Science Fiction Books

I have read most of the books in this series and looking back on this one makes me mad. First, the story is terrible compaired to later books in the series. It didn't interest me and wasn't nessesary to the upcoming books. Also, she made Xanatos look like a not to bad villian, which he's not. I think that this book could be skipped and you could go to 3 immediatly where things start to get better.

Truly exciting and fast-paced, The Dark Rival is a fantastic read! This is Jude Watson's first try in the Jedi Apprentice series and what a marvelous job she's done! And finaly Obi-wan is made Qui-Gon padawan (anyway we all knew that).
Can't wait to read the next book.

I think this book is a good star wars book for 13 though 8.Qiun Gon Jim is having a stuind that wants to kill hem.But Obe One Kenobe is a stuind that Xanitos wants hem to be on the darkside. Later in the book there will be a light saber batlie that is asome.They will drive vicles be capture and met people they nafer seen before.Soon they will find a person and talk to Yoda.I hope you like this book.

I just loved this book! I don't know how anyone could NOT like this book! I can't wait to read the next book in the series: "The hidden past"!!! You just HAVE to read this book!!!

This was one of the first Jedi Apprentice books i read and i loved it! In this book Qui-Gon actually starts to realize that he's kept Obi-Wan in the dark and that he should have explained more about his old apprentice Xanatos. Also there's this part where Qui-Gon is going to rescue Obi-Wan and starts to notice how much Obi-Wan deserves to be a jedi. this book is very emotional and gratifying, i wish Jude Watson would write more!

DRAGONSINGER shows off sci-fi/fantasy writer Anne McCaffrey at her best and most accessible. Of the three books which make up the Harper Hall trilogy, this one is my favorite and a book to which I've returned a bunchful of times. Only thing is, whenever I dust this off (or, come to think of it, any of the early Pern novels), I tend to go ahead and re-read the whole friggin' series. The Harper Hall trilogy, more so than any of the Dragonriders of Pern novels, is targeted towards a young adult audience, but it'll certainly charm a reader of whatever age. And if one is looking for a capable, extremely engaging role model, then look no further than Menolly of Half-Circle Sea Hold.

DRAGONSINGER picks up almost immediately from where Dragonsong left off, with Menolly arriving at the Harper Craft Hall to begin her harper's apprenticeship. A gifted songwriter/singer/musician and the young accidental mistress of nine gluttonous but ever loyal fire lizards, the shy and vulnerable Menolly finds herself near overwhelmed by her new circumstances. She's very conscious of her horribly scarred hand (which prevents her from playing her music) and her still woefully tender feet (from having outran Thread, deadly silver spores which periodically rain on Pern). At Harper Hall, Menolly meets and is intimidated by an array of stern and skeptical teachers. She faces the scorn of her fellow female students, with whom she must share room and board. Her unconventionality and her rare fire lizards mark her as a target of curiousity and envy. For Menolly, all this is almost too hard to bear. But she loves music and loves her fire lizards. And, it turns out, she has more friends than she thinks...

DRAGONSINGER, first published in 1977, is the second book in the Harper Hall trilogy, and, in my opinion, is the best of the three. It continues Menolly's coming-of-age tale and introduces the readers to a gang of winning characters, such as the quiet journeyman Sebell, the majestic, offbeat Master Shonagar, and the impish and ingratiating Piemur (who would take center stage in Dragondrums). Of course, the awesome and perceptive Masterharper Robinton figures in most of the Pern novels, and he makes his presence vigorously felt here. Who wouldn't want to work for someone like him?

Another neat thing about the Harper Hall trilogy is that it allows the reader to relive events in McCaffrey's other novels. Specifically, the timeline of DRAGONSONG and DRAGONSINGER coincides with that of Dragonquest (Dragonriders of Pern), so that, just as we revisited Jaxom's impressing of Ruth thru Menolly's eyes in DRAGONSONG, here, we get Menolly and Harper Hall's horrified reactions to F'nor's disastrous foray to the inhospitable Red Star. Later, the third Harper Hall entry, DRAGONDRUMS, would touch on events occuring in The White Dragon (Dragonriders of Pern Vol 3).

