[Nick_K]

The item manual is great, but there doesn't seem to be much extra in the spell manual compared to the game except for the stats for summoned creatures. There are also a few omissions (gem cost isn't included for battlefield spells. not all national spells are listed) and mistakes (one of the ermor national spells listed in general summonings, several obvious mistakes where comments by the writer were mistakenly left in the final draft) and at least one misleading description (undead mastery).
I kind of got the impression it was tacked on as an afterthought, or as padding. I'd much prefer the addition of flavour elements like short stories or vignettes illustrating gameplay elements or backstory. The old manual for sid meier's pirates or the MOO3 manual had bits like these and they really help the world come alive.