C

Dragons of Spring Dawning was the third novel in the original DragonLance Chronicles trilogy written by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman and published in 1985. As in the first two novels of the saga, the story takes place within the continent of Ansalon on the world of Krynn and follows a group of unlikely heroes led by the half-elf Tanis Halfelven. Overall, it was okay.

The DragonLance Chronicles Trilogy is basically a Tolkien-esque, Dungeons and Dragons inspired fantasy tale that is very entertaining is some respects, but disappointing in others. Many of the characters are interesting and well developed and the basic premises of the plot are intriguing, but the way it all comes together in the end is less than satisfying.

It seems to me that all of the major strengths and weaknesses of this book, and trilogy as a whole, lie with the characters. One of my favorite aspects of the trilogy was the diversity of characters. I have never read another work that weaved so many central characters into one storyline. One of my least favorite aspects of the trilogy was the characterization. I highly value character development in a story and at times it is fantastic in these novels, but at other times it is terrible.

As you read a novel and see a character develop, you begin to understand that character and relate to him or her. In such a way, you begin to feel as you know what decisions they will make before they make them, that is, until they go completely against their own instincts and make the opposite decision that you expected. I constantly felt that the characters in this third novel were making completely irrational decisions, especially the character Laurana, and it was frustrating.

Overall, the third novel was about as entertaining as the first two. It was fast-paced and loaded with all kinds of battles and adventures. It was not, however, a novel with a central character that you can really relate to. It is also not much of a conclusion, but more of a gateway to an infinite number of additional novels in expanding saga that I have no plans of reading.