Need help fantasy readers...

[noblemountain]

my fiance is really into the fantasy series, "The Dragon Prince" by Melanie Rawn. when i say really...i mean really into it. i read the books and really enjoyed them, my engagement ring was even based off the books.

i really want to get her something unique for the holidays...possibly from this series. i tried for a hardback copy of the first three books...but it was a small release and only in the UK...now go for $1200 US for the first book. if anyone has read this series and could help me think of something, or just wants to discuss the books...might trigger something in my head.

[shukuffxi]

Melanie Rawn is my absolute all-time favorite author. I mean, I fucking love these books. I've probably read them 10 times over, each, I own them all, I keep some on my iPod when i'm traveling around. Her fans have been waiting something like 9 years now for the third book in her "Exiles" series, which I consider equally as good as/or be better than her Dragon Prince/Star books (not a huge fan of her other recent stuff).

You might try finding her a first edition/hardcover of Ruins of Ambrai or The Mageborn Traitor. I believe a lot of the cover art was done by Micheal Whelan as well, maybe a print of one of his covers? Though you'd have to check to make sure, he's a pretty popular fantasy cover artist.

[noblemountain]

Melanie Rawn is my absolute all-time favorite author. I mean, I fucking love these books. I've probably read them 10 times over, each, I own them all, I keep some on my iPod when i'm traveling around. Her fans have been waiting something like 9 years now for the third book in her "Exiles" series, which I consider equally as good as/or be better than her Dragon Prince/Star books (not a huge fan of her other recent stuff).

You might try finding her a first edition/hardcover of Ruins of Ambrai or The Mageborn Traitor. I believe a lot of the cover art was done by Micheal Whelan as well, maybe a print of one of his covers? Though you'd have to check to make sure, he's a pretty popular fantasy cover artist.

she already has hardback, first run copies of all her other books except dragon prince and star scroll. i'm going to start looking for signed paperbacks and some other things as well. i absolutely loved this series and we even have a stronghold banner in our house. our engagement ring is a traditional claddagh ring (she's irish) w/ an emerald and topaz to form the heart.

[shukuffxi]

Hm it's been a while since I read Exiles, but didn't the mages have a little ornamental thingie for the collars? One each for the Warriors, Scholar's and Healers? You could look up their description, and have one made maybe, not out of gold or something, whichever one you thought suited her personality most.

Or maybe a Sunrunner's ring? It lists at some point in the books which one, for what it's earned, and which finger it goes on. I'm guessing she wouldn't appreciate a knife to hide in her boot tho >_> Wine made from a cactus? I could prolly think of a million things.

[noblemountain]

Hm it's been a while since I read Exiles, but didn't the mages have a little ornamental thingie for the collars? One each for the Warriors, Scholar's and Healers? You could look up their description, and have one made maybe, not out of gold or something, whichever one you thought suited her personality most.

Or maybe a Sunrunner's ring? It lists at some point in the books which one, for what it's earned, and which finger it goes on. I'm guessing she wouldn't appreciate a knife to hide in her boot tho >_> Wine made from a cactus? I could prolly think of a million things.

she wasn't big into exiles...just the dragon prince series itself. she's a zookeeper, so can't really wear rings...and i just got her "the" ring. she really would appreciate a knife for her boot, but i already gave her a boot knife. lol

i know i'm less-than-helpful, but i really am at a loss. i was hoping that someone, somewhere would have a sunrunner prayerbook or something like that...but haven't found anything.

[shukuffxi]

OK then, this is getting tough, way outside the box ~.~ I can't remember, maybe a copy of one of the gifts Kazander or his father got for Rohan? A certain type of cheese was one... Hammer and some glass ingot thingies to break for fun? >_> Earrings with one of the meanings behind them? (Sioned had an emerald that meant... I dunno what.) If you really wanna go all out, an expensive pearl made into an earring (tears of the dragon).

A mirror? There were smaller, hand held ones, weaker than the big ones, if I remember right.

[noblemountain]

OK then, this is getting tough, way outside the box ~.~ I can't remember, maybe a copy of one of the gifts Kazander or his father got for Rohan? A certain type of cheese was one... Hammer and some glass ingot thingies to break for fun? >_> Earrings with one of the meanings behind them? (Sioned had an emerald that meant... I dunno what.) If you really wanna go all out, an expensive pearl made into an earring (tears of the dragon).

