Fantasy Books

Wise Child, a spoiled girl orphaned by the death of her grandmother and abandoned by her gorgeous and powerful witch mother, is taken in by the village witch and healer, Juniper. Wise Child quickly overcomes her fears and--despite the hard work--becomes Juniper's protégé. Wise Child is stuck between the pull of the easy life with her powerful mother and the love and satisfaction of life with Juniper. This simple and magical tale is powerful because of the beautiful prose and the well-drawn and fascinating characters. Wise Child's voice is clear and powerful. Grade: A-

Wise Child was one of my favorite books growing up. It is a simple, but powerful story that is really enjoyable for young adults and regular old adults. The characters are very unique and compelling. Monica Furlong has a great writing style that is enjoyable in itself.

Furlong's novel, set in medieval Scotland, is a hidden jewel, well-written and extremely descriptive. Wise Child's narration, though perhaps a little mature for her age, is believable and poignant, and the novel proceeds well from one event to the next. The author's portrayal of magic is unique and genuine, and historical details add credibility to the novel. I would definitely recommend this likable novel for all ages; 10/10.

There aren't any good books anymore; that's what I thought before Wise Child. This is my favorite book, it is so detailed that I could see the village and the white house in my mind.
The book starts off excellent; explaining what is going on.
It gets a tad slow at the very end, but I don't mind.
The cover is so beautiful as well; because you can see Junipers kindness right there.
Wise Child is great and I reccomend it for anyone!!!!!

One of my favorite books from my childhood and still a joy to reread, Wise Child is the story of one magical child's coming of age. Spoiled but abandoned at a young age, Wise Child is taken in my a woman named Juniper. Juniper lives apart from the small, poor Christian village that Wise Child comes from, and she is a fair but tough mentor, making Wise Child work hard and learn much. In her house on a hill, Juniper teaches Wise Child languages, math, and astronomy, how to grow, harvest, and use herbs, and how to heal the sick in the village below. Slowly, Juniper begins to initiate Wise Child into the way of a doran, a class of magical women who live in the rhythm of nature and use their magic to help those around them. Wise Child's powers blossom, but dark shadows hang over her peaceful life with Juniper: her beautiful, powerful, dangerous mother calls to her from afar, and the close-minded town threatens their safety up on the hill. The book is a magical story of the hard work of coming of age and the love and power than can result from it. Wise Child must find confidence in herself, faith in her future and her powers, and love for her others in order to grow, creating a life-affirming, strong, true message. Furlong's writing style is smooth, her characters are easy to identity with and to love, and the magic in her story is both realistic and exciting. I highly recommend this book to readers of all age groups, and I love coming back to it myself.

The best thing that a coming of age story can do is show us not only the trails and tribulations of adolescence but also the good things about it and the wonders that we reap from it. This book does exactly that. In Juniper's house, Wise Child works hard, learns to do things she doesn't necessarily want to do, and is tested, but her abilities and successes are also celebrated. Juniper is perhaps the idea parent-figure: she coaches, supports, loves, but also forces Wise Child to be strong and stand on her own two feet. As such, Wise Child's story is easy to identify with but also uplifting and promising--the reader comes away knowing that they are not alone in their difficulties, but also that there is something to be gained from it all. The balance between sacrifice and gain is perfect, making this a wonderful read for adolescents and the still-maturing of all age.

Not only is the basis of the story a strong one, the actual aspects of it, including characterization, writing style, and details such as the role of magic are all incredibly well done. Juniper is a mysterious, open-hearted, independent woman, a real role model and inspiring character. Wise Child is realistically selfish and doubtful, but also shows realistic growth and strength that the reader can imitate. Wise Child's POV is in character without being limited, aggravating, or immature, and the overall writing style is smooth, clean, and incredibly fluid and easy to read. The role of magic in the story is well thought out: Furlong makes it quite clear, through Juniper, that there are different realms of what it means to be "real," and her conception of magic manages to make sense in the visible world while still containing enough fantasy and originality to sweep the reader away. Truly this is a skillful book, perhaps the most skillful that Furlong as written. In holds up well when reread and works well for any audience.

I highly recommend Wise Child. To the adolescent, it is a story they can identify with and be inspired by; to those chronically out of adolescence, it is a way to look back and reassess our own journeys, and also a reminder than learning, maturity, and increasing strength is a never ending, never easy, entirely worthwhile journey. The book is a quick read, engrossing, and enjoyable. I'm happy to own it and return to reread it every year or two.

