Product Description
From the author of Bloodwinter comes the continuation of that epic tale, as two rival kingdoms clash while heroes, heroines, and rogues on both sides -- and no side -- vie for control of a world-altering magic more powerful than anyone's wildest imaginings.

As the realm of Eron sits frozen in the grip of winter, two men struggle through the snow-clogged Wild toward the citadel of their king:the arrogant goldsmith Eddyn, haunted by his past crimes, and his bitter rival, Avall, anxious to increase the power of his clan.Each man brings news of a magical gem discovered in the northern mines.

Meanwhile, Avall's twin sister, Merryn, and her lover, exiled prince Kraxxi, have been captured by Kraxxi's outraged father.As Ixti's king readies his first assault in a devastating war against an unsuspecting Eron, he will force Merryn and Kraxxi to terrible betrayals that will bring Eron's fall ever nearer.

As the armies of Ixti crash across the border, Avall and Eddyn must seek their destinies. For each knows the power of the magical gem and can use it for unbelievable good -- or unimaginable evil.
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Customer Reviews (4)

Good ideas, terrible storytelling
This review covers both BLOODWINTER and SPRINGWAR.

Tom Deitz has a pretty good idea for a story in these two books, the first half of a four volume fantasy cycle. The tale has a broad sweep and conceptually, I like how the harsh winters have created a strongly regimented society in Eron, one that unfortunately has been decimated by a plague. The discovery of a magical gem with mysterious powers sets Eron on a collision course with the rival kingdom of Ixti to the south. The crown prince of Ixti and his father the king have a falling out over accidental fratricide. A secret order of priests emerges with its own agenda for the gems.

There's good raw material here. It's a shame, really, that Deitz is a long-winded storyteller with no instinct for conflict or motivation.

In the first 100 pages of SPRINGWAR, for example, there are maybe 3 important story points. The rest of the pages dwell on repetitive scenes that rehash the same personal dilemmas from Bloodwinter. How many times do I need to be told the 5 things that Avall cares about, "in that order." And can we please stop using the phrase "for the nonce"?

The fact that characters continually make very big decisions based on flimsy rationale is a problem. What would drive someone to undertake a weeks-long trek in arctic weather that would freeze dry you like Han Solo if you stood naked in it for 10 minutes? Apparently Deitz thinks you'd do it if you calmly reason out that it's the course of action that makes the most sense, because a variety of bad things MIGHT happen if you don't. He's wrong. You undertake such a trek if you're boxed into a corner, desperate, and have exhausted all possible other options.

Of course, that would require more complicated narrative. Much easier to just have the characters do what you, the writer, decree they should do because that's the way you want the story to go. The gems themselves are introduced in a particularly lazy fashion. Avall, the protagonist, just happens on one in a mine. Despite its amazing uniqueness, when Deitz needs more gems in the hands of his heroes, they too just conveniently appear.

Another problem: everyone just looooves Avall. If they don't love him, then they must be the baddies of the story. Thus, instead of encountering challenges in his personal relationships, Avall finds himself easily believed and accepted among people of power. Interchangeably fresh-faced young people yearn to be near Avall so they can help him. Where are the differing personal agendas? And why, toward the end of Springwar, does Deitz just conveniently set aside the secret order of priests, when he could have used them to raise the stakes even higher?

Let's talk about the fluid sexuality and the free love. In Eron, husbands and wives routinely sleep with other men, or women, or both at the same time. Jealousy never seems to become a factor. There are, of course, people who are able to live that way. But it's simply not believable that jealousy, insecurity, and possessiveness don't cause any tension in this story. Instead of taking advantage of the potential for conflict this kind of behavior creates, Deitz prefers to write the world of human relationships as he would like it to be. Enlightened perhaps, but... yawn. Moreover Deitz misunderstands a fundamental point: the more regimented a society is, the more harshly regulated sex tends to be as well. "So what?" you might ask. "It's a fantasy." Sorry, you still have to have believable characters with recognizable emotional dilemmas. In fact, it's even more important, because the reader is already asked to suspend disbelief on so many other things.

I turned the pages willingly enough, but found myself getting frequently annoyed. Since reviews suggest that the 3rd and 4th books in the series (SUMMERBLOOD and WARAUTUMN) are even worse than these, this is as far as I go. It's a pretty good stopping point, too, since several story arcs do resolve themselves at the end of SPRINGWAR.

Springwar
There's a problem with many fantasy sequels, which is that they seem to be slapped together in a way that doesn't really make any sense, as if the author is just trying to ride the first book's success to get a few more dollars.The good thing about "Springwar" is that it doesn't feel like that.Tom Deitz clearly planned this entire series of books from the beginning, and they all fit together as a coherent story, rather than an episodic group of events where new people and concepts just spring up out of the ground.In this book, Barrax begins his invasion of Eron from the south, while Avall rushes to bring King Gynn the news about the gem.We also see more of Strynn, Rann, Rrath, Eddyn and all the other characters from "Bloodwinter" as they get drawn into the growing battle between the two nations.

All of Deitz's strengths that were present in the first book appear here again.He has some very nice character arcs in place here, and it's good to see a fantasy author who actually thinks about how his heroes and villains would be affected by the events that they take part in.The dialogue is generally well-written, although occasionally a little bit soap operaish.I also can't fault this author's pacing.Unlike certain other fantasy authors (*cough cough Robert Jordan*), all of the books in Deitz's series contain a great deal of action and plot advancement.The central conflict does actually get resolved by the end of the book, and several important things do actually happen to all of the main characters.

