviated. Definitely felt there was a big reveal or a big finish waiting for the dwarven duo at the end, but instead we got just a whisper in comparison. Another unexpected point.
And is this the first appearance of naked breasts in a DL story (going by publication order, at least)? Definitely didn't expect that, either. I'm used to villains unmasking themselves, but the ? Now that is bravery! Parkinson definitely knew his audience (presumably, teenage boys)!
Finally, and of course this is a comment on most books back then or even now. The cover art--that scene wasn't in the book! Very misleading on top of that. But the interior art by Valerie Valusek--spot on, and quite enjoyable, as readers of the first decade of DL novels would expect.
Overall, a solid story with a surprising conclusion, great art, interesting villains, and just enough ties to the War of the Lance, to satisfy the universe readers.
November 27, 2025
The Gates of Thorbardin was absolutely delightful, Dan Parkinson knocked it out of the park. The characters were all so colourful and dripping in personality. Chane is a compelling main character who develops a lot, Chess is a great comic relief, Bobbin and Zap are both hilarious, Jillian is really fun, Wingover and Glenshadow are both great companions, Darkmoor and Caliban make for cool villains. The story has the feel of a game of D&D, with creative solutions to issues that make it feel less formulaic than your average sword and sorcery.
October 22, 2018
This definitely falls into the category of bog standard Dragonlance romp. The overall schema does nothing new, it’s simply more of the perfectly pleasant running around and having a bit of adventure romp that one expects when picking up generic fiction. That’s fine, I had fun with this one and there were a few things which stood out, the gnome Bobbin who is insane inasmuch as he’s successful inventing a flying machine but not being able to land it. I laughed a lot as he pops up every few chapters and comments on the action and asks for more raisins. This is Dragonlance humour done right. There’s also a weird female Dragonlord who rips off her top and fights barebreasted because errrr no reason, but it was oddly surreal and asexual in character and somehow worked as a strange fantasy image.
There was enough here that I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing Dan Parkinson stretch himself out a little bit on the Dwarven trilogy. My biggest problem with this book was not that it was over too quickly, but it did feel a bit haphazard towards the end, both the quest element and resolution lacked focus and intensity, and there was little drama in the characterisations beyond some humour in the setup (lead Dwarf Chane’s girlfriend who has never been outside is determined to find Chane and straightfacedly presents the human Wingover with a ridiculously inadequate map) and some characters seemed to fade into irrelevance altogether (There was an elfen mage at one point, I think). Still it added a nice little bit of lore surrounding Thorbardin, a hidden entrance into Thorbardin and how Fistandantilus used his magic to cause havoc during the Dwarfgate Wars. All good fun.
There was enough here that I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing Dan Parkinson stretch himself out a little bit on the Dwarven trilogy. My biggest problem with this book was not that it was over too quickly, but it did feel a bit haphazard towards the end, both the quest element and resolution lacked focus and intensity, and there was little drama in the characterisations beyond some humour in the setup (lead Dwarf Chane’s girlfriend who has never been outside is determined to find Chane and straightfacedly presents the human Wingover with a ridiculously inadequate map) and some characters seemed to fade into irrelevance altogether (There was an elfen mage at one point, I think). Still it added a nice little bit of lore surrounding Thorbardin, a hidden entrance into Thorbardin and how Fistandantilus used his magic to cause havoc during the Dwarfgate Wars. All good fun.
October 8, 2009
I'm not much of a dwarf fan so I got this just to try and complete the series. I had mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the descriptions of locales and events were nicely done. On the other, the characterisation, character development, and plot development felt rather weak. It was difficult to relate to the main character; and if the supporting characters weren't interesting enough to provide more flavour and distractions, it might have turned out boring.
September 18, 2019
This particular entry in the Dragonlance setting seemed on pace for 3/4 of the story, then incredibly rushed towards the end. The final battle seemed almost anti-climactic leaving me thinking "Is this the end?". Otherwise, the story was fun and enjoyable. The kender and gnome were great comic relief.
Ultimately, this was not the best in the series. However, it was worth reading.
Ultimately, this was not the best in the series. However, it was worth reading.
July 15, 2015
Enjoyable
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was a great read for the money and went by quickly. I have not read any other books by this author but I think this was well done.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was a great read for the money and went by quickly. I have not read any other books by this author but I think this was well done.
June 18, 2018
It's been a decade and a half since I last visited Krynn, but I fell on a hard case of "this is literally the only thing I can find to read," (yes, while technically surrounded by hundreds of books, but you know how that goes) and I'm glad I did. This delightful little volume certainly lives up to the memories of a once-favorite world. The kender is a classic kender, and the gnome utterly enchanting in his "insanity." The author seemed to have less of a grasp on magic users and elves, but no matter; the story was structured to sweep a reader along, and it's a fun and refreshing ride, sprinkled with humor possessed of just the right amount of subtlety to entertain without breaking atmosphere.
