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The Demon Wars Saga is one of the best pieces of fantasy fiction I've read/heard since The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. (It's interesting that the good fantasy writers use initials instead of first names, isn't it?) What makes this series so good is that R.A. Salvatore is consistent with the characters and includes all the favorites through the entire saga. Some heroes die but they are not forgotten. The heroes that do live on stay consistent with their central character, while the author gives them room for growth and development.

What makes this series even more exciting is that I'm listening to the audio version produced by GraphicAudio. GraphicAudio turns these books into great auditory theatrical events. They achieve GraphicAudio's "Movie in your Mind" motto by using excellent voice actors, superb sound effects and incidental music that pushes the excitement to even higher levels. Many times during great battle scenes, I found myself getting closer and closer to the edge of my seat and only able to relax once the music fades out. The special effects are achieved through music and some great sound effects. For example, when the elves let an arrow fly, you hear every detail -- from the moment the arrow is notched, through its flight to the sound of the arrow hitting its target, whether that be flesh or stone. The sound effects used throughout the production really are amazing.

This installment continues with the adventures of the ranger, Brynn Dharielle. Brynn was trained by the elves to become a hero for her people, the To-Gai, who are being enslaved by the Behrenese. During the journey to her homeland, Brynn is separated from her two travelling companions when they come across the lair of a dragon. Brynn escapes and goes on to her country to find a small revolution already in progress.

During the revolutionary campaigns, Brynn meets up with a Jhesta Tu mystic by the name of Pagonel. He is one of the few mystics who has achieved the highest state of enlightenment, allowing him to perform magicks without the use of magical gemstones -- a type of magic with which Brynn is unfamiliar. Pagonel rescues Brynn from the Behrenese army and begins teaching her the enlightenment of the Jhesta Tu.

In the meantime, Brynn's fellow travelers have been captured by the dragon, Agradeleas. Compelled to find Brynn, they must either escape the dragon's lair or convince it to let them continue on their journey. There's no doubt that Brynn could use their help, for the Behrenese soldiers are on the march, searching for Pagonel and the other Jhesta Tu mystics. As with all good series, this one ends on a cliffhanger, enticing you to begin the next installment as soon as possible.

Gil T. has spent a quarter of a century working in radio and has lots of spare time on his hands and reading or listening to books takes up all that time. Check out his blog to find out what he's up to at any given moment.