A Grant of Arms (Sorcerer's Ring) Paperback – Illustrated, September 19, 2013

A Grant of Arms; Book #8 in The Sorcerer’s Ring Series is a painful book. Having followed the fortunes of Thorgrin, his friends, and the remaining members of the MacGil family, it is sad to see him under the influence of the evil Andronicus, fighting the battles of the Empire under the name of Thornicus. We learn that most of what is keeping him in Andronicus’ service is the efforts of the sorcerer Rafi. Several times the faces of his friends almost break the stranglehold of Rafi’s magic on him, and he nearly remembers who he is. But then Rafi rallies, and Thorgrin is Thornicus once again.An interesting little quiver in Andronicus’ personality shows itself after Thornicus foils a would-be assassin’s attack on him. Suddenly Andronicus seems to feel – could it be? – love for his son.Also, a few times, in dreams, Thornicus, or Thorgrin, hears his mother, who tells him he is not like his father, or even like her, but is his own person and can decide his own course of action. Again, he is confused and almost comes to himself again. But in these cases too, Rafi’s magic overwhelms him, and Thornicus is back.Meanwhile, Thorgrin’s other friends are engaged in their own struggles, each trying to do their part to save the Ring. Some of them find strange new lands in their quest to save the realm. Others are forced to find new resources within themselves.

This book is part of a series that is truly a serial story. While you can read this as a standalone book if you just want to read about killing and magic you will have absolutely no idea of what is going on unless you start at the beginning with book one (which I highly recommend that you do). Unfortunately along with praise must come a bit of dissention: After reading book seven I was looking forward to a deep and profound journey through the underworld in search of Aagon but it turned out far from what I expected. He was rescued and brought back to do… nothing!And there is the matter of logistics: I realize the meaning of fantasy but still a fantastic story should have the ring of reality in it somewhere. How do you feed, transport, house, arm and shelter a million man army and more importantly a million horse army? That would be a part of a story in and of itself.The books are great fantasy work and definitely should be read but do yourself a favor and start with book one.

This series is hard to put down. It is like eating potato chips.I enjoyed this book very much. I chewed through this book quick and wish the next one was ready to read.This is a good series for young adults or teens, I find it to be very good for an old greybeard too.It has some issues here and there but if you can forgive a couple things and play along you will love the whole series.My biggest Issue is how Most of the creatures are described, This is an insane place to live. After book #8 I just find it amusing and laugh at some of the animals and creatures that our Heroes have to do battle with. You can never have to many heads on a monster.Please put a map in the next book with lots of details on this world. And maybe put a giant sized rolling paper in the paperback version. :)

I wished I had not started this series of books! The story was good for the first six and should have stopped there, it is because the books are so short that the neccessity for more is needed. If the books had been the length that other authors provide us with six would have been enough. Also the storyline is being dragged out and things repeated over and over. I have continued as I do not like to stop reading a series until it is finished and am hoping it will not take too many more!

The story continues, well written. I just finished Book #9 and look forward to #10. Supposed to be released in December but have not found any confirmation yet. Just as I thought it was coming to an end, it takes an unanticipated twist to continue. Old nemises come back to create problems, ones I had all but forgotten about. This happens will it ever end? Only one way to find out, keep reading if so inclined. I am so inclined.

Enjoyed the story line

The pamphlet sized offering is a decent instalment, but doesn't move things along enough to justify its being a book on its own.I'd have to say things have improved with the writing as the series has gone on, with fewer repeated phrases and not everything causing a burst of new found respect. There are errors here or there, including one where I'm sure the characters' weapon is broken one minute and used the next (though I could have just misread), and a bridge which swings at almost 90 degrees without anyone falling off which just couldn't happen. Hyperbole doesn't always equal drama.The bigger issue is that I don't get a real sense of the places that are being visited, or the timescales for the storylines. It's a hard one to manage in a novel but I keep thinking one set of characters has journeyed for weeks to get somewhere to meet up with another set, only to realise its likely been two days. At other times, in the midst of battle, characters seem able to cut themselves free from stuff in the time it takes a horde of bad guys standing 2m away to reach them.In terms of story, things are getting a bit more complicated as we move along. There are now at least 9 distinct story threads, each covered with a chapter or two a piece, the book divided into 20+ chapters with a cliff hanger (or not) at the end of each. It just seems so improbable that every corner characters turn is filled with such absurd levels of peril. Some of the new threats are too weird to visualise. As I've said about previous instalments, it's more like a script than a novel at times with so little sense of location. I'm kinda invested in finding out what happens at the end, but as others have mentioned the books keep getting shorter each time too which is kind of cheating for those of us who are likely to buy another two or three just to see how things end. The characters are still a bit one dimensional even after all this time, and things move along at such a relentless pace I can't recall if one or two of them are dead and I just didn't notice.

Like so many other reviews here, I'd have to agree that the quality of the writing is just, well, horrible! So at book 8, why am I still reading them?? The truth is that the stories and characters are good, and that I think there is a lot of creative stuff in the series. So I've given it 4 stars for getting me and keeping me hooked. I do care what happens to Thor (seriously? Thor?) and wish we could just get him to meet his mother. But why is it that Krohn always makes his presence known by whining (since when do cats whine anyway)? And how many times do I have to be told that Gwen doesn't want to be queen, or that all Thor ever wanted was to be part of the legion, or that honour is more important that life? And if the phrasing is so repetitive, how is it possible that these books are so short!? I really do hope the story resolves itself in book 9 or that there is just such a long lag between book 9 and book 10 that I can ween myself off of the series. Thank goodness these are so cheap in the Amazon Kindle store or I would be really embarrassed.

Up until this volume I had quite enjoyed this now overlong saga where previous volumes were read in 3/4 sittings this one took two months with much skipping of pages. Has become annoyingly repetitious .Unfortunately I have downloaded vol.9 and 10.I am alarmed to see vol.11 how many more for goodness sake? Why do some authors find it so difficult to finalise epic tales?

the problem with her books are they are too short, however, as they are for the younger generation (can't think why) supposedly it is due to their not being able to read this type of fiction without getting bored. As my grandson also reads fantasy I know this is not true. Anyone who is addicted to fantasy will read and read and read

This book was supposed to be 238 pages, however, the lines are double spaced and you actually get about 100 plus pages. The story line is good but there is insufficient content to warrant the price. I will not purchase any more of Mr Rice's novels in the Sorcerers's Ring series as each subsequent novel seems to get shorter.