Average customer rating:
- Bitter Disappointment
- McKinley paints a vivid picture, but this one is a little dry
- Not as good as Rose Daughter or Beauty
- A beautiful work of art all the way through
- Disappointing Stock Heroine
|
Spindle's End
Robin McKinley
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
McKinley, Robin
| ( M )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
McKinley, Robin
| ( M )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
( M )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
| Marshall, James
| Martchenko, Michael
| Mayer, Mercer
| McPhail, David
| Milne, A.A.
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
( M )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
| McCaffrey, Anne
General
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Rose Daughter
-
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
-
Door in the Hedge
-
Blue Sword
-
Deerskin
ASIN: 0441008658
Release Date: 2001-06-05 |
Amazon.com
Renowned fantasy writer Robin McKinley, author of the lush "Beauty and the Beast" retellings Beauty and Rose Daughter, has produced another re-mastered fairy tale, this time about the dreamy Sleeping Beauty. Much like in the original story, the infant princess, here named Rosie, is cursed by an evil fairy to die on her 21st birthday by pricking her finger on a spindle. That same day, Rosie is whisked away into hiding by a peasant fairy who raises her and conceals her royal identity. From that point on, McKinley's plot and characterization become wildly inventive. She imagines Rosie growing up into a strapping young woman who despises her golden hair, prefers leather breeches to ball gowns, and can communicate with animals. And on that fateful birthday, with no help from a prince, Rosie saves herself and her entire sleeping village from destruction, although she pays a realistic price. In a final master stroke, McKinley cleverly takes creative license when the spell-breaking kiss (made famous in "Sleeping Beauty") comes from a surprising source and is bestowed upon the character least expected.
Although the entire novel is well written, McKinley's characterization of Rosie's animal friends is exceptionally fine. Observations such as "...foxes generally wanted to talk about butterflies and grasses and weather for a long time while they sized you up," will spark reader's imaginations. It won't be hard to persuade readers of any age to become lost in this marvelous tale; the difficult part will be convincing them to come back from McKinley's country, where "the magic... was so thick and tenacious that it settled over the land like chalk dust...." Highly recommended. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert
Book Description
In the tradition of Beauty and Rose Daughter, Newbery Award-winning author Robin McKinley "lends a fresh perspective to a classic fairy tale, developing the story of Sleeping Beauty into a richly imagined, vividly depicted novel" (School Library Journal)
BRILLIANT...[a] sumptuous world. (New York Times Book Review)
MYTHIC GRANDEUR...with magical detail and all-too-human feeling. (Publishers Weekly starred review)
Satisfying reading, pleasing in the depth of the weaving and elaboration. (Chicago Tribune)
Rich prose and colorful description...keep readers spellbound. (Rocky Mountain News)
Customer Reviews:
Bitter Disappointment.......2007-09-23
It took me nearly a month to read this book. I kept slogging along because i really wanted to like it, and because I like McKinley's writing, but this book was s-l-o-w. One reason it took so long was it was just too easy to put down. The real reason, though, why I'm only giving it one star is because the ending was a huge disappointment. I don't want to say too much and ruin the ending for anybody else by giving something away. I'll just say this was one mess of an ending. I'll read more McKinley, but I won't re-read Spindle's End.
McKinley paints a vivid picture, but this one is a little dry.......2007-08-06
In this retelling of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, baby Rosie is whisked away and carefully hidden by fairies for nearly twenty-one years in an attempt to thwart the curse laid upon her by a vengeful evil fairy: That she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an eternal sleep.
I really enjoy McKinley's beautiful prose. Her descriptions are vivid and lifelike. However, I found the story in this retelling slow and a bit dry.
Not as good as Rose Daughter or Beauty.......2007-03-12
I love fairy tales! I was so excited to see the author of Beauty had another retelling. Spindles End has me very confused. I am plugging through it and hope when I am done with it a second time I can give it more stars. I would not recommend it for younger readers.
A beautiful work of art all the way through.......2007-01-31
Spindle's End is not a book for the novice, nor is it a book for light reading at the beach. This is a writer's book: a book that is an experience all in and of itself. In this classic retelling of Sleeping Beauty, it is not the ending that matters, but rather the process it takes to get there.
In this book, Robin McKinley has created a world so dense and so believable that one cannot help but stare in awe at the depth of her imagination. This is not the typical fairytale, where a renaissance world is air-brushed, beautified, and decorated with a bit of Disney magic. Spindle's End is a fully realized but wholly new sort of country, and one reads it with the impression that this must have been fun to write.
The characters, both new and old, have blossomed under McKinley's sure hand, and it's wonderful to have a Sleeping Beauty (she doesn't actually do much sleeping, to be quite honest) who comes off as someone who's much less than perfect.
Disappointing Stock Heroine.......2006-12-07
Although Robin McKinley's stock heroine of "tall awkward ugly girl who loves horses and hates dresses" has worked well in other of her fairytale retellings*, this one is a distinct disappointment because it seems that that's all there is to Princess Briar-Rose. Even being the central character of the tale, she seems to have little personality other than the above attributes, which are emphasised to make sure the readers know Rosie would make an awful princess. Indeed, none of the characters in this book are particularly memorable, except perhaps Katriona who rescues baby Rosie as a teenage fairy agonising over her inability to do magic.
The plot is little better - events seem random and contrived, and the resolution to the problem of the missing princess is more than predictable by the time the reader reaches the second third of the book. Again, this is a let-down because other of McKinley's fantasy novels are well woven together.
One innovation that I did like about this book was "baby-magic" - a phase of uncontrolled, temperamental magic that fairies go through as toddlers - not relevant to the plot at any point, but an amusing distraction from its mediocrity. Note that fairies in this book aren't little people, but simply humans born with magical ability.
*Beauty, The Outlaws of Sherwood, Deerskin, etc.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Tooling & Production, published by Nelson Publishing on October 1, 1998. The length of the article is 498 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
From the supplier: Middlefield, CT-based Fischer Precision Spindles Inc has decided to bolt out from E Fischer AG as its distribution arm to expand its offering of high speed machining equipment. The company, which has renamed itself as FPA, has broken ground on a new location in Berlin, CT. It will offer vector control high speed milling spindles, automatic tool-change spindles and internal grinding machines. The company will also market services designed to repair and remanufacture spindles.
Citation Details
Title: FPS travels another route to success for its customers.(Fischer Precision Spindles Inc.'s decision to end its distribution relationship with E Fischer AG)
Publication:
Tooling & Production (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 1998
Publisher: Nelson Publishing
Volume: 64
Issue: 7
Page: NA
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Horn Book Magazine, published by Horn Book, Inc. on May 1, 2000. The length of the article is 418 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Spindle's End.(Review)(Young Adult Review)(Brief Article)
Author: Anita L. Burkam
Publication:
The Horn Book Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2000
Publisher: Horn Book, Inc.
Volume: 76
Issue: 3
Page: 317
Article Type: Book Review, Young Adult Review, Brief Article
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
In Stone Maiden, Ariel Knight, a nine-hundred year old gargoyle and ex-warrior for God opens a presentday bodyguard agency with her three sisters. At the request of the Angel Gabriel, they take on protecting Logan McAllister, playboy country music songwriter who has suddenly become a prime target for all of the evil supernatural beings in the area. While Ariel tries to unravel who is behind the mysterious attacks, she is also battling a growing affection and attraction for him. To make matters worse, Logan's business manager turns out to be a master vampire who broke her heart two centuries ago and still seems to have feelings for her. Nothing like fi nding out your lover is a soulless bloodsucker to ruin a relationship.
Customer Reviews:
incredibly dumb.......2007-09-16
I thought the editing lacking and the writing horribly corney. According to Tina Gerow's novel, Stone Maiden, God made gargoyles because satan preverted man into vampires. Now, there's some sort's prophesy told by a naked miniture faery with butterfly wings (who gets off flirty with and exposing herself to hero) that a country music writer will father a hero and/or a distroyer. Of course, upon meeting, said country music star and gargoyle, fall in love. Yes, nothing like screwing like mad bunnies without saying more than a few words to each other to win the hearts of millions of readers---NOT. Then there is the crazed zombie's who try to bite off country music writer's manly parts. Ugggg! I couldn't read more than 1/2 of the book. I was afraid if I read more I would continue to distroy my brain cells.
Stone Maiden by Tina Gerow.......2006-09-04
In the beginning, God made man. Envious because he was not able to create life, Satan instead perverted man and made vampire. To fight them, God in turn created the gargoyles.
Milena later, there are only five gargoyles left. For their service throughout the ages, God has released them to live their lives as they see fit - and what should they do but open a security firm?
Logan McAllister is a country music composer, and it is up to Ariel Knight to protect him. Or, his family jewels, to be exact. It seems that everyone wants them... off of his body, that is. As the man and the gargoyle search for the reason, various things come to light: Logan is the son of the only moral vampire, and his offspring will either save or doom the world.
The plot twists when a country music star shows up pregnant, claiming that Logan is the father. The problem? Ariel is also pregnant. But who carries the child of doom, and who carries the child of peace?
The plot was decent, in that there actually was a plot, but I think that zombies trying to rip a mans privates off is a little far fetched. The style itself could have been better, but I think that an editor would have helped with that. I gave it three stars because it was an enjoyable, light read, as hookey as it was.
stunningly good!.......2006-07-22
An ancient prophecy foretells of the daughter of destiny and the son of the blood. Will this prophecy result in the rise of Good or Evil?
Ariel Knight is one of four remaining gargoyles. Formerly a warrior for God (who is female), Ariel and her three sisters have created the Knight Security Agency to continue protecting humanity. The Archangel, Gabriel, specifically requests their assistance with protecting Logan McAllister, a hot country singer. Logan is being beleaguered by attempts to emasculate him but doesn't want a bodyguard, particularly a female one he finds attractive. Ariel quickly demonstrates her abilities by poking holes in his current security and Logan reluctantly accepts the help.
Ariel is furious when she discovers Logan's business manager is none other than James Wellington, the vampire who broke her heart 200 years ago. Ariel and James will have to deal with their past history while a very jealous Logan has his own dilemma with the reappearance of his occasional girlfriend, Charity Taylor. Meanwhile, a whole host of supernatural beings are descending on Logan and it will take everyone's best efforts to ensure that the prophecy is fulfilled for the Good.
STONE MAIDEN is a stunning tale full of all sorts of interesting supernatural characters! Ariel is a strong woman and her gargoyle characteristics are particularly intriguing, including her tattoo that masks the wings when she is not using them. Readers will empathize with her emotional turmoil while admiring her fortitude in the face of adversity.
The cast of secondary characters is also enjoyable as Tina Gerow provides an unexpected level of depth to several minor characters. The fairy, Alonna, is quite entertaining and the imprint signifying her healing powers is a stroke of genius on the part of Tina Gerow. One can only hope to read more about Alonna's antics in future books.
Tina Gerow has done a fantastic job with world building! Gargoyles appear very real and she provides a rather unique and believable background for their existence. The variety of supernatural beings in STONE MAIDEN is impressive and also includes vampires, zombies, succubi, and even a rokurokubi (Japanese goblin). Paranormal fans will be delighted with the mixture without being overwhelmed.
STONE MAIDEN is an incredible start to what appears to be a fabulous series. Tina Gerow is obviously a very talented writer and she expertly combines action, romance, and the paranormal to create a book that readers will not want to put down. FIRE MAIDEN is the second book in the series and this reviewer cannot wait to read it!
STONE MAIDEN is a compelling read and one that will belong on any paranormal reader's keeper shelf. Tina Gerow has woven an intricate storyline that will leave readers begging to know when the next book will be out. Highly recommended!
COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES
Gargoyles rock!!.......2006-01-25
I was thoroughly entertained by this book. And that's just how it it supposed to be. Witty dialogues, great characters and the writing style kept me glued to the pages. Hopefully we don't have to wait too long for the sequels....this author is now on my auto-buy list.
C/O Romance Junkies-Teri C.......2005-10-25
Ariel and her three sisters are the last of their warrior Gargoyle race that had been created by the Creator. They have protected humans from various forms of evil through out time from their birth to their rebirth when they were placed to live among the humans. Released after 500 years of loyal service the sisters have continued their role as protector's of humanity by forming the Knight Security Agency. Even though their powers remain intact they have lost their wings and don't turn to stone to sleep anymore. Ariel has been asked by a close and trusted friend to protect Logan McAllister, with or without his agreement. Nor will she be stopped by her libido, which had been locked in the deep freeze for a few hundred years and seems to be in overdrive while around him.
Ariel is a "take charge and take no prisoner's" kind of gal with a soft and fragile heart; you can't help but like and respect her. She says what she means and does what she says. She has had incredible heartache in the past which initially makes her suspicious of her intense response to Logan. As you read about her you empathize and champion Logan through their various dilemmas. You feel her resolve to do the right thing and fall in love with both of these characters in spite of and because of their subtle flaws.
Logan McAllister one of the "most sought after songwriters in Nashville" and has been the target of several minor skirmishes of someone either attempting to cut off the family jewels or harpoon them with an arrow. Either way it can't be very comfortable when someone is trying to harm your privates and he has no clue why. Scoffing at the idea that these incidents were not accidents, he attempts to sabotage his meeting with Ariel. Unfortunately, it fails abysmally when Ariel destroys all his comfort zones with her analysis of his shoddy security, not to mention she demolishes his hulking male bodyguard with in minutes of meeting him.
This was a fantastic read. It had action, comedy, hot love making and the best part...it read so smooth it went down like the richest chocolate. Ms. Gerow peppers the story with witty comments that make you smile or laugh out load. The characters are rich in their admirable traits and balanced by their imperfections. The reader falls in love with both of them as they continue to read and that makes this story an incredible read. The other fantastic thing in this story is the potential for a sequel. Ms. Gerow introduces many secondary characters that you fall in love with too. Hopefully, she will work on several sequels, particularly with regards to James, the Dark Redeemer.
Amazon.com
Setting: Scotland Highlands, 1170
Sensuality Rating: 7
The last surviving member of her family, Alainna MacLaren is heiress to the rich properties of Kinlochan and chief of Clan Laren, whose ranks have been decimated by a centuries-old feud with a neighboring clan. Desperate to protect her clan, she asks the king to choose a husband for her who is both a mighty warrior and one who will consent to take her surname so that her family name will not die out. Though sympathetic to her plight, the king has the security of all of Scotland to consider and orders a Breton member of his honor guard, Sebastien le Bret, to wed the lady, govern her lands, and build a castle at Kinlochan to secure the western Highlands.
Alainna and Sebastien are powerfully attracted to each other, but each has commitments to clan, family, and king that compel them to place honor first and love second. Despite the pledges, the treachery of Clan Laren's enemies, and threats to both their lives, neither can deny the deep love that grows between them. Whether they will survive and save the clan is another matter.
Strong and true, King's voice resonates with the lyric rhythm of Highland poetry. The Scotland of 1170 comes to life with vivid color, and each character, from the hero and heroine to the smallest player, is sharply drawn and unforgettable. Hearthside tales, the legend of the stone maiden, and the heroine's artistry with stone cutting are only a few of the fascinating details that make this novel unique. --Lois Faye Dyer
Book Description
In this first of a trilogy inspired by great Scottish legends, a woman saves her Highland clan by answering to the call of war--and the promise of a magical love....
Susan King...
