ISBN: 0-441-00502-0 Order from: Amazon.com
A competent tale of magic, brotherly envy turned deadly, and fragile human lives in the midst of war.
Reviewed by David on May 31, 1998
Genre: Fantasy (Dragons, Shapeshifting, War, Evil Sorcerer)
Synopsis: When twins are born to a local ruler, only one of them turns out to possess the rare magical gift of changing into a Dragon. The other twin, growing more envious and bitter with age, turns to black sorcery to build his own dominion. A deadly struggle ensues, with the local inhabitants suffering pain and death at the hands of the sorcerer's minions.
Full Review: Lynn exhibits a great deal of skill in painting the lives shattered by the deadly struggle. The scale is kept very human; the armies number in the dozens, not thousands, and every injured or killed soldier matters in the struggle. Lynn's spear-carriers breathe, cry and love, prior to dying in the struggle, and it is easy to care for her characters.
The world is solid and believable. The author draws on many standard elements of an epic fantasy: an ancient evil, drawn by ignorant or ambitious men; unknowing betrayals and sadistic minions. There is an interesting shape-shifting element, reminding me slightly of the title story in Donaldson's Daughter of Regals and Other Tales. The shifting point of view, while handled with skill, did not add much to the story, but served to increase interest in the characters.
While the main plot is resolved in the book, there are clearly enough loose ends for a sequel in this world.
All in all, Dragon's Winter is an enjoyable, well-crafted but unexceptional fantasy.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 5; Style: 6; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;
Ace, April 1998, Cloth, 341 pages
ISBN: 0-441-00502-0 Order from: Amazon.com