A final note about magic in "Springwar".One of the things that I liked about the first book was that only very minor supernatural elements were present; I think that many of the best modern fantasy authors are realizing that my including fewer mythical elements, they can focus more on the human beings at the heart of the story.In this volume, however, the presence of magical power increases quite a bit.I have mixed feelings about this.On the one hand, I think that the way the character respond to the discovery of their magical abilities is very realistic.On the other hand, the one might view the power of the gems as a contrived plot device that allows them to solve all their problems without real effort, thus rendering the series less realistic than authors such as George R. R. Martin or Robin Hobb.But despite that fact, I still highly recommend these books as one of the few intelligent and mature series in the genre.

Impossible to put down.
Deitz has once again created a fantasy masterpiece.I find Deitz's ability to present villians as heroes when it is neccesary quite stunning. Also the rationale behind each characters motives draw the reader ever further and further into this novel. I would recommend this series to any serious fantasy reader.

gripping fantasy!
I really enjoyed this sequel to Bloodwinter.Dietz returns us to hisfantasy world of conflict and magic as forces both good and evil viepossession of the magical gems. Ixia's brutal king Barrax invades Eron andsinister priest clans plots treason.Dietz's atmospheric writing style isevident in describing use of this magical stones and some gripping battlescenes.Now bring on book 3! ... Read more

Product Description
In this stirring sequel to the epic dramas Bloodwinter and Springwar, a new king must strive to heal a war-torn land, master a dangerous and world-altering magic, and defeat a secret and fanatical religious sect that will stop at nothing to gain total power.

Peace has come to the realm of Eron, and with it a new High King: young, inexperienced Avall, victor in the war against Ixti, sole possessor of the magical gems taken from the mines of the frozen north. But as Eron attempts to heal from the bloody conflict and a devastating plague, unrest once again grips this troubled land, stirred up by a secret cabal of powerful priests who call themselves the Ninth Face.

Avall struggles to quell the unrest and to understand and control the boundless magic of the mysterious gems. At the same time, his twin sister, Merryn, must make her own arduous journey a step ahead of those who would gladly claim her life. But it is the fanatical leaders of the Ninth Face who pose the greatest danger. They have put in motion a deadly plan to drive Avall from the throne, destroy the power of the noble clans, and take possession of the gems themselves–all in the name of their unbending god. For Eron the choice is stark indeed: an imperfect and inexperienced king...or the tyranny of the righteous.


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Customer Reviews (2)

One big problem
There is a gaping plot hole is "Summerblood".Here's what happens.It picks up shortly after where "Springwar" left off.The good guys in Eron have driven off the bad guys from Ixti, and now they're settling down to the business of running a kingdom.Their first order of business is to have the magic regalia taken away from the capitol and hidden somewhere in the mountains.Why?The explanation provided doesn't really make any sense, and I was left with the impression that Deitz threw that twist into the book solely because he couldn't come up with any other way to create an interesting plot for the last two volumes of the series.

I'm torn about how to respond to "Summerblood", because other than that distraction, Deitz maintains the generally high quality level from "Bloodwinter" and "Springwar".Characters remain realistic, pacing remains fast, writing remains solid.There is one scene close to the middle of the book that is particularly noteworthy for its effectiveness.However, there's no getting away from the fact that the characters here sometimes act like idiots just because the plot requires them to, a tactic usually associated with the weakest authors.So I have to agree with the other reviewer who described this as the poorest book in the series.

good but not great!
This was decent fantasy novel but I thought it was probably the weakest in the series.Once again Deitz takes us to the war-torn land of Eron where Avall the war hero and reluctant young king must try to find ways rule his country by keeping the various clans happy.But Avall's problems become worse when a fanatical clan called the Priest cult plots to overthrow him and seize the magical jems that Avall used to defeat Ixians in the war.The problem I had with the book is that the characters behaved in stupid matter and even though the priest cult was suitable fanatical in the aims they were poor villians in comparision toKing Baraxx from the previous two books. ... Read more

Product Description
David Sullivan, a Georgia teenager, enjoys reading Irish myth. When he develops Second Sight, however, the reality of the Faerie world proves as dangerous as it is fantastic. When David'ss brother is stolen and his uncle felled by Faery magic, David enlist ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Georgia Farmboy Meets Fae in a Young Adult Novel
The Georgia farm boy icing is laid on real thick in the introduction, with farm chores, a watering hole, and a little brother named 'Little Billy.'Little Billy plays a larger and more annoying role than I liked; I couldn't stop picturing a 1950's backdrop with his name.Our teenage hero David, aided by his teen friends Alec and Liz, are Team Protagonist.The antagonists are the sidhe, specifically Ailill Windmaster."Windmaster's Bane" does have a deep level of detail and metaphor in the presented Irish mythology.

My copy of this is 279 pages in softcover, and is divided into four parts.Part one (up to page 84) sets the story well.Parts two and three are entirely unnecessary padding which David spends indecisive and not trusting his own (lifelong) friends.They involve a silver ring, an element the novel would have been stronger without.With more editing, I'd be giving more than 'meh' three stars.I'd estimate about 120 of the 279 pages are not necessary, and their elimination (or redoing, focusing on David's staffs instead of the deus-ex ring) would have made a tighter story.Starting with part four (page 201), the conclusion is well done.

The plot structure and inability of David to trust his friends easily in the middle novel make me not recommend it to adults.If you are expecting YA fiction (young adult), add a star, teenagers into fantasy/mythology will like it.

In memoriam
I knew Tom during the eighties and kept in touch with him off and on over the last twenty years.He was a kind man and a brilliant author.He died too young.He is missed but will still live on in the lives of all those he met and all those who had a chance to read any of his 20 books.

My favorite book series!
The Windmaster's Bane series is my all time favorite.I was the same age as the main character in the book David when I read this first book.As each book in the series came out, David and I aged together.These books were an escape from the small desert town I grew up in.I still re-read them all every couple years.The characters are likable, interesting, and heroic.You can't go wrong with this series.A must read for fantasy fans.

Magic in the mountains of Georgia!
I've known Tom Deitz for a year and a half now, taken two of his classes, and had him read a bit of my own work. He's been a mentor and a friend ever since I've met him. I had already bought a copy of the original publication of this book, but I was given a copy of this updated text as a present. I feel that I should highly recommend this work to any fantasy reader, Georgia resident, or to anybody who can appreciate a finely crafted story.

A wondrous high fantasy adventure, filled cover to cover with magical charm and challenges.
Originally published in 1986, Windmaster's Bane is a beloved fantasy novel for all ages, now updated and lightly rewritten by author Tom Deitz in a new collector's edition. When a chance occurence gifts an ordinary teenaged boy with the Second Sight, he learns that the world of Faerie - one that he knew only through Irish myths - is dangerously real. When his brother is stolen and his beloved uncle is struck down by faerie magic, he and his two closest friends must band together in a quest to save lives. A wondrous high fantasy adventure, filled cover to cover with magical charm and challenges. ... Read more

Product Description
When the barriers between the human world and the Faerie world of myth crumble on All Hallows Eve, north Georgia college students David, Alec, Aiken, and Liz stumble into the middle of the treacherous Wild Hunt. Reprint. PW. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Reading!
I think in this day and age to find a book that is interesting and a short series is something good.Although I enjoy long series....I hate waiting for them.....this book was refreshing. Thank you Tom!

An excellent read...a must for Deitz fans
I loved this story of Tir-Nan-Og...as all the others.This whole series is great for the simple reason each can stand alone...in an age where books are constantly "to be continued" his works are fresh and thecharacters as strong as ever.

Dietz does it again!
Once again Tom Dietz has managed to combine an insight into the lives of the average young American with a truly fantastic world of magic and fantasy.As with all of his books, this was a true delight to read, and I honestly did stay up all night until I finished reading it ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A very average effort
The prologue to "Soulsmith" is brilliant.I'll begin by saying that.It starts with a lawyer who's in jail ... for pig-stealing.Moreoever, he has the ability to predict the future by listening to the playlist on an oldies station.I loved this prologue, because it had everything: mystery, comedy, intrigue, well-drawn characters, and more.

Too bad the entire book can't be like that.As a matter of fact, the pig-stealing lawyer is never seen again.Instead we get Ronny Dillon, who gets injured in an unfortunate fall from a high diving platform and loses his parents to a car accident on the same day.Sent to live with his aunt and cousin in rural Georgia, Ronny soon gets caught up in a magical duel between Matt Welch, the local gentry, and his family.The Welch family possesses inherited magical ability.We first see Matt looking into the future in order to help a neighbor cheat on the SAT (I guess not all wizards can fight Balrogs for a living).Later we learn that the magical ability carries a more sinister side as well.The problem with this opening section is that it's too wordy.The sentences ramble on and on, and tons of extra details are included for no apparent reason.

Later on Deitz does manage to pull his writing together, and focus on the story at hand.But while he has all the elements - solid characters, a mysterious wanderer from out of town, dangerous past secrets to be revealed, a meaningful theme, and a whiz-bang ending - it somehow fails to add up to a great story.You feel like you're reading, if not a first draft, then maybe a second draft.Everyone's motivations are a little bit unclear, with too much unexplained running around purposelessly.

As with all his stories, Deitz is determined to set himself aside from standard fantasy.In "Soulsmith" he struggles hard and generally succeeds at capturing small-town southern life, throwing in detailed trips to the story for ice cream, outdoor barbecues, and so forth.Also, just as in the Tales of Eron series, he takes the reader for a spin on the sexually deviant side.Besides a not inconsiderably amount of simmering homosexuality, we also get everything from an old history of incest popping up to a bizarre seen involving coin-operated vibrators and dildos.Deitz may think that he's being hilariously raunchy here, but I found it to be a little bit off the mark.

A great beginning
This is my first Tom Deitz book, and I was very impressed.The author wrote about the creative process in artists so well that I came away with the feeling of being able to achieve my own goals with more confidence.

The villians in the book were expertly portrayed, with enough background given to show them as being all too human in their weaknesses. Anson is very real--a psychotic bully who is led along by his own greed.With the support of Matthew Welch, the Master of Cardalba, these two make a very sinister pair.

Ron Dillon, as the reluctant teenaged hero, was very believable.His dreams were shattered along with his body; and all he really wanted to do was get on with his life in a new high school as unobtrusively as possible.Deitz doesn't let Ron rest for very long, and proceeds to lead his protagonist through a dark maze of mental and physical pain, the discovery of an incestuous past, and a familial confrontation involving magic and violence.Ron's weapons: the application of the Luck that is his birthright, and the development of his gift for smithing under the bizarre tutelage of the enigmatic Road Man.

A dark read without the cutsey fluff of other books.

Deitz is masterfull in bringing fantasy to current times.
Like Tom's books involving David Sullivan (Windmaster'Bane, ect ), Tom does an incredible job bringing fantasy to the current times.I love reading Tolkien-type fantasy, but when a story is written in the 'real' world, it makes you think about the possibilities.The Soulsmith trilogy isinvolves fantasy that could be reality without streching your imagination too far.I'm not sure how Tom comes up with his ideas, but they not only entertain, but make you think.I have read all three books again and again and am always waiting for another Deitz novel to come out. ... Read more

Product Description
In this thrilling conclusion to the epic series begun in Bloodwinter and continued in Springwar and Summerblood, Tom Deitz brings us the final chapter in the unforgettable saga of a fugitive king, a lost magic, and a revolution that will either liberate a world--or condemn it to eternal tyranny.

While the Ninth Face, a dark religious sect, consolidate their grip on the capital city of Eron, far to the north King Avall’s army attempts to rescue the king himself from imprisonment at Gem-Hold-Winter, now controlled by Zeff, a Ninth Face fanatic. But Avall is no longer there. Aided by the blind harpist Kylin, he has escaped from the hold in a blaze of improbable magic that transported the king and his closest followers to a dangerous wilderness.

As the royal armies prepare for siege and Eron’s capital seethes with growing rebellion, Avall and his comrades must retrieve the magical Lightning Sword--now lost by Avall’s sister, Merryn--and make their way back to the embattled citadel. Only when Avall has regained the Sword can he march on Eron’s capital for a final showdown with the righteous priests whose law is total obedience and whose god is total power. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Ends with a Whimper
Tom Deitz deserves credit for being a true worldbuilder, for avoiding most fantasy clichés, and for always treating his readers like intelligent adults."Bloodwinter" and "Springwar" are both considerable achievements, considering how Deitz manages a large cast of characters, a logically consistent form of magic, and a plot that's worth reading.The last two volumes, however, are an unnecessary add-on.The pacing lags, the characters don't develop any more, and the conclusion is far too predictable."Summerblood" and "Warautumn" should have been merged together into one more succinct book, or better yet, never written at all.

Avall, Rann, and five others have been magically transported to an island in the middle of nowhere.Merryn and Krynneth have been captured and imprisoned by rogue Ixtian warriors.Strynn and Div are trying to track them down.The army of Eron continues to lay siege to the Ninth Face at Gem Hold.Tyrill conducts covert operations against the priests in Tir-Eron.We rotate among these five different groups of characters for quite a while, because it takes quite a while for anything to happen.There are a lot of details that we could have done without.For instance, Avall and his followers plan to build a raft in order to escape the island:

"In any case", he continued, "it's time we talked about getting off this island.It's a fine place as far as it goes, but we obviously can't stay here indefinitely.We'd already ruled out swimming to the mainland because that wasn't viable with you unconscious, Kylin, and because it would take forever to get any of our gear across.And that was before we saw what lives in the water.That leaves building a raft or boat."

"A raft would be easier," Rann observed."If for no other reason than because we could build one large enough to accommodate all of us and the supplies we have here a lot faster than we could build a boat that would accomplish the same things."

Lykkon nodded."And while there are plenty of trees on this island, they're either way too big to be workable, or too small.Whereas a raft-"

"There's thick-cane down by the shore on the south side," Bingg supplied."I saw it from up top.There's more up there, for that matter, but the growth onshore is larger, plus we wouldn't have to carry anything we made so far to set it afloat."

As you can hopefully tell, this isn't exactly nail-biting, pulse-pounding drama.Does it get better in the second half of the book?A little, but not enough to justify such a big chunk of paper.I officially recommend that you read only the first two volumes and skip the final two.You'll have a much more enjoyable read while committing less money and less time that way.

NOT AN EPIC CONCLUSION
I am disappointed in the conclusion to this series ..
The series started out great with the first couple of books
and I thought that maybe we have a storyteller to compete
with Goodkind, Jordan and Martin..
NOT>...
It is almost like the author lost interest in the saga and
filled in the last couple of books with banalities...
There was no anti-climax there was no build up to a climax
in short NO SATISFACTION with the conclusion to this series..
I would not recommend this series now, but if you had asked me
after reading the first two books I would have said YES!!
Maybe the author spread himself too thin to give himself
enough time to do the story justice... ... Read more

Product Description
Magical tracks of silver and gold connect our world to others. But now an evil wind blows among them all-bringing with it the scent of war...

Lugh Samildinach, High King of Tir-Nan-Og, has been deposed and imprisoned, and the throne of Faerie is under siege. Those who would seize its power bear little love for humankind, and will risk everything to defend their weakening borders from the unwitting invasion of mortal land developers-even if it means drowning the entire stste of Georgia. David Sullivan, human liason between mortal and Faerie, must summon his friends to aid both races. Armed with weapons of iron and magic, they must rescue the captured Faerie King and forestall the despoilers of David's beloved homeland.

But even as the fate of thousands hangs in the balance, a very personal tragedy raises the stakes for David alone...who has discovered just what he stands to lose if he should fail. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Last, perhaps, but definitely not least.
I have read every installment in the David Sullivan series, have seen the characters grow up from teenagers to confident and competent young adults.I have enjoyed every one thoroughly.This final one is certainly noexception.A previous reviewer stated that you can pick this one up andget involved in the story even if you haven't read the earlier books.Idon't really disagree with that, but I would still recommend reading theearlier ones first.All this assumes that this really is the last one. Like most writers, Deitz has left a few loopholes that might lead toanother book, although he has wrapped up just about all of the ongoingstory lines.If this is the last one with these characters, then it was anaction-packed finale, which also showed the very human successes andfailures of the mortal and Faery participants.If there is to be acontinuation, it will most likely feature Calvin's heritage, I would think. Either way, this was a very good book, which I suggest you read as soon asyou can.

