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Dragonlance: Ergoth #1
A Warrior's Journey
The first title in a new trilogy from Dragonlance author team Thompson and Cook.
Writing team Thompson & Cook once again explore the history of the ancient Dragonlance world in "A Warrior's Journey," the first title in the new Ergoth trilogy. Considered the historical specialists of the Dragonlance world, the authors take the story to a colorful and violent era of its history that has not been previously chronicled in any novel.
The mighty Ergothian empire is gripped by civil war.
Centuries before the first Cataclysm sunders Ansalon, two imperial dynasties struggle for supremacy. Brutal warlords jockey for power, while corrupt wizards sell their skills to the highest bidder. Unnatural monsters prey on the unwary.
Amid this chaos and upheaval, a brave young peasant shakes the towers of the mighty as his fate and the destiny of Krynn collide.
Writing team Thompson & Cook once again explore the history of the ancient Dragonlance world in "A Warrior's Journey," the first title in the new Ergoth trilogy. Considered the historical specialists of the Dragonlance world, the authors take the story to a colorful and violent era of its history that has not been previously chronicled in any novel.
The mighty Ergothian empire is gripped by civil war.
Centuries before the first Cataclysm sunders Ansalon, two imperial dynasties struggle for supremacy. Brutal warlords jockey for power, while corrupt wizards sell their skills to the highest bidder. Unnatural monsters prey on the unwary.
Amid this chaos and upheaval, a brave young peasant shakes the towers of the mighty as his fate and the destiny of Krynn collide.
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
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519 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 10, 2015
This is a terrific story, and no prior knowledge of the Dragonlance world is really required. This novel, the first of a trilogy, just happens to share the same setting. The story is full of twists and it gets more complex as it unfolds; this trilogy is compelling and a great read. Along with the Legends trilogy, this is undoubtedly my favourite Dragonlance story. Highly recommended.
December 5, 2016
Wow, what a protagonist. No flaws or weaknesses, just super good at everything. The writing style is frustrating, since there is never any sense of urgency or excitement. It's supposed to be "Show, don't tell" instead of the other way around.
February 17, 2016
My rating is 4.5 stars.
This is the beginning of a trilogy that is set in the world of Dragonlance. This book spans over many years as it tells the the story of a farm boy that is adopted by the Ergoth army and his rise throughout this army. During his rise he has several adventures and along the way he makes loyal friends and enemies.
This is a excellent start of this trilogy. The author does a terrific job of introducing many characters with distinct personalities and one cannot help but being invested in these characters. Also, the setting is well developed as we get a real sense of the hierarchy of the Ergoth empire and I was impressed by the main character's rise even though the odds are against him. There are plenty of action scenes to soothe the action enthusiast. There were a couple of twists that surprised me and were enjoyable. The only complaint I have for this book is that it is the first book of a trilogy and it is a set up book. That is why it did not get the full five star rating.
This is an excellent story and exactly what I want in my fantasy genre. It has the action sequences but also builds up different characters. One does not need any prior knowledge of this world to enjoy this book.
This is the beginning of a trilogy that is set in the world of Dragonlance. This book spans over many years as it tells the the story of a farm boy that is adopted by the Ergoth army and his rise throughout this army. During his rise he has several adventures and along the way he makes loyal friends and enemies.
This is a excellent start of this trilogy. The author does a terrific job of introducing many characters with distinct personalities and one cannot help but being invested in these characters. Also, the setting is well developed as we get a real sense of the hierarchy of the Ergoth empire and I was impressed by the main character's rise even though the odds are against him. There are plenty of action scenes to soothe the action enthusiast. There were a couple of twists that surprised me and were enjoyable. The only complaint I have for this book is that it is the first book of a trilogy and it is a set up book. That is why it did not get the full five star rating.
This is an excellent story and exactly what I want in my fantasy genre. It has the action sequences but also builds up different characters. One does not need any prior knowledge of this world to enjoy this book.
August 14, 2016
When I first started reading this book I was going to put it down as none of the characters where those I had met so far in the dragonlance series but as I read a bit more I really got into it. I persisted with the book as I like the way Thompson writes and through to his usual style he brought Tol the main character of the book rises from a plain simple farm boy to a great hero in this ergoth trilogy. I have already started the second book of this trilogy as I want to see how the mage traitor is going to end up!! what a proper scumbag he is!! and Xim Xim the monster in this book is something else but Tol is fearless!!
September 17, 2021
I think I have gone through most of the good Dragonlance series', and if not, they are narrated by terrible or monotone readers. I know, I know, I could read it myself. But I am a simple man.
