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Prospero's Children

Prospero's Children

List Price: $6.99
Your Price: $6.29
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A briliant fantasy
Review: Prospero's Children is an extremely unique book. The character's were not quite as three dimentional as I noramally like, and I while they were interresting and I did care about them, I never fell in love. However, the story was superb. It has great detail and beautiful descriptions. The plot was intricate; it had so many different angles and ends leading all different places that you don't see how it will tie together and make sense. It finally does, and the result if facinating. It is a fun read and a an enchanting journey that takes you to new places and introduces you to enjoyable creatures. I am looking forward its sequel.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I want the whole trilogy!
Review: Prospero's Children was such a good book. I couldn't put it down! I'm 15 and I loved it soooo much that the night I finished it (which was the sama as the day I started it) I went and asked about the second book in the trilogy...the answer? [....] I can't wait!!!!! THisd book was awesome to the very last page, I loved how it left you wanting more...it started and ended at the same spot- at least the Atlantis part did. I thought Fern was so brave in what she did! Going to Atlantis, being taken prisoner. It was so exciting! Not only that, but the only part I really didn't like was when the boy Fern really loved died...it was so sad and it seemed so wrong...but I guess it was right, how would there be a continuation if he had lived? well I can think of how but...it wouldn't make sense. I think I loved it so much because, as all my friends say, I'm a dreamer. FOr those of us who believe in the tooth fairy, witchcraft- good and bad, Atlantis, and unicorns...this book is perfect. I believe in all those things, I always have...well except the tooth fairy, after I got three teeth pulled and recieved no money for them...and found all my teeth(that was a gross expierence.) I kinda stopped beliveing. All the others I do belive in though. Lewis Carroll once said that when he saw a unicorn the unicorn said: I'll belive in you, if you belive in me. well I figure that I do want to believed in so why not believe that all those magical creatures exist? Somewhere they probably do...I know where that is too...in the mind. Even if they don't exist in the world. They can still take you places...have an imagination? Read this book.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good but schizophrenic fantasy
Review: The first half of the misleadingly titled, "Prospero's Children" is wonderful and scary, choc-a-block with evil villians (a witch, an idol, and an art gallery owner) and eccentric good guys (the Watcher, a female werewolf, a house goblin). The second half of the book is standard Swords and Sorcery. It's almost as if the publisher said, "Okay, Jan, this is great but we need another 100 pages and a better title." I'd give the first half five stars and the second half two stars, then round high just because I loved the Watcher, the idol, and the witch.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Started great but disappointing end
Review: The first half was imaginative and the heroine really caught my interest. The second half sank into a tawdry love story a la harlequin romances, complete with a 16 year old losing her virginity to an older man on a beach. I was disappointed-the brainy and thoughtful heroine of the first half disappeared in the second as her hormones took over.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Book Of Two Halves
Review: The start of this book reminded me of those old ITV/BBC childrens dramas,dealing with remote mythical houses,standing stones,which were made in the seventies/sixties.There is a ring of Alan Garner in here,the smell of Mythago Wood,and a touch of the British/Celtic myth cycle.But as soon as the door to Atlantis is opened,the flood,literally washes all before it away,and you are left with very much the feeling of having read,two books.The children are Alan Garners,the setting is Robert Holdstocks,but the ending ?

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Could have been Better
Review: There are elements of fantasy and some romance however, the writing style made this a difficult read. I was disappointed by the ending, or lack there of of one. The first half, although poorly written, did seem to be building up to a climatic finish. Unfortuantely, the second half of the book, contained more undeveloped characters and a story line that went in too many directions and had an unclear ending. Really disappointing considering that the story line look really promising.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe for the new millenium
Review: This book has all the magic of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,combined with a beautiful poetic style and intelligence that brings the plot into the new millenium. A synopsis of the material might suggest that this book is suitable for younger readers, being as it is about a search for a mythical key etc, but Seigel's sophisticated yet unpretentious treatment of the material guarantees an absorbing read for all ages. The author has taken the idea of the children who holiday in some remote place, discover some entrance into a magical world, and fight a battle against the forces of evil and breathed new and credible life into it. All of the characters are fully developed- even the 'evil' witch, who it turns out has spent thousands of years looking for a key that allows its bearer to travel into Death, in an attempt to be reunited with the infant daughter she lost in child birth. Fern, and her younger brother reluctantly leave their home in the city to visit an old mansion in Yorkshire. The house is full of shadowy places and locked corners, containing treasures from the precious owner's travels. As the children search for a key to the house's mysteries, they become aware that other, very unnatural personage also want the key- a very important key that opens a gate to another universe. The children slowly slip into a shadow dimension containing unicorns and werewolves, a power struggle between witches and wizards, good and evil, that traces its roots back to the ancient days of Atlantis.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A charming, powerful and imaginative work of fantasy
Review: This book is an absolute must read for fanatasy lovers. It is about six-teen year old Fern who spends the summer in a mysterious, isolated house with her family. There she finds herself courted by the watcher Ragginbone and the dangerous art-dealer Javier. Both believe that Fern has the gift (which includes telepathy, telekinesis, and telegnosis). They want her to find a key which was a part of the long lost Lodgestone of Atlantis and to unlook a door. But nobody knows what will await Fern on the other side.

I truely loved this book. The absolut stunning language of Jan Siegel makes it to a page turner and you don't want it to end. The character development of Fern is excellent. The entire story is wonderful - you wouldn't believe what's on the other side of the door! For Fern it is a turning point in her life. She finds not only an adventure but also love and wisdom.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Read and learn
Review: This book is written with the finest calibre of prose, something more than unusual in modern fantasy. It incorporates extensive knowledge on mythology and origins which gives the story the depth and richness that you'll find in Tolkien. The writing evocative, characters lovable, storyline original and endings satisfying. Don't read this book if you're used to the set-in-stone storylines mostly used by other fantasy authors. Its sequel also lives up to its standard.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Rave for prosperos children!
Review: This book was wonderful. At first I didn't think that I would like it, but after a few pages I changed my mind. The characters were wonderful and I ended up feeling sorry for Fern. The blend of magic and modern day items was excellent. I would suggest this book for anyone that liked the story of atlantis and anyone who has liked Tanya Huff's Summon the keeper.


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