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Dragonlance: Tales II #1
The Reign of Istar
Before the Cataclysm . . .
A kender becomes a Solamnic Knight (almost).
An ogre emerges as an unlikely savior of the dwarven race.
And gladiators compete in the bloodsport of Istar.
Together with a novella by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, these and more short stories, penned by Richard A. Knaak, Michael Williams, and others of the original Dragonlance Saga creative team -- tell wondrous tales of Krynn in the legendary time of the Kingpriest.
A kender becomes a Solamnic Knight (almost).
An ogre emerges as an unlikely savior of the dwarven race.
And gladiators compete in the bloodsport of Istar.
Together with a novella by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, these and more short stories, penned by Richard A. Knaak, Michael Williams, and others of the original Dragonlance Saga creative team -- tell wondrous tales of Krynn in the legendary time of the Kingpriest.
342 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1992
12 people are currently reading
1834 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Weis
677 books5,832 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 1, 2021
Una vez más he disfrutado leyendo esta colección de relatos cortos. Mis favoritos: llenando espacios vacíos” e “hilos de seda”
Lo peor los relatos de Michael Williams y Dan Parkinson
Lo peor los relatos de Michael Williams y Dan Parkinson
August 21, 2020
Comenzando la segunda trilogía de los Cuentos de la Dragonlance con "El Reino de Istar". Estoy sorprendida de la poca puntuación que le di a este volumen en el pasado, probablemente porque no tenía la sensatez suficiente de apreciar la calidad de este libro, porque estaba todavía devastada por el final de las Leyendas - y quién no - o porque no estaba hecha al formato de colección de cuentos con historias accesorias.
Pero la verdad es que este volumen es muy bueno, mejor, quizá, que Historias de Ansalon. El compendio de relatos tiene lugar en un pasado lejano respecto a la línea temporal que se explora en las sagas principales de Dragonlance, y si tuviera que ser secuela de alguna de ellas, lo sería de las Leyendas, no de las Crónicas, por lo que sería imprescindible haber completado éstas antes de abordar este volumen.
No quiero entrar en detalle en cada historia porque la verdad es que todas - salvo el horrible poema de Michael Williams al principio, yo no sé qué me pasa con este hombre que no me gusta nada - son muy buenas y no te dejan indiferente. Baste decir que todas hacen un gran servicio para dar profundidad y consistencia al universo Dragonlance, por lo que no es cierto, como a muchos fans y lectores les gusta decir, que el lore es superficial y la construcción del mundo es mala.
Todos los cuentos de este volumen giran en torno a la época previa al Cataclismo - la versión particular del diluvio universal o el hundimiento de la Atlántida para los viajeros de Krynn - y en cómo el sistema teocrático del Príncipe de los Sacerdotes, una especie de rey-sacerdote que intentó implantar la bondad y la pureza en el mundo con métodos más que cuestionables, devino en un sistema corrupto y genocida que se propuso exterminar todo indicio de neutralidad, malignidad, y con ellas a las llamadas "razas inferiores" o "malignas", es decir, cualesquiera en este universo salvo los humanos y claro, los elfos (de refilón).
Si sabes que Tracy Hickman es mormón entonces no se te escapa la nada sutil crítica a la Iglesia Católica en la abierta condena de las abominaciones cometidas por la teocracia de Istar; aunque en mi modesta opinión, es muy típico del discurso protestante el considerar que sólo la Iglesia Católica ha sido corrupta y viciosa - me gustaría preguntarle al señor Hickman qué piensa de algunos telepredicadores modernos y de sus vidas regaladas y lujosas mientras invocan el nombre de Jesús a golpe de micrófono - pero hay que admitir que no dicen mentira alguna y este contexto, además de dar profundidad y solidez al universo Dragonlance, es base para una serie de cuentos excelentes que transmiten valores muy positivos y lecciones morales tan profundas como atemporales.
Ante la caza de brujas, exterminio, brutalidad y genocidio desplegados por el aparentemente bondadoso Príncipe de los Sacerdotes; las demás razas que son víctimas de su purga se unen en una resistencia que es obligatoria entre quienes antes eran rivales entre sí, con el único fin de sobrevivir. La convivencia del goblin con el kender, del minotauro con el elfo, del cazarrecompensas con la hereje disidente es un marco para transmitir valiosas moralejas de solidaridad y convivencia. Por eso me sorprende que recientemente se haya acusado a la franquicia de Dungeons&Dragons de ser racista y ésta haya emprendido una campaña de autocensura; porque si hay un mensaje que siempre ha estado claro en la fantasía épica, es el antirracismo más absoluto.
4/5, y no le doy las 5 estrellas porque me obligan a leer los poemas de Williams cada vez que empiezo un volumen y por algún estúpido cliché que se sigue manteniendo, pero que tampoco molesta tanto. También es un placer volver a ver a Raistlin en una de estas historias, aunque su presencia y, sobre todo, su actitud, encaje difícilmente con los eventos que ya conocemos de las Leyendas. Muy recomendado como siempre para todos los fans de Dragonlance ya familiarizados con las sagas principales, y probablemente, hasta ahora, el mejor volumen de los Cuentos.
Pero la verdad es que este volumen es muy bueno, mejor, quizá, que Historias de Ansalon. El compendio de relatos tiene lugar en un pasado lejano respecto a la línea temporal que se explora en las sagas principales de Dragonlance, y si tuviera que ser secuela de alguna de ellas, lo sería de las Leyendas, no de las Crónicas, por lo que sería imprescindible haber completado éstas antes de abordar este volumen.
No quiero entrar en detalle en cada historia porque la verdad es que todas - salvo el horrible poema de Michael Williams al principio, yo no sé qué me pasa con este hombre que no me gusta nada - son muy buenas y no te dejan indiferente. Baste decir que todas hacen un gran servicio para dar profundidad y consistencia al universo Dragonlance, por lo que no es cierto, como a muchos fans y lectores les gusta decir, que el lore es superficial y la construcción del mundo es mala.
Todos los cuentos de este volumen giran en torno a la época previa al Cataclismo - la versión particular del diluvio universal o el hundimiento de la Atlántida para los viajeros de Krynn - y en cómo el sistema teocrático del Príncipe de los Sacerdotes, una especie de rey-sacerdote que intentó implantar la bondad y la pureza en el mundo con métodos más que cuestionables, devino en un sistema corrupto y genocida que se propuso exterminar todo indicio de neutralidad, malignidad, y con ellas a las llamadas "razas inferiores" o "malignas", es decir, cualesquiera en este universo salvo los humanos y claro, los elfos (de refilón).
Si sabes que Tracy Hickman es mormón entonces no se te escapa la nada sutil crítica a la Iglesia Católica en la abierta condena de las abominaciones cometidas por la teocracia de Istar; aunque en mi modesta opinión, es muy típico del discurso protestante el considerar que sólo la Iglesia Católica ha sido corrupta y viciosa - me gustaría preguntarle al señor Hickman qué piensa de algunos telepredicadores modernos y de sus vidas regaladas y lujosas mientras invocan el nombre de Jesús a golpe de micrófono - pero hay que admitir que no dicen mentira alguna y este contexto, además de dar profundidad y solidez al universo Dragonlance, es base para una serie de cuentos excelentes que transmiten valores muy positivos y lecciones morales tan profundas como atemporales.
Ante la caza de brujas, exterminio, brutalidad y genocidio desplegados por el aparentemente bondadoso Príncipe de los Sacerdotes; las demás razas que son víctimas de su purga se unen en una resistencia que es obligatoria entre quienes antes eran rivales entre sí, con el único fin de sobrevivir. La convivencia del goblin con el kender, del minotauro con el elfo, del cazarrecompensas con la hereje disidente es un marco para transmitir valiosas moralejas de solidaridad y convivencia. Por eso me sorprende que recientemente se haya acusado a la franquicia de Dungeons&Dragons de ser racista y ésta haya emprendido una campaña de autocensura; porque si hay un mensaje que siempre ha estado claro en la fantasía épica, es el antirracismo más absoluto.
4/5, y no le doy las 5 estrellas porque me obligan a leer los poemas de Williams cada vez que empiezo un volumen y por algún estúpido cliché que se sigue manteniendo, pero que tampoco molesta tanto. También es un placer volver a ver a Raistlin en una de estas historias, aunque su presencia y, sobre todo, su actitud, encaje difícilmente con los eventos que ya conocemos de las Leyendas. Muy recomendado como siempre para todos los fans de Dragonlance ya familiarizados con las sagas principales, y probablemente, hasta ahora, el mejor volumen de los Cuentos.
May 31, 2009
"Off Day" was cute. "Kender Stew" was VERY clever, and featured a kender (sort of), so it was an automatic favorite. "The Goblin's Wish" by Roger E. Moore made me cry, one of the few stories that has been able to do that.