All that said, I enjoyed this book even though I could have read it as separate from Dragonlance. It doesn't feel like a homecoming to Krynn, but it also doesn't feel like it shouldn't be called a Dragonlance novel. It is enjoyable, well written, reasonably intelligent (for Dragonlance) and engaging.
The narrator Dennis Holland (?) does an above average job for a Dragonlance book. This last opinion is one that I think is important for a lot of people who might be considering listening to the Ergoth trilogy, or are just searching for a Dragonlance book that is both fun and has a narrator that doesn't ruin the story.
Oh, and there are Kender somewhere in the series. So rejoice or claw your eyes out.
All that said, I enjoyed this book even though I could have read it as separate from Dragonlance. It doesn't feel like a homecoming to Krynn, but it also doesn't feel like it shouldn't be called a Dragonlance novel. It is enjoyable, well written, reasonably intelligent (for Dragonlance) and engaging.
The narrator Dennis Holland (?) does an above average job for a Dragonlance book. This last opinion is one that I think is important for a lot of people who might be considering listening to the Ergoth trilogy, or are just searching for a Dragonlance book that is both fun and has a narrator that doesn't ruin the story.
Oh, and there are Kender somewhere in the series. So rejoice or claw your eyes out.
April 28, 2024
Story-wise, it's just yer generic "farmer boy's rise to legendary hero" student prompt you've seen a million times before, but with a DnD twist and a spittle of originality here and there.. but darnit that overused formula alius manages to be entertaining, even if you know to the letter what's gonna happen
October 9, 2019
First half of the book is good. After that though is awful. It took me over a month to read the last half. At this point I'm not sure if I want to read the other 2 books.
May 17, 2020
Much better then I expected
January 25, 2021
After the Barbarians trilogy this was a big step up. Back on track.
May 4, 2023
I really enjoy this author's work. Settings I don't think would be interesting they have a knack for hooking me in.
April 27, 2024
Better than expected for a story in a land I care little for. And for a form of culture I have issues with.
April 30, 2013
The book started really good. A story starting from a peasant boy who turn into a warrior, no special power, legacy, prophecy, just a humble man. Too humble...
Luck is really good for Tol, always in the right place. Got the best training, found magic item. On his first war, he become an instant leader and made tactic to save the day. He was offered a recompense by the Prince ans he choose to lead foot soldiers. No ambition but always but still advance in the upper class.
After a few years aa a champion of the Prince, he take a quest, killing a monster of legend in kender country Ximxim (giant mantis). The monster killed an army but Tol band's resisted, hurt it and Tol and a 'powerful' sorcerer 'Mandes' kill it in one a the worst battle I seen in a book. Mandes is supposed to be powerful (and got a big role in the second book of the serie) but he cast 4 spells in the combat against the monster and was drained. He got magic oil in a bottle. The bottle felt and broke so the monster slipped on it in the lava.
Tol often won like this with a last minute move.
Characters come and goes without background so you just have one dimension and it's a problem of the book. Really linear, you don't really get big surprise.
Just enough interesting to make me want to read the second book.
Luck is really good for Tol, always in the right place. Got the best training, found magic item. On his first war, he become an instant leader and made tactic to save the day. He was offered a recompense by the Prince ans he choose to lead foot soldiers. No ambition but always but still advance in the upper class.
After a few years aa a champion of the Prince, he take a quest, killing a monster of legend in kender country Ximxim (giant mantis). The monster killed an army but Tol band's resisted, hurt it and Tol and a 'powerful' sorcerer 'Mandes' kill it in one a the worst battle I seen in a book. Mandes is supposed to be powerful (and got a big role in the second book of the serie) but he cast 4 spells in the combat against the monster and was drained. He got magic oil in a bottle. The bottle felt and broke so the monster slipped on it in the lava.
Tol often won like this with a last minute move.
Characters come and goes without background so you just have one dimension and it's a problem of the book. Really linear, you don't really get big surprise.
Just enough interesting to make me want to read the second book.
May 10, 2010
I have read most of the dragonlance novels and I must say this is the first one I have read in a long time that really drew me in. Although there are 'Krynnisms' mentioned, it is separated by such a gulf in time and location from most of the other stories that it felt fresh and new.
November 27, 2015
Farm boy Tol saves a wounded soldier and is suddenly thrust into a civil war. Tol is a capable warrior but is never accepted by the nobility he fights for and alongside, even as he earns honor and prestige and rank.
June 7, 2012
I didn't want the book to end, and am looking forward to the next. It did start off slow but once it got going it was hard to stop.
June 26, 2012
I liked it, but the over all story wasn't strong enough for me to invest in the whole trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews