Calling on Dragons: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book Three

Rating:
Summary: The Entire Series Is (Still) Phenomenally Brilliant
Review: What? Only five stars? I need more to do this series justice! Patricia C. Wrede writes marvelous fantasy. It's like "Mixed-Up Fairy Tales" or something, but funnier, more engaging, and ripe for repeat reading (After graduating from high school, I read the entire series for the third time in a matter of days). These are timeless tales. Even her NAMES are inventive. Cimorene, Mendanbar, Kazul, Morwen, Telemain, Daystar, Shiara...and let us not forget Zemenar and Antorell. The chapter headings induce chuckles immediately, simply by their existence. She writes in a style that incorporates intelligent fantasy with enjoyable humor. The characters are some you would like to know personally. And nowhere else have I seen as unique a discussion of magic in its many forms as in these four books. I did notice a trend of centralization. Dealing was Cimorene's book. Searching was Mendanbar's. Calling was Morwen's. Talking was Daystar's. I wish the series was not concluded, because I'd love to see Telemain's book. And perhaps Kazul's book could be somewhat of a prequel. Oh, and what about a book from Antorell's perspective? That would make for an incredibly funny story. The Enchanted Forest and its surrounding is a world I want to know about. Not many authors can create an entire world that entices the reader so greatly. But Mrs. Wrede has. Unlike the Douglas Adams' Hitchiker's Guide series, which got progressively worse, each book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles compares to the original, as fresh and brilliant as ever. Needless to say, this series is one of the best ever. I have not really sampled a lot of the adult fantasy by Piers Anthony and Anne McCaffrey and such, but I doubt they can compare with the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. This is not mindboggling fantasy like the Lord of the Rings trilogy: this is fun. Oh, and remember: ..."Argelfraster."

Rating:
Summary: The Entire Series Is Phenomenally Brilliant
Review: What? Only five stars?!? I need more to do this series justice! Patricia C. Wrede writes marvelous fantasy. It's like "Mixed-Up Fairy Tales" or something, but funnier, more engaging, and ripe for repeat reading (I just graduated from high school, and I just finished reading the entire series for the third time in a matter of days). These are timeless tales. Even her NAMES are inventive. Cimorene, Mendanbar, Kazul, Morwen, Telemain, Daystar, Shiara...and let us not forget Zemenar and Antorell. The chapter headings induce chuckles immediately, simply by their existence. She writes in a style that incorporates intelligent fantasy with enjoyable humor. The characters are some you would like to know personally. And nowhere else have I seen as unique a discussion of magic in its many forms as in these four books. I did notice a trend of centralization. Dealing was Cimorene's book. Searching was Mendanbar's. Calling was Morwen's. Talking was Daystar's. I wish the series was not concluded, because I'd love to see Telemain's book. And perhaps Kazul's book could be somewhat of a prequel. Oh, and what about a book from Antorell's perspective? That would make for an incredibly funny story. The Enchanted Forest and its surrounding is a world I want to know about. Not many authors can create an entire world that entices the reader so greatly. But Mrs. Wrede has. Unlike the Douglas Adams' Hitchiker's Guide series, which got progressively worse, each book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles compares to the original, as fresh and brilliant as ever. Needless to say, this series is one of the best ever. I have not really sampled a lot of the adult fantasy by Piers Anthony and Anne McCaffrey and such, but I doubt they can compare with the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. This is not mindboggling fantasy like the Lord of the Rings trilogy: this is fun. Oh, and remember: ..."Argelfraster."

Rating:
Summary: Another wonderful Enchanted Forest story
Review: Yet again, Wrede has produced an interesting, funny, thoroughly enjoyable work of fantasy. The troublemaking wizards are back again, despite multiple meltings in the past, and are once again trying to increase their power by draining and stealing the magic of the Enchanted Forest. Our heroes are also back to counter the dastardly plan--Queen Cimorene, King Mendenbar, Kazul the King of the Dragons, Morwen the witch, and Telemain the magician. This time, they are joined by Morwen's nine magical cats, who are finally allowed to give their full voice to the story (although only some of the characters can actually understand their cat language), and also by the good-hearted but annoying Killer. Killer, through a series of magical misadventures brought about primarily by his eternal hunger and lack of good sense, has changed from a normal rabbit to a giant rabbit, then to a giant blue donkey, after which he has also managed to grow giant wings, get himself stuck six inches above the ground, and become physically insubstantial. This time, the wizards have managed to penetrate Mendenbar's castle and steal his magic sword. With the sword now outside the Enchanted Forest, the wizards find themselves able to once again drain the magic from that land. Mendenbar is compelled to stay at home as the other protagonists, including his pregnant wife Cimorene, leave the forest in search of the sword. Wizards are melted (and finally even eaten by Kazul and some other dragons), strange characters are encountered, and things go pretty much as one would expect. However, things do not all work out this time around; the ending is thus not wholly satisfying, but it does provide a lead-in to the book Talking With Dragons, the action of which takes place several years after the events we read about in the present story.

All in all, this is a fun, entertaining, quick read. Morwen takes center stage for the most part this time and Mendenbar remains away from the action for the most part, but Cimorene, my favorite character, does play a large role in the affairs. The fire-witches encountered are a little annoying, and Killer takes belly-aching (both literally and physically) to great heights. I did love the nine cats, however. Their constant arguing and teasing, along with their heroism and importance, gave a new dimension to the story, and it was gratifying to see the pains to which Wrede went to give them the traits, emotions, and affectations of cats in general. The introduction of the magic mirrors, through which individuals can contact one another, is also a novel twist on both modern telephones and traditional fairy tales (Mirror, mirror, on the wall I would like to make a call), and the "operator" provides a good bit of humor. This book falls a little short of the greatness of its predecessors, but it clearly succeeds as a enchanted work of fantasy sure to delight young and old alike. I feel compelled to say that you really should read the two preceding books, Dealing With Dragons and Searching for Dragons, in order to really appreciate the characters to the utmost, especially the fair and lovely Cimorene.

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