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Dragonlance: Lost Legends #1
Vinas Solamnus
Vinas Solamnus.
Soldier, Nobleman, Priest.
Vinas Solamnus.
Rebel, Commander, Conqueror.
Vinas Solamnus.
Author of The Oath and the Measure and founder of the Solamnic Knights.
No knight was ever nobler, more spiritual, more idealistic than Vinas Solamnus . . . but he wasn't always that way. The story of his early years, his education, and his crucible is truly one of the most famous . . .
Lost Legends of Krynn
Soldier, Nobleman, Priest.
Vinas Solamnus.
Rebel, Commander, Conqueror.
Vinas Solamnus.
Author of The Oath and the Measure and founder of the Solamnic Knights.
No knight was ever nobler, more spiritual, more idealistic than Vinas Solamnus . . . but he wasn't always that way. The story of his early years, his education, and his crucible is truly one of the most famous . . .
Lost Legends of Krynn
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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1491 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 18, 2017
***As a disclaimer, it has been years since I read this book. However, I read it enough times growing up and beyond that I still remember enough
Vinas Solamnus was always a bit of a guilty pleasure book, like most standalone Dragonlance stories. It seems that few fantasy fans are willing to admit that they like Dragonlance (and many openly mock them), but sometimes you just need to recognize that a book is fun. And this book, to me, was indeed fun.
A young Vinas Solamnus actually does not much resemble the Solamnic Knights that we all know from the Dragons of one-season-or-another series. He is flexible and willing to break rules, doing so many a time. The dialogue, though stilted at times, can be clever. The story about going to a place, and coming back to a place, has been told many times. But, somehow, King makes this an enjoyable there-and-back, what with all the griffins and necromancers and such.
I even remember a couple of lines, here and there (maybe not perfectly).
I am a scorpion, to be overtaken by ants.
When will this war of ice tears end?
Gotta love it.
Vinas Solamnus was always a bit of a guilty pleasure book, like most standalone Dragonlance stories. It seems that few fantasy fans are willing to admit that they like Dragonlance (and many openly mock them), but sometimes you just need to recognize that a book is fun. And this book, to me, was indeed fun.
A young Vinas Solamnus actually does not much resemble the Solamnic Knights that we all know from the Dragons of one-season-or-another series. He is flexible and willing to break rules, doing so many a time. The dialogue, though stilted at times, can be clever. The story about going to a place, and coming back to a place, has been told many times. But, somehow, King makes this an enjoyable there-and-back, what with all the griffins and necromancers and such.
I even remember a couple of lines, here and there (maybe not perfectly).
I am a scorpion, to be overtaken by ants.
When will this war of ice tears end?
Gotta love it.
February 1, 2022
Excellent, very realistic for a fantasy setting. Interesting and different uses for magic and inventive torture methods. I was worried this would be about a stodgy lawful good prick and was glad to be wrong. Combat tactics where smart but not put in a way I couldn’t understand what was going on. And the fantasy and more specially krynnish aspects where VERY well utilized and emphasized.
October 15, 2017
Una mirada a los primeros años de Vinas Solamnus, el fundador, entre otras cosas, de los famosos Caballeros de Solamnia. Pensaba que la novela se centraría precisamente en este hecho, pero me equivocaba totalmente.
Nos encontramos con una novela no demasiado larga (unas 300 páginas) que parece no estar adecuadamente desarrollada. Toda la primera parte transcurre en sucesivos saltos adelante, algunos de varios años, lo que difícilmente hace que el lector pueda sentir empatía por el personaje principal.
Los fallos principales del segundo tramo, escrito básicamente como una sucesión de luchas y escaramuzas, son dos. En primer lugar, unos enemigos que son en todo malos de cuento de hadas (el emperador malvado, la dama despechada, etc) sin una motivación verosímil. Y por otro lado unos aliados que solo siguen las decisiones de Vinas, se encuentre éste a un lado de la lucha como al otro: la amiga de la infancia (por supuesto, enamorada del héroe), el viejo y experimentado guerrero, o el clérigo buenazo, todos actúan por y para Vinas, sin cuestionárselo. Por cierto, que lo mismo sucede con las tropas, que se pasan de bando casi sin dudar.
