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Winter King's War #1
The Ring of Allaire
Master magician Blais was dead, murdered by the evil ice-lord Nimir. Now there was only Tristan, an ill-trained apprentice, to carry on the quest to rescue Allaire, a princess held in enchanted sleep in Nimir's frozen halls. Though a thousand master mages had already failed in the quest, Tristan must succeed -- or all of Calandra would be doomed by Nimir's greed.
First Tristan would have to find the wonder-horse Valadan, who had vanished long ago. Then he had to secure the aid of the one knight among many who was a true Heir to the Throne. Together, they must overcome the Guardian dragon of Nimir's realm.
After that -- well, there was still the tenth ring to be found, since Allaire was powerless without it.
Nothing, of course, was ever that simple. There were complications . . .
First Tristan would have to find the wonder-horse Valadan, who had vanished long ago. Then he had to secure the aid of the one knight among many who was a true Heir to the Throne. Together, they must overcome the Guardian dragon of Nimir's realm.
After that -- well, there was still the tenth ring to be found, since Allaire was powerless without it.
Nothing, of course, was ever that simple. There were complications . . .
231 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
13 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Susan Dexter
22 books66 followersSusan Dexter’s favorite subject for her books is fantasy and throughout her life has worked as a librarian, teacher, and writer.
Susan received her first award, the Merit Award, in 1976 from the Lawrence County Open Arts Show. She also received the Distinguished Award from them in 1982 and 1983. The Wizard’s Shadow was listed among the “Books for the Teen Age” in 1993 by the New York Public Library.
She now lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania in the vintage house that her book sales enabled her to buy and restore.
Susan received her first award, the Merit Award, in 1976 from the Lawrence County Open Arts Show. She also received the Distinguished Award from them in 1982 and 1983. The Wizard’s Shadow was listed among the “Books for the Teen Age” in 1993 by the New York Public Library.
She now lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania in the vintage house that her book sales enabled her to buy and restore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 22, 2012
I have never considered my comments on books to count as "reviews". They're just my thoughts and feelings on the book I've recently finished. In the case of The Ring of Allaire this is even more true than usual as I barely talk about the contents of the book (a lovely and charming tale, it might perhaps be considered a little "old-fashioned" these days), and instead reflect on how reading it made me feel.
I had been looking forward to rereading this ever since I discovered Susan Dexter had updated it and released it as an ebook. It took me long enough to get to it that I now have all three in the trilogy waiting on my Kindle (or technically up on Amazon ready for me to download to my Kindle whenever I'm ready). I have fond memories of reading the series back when it came out in the 1980s and while it was more a case of feelings than specific memories, that was enough to make me want to read them again.
I was surprised by how slowly I read this - it took me two weeks, with other books read at the same time - which is unusual for me. And I wasn't reading slowly because I was bored or not enjoying myself, but more because that just became the pace that seemed appropriate. It turned into a leisurely read, and perhaps that's just what I needed over the summer holidays. (I'm also very tired right now, so again, maybe leisurely was best.)
For all that I read it slowly, I really did enjoy it. The story built and felt very familiar, for all that it must be 25 years or something since I read it. Here I mean familiar is a good way, just as I mean leisurely in a good way. It was a warm and relaxing read over a most un-summery two weeks of summer and that turned out to be perfect.
I remembered most of the characters pretty well (but I forgot Minstrel - how could I possibly forget darling little Minstrel, the canary) and I knew what the twist at the end was going to be, but that didn't hurt the story at all. Instead, it was interesting to watch the progress of plot and characters already knowing it, as I hadn't on my first reading. I don't think it changed my reading of the book (it certainly didn't change my feelings for the book), but it did leave me feeling justified about which characters I preferred, which I guess means the author did her job well.
I had no idea, while reading, what Ms Dexter might have changed and what she left the same. I have my paperbacks down stairs (and their covers are so much prettier than these self-published new editions, but I can't blame the author for that as I assume she doesn't have the rights to use the paper editions' covers) and I could have gone and checked it out, but I didn't feel any need to do that. I just followed the story and enjoyed it.
I'm looking forward to moving on to book two, but as with the reading of this one, I'm not feeling desperate to rush into it (which is good, since I started the 900-odd page Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb today). Instead, I'm feeling decidedly leisurely about it. In this harried day and age, there often isn't much time for leisurely any more. Many thanks to Susan Dexter for allowing me to rediscover it with her charming trilogy.
I had been looking forward to rereading this ever since I discovered Susan Dexter had updated it and released it as an ebook. It took me long enough to get to it that I now have all three in the trilogy waiting on my Kindle (or technically up on Amazon ready for me to download to my Kindle whenever I'm ready). I have fond memories of reading the series back when it came out in the 1980s and while it was more a case of feelings than specific memories, that was enough to make me want to read them again.