November 25, 2022
Even whilst there's a lot of mediocre Dragonlance stuff out there, I'm more and more sold on the Dragonlance world the more of it I read (I'm currently on at least 40 books at this point), and it's collections such as this delightfully little short story anthology that really make it feel worth it. There's no theme this time around, instead every story is set in and around Istar just before the approaching Cataclysm, where the city is plagued by the religious maniac known as the Kingspriest who commits bad in the name of good. And whilst the disparate nature of these stories never quite allow for the setting or the history to shine as it might in a set of really accomplished hands (albeit Douglas Niles provides the best offering I've read from him in a short that combines a narrative history approach with heroism, with a little twist), nevertheless the setting provides a real opportunity for a bunch of now-seasoned Dragonlance writers to get creative and fit some new ideas interestingly into that setting - in particular we finally get to see a lot more of the Solamnic Knights in a positive context (sadly lacking throughout the books so far, except through Sturm's eyes as the sole Knight who gets it right) as as their nobility and honour and actual drive to do good clashes with the cleric's faux-religious zeal.
Whilst the stories themselves aren't the greatest thematically deep or emotionally moving mastwerworks you'll ever read, they nearly all hit home on some level, and that's what makes this such a delightful collection. Writers are canny enough to set up their scenarios with a sense of character (and they aren't straitjacketed by having to find more mileage from characters whose stories are already done) and there's usually an enticing twist to end things. I don't want to spoil those twists so simply to say that Knaak provides the goods as usual with a sweaty gladiatorial offering, O' Donohoe's Kender Stew is the best of the bunch, being a tale of Solamnic school embued with both emotion and comedy (and I always love it when an author finds a new twist on the Kender), "The Goblin's Wish" is an engrossing little tale of unlikely friendships that turn sour and Berberick's "Filling the Empty Places" is another party team-up with a bit of a difference. Only Dan Parkinson's "Off Day" - feels like a bit of an off day and fails to completely hit, but it's short and still provides a few gnomely laughs (how the titular off-day comes about and what the gnomes do with it is still making me giggle, actually).
Weis and Hickman, as usual, round out the volume with a Tale involving the Gods and twinly sacrifice. It's their usual oeuvre, but sadly this one feels like it needed to be a bit longer and I really wanted the environment and the world to breathe in ways I know the duo are capable. It was, however, a lovely segueway into what looks to be the theme of the next book, the Cataclysm itself (aka THE FLOOD. These two love their religious symbolism for sure, even though their concept of all things good/evil balancing doesn't strike me as all that Christian) and so I'm still nodding to myself how clever this pair of authors were to keep this gameworld so alive and vital for so many years. This story filled in another little moment with more detail than we've previously seen from - the excellent - War of the Twins and everything in every period of Krynn continually feels alive with stories.
Whilst the stories themselves aren't the greatest thematically deep or emotionally moving mastwerworks you'll ever read, they nearly all hit home on some level, and that's what makes this such a delightful collection. Writers are canny enough to set up their scenarios with a sense of character (and they aren't straitjacketed by having to find more mileage from characters whose stories are already done) and there's usually an enticing twist to end things. I don't want to spoil those twists so simply to say that Knaak provides the goods as usual with a sweaty gladiatorial offering, O' Donohoe's Kender Stew is the best of the bunch, being a tale of Solamnic school embued with both emotion and comedy (and I always love it when an author finds a new twist on the Kender), "The Goblin's Wish" is an engrossing little tale of unlikely friendships that turn sour and Berberick's "Filling the Empty Places" is another party team-up with a bit of a difference. Only Dan Parkinson's "Off Day" - feels like a bit of an off day and fails to completely hit, but it's short and still provides a few gnomely laughs (how the titular off-day comes about and what the gnomes do with it is still making me giggle, actually).
Weis and Hickman, as usual, round out the volume with a Tale involving the Gods and twinly sacrifice. It's their usual oeuvre, but sadly this one feels like it needed to be a bit longer and I really wanted the environment and the world to breathe in ways I know the duo are capable. It was, however, a lovely segueway into what looks to be the theme of the next book, the Cataclysm itself (aka THE FLOOD. These two love their religious symbolism for sure, even though their concept of all things good/evil balancing doesn't strike me as all that Christian) and so I'm still nodding to myself how clever this pair of authors were to keep this gameworld so alive and vital for so many years. This story filled in another little moment with more detail than we've previously seen from - the excellent - War of the Twins and everything in every period of Krynn continually feels alive with stories.
