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War Wizard #1
Dragonlance: War Wizard
The first volume of a new epic trilogy set in the world of Krynn, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, the creators of Dragonlance.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published August 4, 2026
About the author
Margaret Weis
688 books5,960 followersMargaret Edith Weis is an American fantasy and science fiction author of dozens of novels and short stories. At TSR, Inc., she teamed with Tracy Hickman to create the Dragonlance role-playing game (RPG) world. She is founding CEO and owner of Sovereign Press, Inc and Margaret Weis Productions, licensing several popular television and movie franchises to make RPG series in addition to their own.
In 1999, Pyramid magazine named Weis one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons, saying she and Hickman are "basically responsible for the entire gaming fiction genre". In 2002, she was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame in part for Dragonlance.
In 1999, Pyramid magazine named Weis one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons, saying she and Hickman are "basically responsible for the entire gaming fiction genre". In 2002, she was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame in part for Dragonlance.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 4, 2026
Despite having a stomach bug that could fell Chemosh I got the book done in one night and 1st review. I understand Richard A Knaaks Huma exists and is first. It is still an awesome story and is allowed to exist and should be read. It's Weiss snd Hickmans world so let them do what they want. Also it's like a great folklore hero they are so much larger than life they have numerous origin stories. It may not be " old Dragonlance "but it's still Dragonlance and I had a blast. I look forward to the next one eagerly and would recommend. Thank you Margaret and Tracey . P.s please more Huma. Goes without saying but Rest in Peace Dibs. You got me my start in table top and cool nerd stuff. Dragonlance was our series bro. Gaming isn't the same without you. Miss you bro.
August 4, 2026
Many years ago, a trilogy was published, about the most unlikely of heroes. Heroes who messed up, argued, experienced sometimes crippling self-doubt, and who didn’t necessarily even like each other. This trilogy was the Dragonlance Chronicles, and it introduced a world replete with its own lore and history. Part of that history was the tale of the famous knight Huma, and the equally famed wizard, Magius. The pair rode straight from reality into lore, on the wings of dragons. But, before they became venerated icons, they were two young men trying to find their way in the world.
This is that story.
Dragonlance is known for many things: the epic size of its world, the Dungeons and Dragons connection, the staggering number of novels in the series, and its action. What I think people sometimes miss, because it’s so inherent in Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman’s writing, is the attention paid to crafting nuanced characters. It’s never just “the magic user” or “the knight”: job descriptions come much farther down the list, below motivations, fears, flaws; all the things that make us human. In fact, take out the knight aspect, and the ability to cast spells, and you have two believable characters that could exist in any book genre, without fantastical additions. The strength of this book is in the way it grabs you and makes you immediately invested in Magius, not just his role in the history of Dragonlance, but how he becomes that larger-than-life figure.
This is one of the best books I’ve read in quite a while, a perfect reminder of why I love fantasy in the first place. I appreciate an epic battle as much as the next person, and I love dragons, but fantasy is more than that. It’s a safe stage from which to explore themes such as self-discovery, sacrifice, love, and loss. Add in a monster or two, and I’m sold! I expected War Wizard to be amazing, and my expectations were met and then exceeded.
This isn’t a novel with nonstop action. It takes its time, letting the reader peel back the layers of Magius and Huma’s relationship. How it sprang from Magius’ truly horrific young life (there are two scenes toward the beginning that were difficult for me to read, in all honesty, although they are essential to the plot and not there for shock value); how Huma accepted every aspect of Magius, including his magic, without question. And how this friendship will be tested as events unfold and war becomes inevitable.
The smaller cast of characters were all extremely well developed, and their relationships helped mold Magius. No one was superfluous and each scene mattered. I loved Louise, Huma’s mom. It’s not often that a mother character gets more than a line or two in a fantasy book, so seeing her as a larger part of the narrative was fantastic. She wasn’t just a vaguely supportive background figure either, which is something that irritates me in fantasy books. She played a huge role in both the strength of character, and the morals of her kids. She also spoke her mind, whether people wanted her to or not.