I was surprised by how slowly I read this - it took me two weeks, with other books read at the same time - which is unusual for me. And I wasn't reading slowly because I was bored or not enjoying myself, but more because that just became the pace that seemed appropriate. It turned into a leisurely read, and perhaps that's just what I needed over the summer holidays. (I'm also very tired right now, so again, maybe leisurely was best.)
For all that I read it slowly, I really did enjoy it. The story built and felt very familiar, for all that it must be 25 years or something since I read it. Here I mean familiar is a good way, just as I mean leisurely in a good way. It was a warm and relaxing read over a most un-summery two weeks of summer and that turned out to be perfect.
I remembered most of the characters pretty well (but I forgot Minstrel - how could I possibly forget darling little Minstrel, the canary) and I knew what the twist at the end was going to be, but that didn't hurt the story at all. Instead, it was interesting to watch the progress of plot and characters already knowing it, as I hadn't on my first reading. I don't think it changed my reading of the book (it certainly didn't change my feelings for the book), but it did leave me feeling justified about which characters I preferred, which I guess means the author did her job well.
I had no idea, while reading, what Ms Dexter might have changed and what she left the same. I have my paperbacks down stairs (and their covers are so much prettier than these self-published new editions, but I can't blame the author for that as I assume she doesn't have the rights to use the paper editions' covers) and I could have gone and checked it out, but I didn't feel any need to do that. I just followed the story and enjoyed it.
I'm looking forward to moving on to book two, but as with the reading of this one, I'm not feeling desperate to rush into it (which is good, since I started the 900-odd page Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb today). Instead, I'm feeling decidedly leisurely about it. In this harried day and age, there often isn't much time for leisurely any more. Many thanks to Susan Dexter for allowing me to rediscover it with her charming trilogy.
April 20, 2019
A terrible novel. The main quest (The one that thousands of other mages have failed at for some reason) is over in 70 pages and the rest of the book is time wasting nonsense. Also, every character has exactly one personality trait that they never deviate from.
February 22, 2009
One of the best fantasies I have read in a long time. The characters are in the same vein as the David Eddings 'fantasy with humor' but these are a bit more 'real' and a lot more agreeable. A good start to a lovely series.
December 26, 2014
read it as a kid and loved it
Reading it again in the revised version on kindle. Loving it.
I read this book in its original form some 30 years ago. The hard copies are in the loft. On my second date with my now wife we talked about children's names. I said I really liked Tristan. Due to the power and magic of this book. It's not Game of Thrones. But it is not intending to be.
I'm not sure I have worked out where all of the authors' revisions come, but they I don't feel I need to. One to savour. But I didn't do that - I finished it in a damn rush!
Reading it again in the revised version on kindle. Loving it.
I read this book in its original form some 30 years ago. The hard copies are in the loft. On my second date with my now wife we talked about children's names. I said I really liked Tristan. Due to the power and magic of this book. It's not Game of Thrones. But it is not intending to be.
I'm not sure I have worked out where all of the authors' revisions come, but they I don't feel I need to. One to savour. But I didn't do that - I finished it in a damn rush!
April 28, 2015
Full review (yes, even longer) at my blog: http://agoldoffish.wordpress.com/2011...
The basic structure of the story – of Allaire, and of the trilogy as a whole – is almost formulaic. A young man (19, I believe), orphaned very young and raised by, apprenticed to a wizard, is set on a huge quest even though he is not the most … ept of lads. He finds himself shoved into a destiny he never would have imagined, and for which would never assume himself capable. But, in the classic tradition, there’s no one else to do it: he is it. The first quest turns into a series of quests, which lead to one great Quest, to in effect save the world, with a wildly assorted group of traveling companions.
That right there could describe a great many fantasy novels. But that’s where these books and formula part company. Tristan, the apprentice, should be cookie cutter: he’s the young proto-magician who is called upon to be a hero, who can’t even pull off a simple spell without disaster. But Tristan ranks high among my favorite fictional characters. The majority of the three books use his point of view, and he’s an excellent traveling companion. For all his faults – and he does have faults – he also ranks high among the fictional characters I would like to meet. He is selfless in several ways; he is embarrassed by his many failures and fumbles and accidents but doesn’t let that keep him from making efforts, and it doesn’t distance him from others. He tries, he fails, he grits his teeth and picks himself up and moves on. And, too, he’s big-hearted; his loyalty, once given, is solid.