Warstalker's Rocks
With Warstalker's Track being the last book in the David Sullivan series, you'd suspect that Tom Deitz would go out with a bang. He doesn't disappoint on that at all. In fact, he goes over the top and throwseverything *including* the kitchen sink at you in one last throw-downwinner take all book that includes his best battle scene to date. If you'vebeen following this series - it's a *must* to add to your collection. Ifyou haven't - what the hell is wrong with you??? Get this book anyway, thegood thing about Deitz is he's the master of the one to two page summary.You'll be able to get into the book and the mythos of the Tom Deitz withouttoo much problem within the first few chapters. ... Read more

Product Description
When a revival of an ancient Aztec religion gives way to a darker purpose, a group of would-be magicians and menacing factions converges upon the Aztlan Cathedral for a mystical showdown. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Demons in the Green
Can you give negative stars? I've been a Deitz fan from "Windmaster's Bane". Followed that whole series (which he kind of aludes to being the basis for the AU he sets up on this bumpy ride) What can I say? This is your average wacked out leftist PETA lovin green fanasty made real. He has created a world where magic has spilled out - the straight tracks are gone and humanity is divide - he wraps poorly researched Irish folk tales with Native American myths. The characters are emotionally crippled and spend so much time in self involved introspection that the reader forgets what the plot - no matter how contived was supposed to be about.

This was a sever disappointment. More so, because he has show the abilty to craft a fine tale in the past. ... Read more

Product Description
The magic, the mystery, and the spellbinding quest continue in this stunning sequel to Tom Deitz's first novel, Windmaster's Bane. Fireshaper's Doom finds David and his friends once again snared in the treachery of the immortal Sidhe. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Remains servicable fantasy.
Another book in my attempt to reread fantasy that I liked a lot as a young woman. Deitz updates fairy lore in his own way by recasting it with American teenagers who stumble across the fae in the Deep South of the US. Appropriate to the US setting, Deitz borrows bits of lore from a variety of cultures and mixes them together in a group of appealing stories that are as much about growing up as they are about elves.

Fireshaper's Doom picks up where Windmaster's Bane left off-- it features the exploits of a young man named David Sullivan who keeps getting inadvertently tangled up in the politics of the other worlds.

The series doesn't really fit my preferences in terms of my pet peeves around the depiction of fairy. Although they are depicted as treacherous, Deitz spends far too much time (for my taste) establishing that the fae are just like humans and that the best thing we can all do is to find some middle ground.

Still, it's a shame that Deitz is as forgotten as the status of his books (largely out of print) would indicate. He is a competent writer. His characters are solid and well-grounded. He does an excellent job of rooting the plot into the landscape and local culture. The stories are unobjectionable and generally entertaining. These still would be (as they were for me) an excellent series for a teenager or young adult.

Let us drink . . . to death!
The riveting sequel to WINDMASTER'S BANE; Lady Morwyn verch Morwyn ap Gwyddion has just been informed of the death of her beloved son, Fionchadd mac Aillil, by the hand of his own father.Despite the punishment laidupon Aillil, Morwyn desires vengeance upon the man she once loved.EnterDavid Sullivan, whom she kidnaps to assist her in her plans for vengeance. However, Aillil's mad sister, Fionna, also desires vengeance upon themortal who brought her brother low -- David!

Add in the Horn of Annwyn,which can summon mysterious hounds capable of devouring the souls of theirquarry, and watch the adventure begin!Great fun! ... Read more

Product Description
When the Luck of Welch County vanishes, Ronny Dillon must return to the ancestral site of his most terrible trials in order to awaken an ancient magic in metal and confront the dire threat to his legacy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Worse than the previous two
This one was very disappointing for me.While I think Deitz'streatment of Ron Dillon's crafting of the oracular Head was great inits detail and humor, that was about the only thing I liked.

Itwas the little things.For instance, Deitz's treatment of Gil, one ofRon's uncles is very negligent.Gil, we find out, has been releasedfrom prison where he did time for a rape charge.Dion, Ron's otheruncle, makes joking references to Gil's lechery.Since Deitz didn'tbother to come up with an excuse for Gil's incarceration (like,perhaps, he was convicted on a false charge), the reader is left toassume that Gil is in fact a perpetrator of violence towards women.When the Welches and Dillons are assembled to witness the passing of arelative, Gil's crime is not an issue and everyone happily hugshim.

Another thing that bothered me was Ron and Lew's criminallyinsane sister, who wants to be the new Master.While she could havebeen a great villian, the intimate relationship that develops betweenher and Lew isn't so much gripping as nauseating.

...

Too bad.This trilogy could have been really spectacular.

another entertaining tale from Tom Deitz
Wordwright is the final of the trilogy of Ronny Dillon.Enough twist and turns to keep me interested. While at the same time, since not having read the previous two books gives good character descriptions and believablepersonalities that this is not a disadvantage....more an incentive to findcopies of earlier books.

Novel with great characters, plenty of pace andthe ability to not want to put it down. Well worth the read, as Ron dealswith his past, and the potential of the future. ... Read more

Product Description
After five years of denial, Ronny Dillon returns to his ancestral home in Georgia, where he must face his tortured past and rediscover his destiny. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not as good as the first
I picked up this book with the hope of being as impressed as I was with Deitz's "Soulsmith".While he does succeed in developing newcomer, Brandy Wallace into a very interesting character with a fantastic goal--an artist who is going about building a castle (dubbed Brandy Hall) in Welch County that is straight out of Tolkien or Mervin Peake, Deitz seemed to struggle with providing adequate reasons as to why Brandy and Ron Dillon should build a relationship.Sure, they were both artistic geniuses with the ability to realize their wonderful dreams; but they also had planet-sized egos and neither one of them wanted to bend.

While characters like this can still be interesting and believable, in comes the improbable Van Vannister: handyman extraordinare with the almost magical ability to do everthing around Brandy Hall perfect the first time.

Throw in the idea that Vannister seemed to be insane, and that he (along with Ron) wanted to engage in amorous activities with Brandy on an almost constant basis, and you come away with a scenario that's more R-rated soap opera than good fantasy.

Not Deitz's best work. ... Read more

Product Description
An epic new fantasy of passion, power, and enchantment--

From a master of contemporary fantasy comes an unforgettable tale of heroes, heroines, and rogues whose two rival nations are scarred by suspicion, shadowed by war, and summoned to destiny by a magic that is both gift and curse.

In the icy northern realm of Eron, three young artisans bound by an unspeakable act of violence arrive at an isolated gem mine on a special commission for their king. They are the arrogant but talented Eddyn; Avall, his archrival; and beautiful Strynn, newly wed to Avall, but carrying Eddyn's child.

Meanwhile, to the south, amid Ixti's scorpion-riddled sands and sensuous cities, a horrible accident has forced Prince Kraxxi into exile with blood on his hands and a price on his head.

The four will be drawn together--and torn apart--by a magnificent find: a gem with magical properties beyond anyone's imagining or control. It is a struggle in which hidden forces pursue a frighteningly sinister agenda. For whoever possesses the gem holds the future of the world...and the power to destroy it.
Amazon.com Review
Sex and plagues, magic and swordplay, conspiracies andprophecies, even royal fratricide--Tom Deitz knows the ingredients ofgood fantasy. But despite obvious skill and a dedicated cadre of fans,Deitz continues to be one of the genre's underappreciated, underratedauthors. That may end with the first installment of his new AngenChronicles, Bloodwinter.

This first book introduces us torival nations Eron and Ixti. Eron's mountain-dwelling, Nordic societyis tightly ordered and places great importance on craftsmanship andritual. To the deserts of the south, the more chaotic and combativeIxti is grasshopper to Eron's ant, always coveting the resources ofits neighbor. Bloodwinter concerns the fate of five youngpeople, four from Eron, one from Ixti: the beautiful Strynn and thereserved Avall are newly married, but Strynn carries the child ofAvall's villainous rival, Eddyn. These three master artisans worktogether through the winter on regalia for their king, but Avallstumbles upon a powerful gem that feeds on blood and allows its usersto meld their minds. Meanwhile, Merryn, Avall's sister and Strynn'sclosest friend, serves out the winter in Eron's War-Hold, aftershaming Eddyn in a ritual duel. She ends up in bed with thesignificant Ixtian in the story, self-exiled Prince Kraxxi, who hasaccidentally killed his father's favorite son. Bloodwinter issolid, if long in parts, but it ends abruptly. Hopefully the nextinstallment will better address the most consistent complaint aboutDeitz, leveled by fans and critics alike: pacing. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Good ideas, terrible storytelling
This review covers both BLOODWINTER and SPRINGWAR.

Tom Deitz has a pretty good idea for a story in these two books, the first half of a four volume fantasy cycle. The tale has a broad sweep and conceptually, I like how the harsh winters have created a strongly regimented society in Eron, one that unfortunately has been decimated by a plague. The discovery of a magical gem with mysterious powers sets Eron on a collision course with the rival kingdom of Ixti to the south. The crown prince of Ixti and his father the king have a falling out over accidental fratricide. A secret order of priests emerges with its own agenda for the gems.

There's good raw material here. It's a shame, really, that Deitz is a long-winded storyteller with no instinct for conflict or motivation.

In the first 100 pages of SPRINGWAR, for example, there are maybe 3 important story points. The rest of the pages dwell on repetitive scenes that rehash the same personal dilemmas from Bloodwinter. How many times do I need to be told the 5 things that Avall cares about, "in that order." And can we please stop using the phrase "for the nonce"?

The fact that characters continually make very big decisions based on flimsy rationale is a problem. What would drive someone to undertake a weeks-long trek in arctic weather that would freeze dry you like Han Solo if you stood naked in it for 10 minutes? Apparently Deitz thinks you'd do it if you calmly reason out that it's the course of action that makes the most sense, because a variety of bad things MIGHT happen if you don't. He's wrong. You undertake such a trek if you're boxed into a corner, desperate, and have exhausted all possible other options.

Of course, that would require more complicated narrative. Much easier to just have the characters do what you, the writer, decree they should do because that's the way you want the story to go. The gems themselves are introduced in a particularly lazy fashion. Avall, the protagonist, just happens on one in a mine. Despite its amazing uniqueness, when Deitz needs more gems in the hands of his heroes, they too just conveniently appear.

Another problem: everyone just looooves Avall. If they don't love him, then they must be the baddies of the story. Thus, instead of encountering challenges in his personal relationships, Avall finds himself easily believed and accepted among people of power. Interchangeably fresh-faced young people yearn to be near Avall so they can help him. Where are the differing personal agendas? And why, toward the end of Springwar, does Deitz just conveniently set aside the secret order of priests, when he could have used them to raise the stakes even higher?

Let's talk about the fluid sexuality and the free love. In Eron, husbands and wives routinely sleep with other men, or women, or both at the same time. Jealousy never seems to become a factor. There are, of course, people who are able to live that way. But it's simply not believable that jealousy, insecurity, and possessiveness don't cause any tension in this story. Instead of taking advantage of the potential for conflict this kind of behavior creates, Deitz prefers to write the world of human relationships as he would like it to be. Enlightened perhaps, but... yawn. Moreover Deitz misunderstands a fundamental point: the more regimented a society is, the more harshly regulated sex tends to be as well. "So what?" you might ask. "It's a fantasy." Sorry, you still have to have believable characters with recognizable emotional dilemmas. In fact, it's even more important, because the reader is already asked to suspend disbelief on so many other things.

I turned the pages willingly enough, but found myself getting frequently annoyed. Since reviews suggest that the 3rd and 4th books in the series (SUMMERBLOOD and WARAUTUMN) are even worse than these, this is as far as I go. It's a pretty good stopping point, too, since several story arcs do resolve themselves at the end of SPRINGWAR.

A Good Beginning
"Bloodwinter" is one of the rarest of finds: a fantasy novel by an intelligent adult who treats his readers like intelligent adults.This book barely contains any magic prior to the very end, and instead focuses on the travails of a large cast of major characters.The story takes place in two rival countries, Eron and Ixti, both of which have recently been devastated by plague.We follow sets of characters in both countries as their lives are slowly drawn into the conflict.Deitz's worldbuilding is outstanding, and we get very detailed pictures of what life is like for people who live in these places.

Deitz also avoids a lot of fantasy tropes, such as wise old wizards or armies of orcs.Instead, he gives us a big slate of human characters, and what human characters they are!As with almost all good modern fantasy, Deitz has eschewed the standard 'evil overlord vs. reluctant hero' storyline and instead devised a complex and realistic political situation.In Eron, there is no inherited monarchy.Instead, the King is elected, and members of twenty-four different clans vie for control during the process.Deitz takes a sophisticated approach to characterization.The heroes all have their flaws and struggle with conflicting loyalties, while the villains are treated with a degree of sympathy.

Mostly on the mark
As a long time fan of Mr. Deitz, I anticipated this book to be more of a romp, and got a full-fledged novel instead.I think his writing has evolved and has matured - his characters are much more fully realized than in any of his other books.While some other readers have pointed out the amount of character detail and found it boring, I found that it layered on texture and depth to the overall story.Yes, it took me a while to grasp the clan structure and the familial relationships, but to me, that only lends it more credence as truly original fantasy.If it's so familiar that you know what the author is talking about by using simple shorthand (a technique used far too often in the world of fantasy writing), than it's not unique and stimulating.

Deitz has crafted a world and society that is dramatically different than typical fantasy worlds - magic doesn't exist, except within the realm of the Eight-Fold God.The political and religious repurcussions of the discovery that unfolds in the book are truly monumental and are worthy of the pages that Deitz spends writing about them.

There are a number of flaws, however.First off, his editor must not have been reading very carefully since he uses the phrase "for the nonce" about a dozen times.Since it's not a commonly used phrase, it sticks out like a sore thumb, and distracted me.Secondly, the pacing is really uneven.While I do care what happens to Kraxxi and Merryn, I was annoyed when we kept switching back and forth.I am still waiting to see how these characters meet back up with the main storyline, if they ever do.

The first quarter of the second book is really the ending of the first book.The first book ends abruptly, and I fortunately had the second at hand so I could continue on.Unlike his other collections, this one does not have a single story or adventure contained in a single volume.He seems to be taking lessions from Robert Jordan and the Wheel of Time series in that regard.Hopefully, unlike that collection, this will end in the number of books the author and publisher have promised.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the rest.

Very intriguing indeed!!!!!
Tom Deitz has created a very intriguing new world in that of Eron and Ixti.The characters are very realistic and easy to sympathize with.Although this book may start off somewhat slow, it eventually becomes so engaging that I personally could not put it down!I look forward to reading more of this strange and utterly different land.

Pretty Good
It took me almost seven weeks to finish this book.I liked it, but in some parts it is so boring that you just have to skip the chapter.Sometimes you can read forever and understand practically nothing about what is going on.Others, however, can be very exciting and well worth the read.I think there are too many characters, though.Sometimes you have no idea who is talking, and it can get rather confusing.I found no point in the prologue.The characters in that chapter never returned again and you don't know who else dies, or what happens to them. After that chapter it goes straight into the main story, with totally new characters.I thought it was a good plot though, and can not wait to get a hold of the second book. ... Read more

Product Description
Haunted by the ghost of his father, Calvin McIntosh ventures into the Darkening Lands on the border of the Cherokee Ghost Country, where he is forced to confront an evil Cherokee witch and is helped by a panther-woman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The story of Tir-Nan-Og continues...
Mr. Deitz again takes us to the enchanting world of fairie with this story.As Calvin's tale unfolds you are caught up in Mr Diets' ability to weave a tale so suspensful it keeps you rapt until the end.Well worth theeffort to locate! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very Readable Fantasy
This is a very readable book in a down to earth sort of way.You can follow the main characters as they come together in their adventure with sympathy and conviction. The characters are realistic and believable fortheir ordinaryness in handling situations both everyday and out of thisworld.

A good enjoyable book to consume. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Gryphon!
Tom Deitz is one of my favorite authors and the Gryphon king is a great stand alone book. This was the first book I read by Tom Deitz and have gone on to read many of his others. His character always seem real even when faced with not of this world situations. The characters in this book later participate in the last few books of the David Sullivan series. So if you are a fan of the Windmaster's Bane series of books this is a must read if you can find it used.

A minor disappointment.
At their worst, Tom Deitz books feel a little bit like they were written as wish fulfillment for the Society for Creative Anachronists or Southern Fae junkies. Unfortunately, this is not one of his better efforts.

I read the first few books that he wrote with considerable interest and enjoyment, but most of what has followed has seemed stuck in the same old groove. Even though this book is not in the David Sullivan series, it honestly felt as though it might have been. It had similar characters, plot points and emotional issues.

I remained essentially unconvinced by many of the major charactermoments in the book. The relationships never felt like there was really very much at stake. The Gryphon King (the character) raises some good questions about the relationship of Jay and Dal is one that really holds water. It was a good question, but one that the book never entertains as valid or even worth asking. This is a graduate school where true lovers find true love and hold it, and that is perhaps the most fantastic part about the book.

Character flaws aside, Deitz does his usual credible job of anchoring the book in mythology andfolklore (although the roots are not as deep as they are in the early Sullivan books). I enjoyed the work that he did with the miracle plays, although even that was not as well developed as I would have liked.He is a talented author, and it makes me sad to have such a feeling ofpastiche from reading this book.

Fans of Dietz might enjoy the outing. People new to his writing should start with the David Sullivan books instead.

Athens
I live in Athens, GA.I think it is a great place. I like the way he combines ordinary places I see everyday and things that don't exist. I didn't give it 5 stars just because I save them for my absolute favorites.

great book!
I am an avid fan of Tom Dietz, and love every one of his books. This book is easy to identify with. It takes the commonest of settings (college in Georgia) and turns them into a mythical adventure. I highly recomend it.

Another great Tom Deitz novel!
This book stands as a solo entry into the tales of the sidhe in Georgia, but is just as evocative as the David Sullivan novels Tom Deitz has written over the years.The characters are powerfully written and easy to identifywith, especially to me, as I am both a graduate student and a fan ofIrish/Celtic myth and folklore.This book is worth much more than themoney you'll pay for it.A worthy addition to any collection. ... Read more

Product Description
As scheming human land developers threaten to exploit the magic lands, now exposed through the worn-too-thin World Walls that separate the ""real world"" from the Faerie world, David Sullivan and his friends must stop the High King Lugh from destroying humankind. Original." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

It was okay.
I think that Deitz is a wonderful writer, but I just didn't get into this book.I wanted to see a little more action.It seemed to me that part of the time the characters just sat around and talked instead of doing anything.I have to admit that the end hooked me and I was upset because I want to know what is going to happen!When the next book comes out I'm going to read it.I hope that Mr. Deitz hurries.

celtic lore, everything a fanstasy fan could love
This book ends leaving the reader hanging. Ahhhh! Help Mister Deitz. We are all waiting now over a year for the sequel! Needless to say the whole series is well worth the read. The characters are absolutely memorable! Hilarious! A laught a minute. I love David Sullivan. I wish he were my son and I'd explore all those things in Faerie with him without second though. Afterall, no matter what the tangle he always seems to come out on top! Great book! EVen better series!

EXCELLENT!! The suspense is UNBEARABLE!!
Just when you thought the love of Alex's life stuck in enfield form for good...OOPS, don't want to spoil! What I do want to know is WHEN THE HECK IS THE NEXT BOOK COMING OUT?

A great continuation and a tying of loose ends
Deitz finally gives us another Sullivan book!I have been a big fan of Tom Deitz for several years and this book does nothing to lessen that fervor.If you've read the other Sullivan books (and this is NOT the best book for a jumping on point), you will find more of the same here.Deitz finally ties up the loose ends that connect the Sullivan books and "Gryphon King."If you long for a return trip to Tir-Nan-Og, grab this book with all haste.A word of warning though.Deitz kind of ends the book in the middle of the story.(Why Tom?Why?Why do you torture me so?)Hopefully, he will take pity on his poor salivating fans and write the other book quickly

A Wonderful Book with a Horrible Problem
Its pretty safe to say that I am a fan of Tom Deitz. I think that I've read everything he's written, and loved most of it. This book is no exception. Character, plot, narrative, all are exemplary, but the book has a really big problem. Even more so then some of his other books, Landslayers Law ends in the middle. Its one of those books that you finish and want to scream because you need to know what happens in the next few hundered pages. Which, of course, probably wont be released for quite some time. My recommendation - if you like irish mythology, faerie, or celtic lore at all, read the David Sullivan books. The research is impeccable, and the books are a joy to read. Just wait until the next volume comes out.. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Say Whaaa?
If you like tecno-magic, maybe this book might appeal to you.Typically, I steer clear of this kind of story anyway, but I read it while studying dolphins AND Native American history at the same time.Yet, try as I might, I just could not get into this piece of garbage.I finished it in an attempt to find redeeming qualities, but I honestly found none.

Here are the problems I had with this book:
*Under-realized land developments.It's all high-tech, nifty gadget-housing and such, with little to no regard for existing structures.There's no grit to the locations, which I suppose makes sense for an idealized world.
*Idealism.There is little to no movement for Native American tribes to come together and break from the USA.All the tidbits about negotiations and politics and whatnot float on a pipedream that has little to do with the real world--past, present, or the near future in which this book is set.
*Characters.This is simple: the characters bored me to tears.
*Magic.I have a fairly open mind.I bought the book knowing that magic would play a decent role.Here's the problem: it doesn't play much of a role until later on, and it plays into the ideal world scenario.Only, it becomes nauseatingly ironic.Without going into spoiling details (for those of you not convinced by this review), let us just wonder, out loud if you wish, if magic would grant past peoples an advantage over invading peoples.Or if, at some point in our history, there would be record of some ancient magic that has survived in one form or another in order to be pertinent to the plot.The problem here is that the book hints at neither, presumably to ignore the issue altogether and hope the reader never wonders.

For a story of magic set in the futre, I never really felt that I was in the future (near or other), or any sort of magic.There's a bit of bloodshed, though, so if you're into gore I suppose you might get a kick out of it.

it is the shznit.
Tom Deitz has definetly got me hooked with this brilliant novel.The man is a GENIUS, and I'm not just saying that cause I know him.

An enchanting story from a master storyteller!
The story of Kevin, Carolyn and Thunderbird is an enthralling one.An engrossing read that leaves you wanting more...as with other works by Mr. Deitz, this story can stand alone.Powerfully and extremely well written,you will find yourself unable to put it down.Well worth the time andmoney! ... Read more

Product Description
Word count: 1450. ... Read more