Book 3, Magician's Gambit: The Belgariad

First off, I love the Belgariad series and had read it over 20 years ago. Recently I decided to get the entire series on the kindle. So I've been having an absolute blast up till.... Book 3.

Castle of Wizardry (Book 4) & Enchanters' End Game (Book 5) are NOT available on kindle. And Magician's Gambit (book 3) was released in Oct 2012.

I don't care if it's David Enddings fault or the publishers. Bottomline is I paid for 3 books and can't get the other 2. I've not bought a physical novel in over 3 years and don't plan to start. Please get this fixed.

As ash falls on Nyssa, Garion grapples with his sorcerous powers. Wracked with guilt for what he did to the man who killed his parents, Garion needs to understand his new abilities. How he can live with the consequences.

As Garion deals with what type of man he will become, Ce'Nedra can't help the burgeoning attraction swelling in her heart for the young man. She knows nothing can come of it, as a Tolnedran Princess, she'll marry a man to enhance the empire and her family's goals. How can she love a peasant? What future can they have?

As the company heads north into the haunted lands of Maragor, Garion and Ce'Nedra must both come to terms with adult responsibilities. All while dealing with mad gods, dangerous assassins, and bloodthirsty monsters.

The Magician's Gambit continues the growth of Garion. Adult responsibilities, represented by sorcery, are thrust upon him. And now he has to figure out what to do with them. The decisions he makes will shape the sort of man he'll become. Eddings weaves these themes into his story with skill, tying the coming of age plots into the fantasy quest adventure narrative he is weaving.

The characters continue to be delightful. As always, Eddings can straddle that line between the humors and the serious, between the dark and the bright. The Belgariad series is one that both young people can read and enjoy but has more mature themes for us older folks to enjoy.

This is a fantasy series for all ages to enjoy, but it will especially resonate with young boys!

This is the first book of Edding's Belgariad series that has earned less than a 5 star rating from me. Don't get me wrong - I'm still enjoying the world, the setting, the progression .. but the addition of some characters (Relg is just weird, folks)and the darkness of the world as the progression is happening really made it easier for me to put the book down and do other things less important, like play Bejeweled.

That said, let me talk about what I did like in the book - I enjoyed finally seeing Garion start to come into his own. I enjoyed the humor - laughed out loud in several places, and I enjoyed seeing the budding relationship happening between Garion and Ce'Nedra (who is one of my favorites).

But now let me talk about some other favorites of mine:

1. Durnik. I love the common, peasant, strong but tenderhearted character. You know - the ones that don't need special powers or abilities to show they are special? That's what Durnik is. Add in the conflict with his emotions for a certain beautiful lady and you have a well-rounded, incredibly likeable man.

2. Mandorallen. I have a feeling this is not a popular character to like - but honestly, his coping method with fear won me over. I adore this character for all his high-brow speech and noble theatrics. As much as I love Durnik for his simplicity, Mandorallen provides me with the perfect compliment in character. Some of my favorite scenes involve this knight, and I cannot wait to see how he will change in the upcoming books.

I read the first three books of the Belgariad in a single volume and it took me less than 24 hours to do so. That's how engrossing this story is. If you are a fantasy lover and, like me, have not read these books in the past I urge you to give them a shot. There is something in there for everyone.

It's always a little difficult to review a fantasy book that is smack dab in the middle of a series and Magician's Gambit is no exception. Fortunately it is quite different from the two books that came before it. For one the standard plot arc of entering a new kingdom and having Garion be the only one observant enough to notice a coup or a nefarious character attempting to instigate war is not present. Instead the book opens with the story being told from the view-point of Ce'Nedra, the Tolnedran princess who ran away from her father only to find herself mixed up in Belgarath's quest for the Orb. While both Garion and Ce'Nedra have come a long way since they met, they are still very much teenagers and spend most of this book squabbling in one way or another. It is on one hand cute but on the other quickly becomes mildly annoying.

The character that saves the day is Silk, the prince of Drasnia, he is witty and sly and is officially dubbed the Guide of the group by the prophecy that binds them all together. His one line zingers, clever machinations and jokes were very entertaining to read about and he was in danger of stealing the show as he quite nearly outshone our beloved main characters.

The quest in this book proves to take an interesting turn as they are all headed to the Vale of Aldur, Belgarath's and Polgara's home. Along the way new countries are discovered that are again unlike any we have seen before, Maragor is a country now devoid of people as they have all been wiped out by the Tolnedrans years and years before. Now the god of those people weeps and mourns their loss and drives anyone mad who dares enter. They also discover Ulgoland, a country that entirely lives underground and worships the god UL. A new character is introduced here, the religious zealot Relg.

Relg is another great character if for no other reason that the stuff he spouts out about his strict religion, his rigid beliefs, and his struggles with his attempts to be pious and prudish while at the same time being a bit of a disgusting man proves to be hilarious religious commentary.

This third book is truly a twist from what has come before and has the adventure kick up another notch in the quest for the Orb with some very entertaining characters brought in along the way. Several major stand offs finally came to a head and ended with a truly stunning surprise that leaves you wondering what must yet be in store for Garion and his friends.