He and his master Blais live quietly apart from a village by the sea in the east of Calandra, and muddle along quite well, making their living with love philtres and minor weather witchings. There’s much call for the latter, because Calandra - and beyond – has for centuries been more and more under the spell of Nímir. No one knows exactly who or what Nímir is, but he’s evil, and powerful, and bent on – to inappropriately reference C.S. Lewis – making it always winter and never Christmas. Kind of like this past winter, only to the point where if spring is seen it’s brief and feeble.
There is a prophecy that Nímir can be defeated by a team made up of a wizard, the true heir to the throne of Calandra (which seat has been vacant for a very long time), and Valadan, the war-horse of Esdragon, a stallion who is said to have been sired by the wind and is effectively immortal. He is magic. And he’s gone. But Blais, as it turns out, has been researching the prophecies for most of his life, and must have come across something, because Nímir kills him one fine afternoon while his apprentice is out. Tristan comes home to find his master vanished, and only a message and a spell left behind, a spell which puts him on the path to find Valadan.
With him from the cottage go Thomas, a cat who scorns the title of familiar, and who is another of my favorite characters; and Minstrel, the eagle-hearted canary who refuses to be left behind simply because he is small and fragile. Dexter's handling of animal characters should be required reading for anyone who plans to do anything remotely similar - it's note-perfect.
It's a wonderful start to a wonderful series - four stars only to leave room for The Mountains of Channadran.
The basic structure of the story – of Allaire, and of the trilogy as a whole – is almost formulaic. A young man (19, I believe), orphaned very young and raised by, apprenticed to a wizard, is set on a huge quest even though he is not the most … ept of lads. He finds himself shoved into a destiny he never would have imagined, and for which would never assume himself capable. But, in the classic tradition, there’s no one else to do it: he is it. The first quest turns into a series of quests, which lead to one great Quest, to in effect save the world, with a wildly assorted group of traveling companions.
That right there could describe a great many fantasy novels. But that’s where these books and formula part company. Tristan, the apprentice, should be cookie cutter: he’s the young proto-magician who is called upon to be a hero, who can’t even pull off a simple spell without disaster. But Tristan ranks high among my favorite fictional characters. The majority of the three books use his point of view, and he’s an excellent traveling companion. For all his faults – and he does have faults – he also ranks high among the fictional characters I would like to meet. He is selfless in several ways; he is embarrassed by his many failures and fumbles and accidents but doesn’t let that keep him from making efforts, and it doesn’t distance him from others. He tries, he fails, he grits his teeth and picks himself up and moves on. And, too, he’s big-hearted; his loyalty, once given, is solid.
He and his master Blais live quietly apart from a village by the sea in the east of Calandra, and muddle along quite well, making their living with love philtres and minor weather witchings. There’s much call for the latter, because Calandra - and beyond – has for centuries been more and more under the spell of Nímir. No one knows exactly who or what Nímir is, but he’s evil, and powerful, and bent on – to inappropriately reference C.S. Lewis – making it always winter and never Christmas. Kind of like this past winter, only to the point where if spring is seen it’s brief and feeble.
There is a prophecy that Nímir can be defeated by a team made up of a wizard, the true heir to the throne of Calandra (which seat has been vacant for a very long time), and Valadan, the war-horse of Esdragon, a stallion who is said to have been sired by the wind and is effectively immortal. He is magic. And he’s gone. But Blais, as it turns out, has been researching the prophecies for most of his life, and must have come across something, because Nímir kills him one fine afternoon while his apprentice is out. Tristan comes home to find his master vanished, and only a message and a spell left behind, a spell which puts him on the path to find Valadan.
With him from the cottage go Thomas, a cat who scorns the title of familiar, and who is another of my favorite characters; and Minstrel, the eagle-hearted canary who refuses to be left behind simply because he is small and fragile. Dexter's handling of animal characters should be required reading for anyone who plans to do anything remotely similar - it's note-perfect.
It's a wonderful start to a wonderful series - four stars only to leave room for The Mountains of Channadran.
August 31, 2023
So, this book... it's my second from this author and apparently her first novel. You can tell. It's not a bad book but it has pacing problems like whoa. The summary and what seems like the main quest are finished in about the first 70 pages, which was somewhat shocking to me.
issue was it felt like there were a lot of cool concepts and set pieces that were just zipped through. Things I felt could have been longer, like being hunted by the magical hound or crossing the river, were finished in like half a page. It was like the book was on fast-forward, skipping all the interesting action parts and then massively slowing down in other sections. That wouldn't bother me so much but I also struggled with the characters a bit at first. They felt very surface level and it took awhile for them to settle for me.
Honestly I nearly DNFed this book but I'm glad I persisted. It picked up for me about halfway through and I felt it ended in a pretty good place, and stronger than it started. I enjoyed Thomas a great deal, and always Valadan who I met first in The Wind Witch. I think Elisena was my favorite character and thought her story was the most interesting out of all the mains. I do plan on seeking out the future books. I know already that this author improves, as I've read one of her later books, so we'll see what the future brings.
issue was it felt like there were a lot of cool concepts and set pieces that were just zipped through. Things I felt could have been longer, like being hunted by the magical hound or crossing the river, were finished in like half a page. It was like the book was on fast-forward, skipping all the interesting action parts and then massively slowing down in other sections. That wouldn't bother me so much but I also struggled with the characters a bit at first. They felt very surface level and it took awhile for them to settle for me.
Honestly I nearly DNFed this book but I'm glad I persisted. It picked up for me about halfway through and I felt it ended in a pretty good place, and stronger than it started. I enjoyed Thomas a great deal, and always Valadan who I met first in The Wind Witch. I think Elisena was my favorite character and thought her story was the most interesting out of all the mains. I do plan on seeking out the future books. I know already that this author improves, as I've read one of her later books, so we'll see what the future brings.
November 17, 2014
Good, basic fantasy story, with a somewhat bumbling apprentice mage as hero. Tristan, the apprentice mage, doesn't take himself too seriously. At times his lack of confidence in himself can be annoying. I just wanted to slap him and tell him to get over it already! But he travels on his quest with a talented and sarcastic cat, a brave and optimistic canary, and a magical warhorse. The cat and horse can communicate with Tristan telepathically. They have some of the best dialogue. The villain is built up to be truly horrible, but when it comes to the confrontation, he's a little disappointing. The characters are well-drawn and the story of the quest is OK. This is the first of three books that make up "The Winter King's War." The second book is "The Sword of Calandra" and the third is "the Mountains of Channadran."
June 1, 2016
I read this book when I was in late middle school or early high school, and then read it a bunch of times afterwards. Clearly I enjoyed it then.
I just finished reading it to my children. It's still good; however, I found Tristan to be a little bit creepy when it came to Allaire - focusing far too much on her beauty and far too little on her personality.
Anyway, my children liked it and begged me to buy the second book, which I have never read. So we are exploring that one together.
I just finished reading it to my children. It's still good; however, I found Tristan to be a little bit creepy when it came to Allaire - focusing far too much on her beauty and far too little on her personality.
Anyway, my children liked it and begged me to buy the second book, which I have never read. So we are exploring that one together.
January 14, 2017
In High Fantasy Land, a magician's apprentice sets about the bothersome task of finding a magic ring and rescuing a princess.
The early chapters of The Ring of Allaire are not without charm -- the protagonist is accompanied by some wonderful talking animal companions, and the tone is dryly funny -- but the rest of the book is rote and tedious.
The early chapters of The Ring of Allaire are not without charm -- the protagonist is accompanied by some wonderful talking animal companions, and the tone is dryly funny -- but the rest of the book is rote and tedious.
July 25, 2015
1st in series.
October 29, 2011
I love this book. It takes some high fantasy tropes--worn ones at that--and does marvelous things with them.
February 24, 2018
Given that I'm usually skeptical about fantasy not written in the last 20 years, and that, from first glance, this looks like it will be a typical fantasy where the characters are lifeless and dull, they go on a quest and you couldn't care less about the result, but this is far from the truth in this case!
Yes, this is quite a short book at 231 pages, but you get taken straight into the action which is non-stop from start to finish. You feel a bit overwhelmed sometimes because there is no time to stop and breathe! But it is worth it! This was one of those books I just wanted to keep reading to see what happened, and subsequently, I'm now desperate to read the next 2 books in the series (which luckily i already have!).
Amazingly, for such a short book, it doesn't seem to loose it's depth. The fault of many short fantasy books is that the characters turn out lifeless, the story rushed and a bit pointless, but this doesn't happen here! Wonderful!
On its own, without being part of a series, this book works wonderfully. It could be a complete tale in it's own right, like all good books should.
I loved the characters, and although the human characters were great, the animal characters are as much the heroes of this tale as the humans are! Thomas the cat, minstrel the bird and Valadan the horse are all excellent characters! Thomas in particular I adored! What is it about fantasy authors and their abilities to give such great personalities to cats?! I think it's brilliant! And they aren't just sidekicks who happen to be travelling with them, they are real, useful characters who provide just as much to the story as the people.
The human characters, given that they are supposed to be the main characters, should also be mentioned. Tristan is a brilliant character, he isn't whiney or annoying, he's very accepting of things given that he is a wizard, but still interesting enough that you worry when tragedy strikes. The girls in the book, Allaire and Elisena are, rarely for books in general (in my opinion!), not overly annoying! They turn up and although they don't do much at first to push the story along, and really get in the way quite a bit, they are still loveable characters. Polassar is a strange one. He was a good character, he made me laugh, but I couldn't quite work out his purpose in the greater scheme of the book, but I'm still glad he was there!