Word of Fistandantilus was not unwelcome either... makes me wonder if I underestimated some of the philosophical undercurrents of this mythical world. But the book. Yes, most of its magic is borrowed, not intrensic. Play off my nostalgia all you like, author. When done this lightly, I can't help but fall to the enchantment.
Word of Fistandantilus was not unwelcome either... makes me wonder if I underestimated some of the philosophical undercurrents of this mythical world. But the book. Yes, most of its magic is borrowed, not intrensic. Play off my nostalgia all you like, author. When done this lightly, I can't help but fall to the enchantment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 8, 2025DNF 1/3 the way through
Could not understand what was happening and why. Apparently the protagonist must find Thorbardin because he had a dream. After being chased by cats, he then starts forging a sword in the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason?!?!
Only character I related with was the protagonist's girlfriend because she, understandably, wants to find her missing boyfriend.
Even a kender couldn't save this story.
Could not understand what was happening and why. Apparently the protagonist must find Thorbardin because he had a dream. After being chased by cats, he then starts forging a sword in the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason?!?!
Only character I related with was the protagonist's girlfriend because she, understandably, wants to find her missing boyfriend.
Even a kender couldn't save this story.
May 23, 2018
A good read
Fun story line. Enjoyable reading. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Something different from the dragon lance universe. You won't t be disappointed reading this book
Fun story line. Enjoyable reading. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Something different from the dragon lance universe. You won't t be disappointed reading this book
March 8, 2025
T'was a pretty good book, but no self-respecting dwarf would ever use a sword
Also, somebody give that poor gnome some raisins, he deserves it
Also, somebody give that poor gnome some raisins, he deserves it
October 22, 2021
Well, I have just finished reading The Gates of Thorbardin. I didn’t mind it, but I didn’t love it either. Long after the Dwarfgate War but before the War of the Lance, Chane Feldstone dreams of an ancient artifact, Grallen’s helmet, that contains knowledge of a secret entrance into Thorbardin. Chane’s quest is to find the helm and seal the gate so the rising forces of darkness won’t penetrate the dwarven kingdom. His companions include a kender, a gnome, and a human. Wingover, the human, was probably my favorite character; I liked his brand of melancholy heroism. I also enjoyed the gnome and the idea of the unspent magic spell. Some of the elements of this felt very Krynnish, but then the ogres felt more like Tolkein trolls to me. And the villain had hints of becoming really interesting but fell flat to me. Overall, I liked the story but it reminded me of Stormblade, which I enjoyed much more.
February 11, 2014
I was disappointed with this book because I was expecting it to be as good as Stormblade, which it was not. I could definitely see Dan Parkinson's Western (as in "spaghetti" and "wild") influences from the moment the story began. This lent a different feel to the book than the other Dragonlance books that I have read. Parkinson's descriptions of place were very detailed and interesting to read. The main character was hard to get into, and I found myself hoping that this would be a story that ended with the good guy's untimely demise. Oh well. Can't have everything. Read Stormblade instead.
August 9, 2012
Some of the DragonLance stereotypes abound - odd relationships between a kender and a dwarf, a suspicious red-robed mage that might not be completely trustworthy - but all in all a well-written, well-told story that makes for a worthwhile entry in the canon of DragonLance literature.
Screeches to a halt at the end. I felt as though the writer was told he needed to wrap the story up in the next 5 pages even though he had 50 more to tell.
Screeches to a halt at the end. I felt as though the writer was told he needed to wrap the story up in the next 5 pages even though he had 50 more to tell.
March 2, 2016
a great adventure from start to finish with as usual a number of funny and brave characters, and true to myself I loved the kender the best. These little people are so full of spunk and so funny and the dwarves in this tale where both great heroes!! must admit I am not looking forward to the next book in the series as it is again about the whimp galen who I so disliked in a previous couple of books, the weasel, a name so thoroughly suited to this character!!!
December 30, 2012
A look at Thorbardin and how it works after the Cataclysm but before the Dark Queen starts her latest war. It read like several sessions of an actual table top gaming series. In some ways this was nice, in others it was a little too stop and go for me.
The gnome, Bobbin, is one of the funniest creatures yet.
The gnome, Bobbin, is one of the funniest creatures yet.
February 3, 2016
Bastante entretenido para lo que esperaba, ya que la saga de Héroes me decepciona bastante. A pesar de que considero que le sobran 80-100 páginas, el libro es bastante ameno y los personajes bastante divertidos para lo dramático de la historia. Ah, y se puede leer sin problema aunque no hayas leído nada de Dragonlance antes!
December 14, 2011
Was a fantastic book for a young teenager. I would recommend this for any boy ages 10-15. Harry Potter eat your heart out.
October 7, 2012
It's a good quest story. Plus there's a kender, which I always enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews