This is really a 3.5 star read.And it's mostly a lot of milling around before the quest actually gets started. As per usual, I have to ignore the implications of the casual (and mildish) misogyny. No matter the issues I have with this series - THIS is the series (and the Belgariad) that get my reading mojo going every time.

Like most sequels, The Mallorean is not as good as its predecessor. But, also like most sequels, it is nice to catch up with the familiar characters you fell in love with in the original. Although the story-line is similar to the first series (to the point that the protagonist points it out at one point in conversation), the adventure is still just as much fun. Anyone that loved the first series (The Belgariad) will find this series a worthwhile read.

After the pentalogy of Belgariad David Eddings returns to his imaginary world for the beginning of another epic story. The question I was worried about when I started reading is, of course, what is left to be done from here in our story. In this cases there is always the fear that the author will look for the easy solution of repetition and recycling of the same ideas, unable to find original. Initially it seemed that fear to be confirmed since the beginning of this story is much like the begini...

Disclaimer: THE BELGARIAD was the first adult fantasy series I read, in grade 5. I loved it so much I read them probably every couple years until 2 of the books literally fell apart. I wholeheartedly recommend them as an easy, fun intro-to-high-fantasy series. I only picked up the MALLOREAN at age 31--GUARDIANS OF THE WEST is #1 of that series. Pros: same great characters, same great land, same great sorcery premise!!! And Eddings still has some of the funny left. Cons: same great characters...g...

*** 4.55 ***I can't help it! have this soft spot for the Fantasy of that time and its vibe hits just the right spot in my heart... Is it really deserving of almost 5 stars or is it sentimentality speaking? I have no idea. I only know, that if I had kids, I would totally start them off on this sort of Fantasy. It helps create idealistic dreamers, but without them, what good is life after all???

I can’t describe how happy I was when I opened this book and read the first page! I know this book, the whole series probably, has problems that would be highly frowned upon in today’s age and time, but this whole series is one of the books I remember from my… well not childhood, but let’s say my adolescent years, and I just love them.

This title takes me back. Back to my youth and a time when bookstores were much more plentiful. In a time when you could pick up a second hand hard cover copy of this book for a couple of bucks in just about every used book store. I bought mine from an unassuming used bookstore on Bank Street in Decatur. The stacks were tall, the aisles were dim and narrow, and the proprietor was always willing to share stories of his time abroad in the Service. Man, if I only had half of the gems I remember ove...

This is not a first book of David Eddings which I have read. The first book was actually Domes of Fire (The Tamuli Book 1), part of Sparhawk Universe. Ironically, both books are sequels of the respective original series. The Domes was successful to persuade me to like Edding’s writing. So does Guardians of the West. In fact, I like this book/series more than the Sparhawk Universe, as far as things go.If someone says I should read The Belgarion series first, I would agree of it. Better to read Be...

The most useless continuation of a great series - The Belgariad, which had come to a perfect end.

You'll have to wait until I'm at the end for a proper review.Just two things.Why is Garion so nice?Why do I want to slap Polgara?

Three and a half, fate and free will is a problem, it's not that well done. Characteristics of one race(the term is used in a weird way in the book) are used for every single being that's a part of it. Characteristics based on age are a bit suspicious as well. Banter between characters is the best part of the book

As someone who tends to try and finish entire series, I have to give David Eddings this much: His books are readable, if only borderline so.If you want just the summary, here it is: Shallow characters, misoginy, nondescript environments, plot twists semaphored volumes ahead, not one unimportant element of the books, same jokes repeated over and over, and the author never lets anything go wrong, and thus my final rating for the series is 2.5 - if one doesn't mind the listed flaws, the books have

4.5 stars NON SPOILER TERRITORY !!AMAZING The Mallorean is the sequel to the Belgariad, David Eddings most popular fantasy series.It was so fun to be back in this world, to see all the characters we knew and loved, all grown up. It was so cool to see the friendships rekindle, years after the events in the Belgariad. This instalment seemed more lighthearted and fluffy than the original series, and over all more simple to follow, especially since we now know more about the world and the different

How does one describe fantasy? Hints of the medieval with a dash of something magical and an epic adventure that will take you to the ends of the earth. Eddings definitely embodies that with this series launch. He had me captivated from cover to cover.The variety of different lands that we visit and peoples we meet are all equally well developed and easy to get to know. These lands come to life in a vivid manner that is the perfect backdrop for this epic tale. This novel is character intensive t...

I loved it. The way I loved the Belgariad. But there are 4 books to go so I'll comment when I'm done with the series.

Good opening to the series.Set a little after the events of the Belgariad, the first part of the book covers quite a few years until the latter third or so moves along at a more normal pace. Though the events of the previous series were pretty definitive, there are hints and portents that the conflict between the Light and the Dark might not be over.So the story in this is very much a retcon and the author spends a fair bit of time scrambling around trying to show how the previous events didn't

Since this is my physical copy that I read back in the year 1830, I can't properly leave a rating :) If I revisit it I'll leave an appropriate review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the start of this series reread. I sure have missed these characters.Guardians of the West is the first book in The Malloreon by David Eddings. This is the sequel series to The Belgariad so as long as you've read that, you'll know all the players involved and basically what to expect from the series since the story follows the same formula.Several years have passed since the Child of Light and Child of Dark met to decide the fate of the world. A time of peace and prosperity

Always makes me sad and angry even though I have read before. Still can stir heart. Just love these books

The second series of these books is the ‘unloved series’ it feels like to me. As a teenager I had consumed the first series voraciously and I loved every moment. The premise was cool, I liked the mix of characters and the magical system developed by the author just plain worked. It was all great. I thought and still think (and I am slowly re-reading the series again) that it is superbly written. Not in terms of a classic literary style but because it flows so smoothly. The pace is wonderful and