I recommend this if you are a fantasy fan looking for a quick, enjoyable read, you shouldn't be disappointed!
Yes, this is quite a short book at 231 pages, but you get taken straight into the action which is non-stop from start to finish. You feel a bit overwhelmed sometimes because there is no time to stop and breathe! But it is worth it! This was one of those books I just wanted to keep reading to see what happened, and subsequently, I'm now desperate to read the next 2 books in the series (which luckily i already have!).
Amazingly, for such a short book, it doesn't seem to loose it's depth. The fault of many short fantasy books is that the characters turn out lifeless, the story rushed and a bit pointless, but this doesn't happen here! Wonderful!
On its own, without being part of a series, this book works wonderfully. It could be a complete tale in it's own right, like all good books should.
I loved the characters, and although the human characters were great, the animal characters are as much the heroes of this tale as the humans are! Thomas the cat, minstrel the bird and Valadan the horse are all excellent characters! Thomas in particular I adored! What is it about fantasy authors and their abilities to give such great personalities to cats?! I think it's brilliant! And they aren't just sidekicks who happen to be travelling with them, they are real, useful characters who provide just as much to the story as the people.
The human characters, given that they are supposed to be the main characters, should also be mentioned. Tristan is a brilliant character, he isn't whiney or annoying, he's very accepting of things given that he is a wizard, but still interesting enough that you worry when tragedy strikes. The girls in the book, Allaire and Elisena are, rarely for books in general (in my opinion!), not overly annoying! They turn up and although they don't do much at first to push the story along, and really get in the way quite a bit, they are still loveable characters. Polassar is a strange one. He was a good character, he made me laugh, but I couldn't quite work out his purpose in the greater scheme of the book, but I'm still glad he was there!
I recommend this if you are a fantasy fan looking for a quick, enjoyable read, you shouldn't be disappointed!
November 17, 2021
Returned to this series with find memories of reading as a child and it still holds up.
I read this trilogy many years ago as a child. I don’t remember where or when I picked it up but it lived on my shelves for many years, often getting re-read, alongside the works of Eddings, Watt-Evans, Feist etc. All great stories for a young adult.
Fast forward 20 or more years and I felt a hankering to read them again. I was pleased to find the Ebooks on Amazon and quickly picked them up.
It’s just as fun and enchanting as I remember. It makes a welcome change from the more modern style of huge complex series that seem to go on and on.
It’s a classic fantasy story with wizards, knights, maidens and dragons, and a interesting and well thought out world. The protagonist is fun and relatable (though the supporting characters are a trifle one-dimensional) and the story flows well. I’m looking forward to re-reading the rest of the trilogy, though my memory tells me the first volume is the most charming. I will also delve into the related books, prequels and sequels, which I never even knew existed as a child.
This was a pleasant re-read and it’s always rewarding when something I enjoyed in my youth still enchants me, years later.
I read this trilogy many years ago as a child. I don’t remember where or when I picked it up but it lived on my shelves for many years, often getting re-read, alongside the works of Eddings, Watt-Evans, Feist etc. All great stories for a young adult.
Fast forward 20 or more years and I felt a hankering to read them again. I was pleased to find the Ebooks on Amazon and quickly picked them up.
It’s just as fun and enchanting as I remember. It makes a welcome change from the more modern style of huge complex series that seem to go on and on.
It’s a classic fantasy story with wizards, knights, maidens and dragons, and a interesting and well thought out world. The protagonist is fun and relatable (though the supporting characters are a trifle one-dimensional) and the story flows well. I’m looking forward to re-reading the rest of the trilogy, though my memory tells me the first volume is the most charming. I will also delve into the related books, prequels and sequels, which I never even knew existed as a child.
This was a pleasant re-read and it’s always rewarding when something I enjoyed in my youth still enchants me, years later.
November 8, 2023
I am having a hard time rating this book because it vacillates wildly between pretty poor and pretty good. Mostly, unfortunately, it reads as dated. If I had read this as a younger person, maybe 20 years ago or more, I think I would have a completely different response to it. Now I wonder how even younger people could read this and not be cynical about the main character. The unbridled innocence that is presented to us right at the beginning of the book I found really jarring and I think that has more to do with the current times, and my age, than maybe the book itself. However, the writing does suffer from some unnecessary repetition as well as a main character who’s self doubt starts to fall into the realms of whining. Also, it is a difficult read only in that half the main characters are completely unlikeable, and this only resolves with an inward sigh, at the end of the book. It has potential, but I suspect this series would mostly be of interest to younger readers.
November 5, 2017
2.5 star actually. For one thing this is not quite the typical "The Lord of the Rings" rip-off...well maybe just a bit in the background stories. The main quest honestly does not terribly make sense, and the first half of the book suffers from it (the reader suffers as well). The super-evil Nimir is a cardboard cypher that almost does not oppose at all the protagonist after killing his tutor at the beginning of the story. After the company is hosted at Galan castle and a new character shows up, things get more interesting. Dexter is more at ease at describing the personal interactions between her characters rather than the heroic events of the main quest.
Probably not my to recommendation, but not too terrible either in the end.
Probably not my to recommendation, but not too terrible either in the end.
December 24, 2023
I remember reading this book many, many years ago and enjoying it enough to read the rest of the trilogy, but I was very disappointed on this reread. Parts of it feel like the outline for a book rather than the book itself - the first section especially feels like the reader is rushed through events with barely any elaboration - and then we get a long tedious section where nothing much seems to happen at all, followed by a dash though to a conclusion.
The main character is wishy-washy and hopeless, the rest of them have barely any substance at all. So far, my favourite character is the cat...
I shall start the second book in the hope that things improve, but I think I must have been starved for things to read back then if I thought this was any good...
The main character is wishy-washy and hopeless, the rest of them have barely any substance at all. So far, my favourite character is the cat...
I shall start the second book in the hope that things improve, but I think I must have been starved for things to read back then if I thought this was any good...
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October 23, 2025Master magician Blais was dead, murdered by the evil ice-lord Nimir. Now there was only Tristan, an ill-trained apprentice, to carry on the quest to rescue Allaire, a princess held in enchanted sleep in Nimir's frozen halls. Though a thousand master mages had already failed in the quest, Tristan must succeed -- or all of Calandra would be doomed by Nimir's greed.First Tristan would have to find the wonder-horse Valadan, who had vanished long ago. Then he had to secure the aid of the one knight among many who was a true Heir to the Throne. Together, they must overcome the Guardian dragon of Nimir's realm.After that -- well, there was still the tenth ring to be found, since Allaire was powerless without it.Nothing, of course, was ever that simple. There were complications . . .
July 3, 2022
Cookie cutter 90s fantasy. Heroes journey. No magic system, just does what the plot conveys it to.
Some cool things like valadan the horse, Kovelir the city of mages and the protagonist cat provides some interesting interactions.
Interesting ending, I’ve heard it gets better and I picked up all three for 50cents so I might finish them.
Some cool things like valadan the horse, Kovelir the city of mages and the protagonist cat provides some interesting interactions.
Interesting ending, I’ve heard it gets better and I picked up all three for 50cents so I might finish them.
October 18, 2017
I read this trilogy 30+ years ago, and it's still just as good now as it was then. It may not have the meat that some readers want in a novel, but what it lacks in pages in more than makes up for in the writing and characters.
May 16, 2018
I have not read this book in well over twenty years, but I remember loving it and re-reading it several times as a teen, and that's good enough for me.
February 24, 2024
It's a really good story
February 26, 2017
A solid, if somewhat standard issue fantasy story.
This was one I thought I had read as a kid, but after reading it, I think I didn't actually read just wanted to and either never found it or never acquired it. Didn't find myself remembering anything about it as I read through it, so i think it's more likely I read a review of it in Dragon Magazine or something and thought "hey, this sounds good!"
And...it's fine? The plot by now is a bit cliched, but the book is 35 years old, so the save the princess/lost hero/coming of age tropes weren't quite as worn then as they are now. It's definitely more of a densely plotted book than most fantasy is today, and there's something to be said for that. It clocks in at a rather mellow 230 pages and still manages to introduce a troupe of characters, set up the world, and overlay the threat of a destructive black wizard with enough clarity to make it all interesting. The characterization is a bit lacking, but some of that may be a function of only being in Tristan's (our lowly apprentice wizard and hero of the tale) head. Tristan is generally likable, a fairly solid fellow who is basically nice if lacking on confidence a relic of his inability to master and control his magic after many years as an apprentice). The others don't get a lot to work with, which magnifies their faults and rarely shows them in the best light. Makes it hard to root for Allaire and Polassar much. Hopefully future volumes will do better.
It's tight enough to stick with, and the basic plot is a good one. For now, the denser plotting is a bit of a relief from the glacial pace of many fantasy novels, even if it does leave much unanswered about the state of the world and the systems of magic. Sadly, that balance is very much missing from most works.
This was one I thought I had read as a kid, but after reading it, I think I didn't actually read just wanted to and either never found it or never acquired it. Didn't find myself remembering anything about it as I read through it, so i think it's more likely I read a review of it in Dragon Magazine or something and thought "hey, this sounds good!"