July 13, 2017
A surprisingly good collection of short stories plus one novella. Of the six stories, I didn't enjoy two. The others were really good. And the novella put a smile on my face with a great cameo. An interesting book about an interesting period of Krynn.
April 23, 2025
Me encanta que a través de lls relatos podemos ver cómo era la vida antes del Cataclismo
January 27, 2013
Part 4 in the Tales series, or the first part of the second Tales trilogy, so to speak. The tales revolve around the holy city of Istar and the Kingpriest, in the period before the Cataclysm. It's got 8 stories, not all equally good or entertaining. Michael William's songs have never been my cup of tea, so I didn't read that one. The others were reasonably good to good (The Silken Threads by Weis & Hickman, Kender Stew by Nick O'Donohoe, Off Day by Dan Parkinson). The Three Lives Of Horgan Oxthrall by Douglas Niles was boring, the way it was written and told.
The Reign Of Istar is not an essential book, it merely offers background stories which you can read after the Kingpriest trilogy, for example.
The Reign Of Istar is not an essential book, it merely offers background stories which you can read after the Kingpriest trilogy, for example.
June 27, 2016
This book is another anthology from the Dragonlance series, and it is the first book in the Tales II collection. Margaret Weis gets the author spotlight, but I think there are eight stories/novellas included in the book.
For the most part, the book wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't great, either. I caught myself skimming through many of the stories because they really did not feel all that great to me.
The final story, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, was really good though, and made the book worth the money I spent on it. It is definitely worth getting just to read the final story.
All in all, it ranked as a mediocre read to me, but that's just my two-cents.
For the most part, the book wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't great, either. I caught myself skimming through many of the stories because they really did not feel all that great to me.
The final story, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, was really good though, and made the book worth the money I spent on it. It is definitely worth getting just to read the final story.
All in all, it ranked as a mediocre read to me, but that's just my two-cents.
November 10, 2025
3.5* average rating across all 8 stories.
”Six Songs for the Temple at Istar” by Michael Williams (4*) I'm always really impressed by the Dragonlance poems. They're not always good, but I'm always stoked about the creativity it takes to write a poem. I enjoyed these ones all the same.
”Colours of Belief” by Richard A Knaak (4*) I always love Knaak’s Knight stories. This one was no exception, including and somewhat unexpected ending.
”Kender Stew” by Nick O’Donohoe (4.5*) I loved this. Fairly light-hearted and sweet, and I always love kender stories that have kender that have some sort of depth of character.
”The Goblin’s Wish” by Roger E Moore (3*) This one just didn't do it for me.
”The Three Lives of Horgan Oxthrall” by Douglas Niles (2*) While I appreciate it when authors try to do something different, the “report” style of this story just didn't do it for me. Especially when they didn't stick with the style throughout the entire story, at times switching back to basic prose. Even still, I was bored most of the time with the dry tone of the story.
”Filling the Empty Places” by Nancy Varian Berberick (4*) My least favourite Dragonlance novels are written by Berberick. But then, I have enjoyed some of her novels too. Either way, I went into this story expecting the worst and was pleasantly surprised. Not just because the gender of the MC isn't really confirmed (except one vagueish line near the very end of the story) so I decided to read it as a wonderful lesbian love story.
”Off Day” by Dan Parkinson (2.5*) It took me three days to read this 30 page story. There were definitely some funny moments that made me smile. But overall I didn't love this.
”The Silken Threads” by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (4*) I love Weis and Hickman’s work together. I also loved the appearance of a certain character. This was fun, and had some interesting parallels. Not my favourite in the collection, but still a nice little Novelette.
”Six Songs for the Temple at Istar” by Michael Williams (4*) I'm always really impressed by the Dragonlance poems. They're not always good, but I'm always stoked about the creativity it takes to write a poem. I enjoyed these ones all the same.
”Colours of Belief” by Richard A Knaak (4*) I always love Knaak’s Knight stories. This one was no exception, including and somewhat unexpected ending.
”Kender Stew” by Nick O’Donohoe (4.5*) I loved this. Fairly light-hearted and sweet, and I always love kender stories that have kender that have some sort of depth of character.
”The Goblin’s Wish” by Roger E Moore (3*) This one just didn't do it for me.
