..."Argelfraster."
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: A witty end to the series...
Review: Patricia C. Wrede takes us through yet another jaunt in the Enchanted Forest- this time through the adventures of her main character's son. I liked this book a lot, and the surprise that Daystar [protagonist] gets at finding out the secrets of his parentage and his power over the sword are mixed with good humour and fiesty characters. A great read, all in all, and I must say, I liked the way it closed the series together.
Rating:
Summary: This book has something for everyone!
Review: One day, Daystar's mother, Cimorene, tells him to leave home. She doesn't tell him anything about what he needs to do, but she gives him a mysterious sword.
So, he goes into the enchanted forest, hoping that if anything is destined to happen, it will happen there. While in the forest, he meets an irritable fire- witch, a weird little lizard, an obnoxious princess, meddling wizards, and finally, dragons.
This book is charming and funny. It's one of those books that you can read over and over again and still love. It's full of wit, humor, magic, and mystery.
The great thing about this book is that you can read it without reading the other books in the series. Unlike the other three, it can fully stand on its own.
It's not very long (I read it in an afternon), but the length is perfect for the story. The plot never drags, and it has the perfect combination of action and humor.
Rating:
Summary: Wanting more!!!
Review: I loved the series. I've read in through several times and everytime I've enjoyed it. My only dissapointment is that I want more. I don't want it to be over, I want to see what happens to Shiara when she's training to be a fire-witch, the king of the dragon's princess and future Queen of the enchanted forest. I want to see what Daystar makes of everything. His father didn't know a whole lot about his magic and the enchanted forest what will Daystar learn as he's stumbling his way through without having the advange of growing up there and having his father teach him everything? How will Cimorene get everything running smoothly again in the enchanted forest now that it's been without a king and queen for so long? My only real dissapointment is that she ended the series before I felt that I knew the whole story. It just kind of stopped and left me longing for more.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Enchanting
Review: I am a lover of good children's literature, and this certainly fits into that category. I fortunately found THIS book before I realized that it had spawned an entire series. The series consists of this book and three others that choronologically take place BEFORE it, but should be read AFTER it. You will find this book listed at book four, but read it FIRST! It was written first, and it's meant to be read first. Most people, I have found, who read them in chronological order, wind up being less than fond of this book, which I think is COMPLETELY charming and funny; while those who read them in the proper order tend to enjoy all four.Just a helpful suggestion. :-)
Wrede is one of my favorite children's writers. Her writing is catchy, she keeps you laughing, and her characters are delightful! She mixes a lot of fairy tales, but adds her own elements.
In this particular book, Daystar is on a quest, but we aren't sure of what that quest actually IS until the end of the novel -- even HE is not sure. (Here is where reading the other books comes in -- if you've read them beforehand, there's no doubt as to his quest, and readers end up fairly bored because they know what's coming, and that's not very fun for a reader.)
This book catches you from the opening line: "Mother taught me to be polite to dragons." And it only gets better from there. Things catch you off-guard in a very pleasant way.
My favorite character would have to be Suz, the lizard, who never fails to make me laugh. He's so delightfully odd!
I even like the way Wrede titles her chapters. She's so zany and fun.
Start reading these books! You'll be hooked!
Rating:
Summary: A Good Ending to a Great Series
Review: What would you think if a wizard shows up at your house and your mother melts him? What would you do if your mother gives you an unusual sword and tells you to go out into the Enchanted Forest without telling you what you're supposed to do there? Well?
Personally I'd have no clue and neither does Daystar. Daystar the son of Queen Cimorene (except he doesn't know about the whole queen thing) sees and is told to do these very things. On his quest of wondering around the Enchanted Forest (which isn't a very smart thing to do, especially if you're not polite to everything, even bushes) he meets a fire witch that has been imprisoned by . . . a bush! By being polite to the bush Daystar get's Shiara, the fire witch, out. Shiara joins Daystar on his journey and they encounter lots of wizards, a quozzel, an evil fire witch, and a princess who is in "great distress" and her knight who isn't exactly knightly.
There are so many fun characters in this book you wish it could go on and on and on. For example Suz who says things like, "you do? You really do. How extraordinary!" The dragon who is known as "it" and wants a princess but isn't sure after it meets one. And of course my favorite characters who make an appearence Morwen and Telemain.
This book is probably my favorite in the series, it's so hard to choose between the third one, Calling on Dragons and this one, they're both so great.
What makes this series so great? It's just fun to read, witty, and really funny.
So what are you waiting for? Go and click on the "Add to Shopping Cart" button. You won't regret it!
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Summary: A confused hero, a flawed heroine . . .
Review: add up to magic! "Talking to Dragons" is every bit as good as the first two books in the series, although the heroine of the first books, Cimorene, is now a mother. Her son, Daystar, is the hero of this book (and no, Cimorene is not the confused heroine; we'll meet her in a bit), and he really doesn't know what's going on. He's been raised to be polite, learned a bit of magic, and has been a good son to Cimorene . . .but is ignorant of his heritage, his destiny, and anything else -- and is ignorant on purpose. (Cimorene has denied him for reasons of her own.)
When a wizard shows up and threatens his mother, Cimorene calmly melts the wizard, then sends Daystar off on a quest. She gives him a sword, tells him to go to the Enchanted Forest and find his destiny, and to be quick about it. Because Daystar is polite, he doesn't question this, although he does find it more than a bit odd.
So, 16 year old Daystar goes off to find his fortune in the enchanted forest, and gets more and more confused. He meets up with Shiara, a fire witch (the flawed heroine), who is not a totally nice person. She is instead a very fiery young lady, and is tired of people patronizing her. The main problem she has is that she should be more powerful than she is; her magic is not under control, and she has no idea how to control it, either. Which is why she's in the Enchanted Forest; it's sort of a last ditch attempt for her to find out how to use her gifts responsibly, while getting away from people who don't seem to understand her at all.
As Daystar figures out what he's supposed to be doing, Shiara also figures out her own role in things. By the end, after a series of adventures, Daystar and Shiara realize they might just mean more to each other than they thought.
As usual, Ms. Wrede satirizes just about every fantasy and fairy tale convention under the sun, and does it with great flair. In addition, she writes in a clear, unaffected style, which renders the sarcasm and satire even more delightful than if they were presented in a different way.
Five stars for this great book. Here's hoping Ms. Wrede will think of some more adventures for Daystar, Shiara, Cimorene, and Mendanbar.
Rating:
Summary: Always be polite, especially to dragons, witches, and hedges
Review: The conclusion to the enchanting Enchanted Forest Chronicles is a slight departure from the previous three books. Cimorene isn't the heroine so much as her son is the hero. Daystar is unceremoniously sent off on a quest by his no-nonsense mum. Apparently, he has to take an old sword and his good manners to save the father he never met. A change of pace to be reading a first-hand account (Daystar's) and from such a young perspective, this one is just as entertaining as the prequels.
Daystar stumbles upon some interesting characters in the Forest, beginning with the sharp, wise Suz. Soon, he is keeping company with a surprisingly cunning princess, a baby dragon, and a rude fire witch. The group is not at all like the older, assured adults we met in the other books, but it's just as charming to get to know these young 'uns as they grow up together during their Great Adventure.
Patricia Wrede has written a strong finish to her utterly lovable series. The perfect blend of action, description, humor, and intelligence have made this one of my favorite fantasy series. Revisiting the Enchanted Forest is pure fun even years later. Look for her other books as well.
Rating:
Summary: Some good reading...
Review: What a fantastic conclusion to the "Enchanted Forest Chronicles"! When we left off in "Calling on Dragons" Daystar was 2 months old. "Talking to Dragons" comes in when he is 16. The perfect age for a little adventure. So when a wizard shows up, he gets the perfect chance to go off and live a little. As he wanders the forest, he meets new friends, such as Shiara, Nightwitch, and a young dragon. He also meets characters from the previous books.
Why was this the end? Only a quartet of this fabulous fantasy fairytale? I wish that it had kept right on going. Maybe with a book about Shiara's life with the dragons, or about Kazul's young grandchild.
I would recommend these books to EVERYONE! Ages 9-12? Bah! Patricia C. Wrede is for kids or all ages. I'm in high school and these are still some of my favourite books. P.C. Wrede is a veritable genius who creates an entire hilarious world of fantasy that will blow your mind. She is one of the more creative/funny authors I have ever read. She ties in other fairytales and stories and makes the entire book seem familiar! I read the entire series about once a month or more. She can really keep you hooked. The chapter titles keep me going. At night when you're reading before bed, you'll finish the chapter and be ready to put the book down, but then you'll see Chapter 9, IN WHICH THERE IS A FIGHT, SORT OF, AND THEY FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING. You'll think "Okay, just one more chapter" and then you won't be able to stop.
So go ahead and stop reading this... read Talking To Dragons, you definately will not regret it.