A mirror? There were smaller, hand held ones, weaker than the big ones, if I remember right.

NICE! a big mirror is perfect! i knew if we kept talking about this, something would pop up. thank you soo much.

i had been considering something from the Isulk'im would be cool because i'm half-mongolian and they kinda represent that lifestyle...so would have a dual meaning...but this is much better. can't believe i never thought of that. thanks a ton^^

[shukuffxi]

np I've literally never managed to find another person who knew who Rawn was, let alone a fan of her works. And by the number of posts in this thread, i'm guessing there aren't that many.

[archibaldcrane]

Word on the street, and when I mean "on the street" I mean "my friend Tim" is that the fantasy novel "The Name of the Wind" is the best new thing since sliced bread.

And I'm a fan of sliced bread. When the notoriously harsh A.V. Club of The Onion gives something an "A" grade and calls it "one of the best stories told in any medium in a decade", I pay attention. I plan on picking this up shortly, and my friend Tim loved it.

Review: The Name Of The Wind | The A.V. Club

[Fistandantilus]

Gah, everytime one of these threads gets started you people dent my Wallet. Oh well, I only had about 10 books in my reading queue before so now I won't run low. That Name of the Wind actually looks really good. Any other series' you guys could compare this Dragon Prince series to? I have never heard of it but it sounds interesting.

[noblemountain]

Gah, everytime one of these threads gets started you people dent my Wallet. Oh well, I only had about 10 books in my reading queue before so now I won't run low. That Name of the Wind actually looks really good. Any other series' you guys could compare this Dragon Prince series to? I have never heard of it but it sounds interesting.

i really can't compare Dragon Prince to any other series i've read honestly...it's a really amazing story with awesome characters. i'd suggest it to anyone...not just fantasy readers.

i haven't heard of "That Name of the Wind" yet...but i'm definitely gonna check it out, sounds really good.

the only other person i knew who'd read dragon prince was one of my fiance's friends who read it with her in high school...so yeah, not a lot of love out there for, in my opinion, one of the best series i've ever read.

[Keria]

Word on the street, and when I mean "on the street" I mean "my friend Tim" is that the fantasy novel "The Name of the Wind" is the best new thing since sliced bread.

I have to agree. Written by Patrick Rothfuss? Can't remember offhand but it's one of the better fantasy books written in the last decade. And as an avid reader that's one of the highest compliments I can give o:

Recommended for all readers! I bought it for a long train journey this summer and have re-read it probably 10 times since then.

[Fistandantilus]

i really can't compare Dragon Prince to any other series i've read honestly...it's a really amazing story with awesome characters. i'd suggest it to anyone...not just fantasy readers.

i haven't heard of "That Name of the Wind" yet...but i'm definitely gonna check it out, sounds really good.

the only other person i knew who'd read dragon prince was one of my fiance's friends who read it with her in high school...so yeah, not a lot of love out there for, in my opinion, one of the best series i've ever read.

Fantasy books/series seem to buried rather easily. I've read a few series that I've thought were absolutely phenomenal and found out that nobody else has even heard of them, so it isn't really surprising that it doesn't get much love. I'll be sure to check it out. Probably will read Name of The Wind first just because I want to see if it is worth the hype. Gonna pick it up today, so excited!

[Tonko]

The Dragon prince series are all very good, 6 books, with a break of about 20 years inbetween books 3 & 4.

For the mirror: I don't know your budget, but finding a mirror that you can inlay the stones used during the big ceremony they held in book 5 or 6 would probably really be a hit. Great idea on it though, see if you can get one with the dusky hue they described, instead of a perfectly clear one

[noblemountain]

The Dragon prince series are all very good, 6 books, with a break of about 20 years inbetween books 3 & 4.

For the mirror: I don't know your budget, but finding a mirror that you can inlay the stones used during the big ceremony they held in book 5 or 6 would probably really be a hit. Great idea on it though, see if you can get one with the dusky hue they described, instead of a perfectly clear one

budget isn't an issue...i've been looking online, looking for something w/ stones or stone-holders. the dusky hue is a great idea...i hadn't honestly thought about that. i think i'll be thrift-store and garage-sale shopping this weekend. i'll post pics when i find something^^

[shukuffxi]

Whee, 3rd person who's read it :D If only there were more like Tonko