CHILD OF THE HUNT

Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder (1998)

RATING: 5/5 Stakes

SETTING: Season Three

TV CHARACTER APPEARANCES: Buffy, Joyce, Giles, Xander, Willow, Oz, Cordelia, Angel, Sheila Rosenberg, Xander's Dad, Xander's Mom, Ira Rosenberg, Cordelia's Dad

MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Connie DeMarco, Brian Anderson (runaways); Liz DeMarco, Jamie Anderson (runaways' parents); Erl King (villain); Lucy Hanover (ghostly Slayer); Roland (Erl King's son); "Robin Hood", "King Richard" (sorcerers)

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "Jousting contests, human chess matches, lords and ladies and beggars . . . a traveling Renaissance fair has come to Sunnydale. The fair may seem terminally uncool, but Buffy and her friends are charmed anyway. Especially by a sad-eyed boy named Roland, who serves as the court jester. Unfortunately, the people from the fair are not the only visitors in Sunnydale. Roaming the countryside are nasty little creatures with a taste for flesh: the dark faerie. They are minions of the Wild Hunt, servants of the evil Erl King. Buffy's challenge is to annihilate the king and his murderous horde. But the path to his destruction leads straight to Roland, who is not quite human . . . and destined to become the Slayer's mortal adversary."

REVIEW

Child of the Hunt was the first Pocket Books adult Buffy novel, following the early Archway series of "young adult" novels. The change in tone and length serves the novel well, as Child of the Hunt is able, like many early Buffy episodes, to discuss a real problem facing youth (in this case, runaway teens) through the context of a supernatural crisis.

The main villain of the story is the Erl King (also known as Hern the Hunter), a mythological entity who leads the Wild Hunt, a murderous pack of demons which kills some humans but sweeps up the lonely, the depressed, the suicidal, and others in the throes of misery to join the cause before moving on.

The theme of the novel is parents and their children, and we get to see, at least, briefly, scenes with each of the Scooby's parents--some of whom have never been portrayed on screen, like Willow's and Cordelia's fathers. Written and set near the beginning of Season Three, the story benefits and integrates Buffy's decision to run away from Sunnydale at the end of Season Two.

The authors (Golden & Holder) deliver their usual excellent characterization of the Buffy cast, but what makes this novel really stand-out is the portrayal of the supporting characters: the runaway teens and their parents. Unlike the supporting characters in most Buffy novels, these aren't generic victims or bystanders--they each have a real personality and a role to play in the story. In addition, the Erl King has some real weight as a villain with the incorporation of real-worth myth.

Not much more needs to be said. Child of the Hunt combines a real-world problem, an interesting fictional menace, and great writing. The result is an excellent novel, worth picking up at any used bookstore.

(c) 2008 Jeremy Patrick (jhaeman@hotmail.com)

Jhaeman's Buffy Reviews: [...]

I was skeptical about reading any book based on a TV show, but this one was very well-thought out. The characters stayed true to their television depictions in a whole new and very interesting story. I recommend this for any Buffy fan.

does anybody else get why this book gets two diffrent covers? the one shown here (brown with xander, buffy and angel) and the one with buffy and a demon? their both about the fair.... so someone please explain.... AND is there any other buffy the vampire slayer books with altertive covers?
if you like "little things" the buffy book with spike of the cover, you must be a dark faerie fan so you'll love this book
p.s chistopher golded and nancy holder rock, buy anything with there names on
love ya D

This was my first Buffy the Vampire Slayer Book. I read it before I even watched the show, the plot just seemed good to me so I bought it, and little did I know I was about to become a Buffy Fanatic. It starts off with Buffy and this hunt that goes through the town and they take people capture. All the rest I can say is "WOW" I'd give this book 10 stars if I could. Even if you are not a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Book you should pick this one up.

P.S. Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder are the best Buffy writers in the series.

By now it is quite clear that Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder write the best "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" novels, both collectively ("The Gatekeeper Trilogy") and individually ("The Lost Slayer" and "The Book of Fours" respectively). This is not just because they are good writers but because they thoroughly understand both the characters and the mythos of the Slayer, which they prove in this early collaboration. Even though the stories are set in Sunnydale, Golden and Holder have a keen appreciation for the Old World-ness of the Slayer's world. This is not just a question of Giles coming from England, Angel from Ireland and Jenny from the land of the gypsies, but rather a recognition that when you are talking about ancient evil you have to skip across the ocean because that is where our sense of vampires, demons and things that go bump in the night originates. "Child of the Hunt" represents this sensibility quite nicely.

Buffy and her cohorts are enjoying a traveling Renaissance fair that has come to Sunnydale, but while they enjoy most of what they see they do not like the way the visitors treat Roland, their court jester. That is not the only significant development in town, for roaming the countryside are the minions of the Wild Hunt, in the service of the Erl King and with a taste for flesh. Of course there is a strange and terrible secret that links Roland to the eerie visitors. The Slayer wants to get involved, but Buffy must beware the awful curse, which dictates that no one can see the face of the leader of the Wild Hunt and live. Unless, that is, they join the hunt and take an oath to serve the Erl King.

This is not a story about the end of life as we know it, like a Buffy season finale or Golden and Holder's justly celebrated Gatekeeper Trilogy, but then that is not the point. This is a more intimate story, where Buffy is fighting to save Roland more so than she is to stop the Erl King. Consequently, there is a complexity here that she just do not find in your average Buffy the Vampire Slayer novel. This is a serious story, with less of the humorous lines and cultural allusions than you find in most Buffy novels (usually to excess, I must add), that captures the spirit of ancient, Old World evil that provides such a provocative counterpoint to the essentially Post-Modern Slayer (there's a dissertation topic if ever I heard one). Actually, all you need to know is that if you like "BtVS" then you should just read any of the original novels or guides that have either Golden and/or Holder's names on them. There is ample reason to believe they are genetically incapable of writing anything less than a great one.

While I thought this was something of a filler novel, it was still fun for those who appreciate a space twist.

In this book, the Animorphs and Ax morph misquitoes to get blood from a govermental official the Yeerks will try to infest so they can aquire him. They end up in Z-space and an Andalite ship picks them up. The ship is headed for Leera (remember book 15) and the pilot turns out to be a tratior! One of the officers kills the captain and self-distructs the ship, because it landed behind enemy lines. The Animorphs start disapering. Two have disapered by the time they reach the sea. The remaning Animorphs morph sharks and go into the ocean. Finally Ax and one remaning Animorphs are on a mission to destroy some Yeerk thing. Only Ax is left and he does it. What will happen next? Read the book to find out!

For a good synapsis of the actual story, I suggest you read the reviews before mine. They give an excellent overall idea of the story, so I don't want to repeat it in this review, as well.

As another outlook of someone way over the target audience, I've been reviewing the Animorphs for other adults who might be curious. This is another very well written and interesting story which introduces us to the earlier mentioned Leeran race which the Yeerks were attempting to make shark controllers for. Ax faces some very tough decisions in this particular story. Although the main theme is action packed alongside humor, we again have a story about a very lonely young boy who is growing up to fill the shoes (or hooves, as it were) of an older brother who was a legend, serve his people according to his beliefs, and yet where does that put him with the humans, who are almost a foster family? His loyalties are put to the ultimate test when he faces fellow Andalites, who are mortified to think humans have been given the morphing technology. The secret shame of the Andalites in unleashing the Yeerks on the galaxy because of a well-meaning Andalite has made the race very strict about offering anything to another race ever again. Ax was forced with the burden of accepting responsibility for giving the Animorphs their power to keep Elfangor's name cleared so his people can have a hero to look up to in a dark time of war in an earlier book. He has to face that again, this time to his own people, who he's wanted to see for a very long time. Ax also finds himself tail to tail with Visser Three once again, leaving the young cadet to wonder about fear, how to overcome it, and the real meaning of a coward. All of this is rolled into an exciting story about the Animorphs finding themselves swept up into a war between Yeerks and Leerans on a far distant planet due to a Z-Space fluke and a tiny morph. Ax's loyalties are questioned by himself, but also by the rest of the Animorphs. Is he one of them, or isn't he? What is he, really, Andalite or in his hearts, partially human? Ax is able to find his peace by the end of the story, and learns some very harsh realities about his own people, himself, and the world around him.

Animorphs: The Decision By K.A. Applegate

Ax is an andalite stuck on earth because of the horrible Visser Three, a monstrous Yeerk that is the only one to control an andalite's body. Visser Three destroys the andalite dome ship and kills Ax's brother, Elfangor. Now Ax is left with the task of avenging his brother's death and helping his human friends to beat the Yeerks and save Earth. I think the story was excellent and really portrays being a newcomer to a new place.

In this book you will find a new twist on the Z Space Theory. Hint: Just keep in mind how small mosquitoes really are. If you're into aliens you'll love this book. Psychics can be a problem when you're trying to keep a secret. If you're an Animorphs fan you definately need this book.

In this book, Merlin must return the dark hills to normal and restore all the land in Fincayra with the flowering harp. He is aided by his friend Rhia and Bumblewy, a pathetic jester. His longing for his mother soon takes priority over restoring the land. With the help of the wisest shell he is able to bring his mother from Earth to Fincayra. But she quickly catches the death curse and the only way to cure it is by traveling to the otherworld to retrieve the Elixir of Dagda. In order to do this he must find the souls of the seven songs of magic, travel through the otherworld well, fight a Cyclops named Balor, retrieve the Elixir and return it to his mother. With the help of his two companions, he will have to do this in one month before his mother dies.
This second book of the Merlin series was good. It was well written and interesting. The only thing I didn't like was how easily everything fit together, and how something always happened to break Merlin's way when he was looking for the souls of the songs. I think T.A. Barron did a great job of expressing the emotion of the characters. This book is filled with magic. I would recommend this for people of all ages.

The Seven Songs of Merlin is the second book in the Merlin series written by T.A. Barron. This is a story about a young boy who is discovering himself and what's within him. It is an adventure including mystical creatures, distant lands, and eccentric characters. This series of five books tells the adventures of a well- known wizard before he was famous. It is prologue to the stories King Arthur. The Merlin series is a great series and I do recommend it.
For you to understand some things I will explain about the Seven Songs book, you must know a little about the previous book. The first book starts out with Merlin waking up on a shoreline not knowing who or where he is. A woman takes him in and claims to be his mother, but he is not sure that she is. Merlin discovers he is not an ordinary boy and goes to the mystical land called Fincayra. On this island he finds out that the woman is his mother and discovers his fate. He has powers and is destined to become a greater wizard than his grandfather Tuatha. He goes on an exciting adventure and finds a new friend Rhia. When the first book ended it left me hanging and wanting more, and that is what led me to read this book, The Seven Songs of Merlin.
The book starts out with Merlin missing his mother and wanting her to be with him on Fincayra, so he finds a way to bring her to him. This way is to find the talking shell and tell it what he wants most. When he does this his mother arrives on the beach. When she arrives she is enticed by a cursed flower and the second she touches it she becomes extremely ill and weak. Merlin is filled with guilt and rage. Then he is told that the spirit Dagda has an elixir to cure the disease, but the only problem is Dagda is in the otherworld which is where all spirits live and Merlin is in Fincayra, the middle world. Fincayra is neither mortal or spirit; it is called the in- between place. Merlin is told he must follow the seven songs of wisdom left for him by his grandfather. He must get through all seven songs in time to save his mother. This journey will prepare him to face the giant vile ogre Balor guarding the entrance to the otherworld. Merlin finds these songs on the inside of an ancient tree and sets off on his quest. These tasks are not easy and they take him all over the land. He learns many things about magic as well as things about himself.
Will he make it to the otherworld in time, will the ogre, whose smallest glance can kill, be Merlin's end, or will he prevail and accomplish the task he set out for? Read this fantastic book to find out. I really enjoyed this book. It never had a dull moment and I just couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure or fantasy. The character development was great and it had an intriguing plot. Free time is not something to be wasted, so have a good experience by reading this book. Plus, when you're done reading this one, there are three more books left that are just as good, if not better, that you can read which also tell the story of an interesting adventure.
There are only a few drawbacks that I was able to come up with. The first one that came to my mind is that you have to read the first book to read the second one so you will understand the plot. So, if you want to read the third one you must read the first and second. Its not a drawback if you like to read, but if you're looking for a book that you can just sit and read without wondering what happened in the previous book or what is going to happen in the next book, then this is not the book for you. Another drawback is this book isn't very short and takes a while to read. It is around 300 pages. I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and have personally read 4 of the 5 books and consider them all to be well written and excellent books. Once more I would like to say I personally recommend this book and series to anyone, but mostly fantasy fans.


John F.

This is a wonderful sequel to the already great 1st book, the lost years of merlin.


After merlin topples stangmar, his father, he needs to "revive" the land with the flowering harp. however, he decides that he wants to bring his mother to Fincayra 1st. Using the wisest shell from the shore of speaking shells, he summons his mother to the island. when merlin's mother tries to smell a flower, a death shadow slides out and forces her to swallow it. A death shadow is Rhita Gawr's most painful way of killing someone.It gives the victim a month to live in which the victim will begin to suffer more and more pain. at the end of the month, he or she will die while enduring almost unbearable pain. Merlin finds out that to stop his mother from dying he must retrieve the elixer of Dagda. that means that he must journey to the otherworld to get it. However, the only way of getting to the Otherworld(apart from dying)and returning to the real world alive is to master the seven songs that Tuatha himself carved into Arbassa, Rhia home, a tree. After mastering all of the songs he must defeat/slay Rhita gawr's most fearsome servant, Balor, the one-eyed ogre. While merlin is quickly trying to get the elixer of Dagda, he discovers some thing abouut Rhia that leaves him in a great shock but only makes him triple his efforts to finds the elixer.

This is truly the best book that i have ever read and i think it deserves seven stars out of five. I hope you enjoy it as much as i do.
COMPLIMENTS TO YOU MR. BARRON!!!!!!

This is a wonderful sequel to the already great 1st book, the lost years of merlin.


After merlin topples stangmar, his father, he needs to "revive" the land with the flowering harp. however, he decides that he wants to bring his mother to Fincayra 1st. Using the wisest shell from the shore of speaking shells, he summons his mother to the island. when merlin's mother tries to smell a flower, a death shadow slides out and forces her to swallow it. A death shadow is Rhita Gawr's most painful way of killing someone.It gives the victim a month to live in which the victim will begin to suffer more and more pain. at the end of the month, he or she will die while enduring almost unbearable pain. Merlin finds out that to stop his mother from dying he must retrieve the elixer of Dagda. that means that he must journey to the otherworld to get it. However, the only way of getting to the Otherworld(apart from dying)and returning to the real world alive is to master the seven songs that Tuatha himself carved into Arbassa, Rhia home, a tree. After mastering all of the songs he must defeat/slay Rhita gawr's most fearsome servant, Balor, the one-eyed ogre. While merlin is quickly trying to get the elixer of Dagda, he discovers some thing abouut Rhia that leaves him in a great shock but only makes him triple his efforts to finds the elixer.

This is truly the best book that i have ever read and i think it deserves seven stars out of five. I hope you enjoy it as much as i do.

The second installment of the Lost Years of Merlin finds him fighting not only for his own life, but also the lives of 2 people close to him. He must solve the mysteries of the seven songs and come to understand their meanings before he can be of any use to those who desperately need him. The perils are many, the rewards are spectacular.

T.A. Barron writes another winner as he continues his saga of Merlin, before Camelot and King Arthur. The characters in this book are full of life and begin to feel like old friends as you read the story. There are appearances from past friends also and Barron makes certain they remain true to their character. These books are intended for a younger audience, but the story is so engaging and wonderful, readers of any age will find them hard to put down.

Join Merlin and company as they journey to exotic lands full of strange creatures, friend and foe. Cheer over their triumphs and feel saddened by their losses.

I highly recommend this series to all ages and interests. This is rich story telling at its best. It's also fun to discover where Merlin came from and how he became such a powerful wizard. The books are short and easy to read.

I had this book as a young person and loved it. this is a replacement of a long lost friend. The illistrations are exceptional and the stories wonderful.

When it comes to illustration books, Froud and Lee's collaborative "Faeries" is, quite simply, divine. This book captures the subject matter unlike any other work(s) from any other fantasy artists. The real magic and majesty of the "Faerie Realm" of British Isles and Irish mythology come to life within the pages.
If you love great art, get this book. If you love great legends from ancient lands, get this book.

An amazing book, it totally takes me away when I'm reading it. Beautifully illustrated, the drawings are amazing, so detailed. This one specially is a superb edition, very well designed, and totally worth the price.

I totally love fantasy, folklore, and mythology, so this book was naturally of great interest to me. The pictures of various classes of mythical creatures were absolutely wonderful, and the text that described the myths upon which the pictures are based was interesting and fun to read. I would highly recommend this book for someone interested in a book about fairy folklore that's not overly academic.

I LOVE THIS BOOK ABOUT FAERIES. I READ IT OVER AND OVER.
THANK YOU
PEGGY BOND

I spent years avoiding these books--I honestly prejudged them as another lousy boyish fantasy.

But though they are simple and written to kids, the book is great writing and great characterization that can be read in an hour, if you want.

The land is Deltora, a once-peaceful place where the weakening monarchy has finally been overthrown by a lord of darkness.

A young boy named Lief and his guardian Barda take on a quest to find the heir to the throne and save the land. It's an exciting introduction into a fabulous series covered in puzzles and imagination.

DELTORA QUEST are a fantastic book series for juvenile readers, filled with action and magic and adventure. THE FORESTS OF SILENCE is anything but silent. It absolutely SCREAMS fine work and captivates readers on the first page. The Shadow Lord is a non-appearing villain in this book, much like the main villains in LORD OF THE RINGS and ERAGON & ELDEST, but Rodda makes up for it easily with Gorl the evil knight, the sinister Grey Guards and who could forget the absolutely wicked Prandine. This book is a true modern classic and will and should be remembered for years.

This is absolutely one of the best series. Sure they are short books. There are 15 books in all. The main story is Leif and his friends Barda and Jasmine have to go on a very important mission to save all of Deltora. I'm not going to give any of the plot away though!

I was rather surprised to see so many positive reviews of this book, but I guess I'm not the standard in this case.

When I bought this book I had never heard of Deltora Quest or Emily Rodda before and the only reason I paid money for it was because I wanted to read a marginally written children's fantasy. But this has nothing to do with my taste in books.

As I read it, I became increasingly embarrassed by the writing. The book's pace was unsettlingly quick so by page fifty the characters were already grown up and had families. It's meant as a children's story so the book is given some allotment of cheesiness, but it's taken to another level with the constant barrage of cliched phrases and cookie-cutter characters that are just plain boring. To be honest, it read like an unskilled preteen's idea of fantasy with a plot line thought up during third period math class.

The majority of my problem with this book doesn't lie with the plot because any plot can be made interesting with some crafty writing. This book didn't have crafty writing. The dialogue was weak at best and the occasional attempt at dated language was painful. The zooming plot line mixed with the excruciating descriptions make it hard to read.

I suppose in the end I got what I wanted, thus the two stars, but this book just isn't that good. Yes, it's a children's book and any child would like it, but even children deserve some quality writing and for a seasoned writer, this shouldn't be considered a huge success.

Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. It is about two boys name Jarred and Endon who have been best friends since they where little. They lived in a castle, Endon was the son of the king of Deltora and Jarred was the son of a butler at the castle. Endon's dad has just died and he is about to take over the thrown. Jarred has done some research on the belt of Deltora and knows that if Endon does not where the belt all of Deltora will fall to the dark lord. One of the kings friends talks Endon into thinking that Jarred is going to betray him, so Endon has called the guards on Jarred but will he escape?
Deltora is vast land suppurated into 7 tribes who each had a magical gem. The story of the land goes that there once was a blacksmith. He wanted to bring the tribes together. So he makes a belt with 7 slots to put the gems in. After he made the belt He went to each of the tribes to ask them to set there gems in the belt. One by one the each put there gem inside the belt, then he put on the belt and all of the tribes where united and he was known as the king of delta but what he doesn't know is that someone is planing to kill him.
I would recommend this book to anybody with a great since of imagination and adventure.

This collection is a treat for the imagination! Experience the immersion into a different life and world. The author has a great talent to transport you into the legend of Arthur and allow you to imagine what life would have been like then. It is a magnificent tale brought to life, that makes you long for more once the story is over. A thoroughly enjoyable read for all.

I fell in Love with this series. I became a Lancelot and Merlin addict after reading these books. I was so in love with Mordred as well. Enchanting. Life changing.
I will never sell my copies unless I replace them with new ones. I must have them in my house to pick up and read anytime! I Thank GOD I made the choice just to pick these books out one day at the book store not knowing I would soon be in love with the story and Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy.

This book is easy to handle; combines all three books of the Merlin Trilogy; good quality; more economical than purchasing the books separately.

I didn't know much about Merlin's live or story, and he is by far the figure that most strogly calls my attention in the Arthutian saga, so I went in a search about a book who portrayed this character. I found Mary Stewart's MErlin trilogy and found that it had such great reviews that I could not pass on it. Neither I wanted to, as this book called out to me with its plot.

I began reading it and it stood up to my expectations. The book is wonderful, Merlin comes through as alive and powerful, as a human being as well as an enchanter. I loved the story told int he book, the pace of it, the way in which it all moved forward with no practically stalling. MErlin is a character with wich you can sympatize, for whom you feel awe, admiration and a myriad of other feelings.

The story is strongly told, and it remains with you once you have closed the book.

This one is a recommended read! ;)

Stewart's fabulous Merlin "trilogy" is actually four novels, the fourth one being "The Wicked Day." I can't see why a publisher would have left this one out of the compilation. This is why the review gets only 4 stars. I also feel like it would be a bit ridiculous to have this compilation on the bookshelf followed by an odd copy of The Wicked Day, so, I suggest you buy each novel individually if you like the way books look on the shelf.

This is a marvelous set of books, quite readable, and it does put you into the story!

As a teacher, so many possibilities, as a mother, aunt, grandma, lots of great conversation. This has been done masterfully.

When I bought this book I thought how great it would be to write a story to go with each picture. Obviously, I'm not the only one to have this idea, as the other reviews here show. And Steven King has written a great story based on the "House on Maple Street" picture. A great book that has inspired, I hope, many future writers.

Lets get a couple of things straight: First, Chris Van Allsberg is a genius; second, Mr Van Allsberg does not write "children's books." I will not elaborate on the first point. You need only to open any two of his books to know that it's true. The first book will blow you away; the second book will persuade you that the first was not a fluke. But as for my second point....

"The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" is proof in point. I LOVE this book. The mysterious, creepy, vaguely sinister pictures; the dangling captions; the POSSIBLITIES opened on every page. It's wonderful! But I've never met a child who, of her or his own volition, could/would spend more than five minutes with it. Oh, I know, my experience runs counter to that of many of my fellow reviewers, but it's true. I guess my wife and I were just blessed with second rate kids who had third rate friends. But that doesn't mean that I don't ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECOMMEND this book. I DO! But the heck with the kids! Buy it for yourself!

As an English teacher, I have been amazed by the creative writing The Mysteries of Harris Burdick has inspired. I use the book in conjunction with vocabulary units, having students create short stories (that include the vocabulary words we are studying) based off of the pictures, line and title Van Allsburg provides on each page. The intriguing beginnings he has created lend themselves to a plethora of plots; I've never read two stories that are similar though I've used the book for years now.

I highly recommend this book as a way to encourage any aspiring writers, as well as those who struggle with writing. Even reluctant writers seem to enjoy the challenge of creating a story worthy of such a beautiful illustration. Students are often amazed and pleased with what they can create with a little help from this wonderful book!

I bought this title thinking it was the book form, but I found that the portfolio pages could be framed and hung-up so that the pictures could be constantly in sight, that way you can build your story subconsciously over time.
The pictures are wonderful; the use of grayscale makes it easy to see whatever color you want. The title of the book tells what type of pictures are inside, all are mysterious,
This title is great to get your kids into story writing or just writing period. They can learn to proofread and practice their spelling and grammar. This would be a good resource for homeschoolers as well as school teachers.

This book is the third out of a series covering the twins Caramon and Raistlin. This book was a great book and explains the story of Raistlin becoming the greatest mage to ever live. Great book, very hard to put down.

This book was a great ending for the Legends trilogy! It is beautifully written and touches your heart. I got really scared when Caramon and Tas went into the future and saw Caramon's corpse. The world couldn't end! But I luved the ending, where it teaches a valuable lesson: there is good in even the most evil people.

Loved the book, LOVED it, but very very disappointed that the saga doesn't continue forward from this spot. There are other books that pick up later on (much later) but naturally I'd like to see a smooth segue' into the next segment of this same tale. Oh, well...the series and this book are still well worth reading.

This book wasn't what I had in mind and I was sorely disappointed in it. I thought this book was going to have a twist to it and that Raistlin was going to be persuaded into the good side by Crysania at the end or that he was going to turn back to were he left her. I also think that the author should have gave Raistlin some love and caring at the end. I was touched by how Margaret Weis wrote that Raistlin was blinded by tears, but I was also wondering why he didn't just go with them at the first place. I think that there should totally be more love and a bit less death.
Besides this point about Raistlin, the book was OK, but I don't think it was better than the two others. I have to give props to the painter of the cover though; his paintings for Margaret Weis' books are spectacular and make everything more realistic. The conclusion was strong with emotion, but to me, it wasn't the best conclusion to fit the other two incredible books.

Test of the twins, the concluding novel in the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, is the story of "saving a soul". The story is, in my opinion actually the concluding novel in the six volume series compiled of both the Dragonlance Chronicles and the Legends. The novel effectively and entertainingly ties off nearly all of the loose ends and left me with a distict feeling of completeness.

In the author's own words, the book is about "saving a soul". The reader is, and was in previous editions, led to believe that it is Raistlin's soul that needs saving, however it is notl; it is his twins'.
Caramon, the twin, is the one who needs saving. He is Raistlin's opposite and keeping with the theme of the series, his soul must be saved by the light in order to balance the evil of Raistlin.

The authors also do a reasonable job of dealing with time travel. The pebble, Tasselhoff, is superb in his role and is easily the "best" character in the series, with Fizban coming a close second. Fizban in his limited role, almost seems as a kender himself.