And...it's fine? The plot by now is a bit cliched, but the book is 35 years old, so the save the princess/lost hero/coming of age tropes weren't quite as worn then as they are now. It's definitely more of a densely plotted book than most fantasy is today, and there's something to be said for that. It clocks in at a rather mellow 230 pages and still manages to introduce a troupe of characters, set up the world, and overlay the threat of a destructive black wizard with enough clarity to make it all interesting. The characterization is a bit lacking, but some of that may be a function of only being in Tristan's (our lowly apprentice wizard and hero of the tale) head. Tristan is generally likable, a fairly solid fellow who is basically nice if lacking on confidence a relic of his inability to master and control his magic after many years as an apprentice). The others don't get a lot to work with, which magnifies their faults and rarely shows them in the best light. Makes it hard to root for Allaire and Polassar much. Hopefully future volumes will do better.
It's tight enough to stick with, and the basic plot is a good one. For now, the denser plotting is a bit of a relief from the glacial pace of many fantasy novels, even if it does leave much unanswered about the state of the world and the systems of magic. Sadly, that balance is very much missing from most works.
March 15, 2015
I’m not doing very well at this regularly reviewing books, am I?
So, I read the first couple of chapters of this a long time ago, but for some reason I never finished it. Still, the image of the proud horse forced to become part of a carousel stuck in my head and I’ve always wanted the chance to find out what happened next.
It’s a pleasant enough book, but it took me a long time to get even a little invested. Our hero is a foundling whose only inheritance is a sword, we have a long lost heir, they’re on a quest first to rescue the beautiful princess from a nebulous evil, then to hunt the MacGuffin. There are plenty of ways to make an old story new, but I only saw the vaguest hints that Dexter might consider touching on them. There was nothing remarkable for me in the first part of the book, which felt a bit like it was just ticking the boxes for a standard quest as quickly as possible. Things did brighten up once we reached the city and the plot slowed a bit to allow some deeper characterisation, but whilst I did start to hope that a certain twist was being set up (which it was) and I enjoyed that twist, it came a little too late for me. By that point, I’d spent too much time worrying that the book would take the dullest path possible to be more than relieved that it didn’t.
I did like Tristan as a character – he has qualities and flaws that make sense for a boy who’s grown up in an isolated environment where he had more exposure to books than people – and I really loved Elisena. I liked what Dexter did with Pollasar and Allaire – the book won a lot of points for being (eventually) willing point out the flaws in these two supposed heroes without vilifying them. Part of the problem is Tristan’s point of view gives a limited perspective on other characters (he doesn’t have a huge amount of life experience to understand these things), so realisations can seem a little slow. I don’t think this is a weakness in Dexter’s writing. The real stars of the show when it comes to characters are the sassy talking cat, the fearless canary and the haughty stallion – if you like Tamora Pierce’s animal characters, you’ll love Thomas, Minstrel and Valadan. There are a lot of good potential things in this book and I wouldn’t say I didn’t enjoy it. I just think there was something even better lurking just out of sight. I’m interested to see if it can give me more in the next novel.
So, I read the first couple of chapters of this a long time ago, but for some reason I never finished it. Still, the image of the proud horse forced to become part of a carousel stuck in my head and I’ve always wanted the chance to find out what happened next.
It’s a pleasant enough book, but it took me a long time to get even a little invested. Our hero is a foundling whose only inheritance is a sword, we have a long lost heir, they’re on a quest first to rescue the beautiful princess from a nebulous evil, then to hunt the MacGuffin. There are plenty of ways to make an old story new, but I only saw the vaguest hints that Dexter might consider touching on them. There was nothing remarkable for me in the first part of the book, which felt a bit like it was just ticking the boxes for a standard quest as quickly as possible. Things did brighten up once we reached the city and the plot slowed a bit to allow some deeper characterisation, but whilst I did start to hope that a certain twist was being set up (which it was) and I enjoyed that twist, it came a little too late for me. By that point, I’d spent too much time worrying that the book would take the dullest path possible to be more than relieved that it didn’t.
I did like Tristan as a character – he has qualities and flaws that make sense for a boy who’s grown up in an isolated environment where he had more exposure to books than people – and I really loved Elisena. I liked what Dexter did with Pollasar and Allaire – the book won a lot of points for being (eventually) willing point out the flaws in these two supposed heroes without vilifying them. Part of the problem is Tristan’s point of view gives a limited perspective on other characters (he doesn’t have a huge amount of life experience to understand these things), so realisations can seem a little slow. I don’t think this is a weakness in Dexter’s writing. The real stars of the show when it comes to characters are the sassy talking cat, the fearless canary and the haughty stallion – if you like Tamora Pierce’s animal characters, you’ll love Thomas, Minstrel and Valadan. There are a lot of good potential things in this book and I wouldn’t say I didn’t enjoy it. I just think there was something even better lurking just out of sight. I’m interested to see if it can give me more in the next novel.
