Legends of the Dragonrealm

Legends of the Dragonrealm is a fictional omnibus featuring the first 3 installments of the Dragonrealm series of books written by Richard A. Knaak. It features the novels Firedrake, Ice Dragon, and Wolfhelm. It centers primarily on the Dragonrealms, a fictional land governed by the Dragon Kings. It details the progression of 3 events across this land. It combines aspects of the warrior, the mage, and general fantasy to create something recognizable to fantasy fans, but completely unique and differentiated from other books in the genre. Firedrake was an amazing story. It starts off running and does not stop until the very end. When the protagonist is targeted by powerful lords and kings, he must flee and thus begins the adventure. Non-stop action keeps you interested from beginning to end. A quick read for those who have the attention span needed. It combines a classic plot of a hero, villain, friends, and foes with solid character development and a bit of suspense, intrigue, and action. An opportunity for some is that not all characters were fully developed, which is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because it provides just one more reason to read the second book. A curse, because it is a bit frustrating putting together a puzzle of a story without all the pieces. This was one of the fastest flowing storylines that I've been able to read in a while. Ice Dragon does not leave one disappointed. Although the story doesn't move as quickly as Firedrake, the plot contains significantly more depth and detail. Ancient feuds, archaic magic, and nifty characters combine to make this a must read for any fans of fantasy or dragons. The only opportunity seen in this story is that, at points, the story seems to dry up. It's not until the different subplots are connected that true appreciation for the main plot is realized. Richard also adds some lore to the background of the Dragonrealms, which makes the land more alive, vibrant, and colorful. It also sets up the next book perfectly. Wolfhelm was possibly my favorite of the three. Although it does not focus as much on dragons as its predecessors, it tells the story of another, possibly even more enigmatic character. Facing ancient enemies for the greater good is a motif seen throughout this novel. Personally, I am a big fan of background information. This story delivers on that and then some. Casting already-known characters in a new light by providing background information, allows Mr. Knaak to add dimension to his already well-known characters. Creating a sense of futility to the struggle and mixing in solid perseverance allows the reader to "feel" for the characters and their plight. It's a fantastic conclusion to the first three books. It adds a bit of closure when you really don't want it. Although I wouldn't recommend it, a reader who only reads the first three will not find their time wasted. So far, after reading 5 of the set, I find myself eagerly anticipating more and would never con