”The Three Lives of Horgan Oxthrall” by Douglas Niles (2*) While I appreciate it when authors try to do something different, the “report” style of this story just didn't do it for me. Especially when they didn't stick with the style throughout the entire story, at times switching back to basic prose. Even still, I was bored most of the time with the dry tone of the story.
”Filling the Empty Places” by Nancy Varian Berberick (4*) My least favourite Dragonlance novels are written by Berberick. But then, I have enjoyed some of her novels too. Either way, I went into this story expecting the worst and was pleasantly surprised. Not just because the gender of the MC isn't really confirmed (except one vagueish line near the very end of the story) so I decided to read it as a wonderful lesbian love story.
”Off Day” by Dan Parkinson (2.5*) It took me three days to read this 30 page story. There were definitely some funny moments that made me smile. But overall I didn't love this.
”The Silken Threads” by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (4*) I love Weis and Hickman’s work together. I also loved the appearance of a certain character. This was fun, and had some interesting parallels. Not my favourite in the collection, but still a nice little Novelette.
September 23, 2017
Story:
This is actually a collection of various tales instead of a single plot, but each one shows what was going on in the world of Krynn while the city of Istar was in power. It was not the best of times, for the Kingpriest of Istar was ruthlessly persecuting the people and races of the world, trying to force them to his way of thinking. Intolerance reigned throughout the land, with some races being looked down by the rulers of Istar as pestilences that should be exterminated. Not just races, but people of certain professions, from the robed wizards of Wayreth to the Knights of Solamnia, all faced problems with Istar. Through the different stories we can see just how deadly and dangerous persecution and intolerance can be, and how everyone had to deal with it before the wrath of the gods fell upon the world.
After reading about the days preceding the Cataclysm in Time of the Twins, it was interesting to see more of how difficult life was for other races and people at the time. Often it could be hard to continue with certain stories because of the different characters being followed, but it's good because it shows that things that go on in the world affect many different people instead of a select few. Often I could see similarities between the events of this book with times of religious intolerance and persecution in our world, and people managing to overcome them. If you enjoyed the War of the Lance or the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, you might want to consider picking up this book.
Caution
Blood and gore appear in some of the stories, and some are killed. Some uses of the d-word.
Lessons
When men are proud, they distance themselves from God. Just because someone is different or thinks differently than we do doesn't mean that they are wrong or bad. The world is full of diversity, and we should take the time to appreciate how wonderful our world is because of it.
This is actually a collection of various tales instead of a single plot, but each one shows what was going on in the world of Krynn while the city of Istar was in power. It was not the best of times, for the Kingpriest of Istar was ruthlessly persecuting the people and races of the world, trying to force them to his way of thinking. Intolerance reigned throughout the land, with some races being looked down by the rulers of Istar as pestilences that should be exterminated. Not just races, but people of certain professions, from the robed wizards of Wayreth to the Knights of Solamnia, all faced problems with Istar. Through the different stories we can see just how deadly and dangerous persecution and intolerance can be, and how everyone had to deal with it before the wrath of the gods fell upon the world.
After reading about the days preceding the Cataclysm in Time of the Twins, it was interesting to see more of how difficult life was for other races and people at the time. Often it could be hard to continue with certain stories because of the different characters being followed, but it's good because it shows that things that go on in the world affect many different people instead of a select few. Often I could see similarities between the events of this book with times of religious intolerance and persecution in our world, and people managing to overcome them. If you enjoyed the War of the Lance or the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, you might want to consider picking up this book.
Caution
Blood and gore appear in some of the stories, and some are killed. Some uses of the d-word.
Lessons
When men are proud, they distance themselves from God. Just because someone is different or thinks differently than we do doesn't mean that they are wrong or bad. The world is full of diversity, and we should take the time to appreciate how wonderful our world is because of it.
February 28, 2024
Solid collection of "standard" fantasy set on Krynn. The authors bring a great variety of tones, perspectives, story-telling angles, etc. and hit on all the right Dragonlance notes.
The writing is 3.5 stars, but gets bonus points for reflecting a different cultural milieu (earnest stories about characters with complex backgrounds (or as much complexity as one can fit in a short story) using values (or having an identity) to make choices and dealing with the outcomes (vs amoral characters making choices and having their identity constructed or subverted (vs changed) over the course of the story) than popular fantasy of the 2000s-2020s (which seems focused on anti-heroes, or is "grimdark/gritty" or has a morally ambivalent stance (and yes, i recognize that type of fantasy pre-dated Dragonlance with Elric and Thieves World, etc., but that was considered "edgy" or on the margins while "good vs evil" fantasy at the time Dragonlance was published was "mainstream").