McCaffrey warmly covers a span of seven eventful days in Menolly's life, chronicling her transitioning from an uncertain, bashful young girl to a confident one with the world opened up before her. Menolly is tall and gangly and unsure, and so appealing. It's a joy reading of her overcoming her challenges, making new friends, and impressing just near everyone with her musical talents. My favorite moments would have to be the ones in which she's engaged in her music or spending time with her fair of fire lizards (and, believe me, both activities take up huge, huge chunks of the book). Scenes to look out for: the first time Menolly feeds her fire lizards at Harper Hall, the impromptu Hall concert during Threadfall, all the moments with Shonagar, and Gather Day. As ever, McCaffrey peppers her book with sightings of benevolent dragons, who constantly guard Pern against Thread, and their miniature and inquisitive cousins, the fire lizards. Actually, in this Harper Hall series, the focus is more on the fire lizards than on the dragons. McCaffrey lends Menolly's fire lizards their own distinct personalities, from the imperious Beauty to the nagging Aunties One and Two, to the beleaguered Uncle, to the aptly named Lazybones.

Compared to the other, more adult-oriented novels about Pern, DRAGONSINGER is a lighter, more intimate read, and not as intricately plotted. The stakes here don't shape the world, just Menolly's personal universe. But, I'll tell you what, you'll get caught up in it. DRAGONSINGER (and a whole mess of McCaffrey's novels, come to think of it) fits cozily on my shelf of comfort books. I normally have two copies of books which I particularly love. With DRAGONSINGER, I have three, two of which are pretty threadbare. Such a good read.

The harper Hall Trilogy is my favorite set by McCaffrey and interestingly the first books I read by her. I love dragons and there for dragon stories, particularly ones were dragons are not mindless monsters of destruction, so it would be odd for me not to like these books. The story is very original and the characters well written. If your not sure of getting into the Pern books, this is the series to read! Dragonsinger is a really strong book, despite being in the middle of a set. The story keeps going strong and the characters stay true to themselves.

I know I wasn't supposed to read this book first, but it was on the free book cart at the library. And I've wanted to read McCaffery for some time now. I'd give this book four a half stars. I'd like to have given it five. But I'll get to that in a minute. Her prose is elegant. Each of her characters is clearly defined. The main, Menolly, is strong and modest, but often bleek and insecure because of her background. Thus her behavior makes sense at times when she is overly passive when she shouldn't be. As well as apologizing for every little thing. However, her giving a shiner to Benis was priceless. I love the tiny info on the Fort Sea Hold, and look I look forward to getting clear description when I read DragonSong. The only problem I had with this book was there was no real action, besides the brawl at the Gather. Though I must say, the book was not boringt any time. But I did have to put it down from time to time because its lack of action.

Can't wait to read more McCaffery. I see why she's one of the leading authors in the SciFi/Fantasy genre.

Menolly is now at the Harper Hall. However, she is a geek/nerd and doesn't fit in with all the girls who like doing the standard chick things. Plus there just happens to be a bunch of fire lizards following her around.

She also has to deal with the problem of choosing or being asked to choose a specialisation and someone to be a mentor.

Menolly has achieved her dream of living in Harper Hall, despite the disadvantage of being born female. But she does not know how she will fit in and the fact that she accidentally Impressed nine fire lizards causes disruptions in class and jealousies from the other students. That she comes to realize her full talent as a musician, singer and songwriter and revel in the company of other musicians is the delight of this perfect fantasy novel.

This gem of a story is appropriate for creative girls and women of all ages, all creative endeavors because it says that the barriers the world puts in your way won't stand up to friendship, hard work and talent. I wore out two paperback copies before breaking down and buying it in hardback. Highly recommended.

A surprisingly good read, for those interested in a teen romance set in an interesting location, with an unusual twist: some of the characters are aliens left behind when the spaceship crashed in Roswell. The book captures teen emotion well, especially as related to romantic interests and rivalries, and the bad guy sheriff provides enough threat and suspense to keep the reader interested to the end. While this book is just the beginning of the series that later became a hit TV show, it stands alone well enough to be enjoyed on its own. Of course it is not great literature, but it is imaginative and a fun and way to spend an afternoon or evening; very good for what it is designed to accomplish.

-Lynn Michelsohn, author of Roswell, Your Travel Guide to the UFO Capital of the World!

Rosewell high is any ordinary high school, but the only thing is that you don't know what's really happening.
There are 7 caracters theire names are Max, Liz, Maria, Alex, Michael, Kyle, Sherif Valenti, and Isabel.
Max, Liz, Maria, Isabel, Michael, sherif valenti are the main main caracters. Max always liked liz and when she was shoot in the stomach max healed her and she thought she was going to die and he told her to lie and she did and
after she went to his house and she asked him how and he told her he was an alien and she freaked out. So he thinks she hates him until later. Liz never liked him but wounce she found out she found this urge to just fall in love with him and do everything to save his life. Max, isabel, micheal, and maria are all aliens and hopes that liz dosent tell sherif valenti about theire discovery.I would really recommend this book to all ages.

This book is GREAT! Probaly the only book in the series that the TeleVision adaption kept completely - The outsider is a great piece of literature. Its cute, quick, daring, and intresting. ESPECIALLY if you keep reading the series, you'll notice how unique and great the customers are. A Definate Must-read. Esspecially for teens.

Wow! What a great read! I couldn't put it down. I wanted to read the book because I'm such a big fan of the TV show. It's soo much better!! The story is basically a modern Romeo and Juliet love story. Max is an alien from another planet who is in love with a human girl named Liz. When he saves her life, both their lives and everyone elses dramatically changes. This book focuses on Max and LIz's love story but there are also other interesting characters like the other 2 aliens, Micheal and Isabel, and Liz's 2 friends Alex and Maria who all have their own stories unfolding. The first book is by far my favorite out of the series, but you have to read them all. Just to warn some people: it is a story about ALIENS but it mostly centers on the characters relationships with each other. I would steer clear if your a BIg SF fan.

The pilot episode of Roswell was one of the better episodes of the series I've always thought, I got a copy of this book because it's the one the series is based on. While the writing style is probably aimed more at the teen market if you're older and liked the series this book won't be a bad item.
A few things are very different, Max is a blond and blue eyed senior, Liz is Liz Ortecho (whose dead older sister Rosa O'D on drugs)- instead of Parker, Michael Guerin is an A student (all three aliens are)and Isabel is the little sister- a junior in High School.
Liz's shooting is a little different than the series, Sheriff Valenti and son Kyle are meaner (and Valenti is a member of a secret government anti alien group). The incubation pods are mentioned, as is the cave, but in the book Michael came out of his pod days before the Evans (who shared a pod). A lot of things show similarity to the first season of Roswell, although not all were in the same episode- it seems obvious to me that the writers used this book as a sort of guide.
I don't know if I'll get the rest of the series but this one was a quick, fun little thing to read, and a lot more like what you saw on TV than most book to TV adaptations usually are.

I love finding a new author and a new series I can be excited about. Wonderfully written, excellent character development, very hot romantic scenes, and enough drama to keep everything interesting.

My first Nalini Singh book about her Psy/Changelings was just a fabulous treat. I loved everything about it. She created an incredibly complex world and she did it with such a simplistic, natural grace that the constant stream of information about the Psy/Changeling world wasn't forced. She allowed it to flow to me naturally, so I barely registered I was getting a ton of exposition.
The characters Lucas, the Alpha of DarkRiver, and Sascha, a Cardinal Psy was really hot. They portray their mating dance right from the beginning, two beings reduced to their most basic desires, circling each other as if searching for an opening.
It helps that I love changelings or any kind of weres. There's something about the animalistic side of a man coming out that gets me all hot and bothered, and when Lucas actually manifests into his animal...*shivers* HOT! Nalini describes the Changelings as a warm, hierarchical pack of men and women and the Psy as a society of 'perfect' beings who have surpressed all emotions supposedly for the greater good, so they can control their abilities better. Which makes them into cold, robotic men and women without the emotion to sense right from wrong, good and evil. Our Sascha however, with the help of the panther Alpha, Lucas Hunter escapes what is known as Silence and tries to start anew with the DarkRiver pack.
There wasn't a single character I didn't like. There wasn't any annoying personality quirks, no stupid plot contrivances by Sascha to prove she was independent and didn't need Lucas, no tree swinging male alpha traits that Lucas had to employ. This proves you can make a good book without relying on any TSTL moments designed to move the plot along. Thank God.
I love the descriptive words Nalini uses for the leopards of DarkRiver. They are catlike, sensual, they purr and rub and give love bites. I loved reading how the characters would curl up in each others laps and entwine in each other's arms. She really never lets you forget that Lucas and the other changelings are not men, but dangerous, predatory cats.
This was a great book and a great first book into Nalini Singh's fabulous Psy/Changeling series.

This book is a great starter of an outstanding series.
Singh's characters and plot have a dephts that is hardly found in romance and I REALLY like romance. :)
This book made me smile (about the scenes with the "unfeeling" Psy and the changling cubs), cry (when Sasha thought she was rejected by Lucas) and left me hot and bothered by the sizzling hot love scenes.
10 stars for my new favourite paranormal series.
Can't wait for September when Dorian's story comes out. (Nalini Singh does the best scenes with children.)

Naini Singh has created a marvelous new series with flawless combination of paranormal romance and sci-fi. The description of the two races - changelings and PsyNet are marvelously developed, in the amazingly gripping world that Nalini Singh has crafted and that draws you in from the get go! The narration is flawless, suspense in the story keeps you at the edge of your seat and the scenes between H/H are steamy and hot!

The Psy is a race of calculated emotional detachment, Cold Empaths with lethal businesslike accuracy. Psys have been conditioned to have no emotional attachment or experience any feeling - for any Psy found "flawed" has their link terminated from PsyNet remaining alive but pretty much dead.

Sasha Duncan is a Cardinal Psy - her mother a member of the powerful Psy Council. All her life she has lived in fear, as she has grown to believe that she is flawed and is always stemming feelings and shielding them from other Psy minds or she will be reconditioned.

Lucan Hunter is a member of the DarkRiver leopards - cats. He decides to bid for a Real Estate residential project that would be the first transaction in history between the Psy and Changelings. Not only is he doing it for the profit - being shrewd in business - but a serial killer has been targeting changeling young women and he believes that the killer is a Psy. More reason for him to try and infiltrate their midst.

In turn, Sasha is asked to supervise the project and study the changelings - as the Psy have little knowledge of that race.

When Lucas meets Sasha - he is drawn to her. She may be a Cardinal Psy - but there is something different about her. Soon his predatory animalistic alpha nature stakes his territory and Sasha and him are slowly drawn together.

After the killer takes another victim - a young woman from the wolf pack SnowDancers, rival changelings have to join forces in a race against time to save Brenna's life. Sasha is drawn into the fray - and both wolfs and cats have to rely in the powers of this unusual Psy if Brenna is to be found alive.

With SLAVE TO SENSATION - you will be touched by so many aspects of this marvelous book. The awesome closeness and bonding of the individual packs. Their sense of family coupled with their innate ability to demonstrate feeling and show affection, love and above all loyalty to one another.

The development of Sasha's and Lucas' relationship is a beauty to watch - simmering sensuality as Sasha slowly becomes "herself" and allows the feelings she has held back for so long run free with Lucas. Readers will fall in love with Lucas. He is all predatory alpha male, sexy and his caring for Sasha's well being and safety is touching and heartfelt.

I can't praise enough this new writer and this fantastically innovative and superbly crafted new series! I will devour the next book VISIONS OF HEAT - which has been on sale since March of '07.

Unfortunately because of my work schedule I don't get to read at the expediential rate I would like to, so it takes me longer to finish a book and always a day late getting into series!!!

In the world of the Psy, perfection is absolute and anythinge else is punishable by death. The 'feel' or underlying theme, rings of the ethos purported by Huxley in his startling book, Brave New World. Thus, the purpose of Perfect Silence was to ensure that the emotion to hate and be violent would be wholly removed. In doing so, all emotions were conditioned out of these once human Psy, and have become a race of highly advanced beings, both technologically and especially, mentally. It has rendered them impotent of basic feelings, like love or sadness, and have given them the cold and ruthless rigidity and stiffness that they have become to be known for. And disdained by all changeling groups that oppose their way of living.

In this world of the Psy, all its people are mentally linked in the PsyNet, a network of psychic energy and the individual auras that feeds others and themselves. They cannot live without the Net.

The brutality, the rigid stiffness and efficiency that have marked the Psy is as real and frightening as Sascha Duncan knows it to be. She of all would know. Marked by night-sky eyes that designates her as a cardinal and high-ranking Psy, she has been hiding something that could get her killed: she is defective, in the most essential way. As in, the emotions that should not be there, are not only fully functional since birth, but none of the conditioning has helped her become more Psy. If any, it allowed her to build incredibly powerful mental shields to protect her flaw, and the fact that, being the daughter of a ruthless and powerful Council, Nikita, she will never live up to her genetics. An no one knows why but Sascha.

When given the charge of a multi-million dollar deal with a changeling race, DarkRiver, Sascha comes into contact with the lead project, man and alpha, Lucas Hunter. A cat as his form, and as a powerful alpha, he can sense the differences that mark Sascha as someone not quite Psy, even as the appearance of it confuses him. But Lucas' goal isn't to woo, but to sniff out a Psy killer, unmercifully murdering young changling women. Not just DarkRiver, but other groups, like his werewolf ally, the SnowDancers.

What is shocking is the fact of their instant attraction, which both try to rationalize and dismiss, only to bring them closer to both their truths. More contact triggers more mental breakdowns by Sascha that leaves her petrified and paranoid. Only Lucas' stability and his uncanny sense of understanding her, does she find some peace. But how can a Psy woman be trusted? And how can an alpha leopard learn that he may have no choice but to trust Sascha, and pray she won't betray him, or his pack? These are the questions that swirl around them and between them, even as they succumb to their emotions and growing attachments. Even as Sascha finally begins to believe in Life, not pure existence and the lies of her own people, she begins to open up, not just to love but understanding, and the joys and pleasures of feeling and emotions. Just as they've discovered themselves, Lucas might loose the one woman he's ever loved, to the terrors of the PsyNet, and the killer that hunts them all.

For a first time writer, Singh packs a heavy punch. The characters, from the primary to the secondary, are well developed and tangible. You really see them as real people, not contrived or artificial, but with hurts and pains that aren't any more terrible than someone you would know in real life. Life and emotion is the heart of this book, and the meaningful discovery of it by all the characters.

The plot itself is well written, and especially the world of the Psy and changeling interactions. Strange enough but close to home. She's also consistent in her renderings and had a wonderful and well worked out Psy and changeling philosophies as well as the workings of psychic ability and the PsyNet. There was a lot of care and attention to those finer details without too much overtaxing of the mechanics. However, the one quip I have was that there was a lot of repetition in terms of describing how Sascha and Lucas felt, certain re-telling of events but not enough to put me off. There were a few places soly dedicated to Sascha's emotional development and realizations, that at first, I wanted to say was unnecessary, but as you got to the end, I realized that without bits of it, her later actions and beliefs in doing them would have felt empty. However, it does drag in parts, saying in a few sentences and lengthening much longer than necessary.

This is a very dense read and not something you'll read in one pull. It's is not the sugar-coated versions, but has a lot of emotional and psychological weight that most romances are missing. Not that it's bad, mind. Singh is a nice change from the normal. It is sci-fi and paranormal, romance and addresses deeper issues that has plagued mankind since the dawn of time. I think you'll enjoy this book well after you've read it. Book 2, here I come!

This was written at the beginning of the series (which I swear up and down was the best of it). This totally solidifies the terror of the main storyline for which the author was going. Awesome job, perfect for young readers.

I dislike the Animorphs and am reading through a few titles just because they're penny books that I have laying around and plan to throw away... so I was surprised to find myself really liking this one!

Jake's brother is a Yeerk Controller and, if there's anything good in that, it's got to be that Jake is able to get some information from him. That's how they figure out that the Yeerks have plans to take over the new hospital - now all they've got to do is stop them. When their plan goes wrong, Jake finds himself with a Yeerk in his head and his friends have to find a way to save him.

If every Animorphs story was as well told as this, I'd be a fan!

This one is one of my favorite animorph books so far.

All the Animorphs go and stumble into this portable yerk pool in the hospital. But Jake falls into the yerk pool, and a yerk crawls up his ear! Jake goes into like a coma while the yerk takes over him and get acustomed to his new headquarters ( get it? Head - quarters?). Jake acn't do anything and gets really frusterated. But meanwhile, Ax finds out that Jakes been infested. They have a plan, that involves starving the yerk of the kandrona waves. Will the yerk outsmart them? Will the yerk betray Jake and the rest of the animorphs? Or will the yerk fighting team eliminate the yerk? Find out by reading this excelant book!! Also, try to read the rest of the series, you won't regret it!

In this book, Jake falls into a portable Yeerk pool and Tom's old Yeerk infests him. But will the other Animorphs and Ax find out in time and starve the Yeerk? or will Temarash 114 go to Visser Three and make Ax and the other Animorphs Controllers.

Jake and the other Animorphs discover that the Yeerks plan to invade plenty of humans against their will at the town's hospital. To make things worse, the Yeerks want to invade the state's governor who is planning to run for president! When the Animorphs take a trip to the town's hospital to do some invesitgating, they stumble onto a Yeerk pool...and Jake accidentaley falls into the Yeerk pool.

Now, Jake has a Yeerk in his head and there's nothing he can do about it. The Yeerk knows all his secrets (including the names of the Animorphs) and Jake isn't able to tell his friends anything. Fortunately, the others have figured out Jake's been invaded, and they have a plan to destroy the Yeerk. Unless the Yeerk figures out a way to destroy them all first...

THE CAPTURE is an excellent novel. The beginning started out as one of your average Animorphs books, but then the middle was where the things got intense. It really had me page-turning, and I could've sworn that it would be the end for Jake. The very ending of this book might make you a little sad, but it's something to expect in a book by K.A. Applegate. All in all, this is a very good book to keep you entertained for a while

When Purple House Press reprinted this book, I recalled it as one of the memorable reads of my childhood, but for the life of me I could not remember why. I remembered the basic outlines of the story, but they didn't seem to add up to something that would have stuck in my memory so. (Since I never owned it, I had never reread it.) However, trusting that there must have been SOME good reason, I went ahead and purchased it. Now at long last I finally know why it stuck in the back of my mind for all those years:

The Phoenix.

David is a nice enough boy, easy to identify with, but in the Phoenix Mr. Ormondroyd has given us one of the most memorable characters in all of children's literature. Wise and all-knowing, but not quite as wise and all-knowing as he thinks he is, he exudes an exquisite sense of pomp and dignity... right before he trips over a windowsill and pratfalls into the bushes below or traps himself in his own snare or nearly electrocutes himself demonstrating his (less than complete) knowledge of electricity. A true rock of courage, unless something frightens him, he can be counted on to fully concentrate on the problem at hand, unless he is distracted by something...

like cookies.

I would love to know the people in Mr. Ormondroyd's life who inspired this character!

A surprisingly evil Scientist rounds out the major characters in this story of a boy receiving an unconventional education that will remind the reader a bit of Harry Potter's early education and an unforgettable ending.

Not to be missed. I am now greatly looking forward to reading his Time at the Top.

I read this book as a child and wanted to share it with my grandchildren.

I loved this book when I was a junior high teen, and at 57 I find I love it still. I have chortled for 40+ years over the mental image of the Irish Wail (tied up in a cardboard box, sealed with a bit of wax)voraciously devouring cabbages and growing in size, volume, and, of course, degrees of harmony.

THIS BOOK IS AN A++++ WINNER. Buy it for your kids, and if you can pry it away from them, read it for your own pleasure. Your life will change--for the better--after you meet David and the Phoenix.

Hallelujah!!! This book was in desperate need of a reprint. I just bought it, again, and let my children read it. With the original artwork included, this is a must have. People say if you like Harry Potter, but that doesn't do the book justice. This is the Holy Grail here. You will laugh and cry and fear for the characters and fall in love with them too. And sadly, you won't want the book to end, but it will. When will we see David and the Phoenix again?

I was thrilled to see this wonderful classic reissued. It is the result of a master writer with a fertile imagination. the intrigue that results as David tries to save the Phoenix from the scientist makes it hard for one to put the book down. Love the ending. I would also recommend "Moonspins and Widdershins" for those who love fastasy.

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.