The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy (Great Tree of Avalon)

Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Story!
Review: I am a long-standing lover of fantasy, but I've found that the genre can get a little standardized with many authors using formulas and/or taking too many cues from J.R.R. Tolkien. However, T.A. Barron's new book is truly original and a captivating read. On the surface level it's a terrific old-fashioned adventure story. But Barron also uses the tale of a made-up fantasy world to reflect profound issues that we face in the real world. This is something that only the very best fantasy novels achieve, and for me it's what makes the genre so fascinating.

With its powerful themes of environmentalism, human arrogance, and heroism, The Great Tree of Avalon is a wonderful story that resonates just as much in the real world as it does in its own brilliantly crafted fantasy one.

Rating:
Summary: The Great Tree of Avalon
Review: I am an avid reader and though fantasy isnt usually my pick, this story drug me in and kept ahold of me. The plot flows nicely and the characters are easily identifiable, which to me usually doesnt happen in fantasy. From the very begining you know that one child will save Avalon and one will try to destroy it but it never tells who and as you work your way through the story, meeting very different types of characters along the way, you begin to guess who is whom. A definite hit with the teens, this book will also draw in adults and possible preteens. A great read all around.

Rating:
Summary: Good choice for first time fantasy readers
Review: I am an avid reader, but this was my first time reading a fantasy novel. As a first time fantasy reader, I would recommend this book. It's easy to follow, but has enough story to keep you interested. I thought the idea of worlds set in a tree root system was a little odd and crazy, but after reading it I'm now more open to the whole idea of fantasy. I hope to read more of this author's work soon.

Rating:
Summary: Slow to start, fast to finish!
Review: I had a little trouble with the first part of AVALON (I like to shorten the title). The characters were hard to love in the first few chapters and since i dont read fantasy very much i was not framiliar with Merlin and the Lady of the Lake. About 1/3 of the way into the book i just couldnt stop reading! I had to know who was going to join the journey next and how the rest of the characters were going to fit it. It all comes together in the end and leaves you waiting for part 2. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good read

Rating:
Summary: Superb book!
Review: I just started The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy last night and I'm all ready half way through it. It's a great book and I just can't put it down. If you like The Lord of the Rings books or Harry Potter then I'm pretty confident in saying that you'll love Avalon. The book is pretty easy to understand and very interesting.

The book starts out with the dark prophecy that in the dark year a child will be born that will destroy Avalon and only Merlin's true heir will be able to stop them. The story introduces you to many very interesting characters and some intriguing creatures.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good Book
Review: Now I normally don't read books and this is the first time I have written a review, but "The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy," is a page turner. I believe this novel is the best I have read so far, and I hope you will find the time to read it. It lets you enter a world of both adventure and suspense, and it has a most interesting plot. It will also keep you guessing through out the novel. So please find the time to read this novel, because it's worth it.

Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Tale of Magic and Adventure for All Ages
Review: The Great Tree of Avalon is one of the top five books I've ever read. It's a tale with clever and intriguing prose and wonderful character development. From exciting and humorous scenes to the discovery of startling secrets, Avalon is an interesting, thought-provoking ride from start to finish. As the legend goes, the Tree of Avalon was planted ages earlier by the wizard Merlin who tries to oversee the worlds of Avalon and Earth simultaneously. Yet unfortunately, the great wizard is caught up in Earth while at the same time, Avalon suffers from turmoil and mysterious droughts brought upon by some unknown evil. I would rank Avalon slightly above Harry Potter by my standards for its fantastic plot and vivid characters. It's a book that everyone should read, young or old.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!!
Review: This title is loosely based on T. A. Barron's Merlin Series and is a fine addition to it. Avalon is in danger from the child of the Dark Prophecy, the person who is fated to destroy it. Only the true heir of Merlin can save Avalon. But what are the true identities of these people? What follows is a quest by several characters to save Avalon, their relatives, and ultimately themselves.

During this journey light is shed on a few of their true identities, but what is thought of as black and white soon becomes shadowed by gray.

This book was a geniune page turner as all this author's novels have been and I eagerly look forward to reading the rest of this trilogy (according to the author's website @ www.tabarron.com).

Rating:
Summary: Disapointing
Review: When I heard that T.A. Baron was writting another book I was thrilled. I really enjoyed the Lost Years of Merlin series and was looking forward to another great read. However, I found this book to be poorly written. The diction was lacking and it sounded as if she made the names of the chracters up by scrambling as many letters as she could to make something that resembled a name. The story had a good plot though, and with some hard work could have been better.