Master of the Cauldron

Although I do not read this type of book, I ordered it for my Nephew. He has received the book, and is very happy with it, and the condition was excellent. Thank you

As a general fan of David Drake, his inspired character development, story pacing and plot surprises keep me going back for more. The Lord of the Isles series is one of the few of his I missed, and I have read them exclusively and now am on the fourth in the series, Mistress of the Catacombs. While the outcome is predictable(the heroes win), the way they go about it makes for fascinated and varied reading, so that I spend what little free time I have reading the series. Plaudits to David Drake for keeping me up late at night reading.

Each installment is the basically a variation of the same thing over and over. However, I the characters are so well written and the nuances are just different enough to keep me hungering for the next.

All the Isles books follow the same basic pattern, and Master of the Cauldron is no exception. Anyone familiar with the series would be able to predict several major plot points before ever cracking the spine. You think I'm kidding? Check this out: The group of friends gets separated by magical means almost immediately. (Gasp!) Cashiel wanders off on a quest to help a (magical) damsel in distress. (Shocking!) Sharina ends up sucked through space and time to face villains. (Unheard of!) Ilna is abrasive, Tenoctris foils powerful wizards whilst being self-effacing, and Garric spends a lot of time laughing and grinning at comments made by the voices in his head. (Say it ain't so!) That said, and sarcasm aside, the author as always has provided a pleasant read. There's nothing new here, but it's a good story nonetheless, and the book is eminently readable. Unlike some other "fantasy" authors, Drake clearly has a fine appreciation for craftsmanship. He has done his homework, and the world of the Isles is rich in history and detail. Battle scenes show a sense of realism in heroes who get tired and show fear and sometimes even retreat to fight another day. If the individual strands of the plot follow familiar themes, well, if it ain't broke why fix it? I think this book could safely be recommended to readers unfamiliar with the series; it stands alone fairly well without falling into the all-too-common trap of overwhelming the reader with backstory. If you're not quite sure who all these people are, there's still a rousing blood-and-guts adventure to keep you occupied. For long-time readers, however, I might recommend waiting for the paperback (or check out the publisher's website for the cheaper e-version) rather than spending hardcover money on a book that, for all intents and purposes, you've seen before. But if you know what you're getting into, and if you've enjoyed Drake's work (and the Isle series in particular) in the past, you will almost certainly like this book as well.

This is another book with a complex plot, and the craftsmanship is as always remarkable. The plot is woven with great skill. I think most folks will enjoy the way it all comes together at the end. I really like the way the characters have developed. I have bought copies to give to everyone I know who needs a birthday present. Now I am going to go back and re-read the series straight through. This guy is a very interesting writer. He does the regular sequential plot, like in Starliner (good read!) and also the really complex stuff. I can hardly wait to see what comes next.