The Winter of the World: Volume 2: The Forge in the Forest

The Winter of the World Trilogy (Anvil, Forge and Hammer) stands out as a classic in the Fantasy Genre. In my opinion MSR has succeeded very well to integrate nordic mythology in his writing. Especially the Smithcraft and the Powers wrought in the fire of a Mastersmith are cleaverly written. The Powers come from runes set into the metal. It's description and potential is one I like very much. As one reviewer said before, MSR is highly underrated. His way with words surpasses many in the field. Highly poetic and --in writing style and tecnique -- matching Tolkien every step of the way.

I love travel stories and this is one of the best. I love magic and it pervades the very fabric of this world. I love a fierce young hero, and here is one who will never take the easy way out. I love trees, and here is a continent full of them. I love an unexpected twist in a story, and here are some mighty hairpin bends. I love woodwork, and here is a whole enchanted palace built of wood. I love a girl who holds her own and here is Ils, who needs no kind of prettiness to have her place in the voyage. I love a god who misbehaves like one, and here is Raven... I love this book.

The second installment of Michael Scott Rohan's trilogy progresses the story of the apprentice smith Elof. I am reading George RR Martin's _A Game of Thrones_ as I write this, and I cannot help but draw some parallels between the two novels. The strength of Rohan is in my opinion his wonderful use of the English language. The prose is rich, it is a wonderful book just because of it. And the story is very good. In the previous book, our heroes traveled through well-known territory, there was no tension and suspense from that point of view. In this book, they set out in search of a lost people through uncharted territory, and the reader follows their footsteps wondering what Elof and his band will stumble into next. However, Martin's book is tremendous in its characterization. Every character is very realistic, each one seems to be showing a facade to the people around him but is really much more intricate underneath. Although Elof, Rohan's main character, shows signs of progressing as a personality through the first two books, he really is the only one with any real depth. Otherwise, read this (if you are luck enough to find it) and enjoy the wonderful story.

As the one book of the trilogy yet to receive a review, I thought I'd write one, both out of tribute to M. S. Rohan, one of the greatest fantasy writers ever and certainly the most underaclaimed, and because the book merits it on its own. The Forge in the Forest leads the band of friends from the first volume into the great and uncharted forests of ancient powers in their quest to reach the East Coast of their continent. Every page is unbelievably well written in a style in the same echelon as Tolkein. In fact, Rohan's trilogy is in many ways Tolkein's equal. Only the vast scope of Tolkein eclipses this otherwise perfect trilogy.