The Dragon Mage - Katherine Kerr

[rune]

Can anyone tell me what this series is like?

I've got the first book and found it only 'so, so'. I thought it would like the Deverry Series.

So has anyone read this series and what did you think?

 

[dwndrgn]

I haven't read it, I've only read her collaboration books so far. I'd be interested to learn about it though as the title sounds like something right up my alley!

 

[rune]

What about the Westlands Cycle I think they are in the series before this one. Has anyone read those

 

[dwndrgn]

Rune - you might want to check out Lynn Flewelling (I know I spelled that wrong) I think you would enjoy her books.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Lynn Flewelling

 

[dwndrgn]

Thanks for the back-up Brian!

 

[Brian G Turner]

Yep, correct spelling.

 

[rune]

I've heard that Flewelling is quite good and got Done Doll Twin on order from my local library
If I like her book she'll be going onto my to buy list

 

[dwndrgn]

The Bone Doll Twin is pretty bleak. I would start out with her more mainstream (of sorts) fantasy unless you go for that sort of thing. I enjoyed it because it was well-crafted but really wasn't too over the top about the story itself.

 

[dekket]

If you are going to read the Dragon Mage series, it would be very helpful if you read the Deverry series and Westlands cycle first, as these three series make up the Deverry Saga. If you jump into the story half way in (starting with Red Wyvern) you will miss most of the references, history, etc.
Start of with Daggerspell.

 

[Clansman]

I concur, though I think I stopped reading this series at The Black Dragon (was that a title in the series, even?) Is she finishing this thing up sometime? I'll wait until all the books are written to finish it off.

 

[Werthead]

Is that the new Deverry series? The next book comes out in the summer and the one after that, the final Deverry book ever, apparently comes out next year. They were one book but were split in half for length.

 

[dekket]

I have said this on a Katherine Kerr thread, but the books in the Deverry Saga are as follows:

The UK Titles are:

The Deverry Series
Book 1: Daggerspell
Book 2: Darkspell
Book 3: Dawnspell - The Bristling Wood
Book 4: Dragonspell - The Southern Sea

The Westlands Cycle
Book 1: A Time of Exile
Book 2: A Time of Omens
Book 3: A Time of War - Days of Blood and Fire
Book 4: A Time of Justice - Days of Air and Darkness

The Dragon Mage
Book 1: The Red Wyvern
Book 2: The Black Raven
Book 3: The Fire Dragon
Book 4: The Gold Falcon
Book 5: The Spirit Stone
Book 6: The Shadow Isle (to be released 2008).

The US Editions have different titles for books 3 and 4 of the Deverry Series.
Book 3 is called The Bristling Wood
Book 4 is called The Dragon Revenant

The US Editions also have different titles for books 3 and 4 of the Westlands Cycle. These are:
Book 3 - Days of Blood and Fire
Book 4 - Days of Air and Darkness

Also in the US the 6 books of The Dragon Mage have been split. Books 1 -3 make up a trilogy under the series title of The Dragon Mage, whilst Books 4-6 make up the final set, under the series title of The Silver Wyrm.

However, I have recently noticed on the Wikipedia article on Katherine Kerr that the Silver Wyrm now has a 4th book, called The Silver Mage, due to come out in 2009.
I would gather that this would be book 7 of The Dragon Mage in the UK editions.

 

[Tansy]

Looks like I need to add the Dragon Mage series to my ever growing list of what to read next. I have the Deverry and Westland books but didn't follow the series after that, although I have no idea why as I loved these books.

 

[dekket]

Tansy,
if you enjoyed Deverry and Westlands, you should love the Dragonmage. I loved the fact that there are lots more of the Nevyn filled backstory about the civil wars. And you discover a lot more of the interconnections between characters, past and present.
Am really looking forward to the Shadow Isle, which will apparantly feature a lot more of Haen Marn.
Would love to say more, but wouldn't want to spoil the story for you.
Happy reading!

 

[Tansy]

Thanks for that Dekket.. this site is seriously dangerous

All I seem to do at the moment is read, I have about 5 books on the go atm depending on what mood I am in.

I think I shall endevour to get throuogh the books I am currently reading and then the books I have waiting to be read and then I might have to start on this and A Sword of Red Ice

Mind you it's been years since I read the others, although I think I should be able to recall the plot as go along rather than having to reread the earlier series again. Nevin, Jill and Rhodry seem to have stuck in my mind more than other charaters in the multitude of books I have read over the years

 

[Clansman]

Those three were particularly vivid characters, I agree. I read the first series fifteen years ago, and I still remember it fairly well.

 

[dekket]

Considering that Galrion/Nevyn, Brangwen/Jill, Gerraent/Cullyn and Blaen/Rhodry are the four main souls that the series revolves around, hopefully those four will be the character that stand out.

But I must agree with you, this site is seriously dangerous, my 'too read' is growing exponentially.
Which is a problem, as my budget for books is diminishing (damned rising interest rates).
But this site is good in that I can talk about old books that I have read, rather than just dream about all the new books that I haven't read yet.

 

[Werthead]

Also in the US the 6 books of The Dragon Mage have been split. Books 1 -3 make up a trilogy under the series title of The Dragon Mage, whilst Books 4-6 make up the final set, under the series title of The Silver Wyrm.

However, I have recently noticed on the Wikipedia article on Katherine Kerr that the Silver Wyrm now has a 4th book, called The Silver Mage, due to come out in 2009.
I would gather that this would be book 7 of The Dragon Mage in the UK editions.

The Silver Mage is actually the second half of The Shadow Isle. The book got too big to publish in one volume and was split in half.

 

[dekket]

These books just seem to be growing and growing, and getting split in half again and again. Not that I am complaining, I have been wondering for several books now how she could ever wrap up all the threads in just one more book. But it does mean I am now going to have to find a bit more space for the next one. I had only left enough space on that bookshelf for the Shadow Isle.
I guess I am now looking forward to the final two books of the series then/