The cycle continues....
The writing is 3.5 stars, but gets bonus points for reflecting a different cultural milieu (earnest stories about characters with complex backgrounds (or as much complexity as one can fit in a short story) using values (or having an identity) to make choices and dealing with the outcomes (vs amoral characters making choices and having their identity constructed or subverted (vs changed) over the course of the story) than popular fantasy of the 2000s-2020s (which seems focused on anti-heroes, or is "grimdark/gritty" or has a morally ambivalent stance (and yes, i recognize that type of fantasy pre-dated Dragonlance with Elric and Thieves World, etc., but that was considered "edgy" or on the margins while "good vs evil" fantasy at the time Dragonlance was published was "mainstream").
The cycle continues....
August 20, 2025
After reading the first three Dragonlance Tales volumes, and not being that impressed, i was delighted to read the first entry in Tales II and learn more about Istar before the beginning of the Cataclysm. This is a time not really covered much in the Dragonlance novels to date, and gave a deeper insight into the behavior of the King Priest of Istar and his followers. It becomes very apparent why the Cataclysm happened, and why the Gods withdrew from Krynn.
The tales mostly introduce new and situational characters and stories, and the last tale provides a bit of a treat with an appearance by Raistlin, a well known character in the earlier Dragonlance Saga books.
Next in line is a Tales installment about the Cataclysm itself, again a book which i have been looking forward to reading.
The tales mostly introduce new and situational characters and stories, and the last tale provides a bit of a treat with an appearance by Raistlin, a well known character in the earlier Dragonlance Saga books.
Next in line is a Tales installment about the Cataclysm itself, again a book which i have been looking forward to reading.
June 30, 2020
This is an anthology book, and as such, I always expect there to be a couple of stories I like, a couple I don't, and a lot in between. I was wrong with this one though. I liked all of them, at least enough for a 3 star ranking each, with a couple that I really adored. If you like Dragonlance and short stories, this is a compilation I can recommend to you.
January 14, 2019
Good stories!
September 9, 2020
This book ends on page 325 but there is an excerpt from The Oath and Measure novel.
October 17, 2020
1/2 the book is great, the other 1/2 is either boring or just hard to read. Renting is ok, but I wouldn't buy it, wish I hadn't.
December 21, 2020
one of the better Dragonlance prequel short story volumes
February 28, 2024
It's rare that I enjoy every story in an anthology book, but this was a great anthology.
October 21, 2024
The short stories were pretty good for the most part, but I find the final novella was a bit bland and tended to drag on
November 8, 2025
La salva la historia del semikender que es excelente.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2016
The Reign of Istar is a great book because of its noble protagonist, Sir Tremaine. Tremaine is wrongfully imprisoned and forced to fight in the arena. However, Tremaine "will not fight" even convicted criminals because he abhors the games of the arena (24). Tremaine was too noble to fight in the games, but he did take an oath to protect the innocent and is pulled into the fray if his captors "guarantee the boy's life" (43). Tremaine knows that the arena means death and shows how dedicated he is to his order and oaths that he would give his life for a peasant boy. Later, Tremaine is part of a plan with an elf cleric who reveals himself as evil when he kills Tremaine and brings him back to life. Tremaine challenges the dark elf to a duel but the dark elf brings out Tremaine's honor more by giving Tremaine the opportunity to spare his life when he says "If it so pleases you, end me." (113). Tremaine has an interesting, three-dimensional sense of honor that really makes the book.
October 12, 2012
This wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't great. There were many times I was tempted to skip the rest of some of the stories in here because quite frankly they weren't that great. But, I DO highly recommend the final story in this book, which was written by the duo of Hickman/Weiss, the ones who created the whole DragonLance universe to begin with. It was so good it was almost enough to raise this book to 4 stars. But not quite. If you read this you'll enjoy it. But chances are you probably won't love it, not every story.
October 2, 2015
At first I had my doubts about this collection of short stories. They are short! But all of them -especially the Goblin's Wish by Roger E.Moore!- were amazing, made me cry all the day. Im going to read the next book, the Cataclysm which is also a collection of short stories.
February 10, 2016
loved this book, it's dark and very exciting especially nearing its end!! as usual when raistlin re-appears in a book it takes on a turn for the magical and dark!!
May 28, 2021
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
December 21, 2012
Kender Stew! One of the best Dragonlance short stories ever.
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