Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: All of these books are out of print in their original editions, so this makes a very good way to read these early novels without hunting through used-book stores. Each of the books is very well written, and entertaining. Not cliched at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Is This Really Wrede?
Review: I am a huge fan of Patricia Wrede's "Dealing With Dragons" and the rest of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Though I have read and re-read those books, they continue to charm with their inventive use of language, challenging three-dimensional characters, wit and sheer sense of fun. Unfortunately, "Shadows Over Lyra" is so different I kept wondering if it was by some other Patricia C. Wrede. This book is guilty of every cliche that gives fantasy a bad name: one pretty, slightly unconventional princess; one supportive brother; one low-born but brilliantly self-taught brother's best friend who (surprise) becomes the princess's love interest. What else? Alien races: one tall, fair and mysterious with magical powers looking a lot like the princess's mom and who (guess what) turn out to BE mom's native race. Another short, hairy, pointy-eared, green-clad forest dwellers with (you guessed it) magical powers. Thrown into the pot a strong queen; a faithless chief minister; ancient feuds which the races must put aside to renew an ancient alliance to stop the return of the dastardly Bad Guys who use Black Magic and misuse Magical Tokens. Did I mention the faux-Scandinavian names? Or the creepy beasts? Do yourself (and Ms. Wrede's reputation) a favor, and read (or re-read) the wonderful Enchanted Forest Chronicles instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Wait a Minute!
Review: I have to say say that I wasn't very happy with the review titled "Is This Really Wrede?". First, she/he was acting as though there was only one book in Shadows over Lyra. There are, in fact, two others. How did she/he like those? Second, she/he writes that the main charater is a princess. She is not. There is no royal family. She comes from a noble but not very important family. I have doubts as to whether anyone who doesn't read a book well enough to tell whether the main character is or is not a princess should be writing a review of of it.
Rating:
Summary: Wait a Minute!
Review: I have to say say that I wasn't very happy with the review titled "Is This Really Wrede?". First, she/he was acting as though there was only one book in Shadows over Lyra. There are, in fact, two others. How did she/he like those? Second, she/he writes that the main charater is a princess. She is not. There is no royal family. She comes from a noble but not very important family. I have doubts as to whether anyone who doesn't read a book well enough to tell whether the main character is or is not a princess should be writing a review of of it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, but there are much better books out there
Review: I wouldn't really recommend this compilation. It's not bad, but it is written in the style where the author feels she must put one fantasy name in every sentence. And the names: Lyra? Amaranth? Liana? You find yourself concentrating more on trying to figure out where the people come from than what is happening to them. And reading it does take a lot of concentration. It isn't the kind of book that holds a lot of interest for anyone who has read any fantasy beyond the young adult level. Patricia Wrede has definitely improved her work in later books.
Rating:
Summary: Three excellent books repackaged as a new novel.
Review: If you have already read many of Patricia Wrede's novels you may want to skip buying this one since it is really a repackaging of three previous novels: Shadow Magic, Daughter of Witches, and The Harp of Imach Thyssel. (I discovered this the hard way.) The novels themselves are quite good. Wrede's depiction of magic is very creative and succeeds in evoking a sense of mystery that sets it apart. The cultures of "Lyra" are intriguing and her characters have plenty of depth; her heroes have flaws and some of the villains aren't all evil. Each story is different, but each skillfully combines political intrigue, diverse personal motivations and significant cultural clashes to create a gripping, fast paced plot that operates on a number of levels. These three stories are well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Anthony, March 30, 1999 Best book I ever read
Review: Shadows of Lyra was the best book I have read for a long time. I couldn't put the book down once I began reading and finished the book in a week. After reading the book I also read most of Patricia C. Wrede's other books.
Rating:
Summary: Wait a Minute!
Review: The world of Lyra is one of the greatest fantasy worlds ever created. Patricia C Wrede has brought about the most relistic and loveable characters ever in this book series. All three books in Shadows over Lyra are action packed, with humor and even romance around every bend. Daughter of Witches, the second book in the collection, is the most amaizing take on magic that I have ever read. I could not put it down. I also loved Shadow Magic and the Harp of Imach Thyssel. I higly recomend this book for anyone who love fantasy, regardless of how old they may be. Wrede is truely a master at her craft.
Rating:
Summary: The best young adult fantasy ever
Review: The world of Lyra is one of the greatest fantasy worlds ever created. Patricia C Wrede has brought about the most relistic and loveable characters ever in this book series. All three books in Shadows over Lyra are action packed, with humor and even romance around every bend. Daughter of Witches, the second book in the collection, is the most amaizing take on magic that I have ever read. I could not put it down. I also loved Shadow Magic and the Harp of Imach Thyssel. I higly recomend this book for anyone who love fantasy, regardless of how old they may be. Wrede is truely a master at her craft.
Rating:
Summary: I disagree with the first review
Review: This book is a compliation of three Lyra novels, Shadow Magic, Daughter of Witches, and The Harp of Imach Thyssal. Reviewer #1 only describes the first novel, and completely leaves out the other three. The first novel, and the best of the three, Shadow Magic, is the story of Alethia, who meets all four races of Lyra and leads them to victroy against the Shadowborn (evil). The second novel is about a young woman bonded to an innkeeper who must battle evil and come to terms with her legacy (that she is a witch). "Magic is death in Drinn. And the three strangers who come to Ranira's inn are definitly magic. So why does she link her destiny to theirs?" The third, is certaintly not Wrede's best work, but it is worth the read anyway. A bard finds the legendary harp of Imach Thyssel and must return it to its rightful owner before it comes into the hands of the evil Shadowborn. "Music to make the Shee weep and power to bring a dying man to life again-that's the magic of the harp. But the cost may be higher than Emereck the minstrel is willing to pay." If you'll permit me one more comment... In the back of the compilation is a useful timeline of the history of Lyra, which helps the reader to understand the events leading to the novels. Wrede is one of the best authors I have ever encountered-and not just for her Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Please find the time to read this. You won't regret it. :)
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