King Books

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.

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!

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! ;)

I've worn out my second set of these classics, they're so re-readable after only a short recess. I love the historical accuracy combined with fantasy made believable. The thorough basis in research is comparable only to Dorothy Dunnett's great sagas. I also appreciated the larger size of the second generation of paperbacks. One of the things that always amused me about the original paperback series' cover art was that apparently the artist never read the books, with both Merlin and Authur depicted as stereotypical blond heros. Glad to see the second series corrected that.

I've not yet read this book. BUT, working for Georgia Pacific before and after Koch bought and left his mark,,,,These principles DON'T work here. Sorry, wish I could say better. I've waited and waited. I've done what I could in my limited capacity to "Live the process". I don't have decision rights. Can't get anything fixed, and everything is run till fail. Fail it does. Often and repeatedly. I guess Charles is just waiting for us to fall on our face and can't get up, then he'll shut it down, tear it down for scrap, sell the land (which is still worth something I'm sure), and a new Casino will end up here.

When I get a few more nickels together I'll get the book. Then I can read how the Fairey Tale was supposed to end. :(

I only say that because you'll receive a free copy once you sign on with the company. I bought the book after I accepted a job there and lo and behold I had two copies of The Science of Success.

As far as the book goes, it was pretty good, the only thing that it was really weak on were examples of how Koch Industries actually used MBM to make money. After having worked there I really can't tell you how they have used MBM to make money either because during the two day MBM training you only hear one example and you'll be left saying, "Why of course we made money off of that because we're in oil!"

Other than that it does a very good job of outlining the economic principles that have made up the Koch management structure. Each company within Koch is very nimble and small and we really weren't bogged down in bureaucracy (mostly just accounting rules) like most companies are. The book also gives a very good look into the culture at Koch which was the strongest asset and the best thing I took away from working there.

I am so sick of nonsense books written by corporate thieves about the "secrets of success". Koch stole millions from American Indians. Google it, just google "Koch and Indian lands" The principle of wealth through theft is ancient. That's why "thou shall not steal" is one of the 10 commandments.

This is not a self-help book. It is an excellent slim introduction to free market economics and economic thinking masquerading as a business book.

While I picked up the "Science of Success" to see how he applied economic thinking to running a business, I was blown away the authors clarity and elegance in describing economic thinking.

I also found his business system - MBM (Market Based Management) The Science of Human Action Applied to Organizations - to be interesting. It was not a how-to guide though.

The Science of Success is going to be a business classic. If you're in business, especially if you want to make your business work better you need to read this book.

Check that. You need to read and re-read and re-read this book. And you need to try out what you learn in experiments in your workplace.

That was one of the first things I got from this book, the idea of seeing trials of new ideas as "experiments." It's a powerful concept because it immediately washes away all the "risk of failure" that makes it hard to try new things in so many companies.

Koch's idea is amazingly simple. When you try something new, you see your trial as an experiment. Then you measure the results and learn from them. Whatever you learn, you've succeeded.

It's like that old story about Edison trying a gazillion different things as a filament for the electric light bulb he was try to invent. Time after time he tried. And, one after another, the filaments he thought would work didn't. "I haven't failed," Edison told a person who questioned how he could stand all that failure. "I've found a gazillion things that don't work."

One reason this is a great book is that there are those incredible insight like that all through it. You find yourself thinking, "Wow. That sure makes sense." You reach for your highlighter. You drape the book in sticky notes.

The book is also great because it reminds you of basic concepts that you knew once. For example, you probably learned about "sunk costs" and "opportunity costs" in college.

Koch will remind you of the definitions, but he does something more and more important. He shows you how to use those concepts in your decision process. Let's see how he does that.

On page 33 he reminds you that a sunk cost is "an unrecoverable past expenditure." And he tells you "Such costs should seldom be taken into account when determining what to do in the future because, other than possible tax effects, they are irrelevant to what can be recovered."

The money you put into developing that new product? It's a sunk cost. It's not an investment. You won't get it back. That means that it's irrelevant to whether or not to kill the new product or put more money into marketing it.

Koch shows you how the economic concepts of sunk cost and opportunity cost ("the value of the most valuable alternative that must be foregone to undertake a given act") should affect your decision making.

Another reason this book is great is that it brings together a very intelligent business owner's lifetime study of economics and human behavior and how they apply to making a company work. This isn't an academic treatise either. Koch has used these principles to run his company, where he is the primary owner.

You many not be familiar with the name Koch Industries, but you surely know some of their brand names like Stainmaster, Dixie Cup, and Georgia Pacific. Koch Industries is the largest private US company. It got that way, in part, because Koch used the principles in this book to run the company. In 1960 Koch had revenues of about $70 million. In 2006 they were $90 Billion.

In other words, this is not just theory. Koch has actually, truly, really put his money where his ideas are. In The Science of Success, he lays out what he's learned over a lifetime of study, thought and, more important for you, experimentation. Here's how he's structured the book.

Chapter 1 is short history of Koch Industries. You'll learn about how the company evolved and get introduced to the experiments that worked and many that didn't.

Chapter 2 is about Market-Based Management (MBM), which is what Koch calls his system. That's something of a misnomer. He's not referring to "market-driven" management. "Market-based" refers to "based on free market principles." This chapter also introduces the Science of Human Action.

The Science of Human Action is "the study of how humans can achieve their ends through purposeful behavior." It's the action steps connected to economic principles and psychological truths.

In the chapters that follow, Koch defines five dimensions along which you apply MBM. They are Vision, Virtue and Talents, Knowledge Processes, Decision Rights, and Incentives. There is a wealth of good ideas under every single heading.

There are two downsides to this book. At times, Koch writes like the engineer that he is, but the ideas and concepts pull you right through the rough spots.

The other downside is a result of the value that's here. It took Koch a lifetime to write this book and you won't get more than a fraction of the potential value from it unless you read it more than once. I'm staring my fourth read.

No matter what business you're in, no matter where you are in your career, you should read this book. It's a new business classic, on a par with Peter Drucker's Managing for Results. It's got the same strength of intellectual underpinnings, the same solid logic, and the same rich simplicity. The biggest difference is that The Science of Success is written by a man who built a great company using the concepts he's writing about.

I was loaned this book by a friend of mine who is German. She was given this book by her mother and read it when she was a child in Germany. Years later she found it in a used book sale here in the states (her current residence) and fell in love with it again. She lent me this book, and I have to say it was wonderful. I learned so much reading this book everything from Napoleonic history to early French fashion. Desiree is a delightful character and her life is fascinating. I recommend this book for anyone. It is a light easy read. I was sad when I finished it because I wanted the story to continue.

"Desiree" is the (mostly) true story of Desiree Clary, silk-merchant's daughter of Marseilles, who becomes involved with the Bonapartes, rises with them to the heights of power, survives Napoleon's downfall and ultimately becomes Queen Desideria of Sweden, the first Bernadotte Queen. Desiree herself tells her story in diary form, although it isn't as annoying as the diary form usually is, and the reader experiences events of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries as Desiree did--as a series of domestic events. That these events occur in royal households and that Desiree is a major player in them could be accidental, but one quickly realizes that Desiree is a remarkable woman and these are no accidents.

The tone is intimate, and one feels as though Desiree is confiding in the reader as a friend. Annemarie Selinko is a virtuoso; even in translation not one word of this amazing story rings false. You will find yourself thinking of Desiree long after the end of the book. I read this first at sixteen, and found the historical information invaluable in a college history course (not the reason to read it, but it doesn't hurt).

I've since read the Josephine B. books, and a wonderful novel based on the life of Josephine Bonaparte called "The Emperor's Lady" by F. W. Kenyon (available used on Amazon), which I also heartily recommend, but "Desiree" is the platinum standard by which to judge historical novels/fictionalized biographies.

It is simply wonderful.

I love this book (as well as the movie to this book) and not all of the book is fiction! There was a woman named Desiree Clary she was the first love/fiance of Napoleon Bonaparte. She married one of his marshals, Jean-Baptise Bernadotte whom was elected to become King of Sweden in the early ninteenth century. Desiree's and Jean-Baptise's descandents are still on the throne of Sweden to this day.

I would also like to add that the author has done a brillent job in writing this book! She wrote the book so well, that it's diffucult to distinguish the line between fact and fiction in this book!

Annemarie Selinko's "Desiree" is one of the best novels about France during the first Empire. It is definitely my favorite novel about Napoleon, told from the point of view of his cast-off fiancee, the enchanting Desiree Clary. Selinko's characterizations and descriptions are based on meticulous research, making this book one of the finest of the historical fiction genre. Feisty Desiree becomes a queen in spite of herself, and in spite of Napoleon, through a course of events that are almost unbelievable, but true. Many famous historical figures are brought to life, especially the fascinating, glamorous Josephine. The fortune-telling scene is one of my favorites in the book. Well-written, gripping, romantic and an unforgettable love story, "Desiree" is a book to own and read often. It is goes well with two other novels about the same era, almost as if they were a trilogy, Norah Loft's "A Rose for Virtue" and Elena Vidal's "Madame Royale."

I'm a certified anglophile, when it comes to history. This is probably because I am one-half Angelo Celtic and so the history I read about when I read about England, Scotland and Ireland, is in some sense my own. It is a basic human urge to understand where we come from after all. Anyway, this is my way of saying I don't "get" France. I can't speak French (and so in books when there's some French thrown in I'm just lost) and I don't know anything about French history (except a little where it bumps up with England.) For most of the historical fiction I read about France, which has events that occurred so long ago it doesn't seem to matter that I have no knowledge, this doesn't effect my enjoyment of the book. But when we get into the French revolution and the whole Napoleon thing it seems I have to know something to get the book. Happily, this book explains everything so well that I can report if you know nothing about the after events of the French revolution (like me) you will not only be able to enjoy the book but you will actually learn things!

This is a fake diary kept for about forty years by (real person) Eugenie Desiree Clary, one time fiancée of Napoleon and later Queen of Sweden and Norway (obviously many events happen between the two titles.) I know nothing about the real historical person of Desiree, but the character is an amazing women. Smart, resourceful, bold, courageous, romantic, sweet, funny...kind of a perfect main character. She meets Napoleon's older brother Joseph when getting her older brother out of jail and invites him to dinner to meet her older unmarried sister Julie. Joseph brings Napoleon along with him and soon because of the girls' large dowries and the impoverished state of the Bonaparte's, Julie and Joseph are married and Desiree and Napoleon are engaged.

But we all know that Napoleon marries Josephine. So the majority of the book (told by Desiree remember) revolves around Desiree's own love story with a General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (a great character and lovely romance) and of course what happened in France under Napoleon. Like I said this book is an education about what happened to change a republic into an empire (perhaps we could be looking for parallels to today's United States?)

Desiree's life is fascinating but what also makes this book interesting is the portrait painted of Napoleon-a very different one from other view points about him (say as in "The Josephine Bonaparte collection" by Sandra Gulland which presents him as...well as a very different kind of man. Josephine also) The Napoleon of this book is selfish, arrogant and so conceited and entitled he's unbearable (as Desiree says at one point, "can you believe I was going to marry him?") I suppose the view presented in this book is more in tune with the traditional historical view of Napoleon (little-man syndrome and all) but then I don't know much about it.

I want to be clear on the fact that the romance in this novel is NOT between Desiree and Napoleon but between Desiree and her husband Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. In fact once you past page 100 it's pretty obvious that the only emotion Desiree feels towards Napoleon is some nostalgia and contempt and fear.

Anyway, this is a great book. It has engaging characters, history that's real and understandable (even by one with no knowledge such as me) and an enchanting narrator who has an inspiring sense morality, especially about government. My only complaints are that sometimes the diary entries are very far apart chronologically and there is little explanation of what happened in between the dates and so often times I had to re-read entries a couple time to get a sense of continuity. A history book may have been helpful here but I eventually figured out what was happening/had happened in between the entries. Also there are so many characters, often with similar names that a character index really would have been helpful.

Other than that this book is pretty perfect. It's a real treasure and I heartily thank the kind person who recommended it to me as one of the best of the historical fiction genre.

Five stars.

My nana who is my namesake introduced me to these books and I just loved them! They are so imaginative and creative. Bravo Mr. Stanek on another great book!

Just a warning here, these books are like potato chips, it's very difficult to eat only one!!! ...and then you'll find yourself walking around singing Eldrick's song of the tree brothers or longing to reread the part where Vilmos plays Edward in King's Mate or wanting to jump ahead to get to the next trio match.

I bought this book around Christmastime and found the story to be fascinating. As soon as I finished, I found myself reading the next book and then another. After that I was ready for the fourth and final book. (I also recommend the Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches books as the place to get stated.)

In the Service of Dragons is a fun and exciting book. I highly recommend it. 3 lives, 3 fates intertwined

VILMOS
When little Vilmos Tabborath (a village boy) flees a bear in the woods, he would've never guessed that it would set off a chain of events that would put him face to face with evil shapeshifters, enemy soldiers and magic-loathing priests.

ADRINA
When sad Adrina Alder (a princess) wishes for change, she would've never guessed that it would come so soon and that it would make her life even more miserable than ever, that she would have to face the dragon king, avoid killers, and escape kidnappers.

SETH
When unworldly Brother Seth (an elf) seeks to learn about humankind, he would've never guessed that it would mean he would lose touch with his own kind, that he would be ambushed, betrayed and left for dead.

My favorite things that I like about this book are the ancient heroes and legends who have returned to help restore the land

TITANS
Titans were the original rulers of the worlds. They ruled with iron fists.

EAGLE LORDS
Eagle lords were once a mighty people. They dwells in the mountain ranges.

MYSTICS
Mystics have powers of illusion and control. They were all but forgotten yet still feared like wizards.


These ancient powers return in the form of Amir, Ayrian and Noman. Amir, son of Ky'el, is one of the last and he uses orbs of power to travel the lands. Ayrian, the lord of the gray eagles, has returned to reclaim what his people lost and to battle the ancient evil. Noman, a master of illusion, has returned to form a company of companions that just may save the world.

In the Service of Dragons is a well-written and exciting book! It will keep you reading and reading. Two thumbs way up!

I cannot say enough good words about In the Service of Dragons. Dragons is a page-turner from beginning to end. I love the plot, characters everything! The author paints a vivid tale of magic, dragon, friendship, loyalty, villians, sacrifice, and an epic quest for justice. Dragons, 5 stars plus!!

Every reader has a "first book" that captivated their heart and took them where nothing had before. Just like a first kiss or a first love, it is something that you always remember. For me, it was the Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches quartet. Robert Stanek pulled me in with The Kingdoms and the Elves #1, then entwined me with the next three novels. Imagine my delight when I discovered the Service of Dragons quartet was a direct continuation of the other series.

I think I've read the series (start to finish) over ten times, and each time I find something new I hadn't seen before, and the delight starts all over again. On the surface it can seem like many other fantasy tales. Men and Elves, Dragons and Wizards, Good vs. Evil. We've seen it before but Stanek spins the fantasy standards in new ways and invents an entire fantasy uniiverse in the process.

He takes us on this fantastic journey through the eyes of the naive Seth, the innocent Vilmos and the dreamer Adrina. They are good, friendly, highly likeable folk caught in the middle of a cataclysmic change. Where as The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches books are light hearted tales of adventure, Service of Dragons takes you on a deeper, darker journey.

I can't recommend any fantasy work higher. It will take you where only dreams can, and you almost hope you never have to return to reality.

Typically, I am not in favor of books that show bad role models but the kids in this book are SILLY eaters and most of them are eating healthy foods, just not in a healthy way. (Can you imagine living ONLY on milk or applesauce? THAT'S SILLY-- kids will understand that!) What makes this a GREAT book is the language (the poetry is SO fun to read aloud) and the illustrations which show the toll this kind of "silly eating" has on the huge and quickly growing Peters family. I love Frazee's drawings of family life showing all of the clutter and mess generated by the large family. If nothing else, it will make you feel better if you have laundry that needs folding and dishes piled up next to the sink as you take some time out and read to your kids!

This is a great book, wonderful pictures that help to teach and tell the story. My kids love it. It's well written and fun to read. It captivates a large age span. Yes the family does end up eating cake, but you can teach about picky eating from what is happening to the mother in the pictures. This book has helped with and led to many good converstaions about healthy eating attitudes with my children (ages 7,5,&3). I love this book!

My daughter and I love this rhyming book. We bought an extra copy for her friend's birthday. It is my favorite book to read to her. I bought it when she was 4. She still loves it at 7.

What a book! Where to start explaining why I adore it? A frazzled mother, picky (but not obnoxious) children, a house overflowing with messes and love. Beautifully written with none of the dreary, predictable rhymes found in too many children's books. A storyline of a mother coping as well as she can for as long as she can, finally blowing her cool, and her maturing children stepping up to accept new responsibilities. Ahhh.

Without Marla Frazee's illustrations, the book would still be good, but the illustrations are even more wonderful than the words. The mom is persistent, hardworking, loving. She has a Zen-like serenity, MOST of the time. I love that she's taller than the dad, and that she wears Converse All-Stars, and that her hair falls into her face sometimes. The dad is cool, too, even though he isn't a significant part of the text. I love that the trees grow, the cats have kittens, the apple and lemon trees bear fruit. I love that the family is able to get it together so that the mom gets time to play her cello again. She has earned it, that's for sure.

This book is a treasure. Buy it, savor it with your kids. And the next time you are faced with "I'm bored!", enlist your children's help in baking Mrs. Peters' Birthday Cake. There's no recipe, but start with oatmeal, applesauce, milk, eggs, etc... you may need to add a bit of baking powder, and some sugar. Just wing it. Even if it doesn't turn out "pink and plump and perfect," you will have done something pretty cool with your kids. With luck, they will even help in cleaning it up afterward.

This book has brilliant illustrations and my children love the cadence of the rhyming in the book. It is a very clever story - and the theme of picky eaters is one that resonates with every Mom I know. We have brought it to school to read to the classes and have given it as gifts to many friends. It's our favorite book. Highly recommended!

I first read this book when I was in elementary school. That was many, many years ago. The thought of this book somehow crossed my mind a few days ago. So I procured one and read it through in a couple of hours. The re-read reminded me of how great of a book this is.

This book speaks of hope, trust, perseverance, and especially of undying love. Yes, it's a children's book but adults will benefit greatly from reading it as well. It's one of those books which will forever remain a classic in the hearts and minds of those who have read it.

This is one of my favorite horse stories of all time. It is about a young boy who makes a bond with an increadible horse. A must read for any horse lover!!!!

This is my favorite horse story ever! This book stands above all others for me and I will always remember it. My mom read this to me when I was 9 years old and still to this day, I have never read it's equal. Henry's writing is so beautiful, the story so touching and the characters so real. A plot unfolds about a young stable boy in Morocco and his golden-bay stallion who would one day be known as the Godolphin Arabian, who's bloodline still runs in race horses of today. It's quite possible a lot of this book is based on fact. A simply amazing story in all respects! I must warn sensitive readers however, there are some very intense parts of this book, some sad parts which are sure to make most people cry and a few parts where there is fairly harsh abuse and neglect of animals. Maybe not the best choice to read to very young kids, especially if they are the type to get scared easily. Overall, I would say the book has an excellent balance of tragedy and triumph. The ending is a beautiful one, both happy and a little sad but satisfying and well worth reading the story.

King of the Wind is a great book by Marguerite Henry. It is about a mute boy named Agba and his horse Sham. Agba goes with Sham on many adventures together. Agba goes with Sham from the royal stables in Morocco to Gog Magog. Sham also sires many winning foals and when he is gone, Agba goes back to Morocco.
I enjoyed this book very much. I liked it because it is about horses. I also liked it because it was full of adventure. It was sad and exciting and there were many parts where Sham and Agba were seperated. Agba was very brave for a young, mute boy and Sham kept him company with his firy spirit that only Agba could control.
My favorite part was when the cook tried to drive Sham. He wanted to show that he did not need Agba to drive Sham. He left Agba at the royal kitchens then set out. Sham bidded his time till the cart was groaning with goods and a young pig. Then "BAM!" He went wild and ran like the wind, sending the goods, the pig, and the cook into the air. The cook runs after first the pig, then Sham, then the pig, until he is so confused that he catched nither. In the end the apple woman cathes Sham and the cook is so fustrated that he sells Sham to a cruel man. I like this part best because it is so funny and shows Shams firy nature.

The Christmas I was nine, I got a boxed set of Marguerite Henry novels and while I loved all of them and read them day and night during the break from school, I think this one goes down as my favorite. A few years after I first read this novel, my family moved and I discovered it was also, by a nice coincidence, one of the favorite books of a girl I met in our new neighborhood, who went on to be my best friend to this very day. That connection, too, makes this a special read. However you might come to possess this wonderful book, I think you'll agree, it's one to be cherished.

King of the Wind is the story of a mute boy named Agba, who lives works in the royal stables in Morocco during the eighteenth century, where the Sultan has perhaps the finest collection of horses on earth: maybe the greatest ever in history. Among the animals Agba cares for is a colt who has long been Agba's favorite. This horse was born with a mark called the wheat ear, that is regarded among Moroccans as so unlucky, custom mandates that any foal possessing it be destroyed at once. However, this colt also is marked by a sign of extraordinary good fortune, which reprieves the death sentence and is there to battle the wheat ear in the animal's life: the good in constant yin/yang conflict with the bad.

As a gesture of goodwill, the all-powerful Sultan elects to send a shipment of his finest horses to his friend and ally, King George of England. As the horses chosen for the journey are prepared, Agba is given the chance to accompany these prized animals by ship to the far-off Christian kingdom. One of the colts hand-picked by his Excellency is none other than the omen-marked horse Agba has grown to love. The journey northward upon the ocean is undertaken, but an unscrupulous sea captain has shortchanged the Sultan's agents and not provided food for the equine passengers. Therefore, the cargo of fine desert steeds who are unloaded in England appear little better than half-starved nags, and never find their way to the royal court.

Cast out among beggars and in a strange, cold nation where he knows no one and does not understand the language, Agba refuses to leave his beloved horse's side and the happenings that come to pass in the life of the desert stable boy and the fine, though seemingly run-down stallion, form the basis of a delightful novel that is simultaneously a tale of a boy and his extraordinary horse, and a history lesson in eighteenth-century equine lore. In Miss Henry's story, fact and fiction meet as Agba's horse becomes the celebrated Godolphin Arabian, from whom roughly one-third of all modern thoroughbreds can trace descent.

I guess you can tell I really like this book, and I think almost anyone would as well!

I think this is my #1 favorite book of ALL TIME. I have a lot of favorites, but I will never forget this one. I originally bought it at a book fair at my school and read it in the 5th grade (1996). It has stayed in my mind since then and I came here to see if I could find a newer copy since mine is somewhat tattered. ;)

After i read The Juniper Game i just had to find more by the author and this book is a gem. Im tempted to buy it again to see if it is as good as i remember it to be when i was yonger.

I adored this book. I continue to. I read it over and over before I lost it. Years later, I came across a used copy. I devoured it. Read it three times in a row. Couldn't keep my hands off of it.

I have honestly thought about the heroine of this story nearly every day since I first read it a decade ago. She is an inspiration, as is Sherryl Jordan.

And strangely, only upon my latest reading of the book (probably the 200+ reading in my lifetime) did I notice the creepy Jesus imagery. I feel a little violated. I don't know if I'd have liked the book as much if I originally had noticed the Christian bent. It's a real turn-off to me and I know it is to some other people, so I thought I'd offer the warning just in case it helps someone out. It is a *very* slight reference, hardly important, but still made me (Jewish) feel a little awkward. It's out of place.

So, you've already read over and over again what this book is about--I won't bore you with a summary, let me instead tell you that I first read this book in 9th grade and the story was soo rich and imaginative that I am now 24, still own the book and still read it from time to time. You will not be disappointed.

A slave woman sentenced to death (for slacking off) is rescued by the most powerful man in the world. Installed as his handmaiden (a highly covetted position normally reserved for the females of the most prestigious families), Elsa is granted the unique oppurtunity to see the world outside of mine where she was born. However she never forgets where she has come from or what she left behind.

Raw determination overcoming adversity is a common theme in books of all genres. What makes this book unique is that Sherryl Jordan was overcoming adversity of her own when she wrote Winter of Fire. Jordan's own determination gives her writing an edge that enhances the story quite a bit. Furthermore the plot is tightly woven and progresses in a way that is very believable.

this is about a princess who's captured by a dragon, and then chooses to stay with the dragon rather than wait to get rescued by a prince. in fact when a prince comes to rescue her in the first book she turns him away, all of them. the series follows the pattern of a typical 'princess story' and the princess is put in a bunch of stereotypical princess situations, but then she defies the stereotype and takes charge of her own life and makes things happen for herself. basically she beats up her own bad guys, with her brain. there are boys in the series, but she isn't waiting for them to save the day, she takes them along for the ride. the dragon who kidnapped her ends up being one of her good friends.

it's a fun series i really enjoyed in elementary school, but it an appropriate read for anyone interested in the plot (as are all stories... age ranges close your mind). a light fun read, i recommend.

This is one of favorite series. After lending this book out and never getting it back, I was recently able to order it again and it is still great 15 years after I read it the first time. Would definetley recommend to anyone who likes fantasy with humor.

m.a.c

This is such a lovely series. Miss Wrede has a great talent for creating fun, witty characters that are instantly likeable. Humor is abundant and the story is delightful!

I loved this set. It wasn't like I thought it would be from what I read about it, it was better! This is a very unique set and I must say that if all of Patricia Wrede's books are as surprising as this one, I would love to get more of her books. This is definitely a fairy tale, but it has so much comedy mixed in with it, plus there's the romance and all the other good stuff you want in a book. Buy this set, and you won't be sorry. Unless, of course you're the type of person that just wants the same boring fairy tale stuff.

This series is one of my oldest favorites. I first read them in elementary school and now in college I still love them. They are classics that you will go back to again and again. Short and sweet I turn to them if I need that fantastical escape.

If you haven't taken time to look this one over, if you're a serious baker, you're missing out on some of the best recipes and information about quality baking! I've been baking for more than 30 years and this is a terrific addition to my cookbook collection that I'll use frequently!

I love my cookbook that I received. It was what I expected it to be and more. It came in a timely manner.

A culinarys arts teacher highly recommeds this King Arthur book. It shipped quickly and was packaged well.

Made great popovers and crepes for first time...both came out perfectly. I took their advice and got a kitchen scale...made a huge difference in outcomes.

If you like to bake, whether out of necessity or for fun, this book is good stuff. I like to use it for fun recipes to make with my kids, and it is almost fool-proof. I would know.

this is anti materialist propaganda!!! i'm just joking (those people bother me), this was a nice little story about a greedy king who demands more and more presents from everyone in his kindgom, but no matter how many presents he has he's never happy, hence the constant demand for more. then one day he sees a quilt this quiltmaker gave someone as a present and the person seems pretty happy so he demands that the quiltmaker make him a quilt. the quiltmaker refuses to do this however and says that she'll only make the king a quilt when he gives his stuff away, then he'll be able to be happy. so the king tries this out. he gives one of his presents to someone and it makes him feel kind of good inside, so he does it again and again. years later the king is practically poor, but he's smiling a lot and the quiltmaker gives the king a quilt. he says he doesn't need the quilt, but the quiltmaker gives it to him anyways. the pictures are colourful and expressive and there's a nice moral to the story.

A wonderful story and illustrations.Wish there was more stories like that as we live in the world focus on having more instead to be kind and help others. I saw this story as a play and it sure touch me. It is a great keeper!!

I keep buying this book again and again to give away. My favorite line reads something like, "He kept lists of all the lists of things he owned...." Regardless of religious preference, few can argue the wisdom of "it is better to give than to receive" and the golden rule. BOTH values permeate this book inspiring children to think of others more than themselves. However, children aren't preached to. Neither are parents. This book makes us all better people, by revealing the ugly materialism that invades our culture and challenging us to embrace generosity and repenting of our greed. The text is poetic, the characters sympathetic, the illustrations rich, yet the story itself is worth it's weight in gold. We have been given a treasured tale in the Quiltmaker's Gift.

Review by Jennifer, 10 years old

The genre is fantasy because it has a bear, which talks and is nice. In real life the bear would kill the old lady. There are birds that let people make them a sweater and put it on, and there are even dancing blue cats.

I think when the king starts crying and worrying about the old lady, the author should change the king, and make him really mean but then cry and worry. Then like in the story, the king will go see if the old lady has given up and make the greedy king one of her special quilts which she didn't. The author should make the king's challenges that he gives the old lady, harder to survive, which she still survives. This then makes the king sadder and a big change will happen to the king.

I liked the part of the story is when the soldiers came in their pajamas and sleepy, because you mostly see soldiers dressed neatly and awake.

I like the author because he's a side ways thinker because you can't sew with pin needles and bears can't talk. I like all the side ways thoughts but my favorite was the blue well-dressed cats, it was funny I think the author likes kids.

My favorite part was when the king was giving the presents back because he noticed he didn't like them but it gave him joy to see everybody smile and full of happiness.

The pivotal point is when he gives the first gift back and he was happy. It was the pivotal-point because he gets happy and he was always not happy and thoughtful.

All three of my children love this book at ages 8, 6 and 3. The moral is wonderful. Pictures and words are excellent. I would recommend this book to any parent wishing to teach children the importance of giving and not being greedy.