"...evokes the people and land of Scotland."--Romantic Times
"...is destined to be one of the superstars of historical romance."--Romance Fiction Forum
"...entrances the reader with the days of yore. Her books will stand the test of time."--Affaire de Coeur
Customer Reviews:
Very Sweet, Wonderful Historical.......2005-08-12
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, how they spoke and interacted seemed to ring true to the time period, yet the hero was kind and caring. I also loved the poetry involved in the handfasting - beautiful! As much as I liked it, this book was not perfect - seems like King is stuck on the same theme, played out in several of her books - gets a little redundant. All in all, though a great historical read.
This book was my Waterloo.......2005-07-11
Never before in my life have I begun to read a book and failed to finish it...until now. I tried, I really tried to get into this. I gave it my best. I stuck with it for several hundred painful pages. But finally I had to admit defeat as I realised that I simply could not go on. Frankly, given a choice of a trip to the dentist for a triple tooth-pulling without anaesthetic or having to read this book, sadly, I'd have to pick the dentist.
Unintentionally, Susan King's writing is actually more terrifying than Stephen King's. In fact, I read out several paragraphs of it to a friend of mine and he began screaming, he was so horrified by how poorly it was written. I find it scary that something this bad even made it to print. And I find it scarier still that it got so many good reviews on Amazon. Did I read the same book as the rest of these people? The only other reviewer I wholly agreed with was Renee Cartwright, who said she was in pain from reading it. I totally concur with that judgement, Renee.
This is supposed to be an historical novel, set in the Scottish Highlands of 1170. But seriously, it was about as authentically Scotttish and historical as non-vintage chanpagne. The dialogue is totally Americanised (the occasional "Ach!" does NOT make it Scottish) and the supposedly wise and proud clan elders sounded more like a group of foolish old fogies from a Florida retirement village--and uninteresting, two-dimensional ones at that.
The excessive description of background detail in this is excrutiatingly dull and usually thrown in at the wrong times, impeding the flow of the storyline. For instance, in the midst of Alainna running away in a sulk, and Sebastien racing after her, for some reason the author feels the need to stall the action to give us a long, boring, irrelevant, almost full page description of the courtyard they are running through, right down to the last detail. PUR-LEASE! The right time to give this description (if at all) would have been when Sebastien first arrived and was looking around with fresh eyes, not when he's supposedly moving quickly in the near-dark of twilight, when one could hardly see anything anyway. This author apparently hasn't a clue about timing, or writing in general for that matter. She also feels the need to insert as many adjectives into sentences as she possibly can, rendering all her sentences painfully long and boring, and yet still not really saying anything poignant...my advice to this author is 'less is more', as any decent writing coach will tell you.
The dialogue in this is appalling and infantile--no one ever says anything really logical or intelligent or funny or clever, least of all Alainna or Sebastien. It shocked me to think that this couple would be allowed to breed and pass on their stupidity to their offspring.
This book could have been so exciting. The ideas behind it are good, and Alainna being a stonemason was an interesting concept. But this writer made Alainna's stonework boring, just as she did Sebastien's swordplay. I LOVE medieval weapons, and I like ancient architecture and stonework, but this writer sucked the life out these subjects. Also, I felt as if the author only made Alainna into a stonemason in a lame 'girls can do anything' pseudo-feminist token effort. In the end, though, Alainna was just a typical wimpy heroine whom anyone with a hint of feminism in them will dismiss. For instance, at one point Alainna is holding a bow and arrow (which we are told she knows how to use for hunting) when she sees a wild boar. Even though she could have shot the pig then and there, instead she turns and runs screaming like a prissy city girl, only to be saved by--you guessed it--the hero, who of course saves her in the nick of time, as the hero always predictably does. Everyone in the clan then spends the next week saying how wonderful the hero was for killing the boar, and that he is the bravest man of them all and a true hero, as if no one had ever speared a pig before! I thought it was a tad pathetic...almost as pathetic as the hero's attempt at storytelling. He told a poor, uninteresting tale that went for about a minute or two, tops, and suddenly everyone in the clan declared him a master storyteller with the soul of a bard. PUR-LEASE! Scheherazade must be lying awake all the long Arabian nights at the mere thought that that man could be considered a storyteller at all, let alone a good one. I've heard three year olds word their stories better than he did. He took what might have been a lovely tale and ruined it.
This book is full of lots of pretty words, but the writing style that throws them together higgledy-piggledy is just plain ugly. If a thirteen year old wrote this at school, I'd give it a B+ to encourage them for their efforts, but I'd also tell them to keep working on improving their craft. But for an adult, this only rates an F.
Still, it might encourage aspiring writers everywhere to know that you can write a steaming heap of crap like this and still get it published! Apparently, ANYONE can make a living out of writing books, even the barely literate.
A Subtle, Beautiful Love Story.......2004-10-12
Either Sebastien "clicks" with readers or he doesn't. If he dosen't, those readers found the story to be slow. But for those readers like myself who were drawn to him from the beginning, Sebastien was the perfect hero. (He didn't have a silly line anywhere.) Since I did like him so well I found everything about this book endearing and interesting. I hated to see it end. I loved Sebastien's humble ways, I loved the way he respected the elder clan members, and respected Alainna as a clan leader; he never once doubted her ability to lead a clan (although she never actually "led" her clan in my opinion). Sebastien was the perfect man.
A Nice Love Story.......2004-09-14
This was a very laid back setting and the story was interesting. The hero was one of the best ever. He had everything; looks, intelligence, compassion, and he was sexy. Honestly, though I could have cared less about the "Stone Maiden" herself, I was too enthralled with Sebastien and his courtship of Alainna.
One of the best of the lot.......2004-09-14
This is one of the most endearing and sweetest books around, and unlike some S.K. novels, this one isn't slow and boring, it's relaxed and romantic. Sebastien was not only handsome, he was a man of wonderful character. I'm not quite sure Alainna deserved him though.
Average customer rating:
|
Maiden's Stone
Drew Brinson
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Historical | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0595412653 |
Book Description
In 1515, Thomas Lillard gave up Knighthood and Scotland. He sailed to France where he married a beautiful French woman. It seemed that the fates had smiled upon Evett. That God had heard her prayers. The two settled on a large plot of land in the Loire River Valley. Thomas became known for his vineyard and fine wines. The English he had fought against called upon him for his vintage. But everything was not as it seemed on the surface.
Thomas's real mission was one of secrecy. The vineyard was just a cover for the Scots Garde to practice the ancient arts of Scottish battle.
Thomas and Evett's daughter, Rene, would change the course of history for the Scots Garde. A descendant of Joan of Arc, she would live to fight with her father's men, teach them another way of fighting, and fall in love.
Rene wanted to be with Jared more than anything in the world. Fate led them back to Scotland. What was written long ago was sealed. Somewhere out in the deepest reaches of space and time, the stars were waiting.
Today the words are upon the Maiden's Stone.
Average customer rating:
|
The Maiden Stone (NHB International Collection)
Rona Munro
Manufacturer: Nick Hern Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | Classics | Contemporary | General | Historical | Humor | Letters & Correspondence | Middle | Old | Poetry | Renaissance | Shakespeare | Short Stories
General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | British & Irish | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1854592432 |
Average customer rating:
- Pretty Good
- awsome and enchanting
- An interesting work of fantasy
- nice start ,but dies by mid book
- Not Bad, but not Great
|
The Stone and the Maiden (House of Pandragore)
Dennis Jones
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | Classics | Contemporary | General | Historical | Humor | Letters & Correspondence | Middle | Old | Poetry | Renaissance | Shakespeare | Short Stories
Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0380978016
Release Date: 1999-08-03 |
Amazon.com
The Stone and the Maiden has all the elements of a great fairy tale--a corrupt king, an evil wizard, a conniving stepsister, and, of course, a beautiful princess and a handsome soldier. Author Dennis Jones weaves an intricately threaded story around these classic characters in this action-packed tale.
The Ascendancy is rotting from the inside out. Archates, incompetent Dynast, is fearful and easily manipulated, willing to sacrifice his kingdom, his people, and even his own daughters to preserve himself. The barbarian Tathars are on the march, taking advantage of the Dynast's cowardice and slowly crushing the Ascendancy. Evil Erkai the Chain aids the Tathars with his forbidden Black Craft--the magic of death. In the middle of this desperate situation, the luminessa Mandine, uncertain heir to the Ascendancy throne, experiences a vision in which the God and Goddess instruct her to find the Signata, enigmatic tool of Deep Magic. If she succeeds, Erkai and the Tathars can be defeated. If not, the universe will be threatened by unspeakable evil. To make matters worse, Mandine's stepsister Theatana has designs on the throne and is willing to torture, kill, and dabble in the Black Craft to get it.
But never fear, our plucky heroine doesn't have to go it alone. She's got the able strength of hunky Key Brander at her side, not to mention the assistance of the mysterious forest-folk, the hemandri, and their familiars, the small dragon-like pandragore. This first fantasy novel is a terrific quest adventure and a romantic fantasy all rolled up into a delightful package--beginning Dennis Jones's House of the Pandragore series in high style--plus the complicated setup promises many sequels. --Therese Littleton
Book Description
The Legend
The myths name it the Signata: the place that contains all places, the moment that contains all moments. As enigmatic to the gods as to mortals, the sacred treasure is said to have appeared but thrice in forty centuries, always in a different form, and each time to vanish as suddenly as it came. Its purpose and powers, no one knows. Yet in a world threatened by an ancient and merciless evil, it seems the only hope--if it can be found.
The Evil
The barbarian Tathars cut a scarlet swath across the lands of the Ascendancy, led by Erkai the Chain, a master of the dreaded Black Craft. However, there exists a power that dwarfs even Erkai's sorcery: the force known as Deep Magic, long ago banished from the world. But now Erkai has found a way to break the ban, and seize that terrible power for his own.
The Destiny
Defeating Erkai and the Tathar horde falls to Mandine Dascaris, heiress to the throne of the Ascendancy, and to the young soldier Key Mec Brander, an outlander from the distant lands of the Elthame. Together they embark on a secret, desperate search for the Signata. To fail means the ruin of their world--but the price of success may be no less than their lives.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty Good.......2005-10-25
It is a shame that Dennis Jones didn't get more notice for this book or the sequel The Mask and the Sorceress. While neither is groundbreaking, the writing is solid and shows real promise. You can get these two books very cheaply in the Marketplace, and I think they would be a very good buy to anyone who likes a well paced, pleasant fantasy.
awsome and enchanting.......2003-03-09
this book was so amazing i couldnt put it down. Teachers yelled at me in class to stop reading it.
You have love fighting and not your everyday migic story. Instead of just having mages and people with magical powers u have everyday people from an empire under attack trying to save their future.
this story was very unique and always kept u guessing what was going to happen next.
I would recommend this to any big fantasy reader and even if u are just starting to get interested in fantasy this book is a good way to start.
kaitlin
also i recomend- Mask and the Sourceress:dennis jones, The Darkangel:Merideith Ann Pierce, Wit'ch Fire:James Clemmens.
An interesting work of fantasy.......2002-08-17
The Ascendry is under attack by the violent Tathars and it looks like the country may never recover. But the Tathars are not alone in their attack. Erkai the chain, a powerful sorcerer, swears vengeance on the Dynast and his bloodline. The Dynast himself is weak and fearful, caring about no one but himself. To top it off the Dynast's youngest daughter is corrupt with the black arts and plans on taking the throne as soon as possible. It looks like there is no hope for the Ascendry and the country will not survive.
But there is. Mandine, the future Dynatessa, has been given the task by the Two (the God and Goddess) themselves. She must find the Stingtana a powerful tool that affects everyone that it touches. Her only companion is to be Key, a young soldier who she finds herself strangely drawn and attracted to. But before their journey can even start Mandine finds herself trapped in her father's castle. Can they ever escape? And what will happen when they do?
I was a bit unsure about reading this book, considering half of the reviews on amazon were negative. To tell the truth the only real reason I read this book was to read the sequel (The Mask and the Sorceress, which looks very entertaining.) When I read this book I was pleasantly surprised. Sure some of the characters were a bit underdeveloped but the storyline was entertaining and it took place in a new and intereresting world. The Stone and the Maiden is a good start to an interesting looking fantasy series. I would probably recommend it.
nice start ,but dies by mid book.......2002-01-23
The start of the story was very good, but by the middle of the book it just limps along. The main characters kept second guessing what they had done. This gets old fast. Skip this one.
Not Bad, but not Great.......2001-08-31
It's an entertaining read. It is. If you want a nice, interesting read pick it up. There are quite a few elements going for this book, like the main characters. Mandine, the heir to the throne, is a competent heroine, neither a wishy-washy shrieker or a muscle-bound amazon. Key, the noble born soldier is brave and experienced without being the typical "I'm a tough soldier and you've gotta listen to me cause I'm a guy." I also like the setting, a world left over after wizards had decimated the old empire and destroyed themselves with powerful magics. The Ascendency is the government ruled by a Dynast or Dynastessa, an interesting change from a King, Queen, etc and has a medieval setting without too much stereotyping. The different species are cool too, the forest dwelling Hermanders and Hippaxas, huge cavalry mounts with horns.
Things that are NOT going for the book. Interesting characters that lack depth. You don't really feel connected toward Mandine or Key. You can still feel worried for a character even though you know they'll probably be alright, but I didn't feel worry or anything else towards them. They just got a little boring after awhile. The melodramatic love story was also a little gagging. And Erkai, a "servant to no one" sorceror with Black Craft, was a cool villain without a meaningful existence except to terrorize some people and go away. I felt like I was waiting for the book to really rev up and get going but it ended before it did, and ended with a petit pop instead of a bang. Not unexpected, but a little disappointing. It is not however a bad book, I was just expecting more. Take it out from the library would be my advice.
Average customer rating:
|
The Stone Cutter and the Navajo Maiden
Vee F. Browne
Manufacturer: Salina Bookshelf, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Native North & South Americans | Multicultural Stories | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 189335492X |
Book Description
In the deep, deep Dinetah lives a young Navajo maiden named Cinnibah. She looks after her widowed father, and every day she grinds corn into flour to make their bread. To do so, she uses a metate - an ancient grinding stone that has been passed down in her family for generations. When Cinnibah accidentally shatters the metate, she sets out on a journey to find someone who can help her mend the stone. Her quest brings her to a Moccasin Maker, a Potter, and, finally, the mysterious Stone Cutter. Will he be willing to help her?
Average customer rating:
|
THE STONE MAIDEN
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0425025241 |
Books:
- Stealing Faces
- Stern Men
- Strange Attractions
- Street Players
- Suspicion of Rage
- Tears of a Dragon (Dragons in Our Midst, Volume 4) (The Dragons in Our Midst)
- The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave: How to Recognize the Subtle Signs and Act Before It's Too Late
- The Anubis Gates
- The Big Nap (Mommy-Track Mysteries)
- The Birdcage: A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Manchild in the Promised Land
- Dying to Live
- Transition Metal Carbonyl Cluster Chemistry
- A Painter of Our Time
- Art, Space and the City: Public Art and Urban Futures
- Creative and Mental Growth
- Companero: The Life and Death of Che Guevara
- Gothic: Four Hundred Years of Excess, Horror, Evil and Ruin
- Your Mental Health: A Layman's Guide to the Psychiatrist's Bible
- Yac Libraries: A USER'S GUIDE
