Rating: 
Summary: New twist on fairy tales
Review: I notice that many of the reviews comment on how this is different from the first three - actually, this book was written first! I have an old edition and when I compared it to the new version, I found some slight (but important) changes. Yes, the main characters seem like cameos - it's because they were not the focus of the book - the characters seem less developed because the first three books hadn't been written. Nevertheless, it is a delightful book and I'm glad she has updated it to fit with Vols 1,2 and 3. Also check out the short story in Tales of Enchantment for more on Daystar, Cimorene et al.
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful read for young and old alike
Review: This is the fourth and final book in the Enchanted Forest chronicles. While it is very good and does a nice job of wrapping up loose ends, I didn't find it quite as enjoyable as the first thee books. This is largely because the action takes place sixteen years after the events in Calling On Dragons. All of the main characters return for the climax in the battle between the dragons and the Enchanted Forest kingdom against the Society of Wizards, but in most cases they seem to be less substantive to me. One of the strongest assets Wrede brings to bear in her writing is excellent characterization. Having come to know the characters very well from the previous books in the series, their appearances here seemed more like cameo roles; if I did not already know these characters, their appearances and places in the overall story would not make a great deal of sense to me. In some cases, especially in the case of Cimorene, characters didn't really act the way I expected them to, even given the passage of such a long time. This book is different from its predecessors. For one thing, it is written in the first person. Daystar, the son of Cimorene, is suddenly witness to a wizard melting, given a mysterious sword, and instructed by his mother to enter the Enchanted Forest with virtually no instructions as to what he must do. For his own protection, he has never been told of his heritage and history. This novel is the story of his quest, his discovery of his own special fate, and his realization of his ultimate purpose in life, which is to free his father, defeat the ignominious ambitions of the Society of Wizards, and secure the magically vibrant future of the Enchanted Forest. Although we as the reader know, if we have read the previous stories, who Daystar is and what he must do, it is interesting to see him discover the truth for himself and to learn just what the magical sword he was given by Cimorene is. The companions he meets along his journey are wonderful new characters, especially the fire-witch Shiara; she, like Daystar, is trying to discover and use her own talents; unfortunately for her, being a rather impatient, somewhat hot-tempered fire-witch, she finds herself able to use her magical powers only after she has been polite to others, politeness not being one of her assets by any means. Still, she is inherently likeable and easy to relate to. The young dragon that accompanies the group is the source of many delightfully comic moments. This book is geared more to young people than the others in the series, it would seem. In this case, all of the protagonists--human, fire-witch, and dragon--are young people learning how to act, how to respect others, and how to succeed in life. Any lessons for young adult readers, though, are subtle and take nothing away from a great story which I, as an adult, enjoyed immensely. I must point out, though, that anyone unfamiliar with the first three books in the series may well have problems understanding just who everyone is and what is going on at times. This is a wonderful series for young and old alike, and I for one hope most sincerely that a fifth Enchanted Forest novel will appear some time in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book!
Review: I must say, after reading all of the books in the Enchanted Forest series I was rather skeptical of this one. My first thoughts centered around my disappointment of the main character. "No more Cimorene?" I thought. Well this book just proved that you don't need all the originals to make a good sequel. The characters from the first three books (Kazul, Cimorene and Mendanbar plus more I believe) all make appearances, but the story this time centers around Daystar, Cimorene and Mendanbar's son from the third book. Since Mendanbar was frozen inside the castle at the end of the third book and Cimorene can't just go in and save him, it's up to Daystar. He carries with him the magical sword, and discovers a variety of wonderful and exciting characters, including the tempramental yet dazzling Shiara. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced action story
Review: (...)
This story is about a boy named Daystar, who is more important than he ever dreamed. The story begins with Daystar chopping wood outside his mothers cottage. Little does he know that his life is about to change forever. While Daystar is chopping wood a wizard confronted Daystars mother, she immediately melted the wizard. The next day Daystar saw his mother coming out of the forest carrying a sword. She gave the sword to Daystar and sent him into the enchanted forest. After being in the enchanted forest for a while Daystar met a young fire witch named Shiara, they become friends and decide to travel together. This book is a fast paced action story dealing with dragons, wizards, witches and magic. The story is filled with interesting and exiting characters. This is an awesome book I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A fantasic Fantasy Series
Review: It may look like it is geared toward children, but like all books don't let the looks deceive you. Patricia has created a fantasy world unlike any other. She gives it the MidEvil qualities of royal families, as well as the mythological attributes of that time period. Once you start here, you won't stop.
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: i read these books back when they were first coming out, and i was in middle school. i loved them, but i eventually forgot the authors name, they book titles, and the name of the series. i was just doing a search to find christmas presnats for my sister, when i came across them again, so needless to say, i have ordered the whole set,and i'm re-reading them. they're that good. i won't go into the storyline, it's been done, but i do reccomend these books to just about everybody. they are a woefully underrepresented minority, now that harry potter has taken hold(another good series) but they are far worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful novel
Review: This is actually this first and only one of this series I have read...I hope to find the rest and read them all. What a wonderful book!!! I recommend it to all sci-fi/fantasy fans. Read and believe and enjoy!!!
Rating:
Summary: Humor, Adventure, Romance, Humor
Review: Talking to Dragons was originally a single book. My whole family and I read it over and over, checking it out from the library on a regular basis. Then, suddenly, it disappeared! Ms. Wrede then published what has become known as the Enchanted Forest Chronicles with Talking to Dragons as the conclusion(boo-hoo)in the four-book series. While the first three are a lot of fun, Talking to Dragons is far and away the prize jewel. Several things make these books fabulous: Humor, rich character development, well thought-out satire, creative use of magic, fantastic plots. If you like charming and witty books about magical places with loveable characters, you will adore these books! They are so well written, readers of any age will enjoy them-even non-fantasy readers!
Rating:
Summary: Last is really first
Review: I actually have a copy of the original version of this book. It was actually the first book written in the series. The other 3 books qualify as prequels. After the other 3 were written, Ms. Wrede made some minor changes in Talking to Dragons to make it coordinate with what were now the "first 3". I enjoyed the whole series. I have enjoyed her other books as well. I highly recommend the series and have it in my library although they are rarely on the shelves.
Rating:
Summary: A lot better than Harry Potter ever was or will be
Review: This is a really great book for fantasy lovers worldwide. It deals with witches, wizards, magicians, kings, queens, princesses in distress, fire-witches, magic swords, and, of course, dragons. Daystar's mother, Cimorene, wants Daystar to leave home and go on a quest through the Enchanted Forest. He doesn't know what his quest is about, but Cimorene won't let him return home until he finds out. On his journey, he encounters talking lizards, an invisible castle, and a mischievous fire-witch. This delightful book will charm anyone who ever thought Harry Potter was the best book in the world.
|