Magician's Gambit starts off a little slow, with an awkward scene where Ce' Nedra makes Mandorallen her personal knight to make Garion jealous. Even in that awkward scene though, Eddings deftly shows the dynamics between Durnik and Ce'Nedra, as well as between Garion and Mandorallen. One of Eddings' strengths is his ability to put two characters together in a scene where they normally would have no interaction, and in this case it comes off well. This is also the first time in the series where we see a viewpoint aside from Garion, and the Ce'Nedra chapters through her viewpoint are done reasonably well.

The Vale of Aldur is a good section, where Garion starts to truly grasp the nature of the power he is learning. He also realizes how far he has to go as well. There is some introspection that goes on with Garion during this section, especially as he tries to puzzle out lifting a rock with his power during an especially humorous scene.

The Ulgo section is a bit dull, in spite of the fight scene with the Eldrak. This part centers around recruiting the religious zealot Relg into their party. While Eddings is trying to show what happens when religious zealotry takes over and how it obscures the truth, it came off as bland.

Cthol Murgos is by far the best part of the book. The journey to confront Ctuchik has a lot of interesting events leading up to that confrontation. It also introduces us to the Nadrak Yarblek, an old friend of Silk's. One thing I noticed during this scene is that Durnik's jealousy is not mentioned when Yarblek tries to seduce Polgara, even though Durnik had confronted Beldin in a similar situation earlier in the book. It's a minor quibble, but definitely noticeable.

The scenes in Rak Cthol are well done, fraught with tension throughout as it leads up to the confrontation with Ctuchik. I also really enjoyed the fight scene between Silk and Brill-I especially enjoyed the humorous exchange between Belgarath and Silk after this fight.

Although the book starts off a little slow, it keeps building up with each part as it reaches a crescendo in Cthol Murgos. That section is arguably the strongest part of the series to this point.

This is the second trip I've taken through the Belgariad. The foresight that David Eddings had in this fantastical epic is astounding. This all had to come from such a fertile imagination. It is astounding to say the least. Today we are subject to computer technology that is as able to make almost anything seem possible. But before there was technology, there had to be imagination. I think that's what draws me to these books. The characters are larger than life! There quest is heroic and noble. The foes they must face more than define evil.
Unfortunately, the remaining books in the series are currently unavailable. WHAT?!? Well, I'm off to dig in some dusty boxes to find the paperback versions. I hope whatever is holding up the release of the remainder of this nail biting adventure will be resolved SOON.
Please don't let that discourage your reading of these wonderful books.

This is the third book in the Belgariad (after Pawn of Prophecy and Queen of Sorcery, and before Castle of Wizardry and Enchanter's End Game).

In this volume we follow our heroes as they try to catch up with the Grolim Ctuchik, who's bringing the Orb to Torak, while Garion learns more about his powers and about the dry voice in his head.

They start by going through Maragor and meeting the mourning, inconsolable god Mara whose people became extinct following a Tolnedran gold rush. They are then summoned to the Vale of Aldur, where Belgarath grew up and became a sorcerer. There Garion visits his grandfather's tower and is taught how to use the magic. The party then makes for Ulgoland and its troglodyte people. They are joined by the zealot priest Relg, who has the ability to find secret underground passageways and can travel through solid rock. He will help them penetrate the Murgo capital of Rak Cthol, where Ctuchik awaits their arrival.

What I enjoyed in this volume was watching Ce'Nedra becoming more and more infatuated with Garion, but also and mostly the variety of landscapes visited by the protagonists: the haunted land of Maragor and its terrifying ghosts, the peaceful and bucolic Vale of Aldur, the snowy peaks and claustrophobic caverns of Ulgoland, and the black sands of the Wasteland of Murgos.

The monsters that are naturally sprinkled along the way are a little dangerouser and tougher than in the previous volumes, and Silk even gets captured, but thanks to the group's assortment of strengths, they always manage to come out unscathed.

Again, this is a light and fast read, but very pleasant as well.

This is one of several books by Eddings in a continuing saga,"The Belgariad" and "The Malloreon." As a matter of fact, this is the third book in what is called "The Belgariad," and there are five books in this first series. "The Malloreon," comprise the next five books in the series and pretty much take off from where the Belgariad stops...all ten books make up the full story and really should be read in order to understand them.

The entire series can be read for several different reasons. First, they are simple and simply fun to read. Secondly, There are a number of major plot errors throughout the ten books involved here that it is an absolute delight. I recently went through a proglong illnes, and for lack of anything else to do, started reading both series again. (Actually, this was about my fifth reading of all ten books.) Upon finishing, I was able to find over 200 discrepancies in the story line. I have no doubt, with future readings, I could find more. BUT...as I said, they are a fun read. The character developement is great and the banter between the characters is wonderful.

Garion and his companions, after finishin thier business in the land of the Snake People, continue their journey in thier quest to take back the Ord from the individual who stole it. Their wonderings bring them to the Vale of Alder where the direction of their quest is changed via the intervention of the Gods.

New lands are encountered, new character imerge and our band of adventurers continue to get in and out of trouble with each passing chapter.

And the Quest continues!

These books are my "relaxation" books. I have been reading them since they were first published and I usually have one of them going as I read other books. I simply find them delightful and fun.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Volume three of the Belgariad brings the first story arc, the quest for the orb, to closure. It also complete the grand tour of the West that Eddings has been taking the reader through. With Nyissan interference out of the way, Belgarath and Silk rejoin the rest of the party and reveal that the Orb has fallen into Murgo hands. Ctuchik, an old enemy of Belgarath is guarding the Orb in Cthol Murgos, and the wizard is willing to let him have for the moment. There are more important things to do before fetching it back.

Taking a shortcut through Maragor, where a lonely god weeps for his lost people, the party heads for the Vale, where Belgarath first learned to be a wizard, and Polgara grew up. It's time for Belgarion to meet Aldur and even experiment with his new found (and uncomfortable) powers. It's also time to start developing C'Nedra into something other than a very spoiled and dubious imperial princess.

The next stop is the land (make that caves) of the Ulgos. When gods were choosing out peoples, the Ulgos got left out. After what is probably the world's most effective guilt trip they managed to get Ulgo to be their god. As a result, they have become a very serious people about their religion - in a good way. Belgarath is looking for a special Ulgo guide who can deal with solid stone walls, and he's quite willing to interfere in a religious rebellion to get what he needs. C'Nedra is left safely behind, and the trek to Cthol Murgos to retrieve the orb is under way.

In Magician's Gambit, Eddings' style crystallizes. He will spend a lot of time on side adventures, details, and character interaction, only advancing the plot when he has to do so. Later this will become the characteristic that will cause some people to become great fans and others to lose interest. Because I like Eddings' sarcastic style, I enjoy the periods where almost nothing happens just as much as those times when the action really picks up. It's a pleasant break from the high speed novels of modern fantasy.

Eddings has created a very large world. So large that two more volumes and another whole series will fit into it. This interesting environment and the characters that people it make Eddings' work into the equivalent of literary comfort food for me. If you've made it this far, you will want to read on.

I found this to be even worse than the first book, as far as unrealistic human behavior goes. I understand it's fiction, with characters inhabiting another universe, but if they don't behave like real human beings, I might as well be reading Science Fiction, not fantasy.

I read this after being recommended the series, and found this, the third one, the worst so far. There are some interesting aspects that have been added, such as the Ulgos, but I kept finding myself getting angry with the way everyone behaves.

*** Spoiler Warning ***

The worst example of this unbelievable characterization is when the main bad guy in the story, a sorcerer who is thousands of years old, breaks the single greatest law of magic, destroying himself in the process. I mean, come on! The guy would know better than that. As soon as he casts the ill-fated spell, he immediately says "No, wait! I didn't mean that!". Duh. Very disappointing.

Anyway, some of the events of the story kept me reading, but if the next book doesn't have some kind of turnaround, I'm done with the series, and maybe the author.

Garion and friends journey toward the Vale of Aldur after near catastrophe in Nyissa. Along the way Garion and Ce' Nedra's relationship grows more complex, they have to brave the dangers of the haunted realm of Maragor, and seek help from unlikely places to penetate Rak Cthol, stronghold of the evil magician who holds the Orb of Aldur.

In "Magician's Gambit" David Eddings turns the creativity and adventure up a notch. His adventurous and fun epic, the Belgariad, up to this point has been a well written and witty rehashing of fantasy novels like "The Lord of the Rings." However, the plot takes some very unexpected turns in this volume and we are introduced to some ingenious new characters and races. Eddings has Garion wrestling with the heavy issues of adoloescence while discovering a huge potential for magic that can both help and destroy. Ce' Nedra, along with other characters, becomes a more nuanced and complex person in this volume as she wrestles with her own issues. This series gets better as Eddings takes us toward a world shattering climax. I think I know how it will end, but it is fun to ride along to see what route he takes in getting there.

David Eddings does many things well in this book. As usual his characters are unique and very likable. There's much adventure, with many memorable scenes. My favorite part of the story is their run in with a weeping God who lost all his people. This was a very original scene that effectively tugs at the heartstrings. I loved it. I wish I could say this book is filled with such scenes.

Magician's Gambit shares the repetitive patterns of the first book in the series (Pawn of Prophecy). The group goes from place to place. They fight different creatures at each stop and always win rather easily. Along the way they share playful dialogue and Garion learns more about magic. And to me the climax of this book is just another stop, like all the others. Same thing happens, over and over.

Some say this is to build the characters, but now in the third book, I believe these characters are already well established. It's time to move on. There is more cliche' in this book as well as David Eddings does his best to explain what it's like for a young girl to have a crush. I winced while reading a few of these. It seemed a bit stereotypical.

This installment in the five-book series doesn't really bring anything too new to the table. It's easy enough to read, and folks who want a fun and fast-paced old-school fantasy will probably enjoy this. It's not a bad book, but I expected more after how much I enjoyed the previous book in the series.

I also would like to recommend Greg Keyes' The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series. (The Briar King) I believe this series offers a little more, but maintains the fun that David Eddings is so good at.

This was my faveorite book in The Belgariad. There were the deep parts, of course, but there were also the most funny parts. "A tree fell on him." "Garion," Aunt Pol said crisply, "Please don't try to be creative." I especially liked what happened with Garion burying himself up to his armpits in the Vale of Aldur by complete accident. "Didn't it ever orrur to you that if all that weight goes up, something is going to have to go down?" Belgarath turned to Polgara, "It's a good thing he didn't try to throw it." Then the next day, Garion's moving the stone back into place. "Push?" the old man asked incredulously. "You told me to say push" Garion defended himself. "I told you to push. I didn't tell you to say push." Belgarath replied with a haughty air of affronted dignity, "We do have a reputation to maintain. If sorcerers go around saying things like 'push' and 'flop' people are going to take us a lot less seriously." This book rules! Breathe deep seek peace, Tin

Alright.. sorry but I had to do that.

Ahead there be SPOILERS

The Belgariad is an odd series in that it is five books long but really should ultimately consist of two trilogies. The first trilogy would consist of books 1,2 and 3 and the second would consist of books 3,4 and 5. Now there are going to be some people that look at that statement and say "Yeah I get it" and others that say "That guy makes absolutely no sense" so let me explain.

First off let me say that I think that Magician's Gambit is the tightest and most focused book in the series. We (the readers) and the characters now both know what the goal is, they know WHERE the goal is and they are now actively headed to get the Ring..ahem I mean Orb so there is a feeling that finally everyone is on the page to some extent. Yes there are surprises along the way and yes there is a fair amount of just sitting around yaking it up but for the firt time the story is moving in a solid direction. (The first two books were very much like "Oh.. we're going here? Oh.. no? Let's go talk to these people? Ok.. Where are we going? Hey look I just blew a guy up.. was that supposed to happen?" and so on)

Now, if you read the first paragraph of my review you can see that 3 is an overlap point. This book has the properties of both the first AND last books of a trilogy.

It feels like it's the last book because by the end the companions are finally all with the company, the Orb has been gotten and one of our principal villains has blown himself into oblivion. There is the obligitory fantasy pyrotechnic moment where a city is blown off of a mountain. By this point we have met all of the main characters and kings (Brand being a major exception). We're familiar with most of the culture and we've even met a god or two. In some fantasy series this would be enough and we could go home (It is even in Eddings other series The Elennium).

It feels like the beginning of a trilogy.. actually for some of the same reasons. With the addition of Relg, Errand and the Marag girl Taiba this kind of feels like Act I where we introduce new characters. We also see Garion start stepping up to fill his newly acquired role as a sorcerer. If you know where this series goes then you know he'll be moving on to become a king and "Overlord of the West" and that path begins in earnest in this book.

Anyone who has read my reviews for the previous books has seen me rail against Eddings writing of female characters. While my feelings about Polgara haven't changed, C'Nedra has definately grown here and Taiba, while only being introduced briefly here is my favorite Eddings female up to this point. But more on that in the next review.

So the upshot is: If you didn't like this book.. you might as well give up on this series (Or at least not expect much better from it)

After reading "The Queen of Sorcery" you might think that the series will probably end in this book, because there isn't anything else that David Eddings could squeeze into the story. Well David Eddings still manages to squeez every last drop out of his creativity to keep the series going, and does it extremely well. Garion and Co. continue their journey through the Western Lands searching for the Orb that Zedar has stolen from Belgarath's master Aldur. With the party following the drive of the prophecy, the voice of the prophecy inside Garion's head, the clues in the Codex, and a little thing like the fate of the world combine to make a pretty dang good book, as well as a great and wonderful series. If you liked the previous two books in the series I know you will definately like this book, because I know that after reading the previous two books you're probably already addicted to the series. A definate buy for anyone that is into reading fantasy books.

I enjoyed this midpoint book quite a lot. It has a lot of action in it to make up for Eddings' few flaws. Garion, in this installment, goes with his aunt and grandfather to fetch what he now knows to be a talisman of great power, and to kill the talisman's thief. Garion's power continues to grow, and his affection for the little princess Ce'Nedra continues to confuse him (and her).
The characterization of the relationship between Ce'Nedra and Garion is masterful, if a little stereotypical (do ANY real teenagers argue that way? I argued a lot, but I recall being a bit more quiet about it), but that doesn't detract from its fun. There are numerous other good scenes in the book, culminating in a classic wizard's duel. Probably the only real bad point in the book (and in the series as a whole) is the introduction of the angelic child Errand (I didn't like Flute, either, so there). But overall, I found the book enjoyable.

Magician's Gambit steps up the actual quality and stakes in this ongoing series. Princess CeNedra is a wonderful creation, definitely one of the more colorful and vivid characters in the series. She adds a new element to the story, and readers take a sly pleasure in knowing exactly what Garion and CeNedra's destiny is while the two unwitting youths stumble closer to each other. Eddings masterfully weaves this semi-subplot into the ongoing saga of Garion, Belgarath and Polgara.

The story telling is crisp and without frills again, causing the action to move swiftly and the reader to be drawn in immediately. Description and setting are done well, but not overdone to the point of stagnating the story. Subplots move along swiftly--unlike the plodding of Robert Jordan.

All in all, an excellent episode in the ongoing saga of the Belgariad.

Once again I am shocked by yet another amazing book in The Belgariad series. My expectations for these books were extremely low before I started reading them, but over and over again I am surprised as I get caught up in the plot and in the amazing characters. However, by now my surprise is wearing off and I'm becoming more and more scepticle of the overall quallity of the writing.
The plot is simple: a boy called Garion has started a quest into perilous lands to recover the Orb of Aldur, a very powerful magical item which was stolen by a thief. With the Orb, the thief could awaken the evil god Torak and then mount a campaign to attack and defeat the western civilizations, all of which are eternal enemies of Torak. Garion is traveling with his aunt Polgara, his grandfather Belgarath (both of which are sorcerors), and several other interesting characters as he chases down the thief to recover the Orb. All the while Garion is discovering a strange power which he has, and things are revealed about a mysterious other awareness which inhabits his thoughts occasionally.
That was just the basic plot-as basic as it gets. That was simple, but the details and twists in the book pulled me in from the first pages, and constantly I found myself caught up in it, turning the pages as fast as I could to finish and find out what happens. The thing about the plot is that it's exactly what I started reading fantasy books for in the first place. The Belgariad captures your imagination and curiosity better than so many other series, and it inevitably led to me sitting around, reading a few hundred pages a day because I just couldn't put it down.
Then, there are the characters. I can say that the characters took no small part in getting me caught up in Magician's Gambit. I found that I cared about the characters quite a bit. I really wanted to see how they'd change over time, with their general actions and actions toward each other. I was very pleased as I found that, like in the first two books, the developement of the characters was natural and believable.
However, my initial shock of how amazing the plot and characters are began to wear off as I got into the book as I found more and more ways to criticize the writing. The quality of the writing really isn't anything special. There are parts which should be shortened, parts which should be lengthened, and parts which just simply need work. I have read some really amazing books before by really amazing authors, and the quality of the writing really isn't anything special.
In the end, though, I had to give this four stars. I can't say something's terrible if I was so caught up in it and read it in just a day or two. I'd reccomend it-it's easy, enjoyable, and a very good example of a fantasy book.
*Please give me feedback-helpful or not?*

Magician's Gambit by David Eddings is the 3rd book in the Belgariad saga.

Being that this is the third installment of this saga, the reader should pretty much know what they are getting into with Eddings. Admittedly I was fairly critical of the first book, Pawn of Prophecy, but was pleasantly surprised by the 2nd book Queen of Sorcery. So, I went into this book with a little bit higher expectations than what I went into the 2nd book.

There are usually two sections that I touch on in my reviews, those regarding the plot and those regarding the character development as I think those are two of the most important parts of any story. So with that said, here we go.

The plot in this one seems to be rather linear, in that there is not a lot of deviation from the main plot line. I am not sure if Eddings doesn't like subplots, or he simply wanted to fully concentrate on the main characters in this book. At times the plot in this book seems a little too `easy' for lack of a better word. Fans of the genre will be able to see what is going to take place chapters before it happens. This is partly due to Eddings not adding many twists and turns within the story. This is not to say this is a `bad' story, it's just not up to the level I am used to reading as many fantasy books as I have read. The main plot line is actually pretty decent in that it does a good job at setting the stage for the next book while also advancing the characters. Yet, I got the feeling, several times while reading this, that the 2nd and 3rd books could have been combined into one book and saved some time. While there are big events in books 2 and 3 I think 1 book combined would have been just as effective. As I said before, this is not a bad story it just (at least so far anyway) doesn't encompass everything I am used to in fantasy novels.

The character development again takes center stage. The main character Garion continues to be more and more fleshed out. He continues the trend of slowly discovering himself with the help of Pol and Mr. Wolf. I will continue to say though that the character of Silk continues to steal scenes left and right, that's not necessarily a negative, just an observation. I will say though that the characters in this book are beginning to become more and more memorable. I am not to the point yet of `needing' to know what happens yet, but I am intrigued at the story and where it may lead.

All in all I think this is another decent book by Eddings and one I would most likely recommend to fans who are just starting to get into the fantasy genre. I would also recommend it to long standing fans of the genre with the caveat of what to expect and that these books should not be considered a deep all encompassing read or else they will be disappointed. It's not the greatest fantasy work out there, but certainly not the worst either.

Yes, Eddings' Belgariad continues with dessert for your mind. Eddings continues to lead us throughout his world at a delightful pace, giving time to each country passed through and their people. The last members of the band are also added, completing the prophetic gathering.

A personal delight; we get insights into Princess Ce'Nedra, as Eddings shifts perspective in his storytelling. The book opens from Ce'Nedra's point of view and we learn a good many things about the princess before the storyteller's view shifts back to Garion.

Edding's also tips his hand as to the driving force inside Garion, and the scope is staggering when one really stops to meditate on it.

"Magician's Gambit" ends with a very large bang, and a significant part of the quest accomplished. However, astute readers will already realize that this in no way invalidates the last two books in this series. In truth, the story is really ready to take off now...

Eddings takes us through more travels as the group meets more interesting characters. Though this book consists of more travelling, the meeting of a religiously fanatic Ulgo and an ultra innocent boy named Errand who carries the orb is fascinating. Eddings has a way of introducing and interesting people, and he does it again.
The language is great - the fluidity is still there. The action sequences are great as well. The only problem I have this book is the monotony. The group travels, and after finishing one trail, just starts up another one. It?s safe to assume that no one in the group is going to die, so the many minor side battles and towns they visit just become meaningless. I was thoroughly annoyed by the end of the book.
However, I still enjoyed this book, and recommend it. Good continuation, despite the same old formula.

This book was better than the first two in the series. As I read through the Belgariad for the second time, the first time was well over fifteen years ago, I have found myself enjoying this series and wonder why I took so long to give it another go.

Story:
The story continues onward as the characters travel across the the west and into the eastern lands of Cthol Murgos. Searching for the Orb of Aldur which was stolen by the "magician" Zedar to prevent the awakening of the God Torak.
Like the previous books this one was very much straight forward. The characters travel across different human lands meet strange and different people. Along the way they meet a couple gods and learn a bit of history of the world. There is very little deviation from the main story with a few minor sub-plots featuring different characters as they go along the way. Character development is there but not a major part of the story.

Characters:
I enjoy the characters in this book a lot. Each one has their own doubts and fears that sometime arise during the course of the story. As I said in a previous review one of my favorite characters is that of Silk or Prince Kheldar of Drasnia. His quick wits, comments and jokes make me laugh and smile.

The other characters are interesting enough to hold my interest. You have the humble and brave blacksmith Durnik, the loud and sometimes drunk Barak, the bratty, manipulative, princess Ce'nedra, the brave, honorable Knight, Mandorallen, and the whiney, religious nut Relg. These characters each have their own personalities and some of them are trying to come to terms with things that are beyond their control. This gives the characters enough depth and rounded out that they are believeable. Even though character growth is minimal, it is there and the characters begin to change through the course of the story.
Belgarath and Polgara fill the role of party leaders in this adventure. Their manipulations of history and events of the past are clearly visible as the story continues on. I feel that these two characters fill the "wizardly mentor" role of standard fantasy fiction. Sometimes I feel that Polgara is there just to keep Garion in line...speaking of...

Garion, or Belgarion. Out of all the characters in this series Garion is the one that the whole shebang is all about. The story is told mainly from third person limited point of view. Everything that is going on around him is more or less how he sees it. This book took a different apporach in that David Eddings switched POV characters. Part of the story is told from Ce'nedra POV. You get a little bit better understanding about her role in the story from her chapters, which are only a handful.

Out of all the characters in the story Garion has the most character development. He is starting to come to terms of who and what he is, his destiny, and the power that he wields. Much of the book comes from his views and how he feels towards things. Watching Garion grow and develop from a simple farm boy to something more and greater is very interesting.

Drawbacks:
Every book has its drawbacks, the Belgariad is no exception. One of the things that bothers me about the books are the convience factors. Those things that happen to be there when the characters need it. Not only that some of the characters abilities are extremly useful at certain times such as Relgs abilities to sense caves and move through stone. While such instances are few they are there enough for me to say "Oh come on now."

Overall:
This series and this book were enjoyable reads. Easy enough to polish off a book in a week, which is what I did with this one. While not the greatest story ever told, I did enjoy it and to me that is what counts. The drawbacks are there but I accept them for what they are and move on. I try not to let it deviate me from enjoying what I feel is a good adventure story. If you like fantasy with not a whole lot of character development, plots within plots, shades of grey characters, the Belgariad is for you. Heck it is a nice break from those heavy handed fantasy books that I occasionally (re)read *cough* Game of Thrones *cough*

Oh, I seemed to have forgotten a character, Hettar. He was such a minor character most of the time I forgot he was there, at least in this book, which if course he wasnt in it for about half of the story.

SRM
Steve's Reviews: Honest reviews from a honest guy.

Magician's Gambit takes over where Queen of Sorcery left off. Ce'Nedra, the Imprerial Princess, is finding herself feeling tender toward Garion, and Garion seems totally oblivious most of the time. Now she has to be left behind while Garion, Belgarath, and the others continue on their search for the orb and she's worried about him. Garion has to continue struggling with the powers that he has and doesn't want, for if he does not learn to use them, they may eventually destroy him. David Eddings' characters are delightful and well thought out. The storyline is adventurous and fun, even if it is a tad predictable, though its predictableness does not lessen the reader's enjoyment of the story.

How are you supposed to review a David Eddings novel? Every fantasy fan either loves him or hates him. If you're in the first category, then you should have no qualms about picking up "Magician's Gambit". This volume, in my opinion, is the high point of the series. It's fast-moving, witty, and well organized, with lots of sword fights and the beginnings of some romance. The plot follows the same pattern as "Pawn of Prophecy" and "Queen of Sorcery", with the group of heroes moving through various countries and occasionally picking up new travellers to help them in their quest to recover the orb. No further explanation is really necessary. Just know that Eddings is the fantasy equivalent of comfort food; you've got to indulge in his books once in a while or else you?ll just forget how to have fun.

I've long been a fan of David Eddings Belgariad series and I've long believed that this is the best book in the series.
Again, David Eddings takes us along with his miss-matched group as they travel through places you've never imagined. Their adventure will fascinate you. It's humor, excitement and deep human feelings at their best and worst. And in the middle of it all, is a simple, young country boy who will capture your heart.
Knights in Shining Armor, Wizards, Dragons ... The Belgariad has it all (and a lot of it is in this book). This book is part of a series I've picked up at least once a year for at lest the last 10 years. I never seem to get tired of it!

In 'Magician's Gambit' we follow Garion and the rest of the adventurers as they travel in the tracks of the man who stole the stone of Aldur. Among the travellers are Garions great grandfather, the 7000 years old sourcerer Belgarath, and his daughter Polgara. They are starting to convince Garion that he has to accept the fact that he has the power of sourcery, and that he has to learn how to control his ability. To further confuse Garion he has a hard time understanding what princess Ce'Nedra, who travels with them, really feels for him.
This is the sequel to 'Queen of Sorcery', and third in the amazing series of five books known as 'the Belgariad'. The series is later followed by another five in 'the Malloreon'. The story is the classic fight between the Evil which seeks to rule the world, and the Good which wants to save it, but what really makes the book so great is the characters. They are all very distinct from each other, with their own personality and desires. Eddings manages to keep them all separate, so that they are not mixed together in a faceless group. Instead they each have their part to play in the quest to save the world.
I have read the entire series at least 20 times by now, and it remains my favorite fantasy. It is lighter than 'The Wheel of Time' series by Robert Jordan, which makes it suitable for younger readers as well, but it is great for anyone from around 12 to 112. I think many, like me, read this series as their first fantasy, and it is a great start to get intrested in the world of magic and swordfights. There are other great fantasy series, but this series is still required reading for fantasy lovers.

Garion and his new found friends continue on their search for the Orb of Aldur. Now that Asharak is dead, our focus turns back to Brill, the rank smelling, evil looking "farm hand" who seems to be attempting with all of his power to kill Garion. We then add another evil character to the story, the magician Ctuchik. In the caves of Ulgo, the party gains one more member, that being the Ulgo fanatic Relg. Relg is a diviner, meaning that he can walk through stone. Our crooked friend comes to be very useful once he gets over the fact that he sins, and he becomes a staple character in the story. Silk spends his time being devious as usual, Barak now has an overwhelming urge to turn into a bear every time Garion is in trouble, Mandorallen swears himself the protector of Ce'Nedra, Lelldorin gets over his hate for Mimbrates and he and Mandorallen become close friends. Ce'Nedra is starting to have certain feelings for Garion that she knows she can't have because she is a princess and he is a scullion. When Ce'Nedra is left in the caves of Ulgo, her feelings for this sandy haired farm boy grow and intensify. Belgarath finally confronts Ctuchik, and we meet the little boy who carries the Orb around like it's his favorite toy, and then he tries to hand it off to people saying "Errand?". Errand seems to be the only word the little boy can say. I fully recommend that you continue to read this book, and do whatever you have to do to get you hands on it. Borrow it, steal it, hey, you can even buy it if you want to, but whatever you do...Read this book!

This book has a great story line and a extreamly twisted plot that holds you in an unmerciful embrace. It has a lot of good detail and and is woven very tightly, no holes in the story line, for such an intricate peice. However, beware, ther are five books in this seriers and the author dosn't do a very good job at puting seperate endings on each book, in other works, once you start with this seriese, you can't stop until the end. I am at this very moment cought deep in the embrace of David Eddings' intricate tapestry, but I'm not struggling very much!!

Have loved these books since I was a kid. Bought the first 2 when they came out digitally... and the rest disappeared?! What?! So, I'm buying all of the rest of the books used and making my own ebooks. License holder, publisher, distributer, I don't know who dropped the ball, but shame on you!

I know some people aren't fans of Eddings, but to me the story is just so incredibly endearing it's hard not to like it. The supporting cast is very entertaining, if not given the opportunity to be fleshed out much, and the dialogue is great. This volume has the most action so far, now that the band of travelers has actually finally made it to Cthol Murgos. We finally get to meet Errand, who is really too cute.

I've read this series about three times now, but this was the first reread since I'd read Harry Potter. It strikes me sometimes how similar Garion and Harry (specifically when he's 15, the same age Garion is in this book) can be. Particularly when they've just done something incredibly stupid and are getting all sullen when people they love and respect call them out for their idiocy. At least Garion isn't quite as dumb or forgetful as Harry. And he has more success with the ladies.

The Magician's Gambit, and this entire series rocks! I have also read Tolkein's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings and I thought they were great. But they were very intricate and sometimes VERY difficult to get into and enjoy. A lot of Tolkein groupies are out Eddings-bashing. They seem to think that a great fantasy epic is a threat to their geekdom. Well towel off people, and realize that its just another great fantasy series. Yes there are times when the plot of the Belgariad is a bit predictable. That is about the only negative thing (if you consider that negative) that can be said about this series and the Mallorean. The characters are extremely rich and diversified. You are plunged into their very lives. Playful, witty, even affectionate banter is a staple to the stability of these wonderful characters, from the first campfire banter between Silk and Barak outside of Faldor's farm, all the way to Garion and his unforseen buddy Zakath on the Island of Perivior. There is a lot of good humor throughout the entire series. Lots of good savage fighting, even if a bit easy for the good guys, but hey - they had the Overlord of the West on their side! As far as this individual book goes... In a nutshell it was excellent. Not many fantasy books can actually get a sniffle outta me, but when Garion brought that colt back to life up in the cave of the gods, I almost got a bit choked up. I guess I have a soft spot for horses. By the way, Lord Hettar rules! Buy, read, and covet the enitre 10 book series. You will love it and find new things to celebrate every time you read it!!

Well, yet another book in the series down, and this one is by far the best one yet. Good action, the outstanding dialogue continues, there's a lot that is, as far as I'm concerned, fairly original and unique that he presents us with here. Although he's not my favorite character I absolutely love the abilities and the characterization of Relg. And what a cliff-hanger of an ending. Great book, great series.

This third installment of the Belgariad has what the readers expect from David Eddings: clever diaglogue, exciting adventures and a whole lotta fun. Not a kids story precisely (there's graphic violence, if childishly described), this series is written in a decidedly juvenile fashion, but that's part of its charm. Sure, there are problems and gaps in logic, but it's a good book to read when you don't feel like thinking. English professors will probably hate it, but I recommend it to anyone who likes a good, enjoyable read.

Edding's is a master at being able to combine to different kinds of books. He explains Ce'Nedra's feelings for Garion but at the same time keeps the action flowing so it doesn't seem like a cheap [money amount]romance novels you find at the drug stores. You feel yourself gusseing does she love him or is it just a simple crush. Read and find out!

Necromancer less than Nine.

Garion's magical powers are getting stronger, it seems, as he now has the ability to raise the dead. Even if not particularly a useful example when you can only do it to a horse.

They still have orb retrieval issues, as more than one bad guy would be happy to have this handy little trinket.

War, ghosts, shadowcat like stunts, and a good old epic magic duel to end.

For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading. To me his books are like coming home for a visit.

If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.

Many people think David Eddings is overly formulaic which he is a bit but since I enjoy the tale he tells I do not mind reading it over again. His characters always have great humor at their core and you can't beat a good epic tale for entertainment value. This particular book is one of my favorites by him.

It's fine. I'm still feeling a bit like this was one large book that was broken into five separate ones. That said I felt a bit that this installment became a bit repetitive. I mean how many mountain passes can these characters go through? Still, my interest is still peaked to see how the series will turn out.

This novel has many twists and surprises that leave you grasping for more and more. I believe it's a great book for all ages, I myself am a 13 year old. The characters are well brought up and witty. There is humor, adventure, horror, intrigue, and all the elements of a great novel!

I read this book quite a few years ago when I checked it out from the school library, for the first time, and then I purchased it before I was finished. I have since re-read it well over 20 times, and I plan on reading it more and more as the years roll on.

This is an excellent book that leaves you just bursting for more! I am sad to say that I haven't read all of Eddings' books but what I have read is excellent. The 'Belgariad'(the series that this book is part of) has many of the components of other fantasy but they are put together in a way so that they turn out completely and amazingly different. I am an avid fantasy reader and I have found his books to be among the best fantasy I've ever read. Please, as Silk once said, "Trust me.". I would really like to see more people my age, 14, reading him. This is definately a 'must-have' for any library!

This book the Magician's Gambit is an entertaining fantasy book wriiten by David Eddings. Being the third book in the series of 5 the characters are well developed and the dialouge between the characters is humerous and entertaining. The plot is interesting and the Will and the Word system of magic is another look on things from the usual wands and magic words of other fantasy novels. The action flows in well with the social part of the book. The wide spectrum of cultures in the book are interesting from xenophobic canabals to economicly driven empires. Overall the book Magician's Gambit and series the Belgeriad is a very fun read.

This book, as well as the rest of the series is fantastic. Yes, people are correct when they say that it can become predictable but that is only because the characters grab you and won't let go. The personalities of these characters are so real it is like they are in the room with you. They just grab hold of you and take you on their adventures with them. If there is only one series you can read this year. THIS SHOULD BE IT !!!

I'm hooked. While the series does not possess the depth of character or place as books by Terry Goodkind, they are a true guilty pleasure. Great, likeable characters, plenty of action, brisk pace, and witty banter. Read the series. Period.

I thought Magician's Gambit was the high point of the Bellgariad series, my favorite book to re-read when I go through this series again. There's a lot of fun, some high adventure, and relationships are pretty well established in the form that will last for the rest of the series.

As a fantasy reader, you can never actually give anything but Lord of the Rings a 5 star. However, the Belgariad comes pretty close! Filled with adventures and wonderful insights into the minds of his character, David Eddings, has really created a world that I can get lost in. This series is one worth owning, one that needs to be read again and again!

This book is filled with mystery, fantasy, and a little romance. I enjoyed reading about the quests of Ce'Nedra and her doubts about Garion, the farm boy she was destined to marry. Her feelings for Garion grew and as he was going to face the powerful magician, she was worried about his fate. Garion is on a quest to find the magical orb of Aldur, which was stolen by Zedar. His palm is silver, which gives him the power to hold the orb. When the book ends, the characters are in the middle of a battle. Garion and his band of warriors end up in enemy territory, searching for the orb.

I've loved all three books (I still have two more to go!) and think it is very well written. I am a fan of fantasy type novels and there is a recurring theme of wizardry and spells and things of that nature...that's why I enjoy them! I think regardless of your age, if you like to read fantasy, then you'll enjoy this series!