Fire Arrow: The Second Song of Eirren

Rating:
Summary: Better than "Song"
Review: "Hero's Song" failed to get much of a response from me at all, aside from mild annoyance at the abundance of cliches and flat characterizations. "Fire Arrow" improves on some of those problems, but still has some deep flaws.

After destroying the Wurme in the previous book, Collun and Brie are living peacefully at his father's old home. Until, that is, Brie receives an alarming fortune from a wyll (wise-woman), and a summons from her aunt and uncle. Her old nurse is dying, and leaves Brie a mysterious golden arrow that becomes fiery when she touches it, and gives her visions. It also brings back her strong desire for revenge against the Scathians who killed her father, including a one-eyed man.

She sets off across the land of Dungal, and spends some time in a fishing village with a crazy wizard and a Ellyl waystation. But when danger comes closer, Brie must leave peace behind, and finds out who killed her father -- and about the impending invasion that threatens Dungal and Eirren.

In many ways, this book improves on the previous one. Pattou shows a greater sense of atmosphere, and is better able to sustain suspense and mystery. She also expands Brie from a stereotyped woman warrior into a more three-dimensional character, and is able to make the conflict seem more epic and realistic than ever before. Sago is an exceptionally-written character, a wiser-than-he-looks wizard who utters nonsense rhymes much of the time. Collun displays more depth and recognizable emotion than the-gardener-who-wants-to-go-home, with revelations about his family that hint at a possible future instalment.

Unfortunately, most of the cast of the previous book -- including the charming Taliesin -- is abandoned;; Silien and Collun are barely there, and Nessa and Taliesin are gone altogether, except for Collun briefly mentioning his sister. Ciaran the talking horse and Fara the Lassie-like Ellyl pet are more present than the characters that I was more interested in. There is a silly coffee joke early in the book, that Pattou refuses to let drop; also, a reference to chocolate in a mythical early Ireland. We are treated to a retread of Collun and Brie's bloodless romance, after Brie flirts aimlessly with a very boring fisherman, and Pattou introduces a long-lost-royalty cliche late in the book, that any adept fantasy fans will have spotted long before.

Brie has developed substantially from the previous book, in that Pattou effectively displays her conflicting feelings and her thoughts on revenge, whether it's wrong or right. Collun is, oddly, more intriguing when we see less of him; I would have preferred to see his fights with the Scathians instead of page after page of Brie in the fishing village. Silien is good, for what little there is of him; we see him taking an active stance against the Scathians. Hanna, the weather-woman, is an effective and interesting character, while the cowardly, nervy Monodnock sucked all the magic and mystery out of the Ellyl.

Despite this book's flaws, it remains a good read for fans of Celtic-themed fantasy, and plucks out some intriguing plot threads that will undoubtedly make any future stories intriguing, especially if Ms. Pattou brings back Talisen and dispenses with the silly coffee jokes.

Rating:
Summary: Masterful use of language and imagination set it apart!
Review: I am reading a number of novels in this genre and I was really satisfied with Fire Arrow. I didn't immediately take to it (maybe because I didn't read the first book first - duh!) but it grew on me quickly. What I really appreciated were the details and descriptions pertaining to places, people, creatures, new concepts and native languages. Usually I don't care for detailed descriptions, but there was just enough in Fire Arrow to make everything vivid and realistic. It was so real I felt like I could travel to Eirren and Dungal and know just what to expect. I picked this book out originally because, based on the short description on the back cover, I knew that the main character was going to be female. Characterization was believable and honest. It is a high quality read. I hope that Edith Pattou will have yet another book about Brie.

Rating:
Summary: BEAU-tiful!
Review: I LOVE this book. I recommend it for anyone who loves Irish myths and legends (as I do), fantasy, or just a REALLY good book! I agree with the others who have given reviews on this book, that you have to read the first, Hero's Song, to really understand it. I have been going from chat room to chat room, and club to club, searching for someone who has read Hero's Song or Fire Arrow. They're my favorite books, and I've never met one person who's read them. If you're a fan as much as I am, whoever's reading this, please e-mail me or IM me (Breo_saight_fire_arrow, on Yahoo! Messenger..) I want to talk to someone and find out what they think the third book in the series will be about... (My name's Blinkin007, on AIM..) Maybe that was not to smart to give all that information out. :) Oh well! I hope I talk to someone who loves Edith Pattou's books as much as me soon! If you havn't read them, READ THEM!

Rating:
Summary: I'm still waiting...
Review: ok i feel real stupid writing this review because i must be the only person alive who didnt totally love it. the book was ok. there it wasnt the best i have read but it wasnt the wrost i have read either. there defaintly wasnt any romance in this unless u call the way brie misses collunn 'love'. the idea was very good but the way the author oderd the events and had them happen kinda a ruined it. the begaining was quit good, near the middle it sotra dropped and at the end it just fell. u may not feel the same way about the book as i do, but if u want a really good fantasy read any thing by tamora pierce. if u dont agree with me (which u probaly dont) feel free to e-mail me any time. so thanks for reading my reveiw and i hope u dont base your whole idea of the book on this one article. there r people who loved and hey u might be one of them.

Rating:
Summary: Flame girl hits a six!!!
Review: This book is great for fans of Tolkien, Nix,etc. With great plot, charactors,a little romance and a big suprise at the end, you will love this page turner, males and females alike!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: I love it!
Review: THIS BOOK IS GREAT! I for one, am very critical about books. It has to be perfect for me to love it and this one is. It has more action than the first one, Hero's Song, and it has a very little bit of romance. Not enough to be disgusting, but a subtle hint if you look closely. Our old heros, Brie, Collun, Sillien, return, along with new ones. It is more of Brie's adventure this time. It's not exactly a cliffhanger, but there can obviously be more to come. I hope Ms. Pattou writes the third book soon!

Rating:
Summary: I love this book !!!
Review: To put it simply this book is AWESOME. I am a big fan of fantasy and for those of you who are this book is for you. It is a bit romantic but I like a little bit of romance. Not too much to make it mushy but enough to make it sweet. I haven't read the first book but I understood this one pretty good. I simply fell in love with Collun. He's so calm yet exciting at times. I can't wait to read the first book. And if there is a third one I would love to read it too.

Rating:
Summary: Flame girl hits a six!!!
Review: when I first took out the book from my library I did not know what to expect. but from the first page on I was excited that I picked this book. I am not your average reader. my thrill for reading depends on the book. if it don't capture me by the first page .. I will put it down. but the Fire Arrow was every hard to put down. Brie's quest for revenge and quest for perpose I think was just like my own .. five stars is not enough for this book .. and now that I read it 3 time before my time was up to bring it back to the library .. I am reading the companion book Hero's Song witch is also a great one ..now that I am half way through this book I am afraid I won't find any like them . and it is true now I been at the library two days and I am not having any luck in finding anything to compare it to Fire Arrow and Hero's Song ...my only hope is to wish Ms. Pattou could wirte another one for her fans...