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Summary: I love this book(along with all the others)
Review: I have read probaly hundreds of books(I really don't know)but I think this book is the best(besides Wild Magic,By Tamora Pierce) I find myself reading it again and again.It's a fairy tale full of humor and action with a twist to it.It's definitly not the everyday fairy tale you might see.Presently I am trying to collect all the books in the series.
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Summary: A Fantastic Book, but what's with the new cover?
Review: When I was younger, the Enchanted Forest Chronicles was my favorite series. The books were funny, imaginative, and had great characters. In fact, I still love them, although I don't read them as often now as I used to. But as I was poking around here on Amazon, I noticed the new cover they have and I absolutely hate it! It's not at all as I imagined them looking, or an accurate depiction of that scene! (even if I did recognize what scene they were trying to depict right away... that's just because I know the book so well) I had always thought that the old covers were perfect, so why mess with a good thing? If anyone who has any control over this book reads this review, I think you should bring back the old cover, which is by far superior to this one.
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Summary: The best of a fun series
Review: Wrede must have had a blast writing these books -- I certainly had fun reading them. And I'm 36, so ignore the fact that they can be found in the juvenile section of the library.The books are very much like the old "fractured fairytales" of Rocky and Bullwinkle. All the fairytale standbys are here: pricesses, dragons, knights, witches, enchanted beasts, giants, magic carpets, etc. But nothing seems to be quite like the fairytales promise. Giants want to retire from pillaging and complain that all Englishmen seem to be named "Jack". Flying carpets need to have their threadwork tuned up. And evil uncles (the male auxiliary of the Right Honorable Order Of Wicked Step-mothers) can actually be quite fond of their nephews. Besides this, there is a nifty romance taking place. In a world where sensible people try their best to avoid fairytale romances, the best romance of all turns out to be a fairytale cliche! The series is really set up as a standalone first book, and then a sequel to that which takes place over the span of a trilogy. So this novel is the first third of the sequel. But it stands alone just fine, and is my favorite of the four books.
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Summary: More Dragons
Review: The book opens up with a character not mentioned at all in the first book-Mendanbar, King of the Enchanted Forest. The story begins when the King takes a walk in the Enchanted Forest and discovers a dead spot in the magical forest. He fixes the spot and then talks to a squirrel before going to visit a witch, Morwen, who is recognizable from the first book, 'Dealing with Dragons.' Then Morwen tells him to visit Kazul, the King of the Dragons.
When Mendanbar gets to Kazul's cave, the dragon isn't there, but Princess Cimorene is. They both make the mistake of thinking the other is a mindless idiot. Then Cimorene says Kazul disappeared, and she and Mendanbar go looking for her on a broken down magic carpet with pink teddy bears all over it. They meet Telemain, a magician who gets far too technical when it comes to magic. Then they find Kazul, defeat the evil wizards that imprisoned her and finally Mendanbar asks Cimorene to marry him. So that's how it ends: With an enormous wedding.
In my opinion, this book was done well. It had a few lapses in the action, but it made up for that later on with some humor and a large but short fight with twelve wizards.
The cast of characters in the book each have their own personalities, and are all funny in their own ways. To sum it up, this is an excellent book to curl up with and simply read.
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Summary: Good light reading
Review: This book wasn't one of those books you put down feeling moved, but it was funny, interesting, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for some summer reading.
I love the characters. From the main ones, like Cimorene, to the not-so-main ones like Willin and the Gargoyle. I'm currently on the second chapter of the third (next) book, and I only have one complaint: Does it always have to be the Wizards? Could we havea new villan please?
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Summary: One step forward, two steps back.
Review: I'm prone to get offended when someone calls a favorite book of mine a "fun romp." Quite honestly, there is no other way to describe the second book in Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest chronicles. The author throws together a handful of screwball characters and a dull, obligatory plot, and cooks up a forgettable sequel that reads like an episode of a Saturday-morning cartoon show, rather than a stand-alone novel. Say what: I'll give Wrede the benefit of the doubt and hazard a guess that "Searching" was ghostwritten. It certainly feels like an uninspired effort of a second-rate writer. "Searching" is "Dealing" distilled to a formula and duplicated. Thus, in the first book Cimorene runs away from home, finds out that living with a dragon isn't all fun and games (but still better than being married off to an air-headed princeling), and thwarts the wizards' dastardly plans to usurp the rulership of the dragons' kingdom. In this second novel we again find a young, worthy character embarking on a quest, meeting another person who severely challenges his preconceptions, forming a tentative union, and thwarting the wizards, who this time around have their eye set on the Enchanted Forest's magic supply. The only difference is that the narrative is now centered on King Mendanbar, a remarkably dry character, while Cimorene (in a vastly diminished form) occupies an insubstantial secondary role. Friendship, and eventually romance between the two seem sudden and far-fetched. Morwen's character is expanded, without great success. The author creates a male counterpart for her, Telemain, whose constant jargon is a major nuisance. Other new characters are introduced, but appear too late in the story to make any real impact. Because of the obligatory non-plot this book is so heavily yoked with, the narrative fairly weezes along. The dialog seems to repeat over and over and over: the characters argue, remind themselves of their goals, urge others to go on, etc. The opening chapaters are largely spent investigating different courses of events, but questions that appear are completely ignored in the end, when everyone is much too busy running around and splashing wizards with soapy water (the possibility of war between the dragons and the Enchanted Forest is mentioned at one point, but quickly forgotten). "Searching for Dragons" did not answer the one question that I had, which was why the wizards were so perfidious. What malign drive incites them to their machinations? What sort of society produces them? Not much can be deduced from the wizards' last gurgling curses, and they remain the same cardboard villains they were in the previous novel. The book's humor was hit-and-miss. The parody is aimless and inconsistent. Wrede's portrayal of her fantasy realm is hardly original: the Enchanted Forest is a respectable institution that processes adventurers (much like an amusement park processes its clients); the theme was explored better by Diane Wynne Jones' in her "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland" and Terry Brooks' "Magic Kingdom for Sale - Sold!". Yes, this is light fantasy, but the first had both ambition and bite, while this one has neither. Two nights of silly fun.
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Summary: MY REVIEW
Review: I liked Searching for Dragons because it was suspenseful and had surprises around ever corner. IT had a had a strong cast of charecters even though most of them don't appeoar intill later in the book. I probably should read the first book some day. This story is about the king of the enchanted forest who was finds a destroyed part of the forest on his walk. He uses his magic to move the destroyed part and thats where the whole story begins. this tale of mstery, action, and adventure kept me on the edge of my set as I read. so if you like fantasy novels then I would read Searching for Dragons by Patricia E. Wrede
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Summary: Where is she?
Review: In this book Cimorene is out for the search of her dragon who has somehow disappeared. She later meets the King of the Enchanted Forest who also finds some problems going on in the forest. Could these be connected? Cimorene and the King join together to stop whatever evil force that has come to the forest. I really liked this book and especially liked how the King does not like all those princesses that are air headed, and how Cimorene does not like princes who are only after her for the land her father is giving away for someone to find her and marry her. So in the end they end out perfect for each other which is a good ending to the two books. Note: read the first book first
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Summary: Wrede enchants young readers all over the country!
Review: Patricia Wrede is a wonderful writer. This is a wonderful book, especially for fantasy readers. It ties in perfectly with the prequel. It has a great variety of characters, like Telemain, Morwen, Herman, and Ballimore. And all your old favorites from Dealing with Dragons are back. Kazul, Cimorene, and Morwen. Let us also not forget Antorell. Can't wait to see what stupid ideas the wizards get into their heads next! It is not deep, deep fantasy like The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. But it is still a wonderful book. You should probably finish this pretty fast. The Enchanted Forest Chronichles are perfectly written with great variety. Adventure, action, and even some romance! I strongly recommend this book to anyone that wants a quick, easy read!
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Summary: Argelfraster to you, too!
Review: I'm certainly pleased with the number of wonderful reports everyone has given these books. This one ismy second favorite in the series (the first being Calling on Dragons). This book goes more into character development and sets the stage for the other two books in the series, whereas Dealing with Dragons can stand on its own so to speak.
Well, anyway, the story brings the character of Mendanbar, King of the Enchanted Forest, into the series really for the first time. He has problems that range from pesky wizards to pesky princesses. Above all these normal annoyances, he's discovered a real big problem! Sections of his kingdom, the Enchanted Forest, have been totally wiped out and depleted of thier magic and lush vegetation. So, King Mendanbar sets out to discuss the problem with King Kazul, only to find out she's been kidnapped. So, he teams up with Princess Cimerone and sets out on a journey to find King Kazul and who's behind the horrible holes burnt into the forest.
This book is very much in the lines of Dealing with Dragons in the plot, characterizations, and style. I've loved reading these books since I was in Junior High School and make a point of reading them all at LEAST once a year. I've never tired of them and my only wish is that Ms. Wrede would write more of them. These books are full of strong willed heroines, nonchalant cats, pesky wizards, and soapy water...with a little lemon juice. I highly recommend them (start out with Dealing with Dragons).
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