About the only part of the novel that I did not like was the limited definition of magic. The term casting of a spell means nothing more than it says, more details are needed.

I would recommend this novel and series to anyone looking for an easy, fun, engaging read!

Sure, this book was hard to put down, but I couldn't figure out why it was labeled science fiction. There are no new technologies, the technology in the book is just electricity, and isn't even the biggest influence in the book. It is a crime to charge nearly 20 bucks for a book that is so poorly laid out in text, and has such a poor resolution graphic cover. Nevertheless, the story is worth reading if you can find a used copy. It's hard to put down, but it's only a quick 300-page read, with just about every moral spelled out for you.

I gave up reading after 150 pages. I was all ready for the premise: the story of a boy and girl in a postapocalyptic city where the hardest thing is to survive. The setting is interesting and the plot was captivating at first - the mix of strange religion, the social divisions in the city, etc. In the end, though, my patience ran out. Maher's style became infuriating: he kept telling you about the city instead of showing it - a bit like a person holding a picture and describing it to you but not letting you see the photo itself. On top of that his descriptions were rushed and had the feeling of 'pause in the action - fill in the background.' The action scenes became annoying as well: too much nose-to-the-ground stuff, a lot of running and telling you of the pain in the knee, the feelings of the body. I got claustrophobic, a feeling that the characters were too much inside their skins, that they were not interacting with anybody, just being manipulated like puppets by the writer. Too bad - I liked enough of the initial set-up to wish it would've been better.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (9/06)

I really enjoyed reading "Legend." The story takes place some time in the future in a land that has been ravaged by man. People struggle to survive among the ruins of a once advanced city. People are basically classified into three groups: the Bureauers, the Folkers, and the Disciples. The Bureaurers are very much like people today who are involved in bureaucracy. The stereotypes definitely apply here. The Burearers believe that they are maintaining order by keeping the Folkers in a state of chaos where they have to worry more about basic survival than getting involved with what is happening in the government. When the main hero, Martin, becomes a low level Bureaurer, he finds that he has become a part of a system that really doesn't need him. He goes to work and is well fed, but he doesn't seem to have a purpose. The Folkers are what Martin was born into. These are the poor people that have to fight for food. They will eat anything. While they are not allowed to kill others to eat, they will eat their dead. The Bureaurers see to it that the Folkers are provided with "poorage," however, there isn't always enough to go around.

The Disciples are people that are involved in a satantic-like cult. They are waiting for the coming of Jefus. He is supposed to save the world and make the machines that no longer function work again. The leader of the Disciples, Kreeops, is supposed to step down when Jefus returns. A Folker, Gena, is selected to be the bride of Jefus. The leader of the Disciples wants her for himself. She is forced into the cult and given training. There are powers in both the cult and in Gena. It appears that the greatest power of control comes from the beliefs of the people. Their united beliefs cause things to happen. Gena begins to realize this and uses this knowledge to her advantage.

It is believed that Martin is Jefus. He has to go through three tests to prove this. He doesn't really believe this, but to survive he does what is necessary to prove this. Along the way, he discovers the importance of the power of belief. He sees what Kreeops is doing to control the others. He realizes that Kreeops true power comes from the faith of his disciples. To win and to survive, he has to gain their faith in him. He and Gena need to become gods to win their control. Martin has to be crucified and resurrected to prove himself.

Along the way, Martin and Gena struggle to survive. Sometimes, their adventures are with each other, other times they are off on their own. Gena learns that there is more beyond the city limits than people realize. Because of their fearful beliefs they have limited themselves to this existence. If she and Martin can prove themselves, they can lead these people into a better way of life.

I found this story to be unnerving because I can see how our own society can become trapped by limited negative beliefs. This could be our society someday. The people who choose to be in power, do it for control of the masses, not for wanting to make their world a better place.

This is an excellent science fiction novel. I truly believe that it is destined to be a classic. As you read it, you are glad that it is only fiction and not reality. However, it brought many questions to my mind that made me think, "what if?" Due to the graphic nature of the story, I do not recommend it for young children. However, I do recommend it to other science fiction fans and think that it would be an excellent choice for a reader's group to discuss.

Like all good fiction, this is a book that really makes you think. Part of you wants to put it down to think out some idea the story raises but the story itself keeps you turning the pages. I recommend it. Highly.

On the back of the cover some writer calls this a book about the reunification of the self. I doubt if the guy who wrote the book thought that's what it was about. Better to just enjoy the story and let the plot sweep you along. It's fun, it's clever, it would make a good movie. That's enough.