War Wizard walks that fine line between going straight into the story and setting things up for future novels in the trilogy. Fans of Dragonlance will recognize some things, such as a certain staff, while newcomers will also be able to follow along and become invested in Dragonlance. This means that new readers can technically use this as an entry point, although I still strongly recommend reading the Chronicles and Legends trilogies first (incidentally, they’re both currently available in gorgeous omnibus form). This is a novel set long before the events in the original two trilogies, so how you view the series and world itself will vary based on if you start at the beginning or if you jump in here.
The stakes get higher as the novel continues, with the last third of the book putting things in motion that will echo throughout the many ages of Dragonlance. Every story has a “once upon a time” and every hero has a starting point. The origins of Magius and Huma are brilliantly written and I was hooked immediately. I’m desperate to see what happens next and how the story will grow. I know I’ve set my own traveling pack around here somewhere; I can’t wait to take up my hoopak and continue the adventure started in War Wizard.
Thank you to Margaret Weis for providing me with a copy of this book. My review is voluntary and my opinions are completely my own.
Review originally appeared on my blog: https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
This is that story.
Dragonlance is known for many things: the epic size of its world, the Dungeons and Dragons connection, the staggering number of novels in the series, and its action. What I think people sometimes miss, because it’s so inherent in Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman’s writing, is the attention paid to crafting nuanced characters. It’s never just “the magic user” or “the knight”: job descriptions come much farther down the list, below motivations, fears, flaws; all the things that make us human. In fact, take out the knight aspect, and the ability to cast spells, and you have two believable characters that could exist in any book genre, without fantastical additions. The strength of this book is in the way it grabs you and makes you immediately invested in Magius, not just his role in the history of Dragonlance, but how he becomes that larger-than-life figure.
This is one of the best books I’ve read in quite a while, a perfect reminder of why I love fantasy in the first place. I appreciate an epic battle as much as the next person, and I love dragons, but fantasy is more than that. It’s a safe stage from which to explore themes such as self-discovery, sacrifice, love, and loss. Add in a monster or two, and I’m sold! I expected War Wizard to be amazing, and my expectations were met and then exceeded.
This isn’t a novel with nonstop action. It takes its time, letting the reader peel back the layers of Magius and Huma’s relationship. How it sprang from Magius’ truly horrific young life (there are two scenes toward the beginning that were difficult for me to read, in all honesty, although they are essential to the plot and not there for shock value); how Huma accepted every aspect of Magius, including his magic, without question. And how this friendship will be tested as events unfold and war becomes inevitable.
The smaller cast of characters were all extremely well developed, and their relationships helped mold Magius. No one was superfluous and each scene mattered. I loved Louise, Huma’s mom. It’s not often that a mother character gets more than a line or two in a fantasy book, so seeing her as a larger part of the narrative was fantastic. She wasn’t just a vaguely supportive background figure either, which is something that irritates me in fantasy books. She played a huge role in both the strength of character, and the morals of her kids. She also spoke her mind, whether people wanted her to or not.
War Wizard walks that fine line between going straight into the story and setting things up for future novels in the trilogy. Fans of Dragonlance will recognize some things, such as a certain staff, while newcomers will also be able to follow along and become invested in Dragonlance. This means that new readers can technically use this as an entry point, although I still strongly recommend reading the Chronicles and Legends trilogies first (incidentally, they’re both currently available in gorgeous omnibus form). This is a novel set long before the events in the original two trilogies, so how you view the series and world itself will vary based on if you start at the beginning or if you jump in here.
The stakes get higher as the novel continues, with the last third of the book putting things in motion that will echo throughout the many ages of Dragonlance. Every story has a “once upon a time” and every hero has a starting point. The origins of Magius and Huma are brilliantly written and I was hooked immediately. I’m desperate to see what happens next and how the story will grow. I know I’ve set my own traveling pack around here somewhere; I can’t wait to take up my hoopak and continue the adventure started in War Wizard.
Thank you to Margaret Weis for providing me with a copy of this book. My review is voluntary and my opinions are completely my own.
Review originally appeared on my blog: https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
August 8, 2026
What can I say? These authors grabbed me and have me reading ever since. Characters are amazing and the story was as good as I remember them to be. Characters stories I have wondered about since I started reading are being explained and i can’t wait to read more.
Did Not Finish
August 9, 2026I just couldn't care enough to finish this book, it reads more like a history textbook than a lived in story. Anything that happens is just related by the characters rather than shown.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews