Customer Reviews
Eat your heart out Tolkein - By: Eclectic Reader, 25 Apr 2008 
This book forms part of a terrific series beginning with `Belgareth the Sorcerer'. I don't read much of this genre (fantasy) but like The Hobbit/ Lord of the Rings this will appeal to a large audience.
Following Belgareth the Sorcerer there are two series of 5 books, `The Belgariad' & `The Malllorean' & it is advisable to read them in order, & if you can read `Belgareth' first (although you could save it & read it afterwards like a prequel).
I raced through the series. The Eddings' (the books were written by a couple) create a Tolkein-esque world with our hero Belgareth learning powers known as `the will & the word' through centuries of study under a benevolent God (the gods that created this world still live on it in physical form). This study elevates him to the status of a sorcerer & elongates his life span - he becomes a legend & a force for good in the world. However, another disciple of his benevolent master rebels & steals the holy `Orb' stone, following a more sinister God. In the later series the Gods have left the planet in fear that their battle will destroy the world but their peoples continue to war - following the Prophecies left to them by the Gods. The two series follow the course of events as Belgareth leads the hunt for the traitor & the stone. It's very cleverly written & characters & events reappear as we become familiar with the history of this fictional world through the course of the books.
Reallly good fun & a definite recommendation if you want a light hearted escape that will keep you reading late into the night.
This is the order of the books:
The Belgariad
1. Pawn of Prophecy
2. Queen of Sorcery
3. Magician's Gambit
4. Castle of Wizardry
5. Enchanters' End Game
The Mallloreon
1. Guardians of the West
2. King of the Murgos
3. Demon Lord of Karanda
4. Sorceress of Darshiva
5. The Seeress of Kell
The best 2 series ever! - By: Velvet, 13 Oct 2007 These two series, the belgariad & the malllorean are the best series ever, & every person who likes fantsay/sci-fi will love these books, & if they don't they have a poor taste in books.
Belgarion, Silk(my favorite person) & the rest follow Zandramas in this book with many twists & turns. New or undelvoped people are plently full including one of my favourites, Kal Zakath of Malllorea.
Its Eddings stupid .... - By: Simon Power, 27 Jul 2005 
So here's the deal ... Belgarth, Garion, Polgara et al are very well written in a cosy somewhat moralistic world of excitement & adventure. Its not Tolkien - its warmer & more empathetic than that ... the Belgariad is one of the most wonderful series of books I have ever read & when they were done I rapaciously looked for more. Here is "more" & I can give it no higher praise than it met my desperate need for more of these characters. It is perhaps books 5 - 10 of the Belgariad but you know what? Thats not faint praise ... I would take the Belgariad on my desert island ... if I found the Malllorean there it would delay my search for someone to find me for at least one more week ....
Not original but who cares? - By: , 26 Jan 2004 
It has been said that David Eddings hasn't had an original idea in his life. There may be some truth in this but at the end of the day this is epic fantasy with out the difficult words. It's a nice easy read & a cracking good storey.
Worst fantasy series ever ? - By: , 19 Aug 2003 
The Malllorean is certainly the worst fantasy series I have ever read. The trouble being that that the plot is driven rigidly by "the prophecy" leaving no room for any element of surprise,mystery or suspense. Most of the main characters have been fully developed in the preceding & superior Belgariad & of the new characters only the King of the Murgos adds any complexity or depth.
In short avoid it.
