Rating: 
Summary: Spellbinding!
Review: A fascinating book.. I couldn't put it down! Williams' command of words and poetic imagery is truly incredible. He draws readers into a dramatic story well woven with depth, romance and true honor. Combine all this with the book's strongly conveyed sense of Divine will and purpose and you have one fantastic work of literature! I hope for more books of the same genre from this author.
Rating: 
Summary: Spellbinding -- Much More Than A Love Story!
Review: Aradon and Volanna are the perfect fantasy hero and heroine. They are called on again and again to make difficult decisions in the midst of the intrigue and hardships that surround them. This book really has something to offer everyone -- romance, suspense, danger, humor. The hardest thing about reading this book is that it ends -- far sooner than you are willing to stop reading. I hope that Mr. Williams will continue this story of Aradon and Volanna, along with the other wonderful characters of the Seven Kingdoms. Read this -- I am sure you will feel the same!
Rating:
Summary: Gospel Tidings Review (Sept. '99)
Review: I am excited about Tom Williams' new book, "The Crown of Eden," for several reasons. First, for those who enjoy medieval tales of brave knights and fair ladies and enchanted forests, Tom's story will thoroughly delight. The adventures of Princess Volanna and the gallant knight Aradon are woven together in twisting episodes of romance, terror, tragedy and triumph. The story begins by bringing the reader up to date concerning the great empire of Perivale whose victorious battle with the evil Morgultha united seven kingdoms. But Perivale disappears mysteriously and an ancient sage appears out of the enchanged Braegan's Wood to foretells the breakup of Perivale's empire. He delivers also a hopeful yet cryptic prophecy concerning the eventual restoration of Perivale's glory through an heir who will one day take the throne, reunite the kingdoms and reign over days even more glorious than those of his father. "The Crown of Eden" is the exciting story of the fulfillment of that prophecy.
The best thing one can say about "The Crown of Eden" is that it is a wonderfully told story. The chapters are short, revealing just enough surprises in the unfolding story that it is difficult to stop. More than once, as the reader is gaining speed toward some seemingly inevitable conclusion, Tom inserts an unexpected turn in the plot which leaves the reader delightfully off balance. And though one senses near the end of the story how it might end, the twists and turns keep coming even to the last few pages.
Tom has created dozens of wonderful characters in the story including the noble King Tallis, the loyal servants Kalley and Olstan, and the pathetically evil prince Lomar.but the story centers around two main characters, Princess Volanna and the commoner Aradon. Through these two characters Tom is able to not only tell a great story, but teach profound lessons in an effective and unintrusive way. Which is the next best thing about "The Crown of Eden." It does more than just tell a good story.
Interwoven amidst jousting festivals, harrowing escapes through murky swamps, rescues from dark and foreboding castles, there are scenes and conversations which allow Tom's characters to give articulate expression to various truths. King Tallis expounds on the puzzle of balancing God's sovereignty and man's freedom. Father Lucidis eloquently expounds on the virtues of pleasure, delight and ecstasy. Lord Aldemar wrestles with the tension of obedience to law and loving his country. Bogard gives some of the best advice to be found on choosing one's life mate.
Best of all, we find in Volanna and Aradon the embodiment of what it means to be a womand and a man. Tom is at his best when he describes the beauty of Volanna, a beauty that does not inflame illicit passion, but awakens the legitimate passions which lie all too dormant within us. If there is a weakness in "The Crown of Eden," it is that these "philosophical moments" in the story may linger a bit too long and distract at times from the story.
One last observation which made the book enjoyable was the way Tom has blended his own fantasy with the history of scripture. These characters and their kingdoms exist only in our minds, yet they are christians and as such often look to biblical stories to make meaning our of their own experience. The most intriguing example of this is the use of the strange biblical story of King Jephthah and his daughter which finds in "The Crown of Eden" a narrative commentary.
This tale, which hopefully will be the first of many in the The Seven Kingdom Chronicles, is a wonderful addition to the rapidly growing genre of Christian fantasy and as enjoyable as such established authors as Terry Brooks (of recent Star Wars fame.) Though Tom's single story does not merit comparisons with his literary mentors, Lewis and Tolkein, clearly his writing exhibits the best of their influence and the tales of the Seven Kingdoms certainly deserve to be on the same shelves alongside the tales of Narnia and
Middle-earth.
Rating:
Summary: The Crown Of Eden
Review: I found this book very intreguing. I have read The Chronicles of Narnia completely several times as an adult and this book is right up there with it. The story was spell binding allegory. The princess, a prophecy, a secret, everything about it kept me reading. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of his sequel, The Devil's Mouth, so that I can continue my journey into the seven kingdoms.
Rating:
Summary: The Crown Of Eden
Review: I found this book very intreguing. I have read The Chronicles of Narnia completely several times as an adult and this book is right up there with it. The story was spell binding allegory. The princess, a prophecy, a secret, everything about it kept me reading. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of his sequel, The Devil's Mouth, so that I can continue my journey into the seven kingdoms.
Rating:
Summary: Completly and Utterly Amazing
Review: I got this book yesterday and I just got finished reading it! It is one of the greatest books I have ever read. Not only does it tell of virtues and morals, right and wrong, good and evil; but it also has a compellign story line that intrigues you from the first paragraph until the last word. How the author uses words to captivate the senses and paint visual pictures are astounding! It amazes me how I just couldn't seem to stop reading. This book rivals J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and definately one that I'll read again. Bravo Thomas Williams! And thank you for writing one of the greatest literary masterpieces ever. I truly love this book.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful adventure I didn't want to put down!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! It offers so much to the reader...adventure, danger, romance, hope and so much more. Mr. Williams is a wonderful story teller. He makes his characters and their world come alive in such a way you feel as though you have been transported to another land and time. I became quickly and completely absorbed, not wanting to put the book down.
Rating:
Summary: Take a close look.
Review: I've just finished reading The Crown of Eden, the first book in the Seven Kingdoms Chronicles, by Thomas Williams, and am very interested to learn more about this author and his writing. I've found little to no information about him on the internet. The most I know is that Word Publishing (Thomas Nelson) is the Publisher of this book. The parallels to the gospel, and Christianity, that are woven into this magical tale of a Medieval world are amazing. And the way in which they are woven is nothing short of genius. I love the book, already love the author, and am desperate to learn more of him, and when the next books in the Chronicles are coming. I highly recommend this book, and encourage the reader to look closely to find for themselves what the writer is really writing about. Keep your Bibles handy!
Rating:
Summary: An Overwhelming Book
Review: My wife and I have recently finished reading Thomas Williams' book, The Crown of Eden. We were overwhelmed by this book. If you haven't read it yet, you need to. I don't know when I have enjoyed anything so much. Warning: once you start it you will find it hard to stop. I let several things go and read it over a couple of days. It's a fine piece of work. --Dr. Thomas A. Langford, Retired Dean of the Graduate School, Texas Technological University
Rating:
Summary: Book keeps getting better
Review: The more pages I read, the better the book gets. Very good story line!!! Can't wait to read the next book!!!
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