February 21, 2020
Tristan is a young man, apprenticed to a wizard, who finds himself dropped unceremoniously into a classic quest adventure. The book is actually from the early 1980s but has been converted to ebook format more recently. It doesn't feel that dated, but there have been a large number of similar plots to this one since it came out. As it predates them, however, I would credit this with more originality than it seems.
That is not to say it was ever wholly original. Tristan is the classic young and inexperienced hero who can hardly get any magic right, thrust into an adventure to retrieve a magical item because there is no one else to do it. He gains travelling companions, and other quests spin off from the first, but we have been here before with this kind of plot.
What makes this book enjoyable, however, is the nicely contemplated and developed character of Tristan himself. Here is a protagonist with faults a plenty, and with much self doubt as whether he is up to the task at hand, but he brings determination and a good heart. Tristan is a hero you can get behind.
Other characters were perhaps not as well developed, but this was till an enjoyable tale. Not my favourite in the genre but a good solid read.
That is not to say it was ever wholly original. Tristan is the classic young and inexperienced hero who can hardly get any magic right, thrust into an adventure to retrieve a magical item because there is no one else to do it. He gains travelling companions, and other quests spin off from the first, but we have been here before with this kind of plot.
What makes this book enjoyable, however, is the nicely contemplated and developed character of Tristan himself. Here is a protagonist with faults a plenty, and with much self doubt as whether he is up to the task at hand, but he brings determination and a good heart. Tristan is a hero you can get behind.
Other characters were perhaps not as well developed, but this was till an enjoyable tale. Not my favourite in the genre but a good solid read.
January 25, 2015
One of the better fantasy novels I have read, although as I recall I thought the author improved for each of the two sequels (which is often not the case). Classic fantasy tropes, but the plot is not so predictable as it first appears, and the characters (or some of the characters) are well-rounded and more human than usual for the type.
Also has a wonderful cat character, a believable bird character who is not a Noble Hunter, and a lovely magical horse. The plot makes enough sense I'm not constantly telling the main characters they're idiots, and although there are history info dumps here and there, when it comes to our characters it's Show, Don't Tell.
Nothing here to inspire Deep Thought, but as brain candy goes, highly recommended.
Also has a wonderful cat character, a believable bird character who is not a Noble Hunter, and a lovely magical horse. The plot makes enough sense I'm not constantly telling the main characters they're idiots, and although there are history info dumps here and there, when it comes to our characters it's Show, Don't Tell.
Nothing here to inspire Deep Thought, but as brain candy goes, highly recommended.
December 15, 2016
It's hard to believe that its been over 30 years since I first read this book. I still remember my enjoyment of the book and the fascinating characters that are met throughout... and that 'twist' (okay, it may be a bit predictable by today's standards it worked well for 13 year old me back in 1981).
This was one of the first fantasy novels (other than Tolkien) that I remember reading that didn't feel 'far-fetched'. I was just developing my love for Medieval history at the time, and Ms. Dexter's world resonated with me. Her knights weren't necessarily in 'shining armour', her wizards weren't all-powerful, and her evil was an all-pervasive but never seen entity.
It has been a few decades since I last read this series... I may have to dig it out some time soon.
This was one of the first fantasy novels (other than Tolkien) that I remember reading that didn't feel 'far-fetched'. I was just developing my love for Medieval history at the time, and Ms. Dexter's world resonated with me. Her knights weren't necessarily in 'shining armour', her wizards weren't all-powerful, and her evil was an all-pervasive but never seen entity.
It has been a few decades since I last read this series... I may have to dig it out some time soon.
October 20, 2016
I first read this when I was about 12-13 yrs, was my first fantasy book and it is what got me hooked on the genre. At the time I had books 1 and 2, took me 15yrs to find the 3rd book to finish the tale (before the internet, ebay and the such!), even now 30 yrs on I love reading these books, I get excited when I have a gap in new books waiting to be read and can squeeze in a week or so to come back to this trilogy.
September 9, 2015
I loved this book as a teenager, and have always wanted to have ten different rings, one for each finger, based on this. Also, I identified with the wizard's apprentice far too much. It's a bit bland for me as an adult, especially as it was a book I read over and over. But Dexter's prose still has some magic for me.
February 18, 2015
Well enough written to keep me going and I liked that it was one of three so there was more chance to get to know the characters. Also liked that a horse was a main character.
November 10, 2016
At least it isn't just me who thinks Allaire needs to get her hands dirty and carry her own weight once in a while.
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