Así pues, si a una trama excesivamente lineal le añadimos unos personajes sosos, tendremos algo que sin llegar a ser un bodrio, roza el límite. El libro está bien escrito y se deja leer con facilidad, aunque las luchas son un tanto farragosas, pero no es una buena lectura. Y por si fuera poco, el nacimiento de las órdenes de caballería solámnica aparece como un simple pensamiento en la mente del personaje, ya en el epílogo de la historia.
Nos encontramos con una novela no demasiado larga (unas 300 páginas) que parece no estar adecuadamente desarrollada. Toda la primera parte transcurre en sucesivos saltos adelante, algunos de varios años, lo que difícilmente hace que el lector pueda sentir empatía por el personaje principal.
Los fallos principales del segundo tramo, escrito básicamente como una sucesión de luchas y escaramuzas, son dos. En primer lugar, unos enemigos que son en todo malos de cuento de hadas (el emperador malvado, la dama despechada, etc) sin una motivación verosímil. Y por otro lado unos aliados que solo siguen las decisiones de Vinas, se encuentre éste a un lado de la lucha como al otro: la amiga de la infancia (por supuesto, enamorada del héroe), el viejo y experimentado guerrero, o el clérigo buenazo, todos actúan por y para Vinas, sin cuestionárselo. Por cierto, que lo mismo sucede con las tropas, que se pasan de bando casi sin dudar.
Así pues, si a una trama excesivamente lineal le añadimos unos personajes sosos, tendremos algo que sin llegar a ser un bodrio, roza el límite. El libro está bien escrito y se deja leer con facilidad, aunque las luchas son un tanto farragosas, pero no es una buena lectura. Y por si fuera poco, el nacimiento de las órdenes de caballería solámnica aparece como un simple pensamiento en la mente del personaje, ya en el epílogo de la historia.
September 13, 2020
This is the first D&D novel that I have read in about 20 years and after reading this one I regret that it took me so long. The story follows Vinas Solamnus as he becomes a famed general and finds out what is really important. It is a fast-paced story that spans several decades jumping through the highlights of Solamus's life. He is an honorable man serving a dishonorable tyrant and must question his loyalties as well as how he can best help the people of his kingdom. While it does not spend a lot of time fleshing out the characters, the story does give you enough to get a sense of the type of person each character is and for the story to make sense. While I think that this is a story that could have used about another 100 pages to fill the story out the author did a good job given the constraints. That being said this is a very entertaining book for anyone interested in fantasy and I will definitely not wait another 20 years to read the next one in the series.
November 12, 2018
The legendary originator of the Solamnic knighthood. This book is an early history of Ansalon, which is the world of 'Dragonlance'. The entire story is about the life of Vinas Solamnus and his path to greatness.
For anyone interested in the Rose, Sword, and Crown Knights of Solamnia, whether gaming in the world or otherwise, this is a valuable resource.
Good follow-up books to this story, centered on those three orders of that distinguished knighthood, is the trilogy: 'The Rise of Solamnia'.
"My honour is my life!"
For anyone interested in the Rose, Sword, and Crown Knights of Solamnia, whether gaming in the world or otherwise, this is a valuable resource.
Good follow-up books to this story, centered on those three orders of that distinguished knighthood, is the trilogy: 'The Rise of Solamnia'.
"My honour is my life!"
March 26, 2020
This was up next for my Dragonlance Chronological read...I had never read it so I gave it a try. I read the first 100 pages and skipped the middle to read the last 75. About what you would think from a Dragonlance novel that was probably conceived of and written in about a month.
Had some good quotes and history, but overall this novel has little to do with the forming of the Solamnic Order and more to do with how Vinas established his value system that would become its backbone.
Had some good quotes and history, but overall this novel has little to do with the forming of the Solamnic Order and more to do with how Vinas established his value system that would become its backbone.
December 1, 2018
Okay, this is a huge, epic story with tons of things going on. Unfortunately, due to its length, it accomplishes that by skipping around and not doing justice to anything after the first two major events.
I feel that if this had been a thirty hour audiobook (or a trilogy) it would have been perfect. But this presentation felt rushed and ultimately rather unsatisfying.
I feel that if this had been a thirty hour audiobook (or a trilogy) it would have been perfect. But this presentation felt rushed and ultimately rather unsatisfying.
