Mystic Warrior

Book I of the Bronze Canticles Trilogy

By: Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman

Narrated by: LLoyd James

New York Times best-selling master of fantasy, Tracy Hickman, and his wife, author Laura Hickman, offer the first book in a major, new, dragon-laden epic fantasy.

The Bronze Canticles is an expansive new saga chronicling the world-altering changes that take place as three connected universes, the Human world, the Goblin world, and the Faery world, are slowly drawn together.

In Book One, Mystic Warrior, young Galen Arvad, a human with magical powers, must avoid the ritual that puts those with such talents to death. It seems that in the eyes of the community, magic is a sign of lunacy, and in a yearly ritual the local "crazies" are offered up to the Dragon Priests. Galen is suddenly captured and imprisoned. Now, as Galen's wife, Berkita, and his friend, Cephas the dwarf, set off to rescue him, Galen learns of the fate that awaits him, a fate far worse than even his own death.

Don't miss the rest of the Bronze Canticles Trilogy.©2004 Tracy Hickman and Laura Curtis (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Impressive and provocative fantasy....This emotionally intense novel's meticulously crafted magical system and likeable characters evoke an atmosphere both timely and timeless. While lively action sequences and rich descriptive passages provide plenty of excitement, mature examinations of politics and individual responsibility lend philosophical weight and emotional poignancy....A fine example of socially conscious and unpredictable imaginative fiction." (Publishers Weekly)

Decent story

I'll start out by saying, I enjoyed the story. I wouldn't rate it as highly as most of the other fantasy I've read in the last 10 years, but it was still entertaining. The 'magic' system seems rather vague and for something purportedly so universally powerful, highly underutilized. Aside from being able to converse with crafted objects, Galen fails to be the usual strong, unique character that ends up leading an unpopular cause. All epic heroes start out as unwilling participants and eventually resign themselves to their fate, but Galen wouldn't hold a candle to a Rand Al'thor or a Prince Rohan. I don't know whether it's the way it's written, or the way the story is told by the narrator, but the story failed to get me emotionally motivated, or feel strongly at all about any of the characters.

I'll be purchasing Mystic Quest next, but I can't say these go on my top 10 fantasy list. If you've read/listened to most of the existing fantasy, you'll probably enjoy this as an idle read/listen. Just don't buy this expecting a story on the level of a Robert Jordan, George R. R. Martin, or Melanie Rawn.

I'd also have to say that the narrator, while doing an ok job, does choose strange and sometimes distracting accents and voices for some characters. I definitely wasn't expecting goblins to sound like Don Knotts or Jimmy Stewart. Who knew?

Story Great - Narration Awful

The story line is complex and character development fabulous. However, the naration is truly awful! I almost trashed listening to the book at all because the beginning narration was so emotive and overdone... However, I did attempt to overlook the narration because the tale was so good. Like the other reviewers, I am looking forward to the continuation of the saga but I sincerely hope the next book is read by a different narrator. I would have rated this book a 4.5 if it wasn't for the narration

Waiting for next book in series

I enjoyed the pace of the book. I found the characters interesting and the three part story line made it more interesting.

couldn't do it

The story was ok, but I just could not get past the narration style. Amateurish and contrived accents for all the non-human-males was completely distracting. Style was also very bland, little difference in emphasis between a shout and normal speaking. The reader may be fine for another genre but not for fantasy. I rarely put a book down but I couldn't get past the first hour. I can't imagine this was the narration the authors had in mind, perhaps it will be more engaging reading the book myself.

Mystic Warrior

This book had the makings of a good story. The narration was horrible. The accents the narrator used were very distracting and sometimes comical when they weren't meant to be. If you get as far as the appendix, only go further if you haven't been able to get to sleep in a while. The book was a waste of time.