November 25, 2020
This is one of the best fantasy books I have read. One of Dragonlance's best. It's a whirlwind escapade of the founder of the Knights of Solamnus. It's fast paced and exciting all the way through.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
February 8, 2022
Almost perfect. Just felt it was missing that “something” that would make it that much more greater. I did enjoy it alot tho. Probly one of the better dragonlance books ive read but to be honest it didnt feel like a dragonlance book. But still a great read.
dnf
December 2, 2023DNF - started listening for Liam O'Brian narrating, but tbh I haven't read Dragonlance in years, and with a hazy memory and practically no context for the story in the world, continuing really defeats the purpose.
December 7, 2017
Fun book! Lots of fantasy excitement. Wonderful characters.
December 11, 2019
Smooch Rating: 4/5
TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THERE.
Comment: What a D&D book, man. Like the progression made LITTLE sense but was SO FUN TO READ.
TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THERE.
Comment: What a D&D book, man. Like the progression made LITTLE sense but was SO FUN TO READ.
June 6, 2024
This is essentially the entire Tol trilogy crammed into one book, but done right this time, and with a proper ending
December 31, 2022
Se lee rápido y entretiene, pero siempre me da la sensación que la acción va a trompicones, no entendiéndose, directamente, la evolución y cambios en algunos personajes, especialmente en lo referente a la “mala”.
Por otra parte, se agradece el darle un tono más adulto dentro de lo que cabe, lo que no oculta que siempre tuve la sensación de que faltaba algo.
Si alguien lee este libro esperando saber más sobre los Caballeros de Solamnia, que se olvide, pues lo relacionado con ellos no pasa de ser anecdótico.
Por otra parte, se agradece el darle un tono más adulto dentro de lo que cabe, lo que no oculta que siempre tuve la sensación de que faltaba algo.
Si alguien lee este libro esperando saber más sobre los Caballeros de Solamnia, que se olvide, pues lo relacionado con ellos no pasa de ser anecdótico.
December 16, 2013
This book takes place in the Dragonlance realm. It tells the story of how the knighthood began.
This novel was a nice addition to the Dragonlance world. The book can be compared to a biography as this book details his life from his teen years to fatherhood and how the main character gains his ideals that will end up defining the knighthood. I was never bored with this book as it had a nice steady pace. If you are a fan of Dragonlance, you might want to try this novel.
This novel was a nice addition to the Dragonlance world. The book can be compared to a biography as this book details his life from his teen years to fatherhood and how the main character gains his ideals that will end up defining the knighthood. I was never bored with this book as it had a nice steady pace. If you are a fan of Dragonlance, you might want to try this novel.
October 8, 2013
I read this twice in high school, a really fantastic coming-of-age story that cemented how I viewed heroic fantasy knights alongside such luminaries as the Knights of the Round Table. Perhaps it's worth finding a copy (I sold mine long ago) and rereading to see how it holds up after more than a decade.
June 30, 2012
I had a lot of fun reading this book. The title character develops a chivalric order after spending his life struggling to learn what it means to keep his honor in a time of evil rulers and soldiers.
August 30, 2012
Leí el libro hace un tiempo ya y aunque no lo recuerdo, si tengo la impresión de que Vinas Solamnus me pareció todo un caballero hecho y derecho. Siempre viendo por el bien, la justicia... y aprendiendo de los errores.
October 26, 2012
This was my second time I read this book (the first time was in high school) and while it was still good, it wasn't as great as I first thought. Sure there were some great moments but then there were some parts that seemed too convenient.
September 21, 2015
Enjoyed listening to this, really enjoy listening to Liam's voice (aka vax'ildan - critical role!) The story was a little confusing in parts and I had to go over bits but I enjoyed how it explored vinas' life from being a boy of 16 right through to very old age, very cool :)
November 26, 2015
The Ergothian commander Vinas Solamnus travels to the north to quell a rebellion. When his allegiances shift he marches back to the Ergothian capital as leader of the rebel forces and what has become a civil war.
February 19, 2010
Not what I was expecting from a Dragonlance book. Was exciting and had a lot of magic and big battles.
October 25, 2014
A really good novel. I enjoyed it immensely.
February 15, 2016
This was the making of a Paladin, from his early years to the end.
Not great literature but a good read if you are into D&D.
Not great literature but a good read if you are into D&D.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews