Rubbish, 30 Nov 2008
This book makes a mockery of the whole Twilight series. The first book in the series was brilliant, the second okay, the third better than okay, but this is plain rubbish. The diologue is rubbish, the story is boring and dull and what I hate most *Warning spoiler* is how the character of Jacob imprints on Bella's daughter. It makes his love for Bella a waste of time and this was part of the reason the Twilight saga was so good. The story would have gone a bit better if he had imprinted on someone like Leah. I also found Bella annoying in this book, and sometimes found myself wanting to tell her to shut up.
Overall, a horrible read and I was so happy when I finished it. If you have only read the first three books, leave it at that as if you read this book, it will change how you feel about Bella and Edward. They aren't the same as in the other books and not in a good way.

Thank God that's over., 30 Nov 2008
I loved 'Twilight', but I wish it had just stopped there (or at any rate that I had), because following book 1 this series rapidly succumbs to Series Disease - editor apparently checks out, author rapidly loses the even more rapidly evaporating plot, and everything that made the first book unique and fresh gets repeated until it's formulaic with a vengeance.

Before I started reading this, I chuckled over an amazon reviewer who called it 'emetic', thinking it couldn't be that bad. After 700+ pages, though, I'll not only give him emetic, I'll riff of it too because, given the subject matter, I couldn't help comparing the reading experience with morning sickness: increasingly nauseating, all-consuming, and inevitable. In fact, once I figured out the premise of this book (and really, I never thought she'd stoop so low!), I was tempted to hurl it across the room. Stayed my hand because that would probably have resulted in a broken window (this is a tome of Potter-like proportions - RSI sufferers be warned!)

I hung in there solely because it seemed there would finally be an all-out, blood-and-guts vampire showdown at the end. Rue the misplaced hope! Because instead of the fight the second half of the book seems to promise, we get thirty-odd pages of vampirical squabbling, which culminates in the bad guys - and the Volturi had SUCH potential as bad guys! - stomping off in a snit because...well actually, I'm not really sure why. It had something to do with their inability to do anything else because then everyone might figure out they're not the righteous vampire police they pretend to be. Um, but didn't we already know that?

Oh, never mind. I'm sure my misanthropic reviews can't sway anyone who wants to like these books. And in the end I'm not so much out to trash them as to protest the waste: I mean, aren't vampires bloodthirsty predators first and foremost? Civilised as the Cullens might be in their stately home, it would have added a dimension to, say, Esme, to see her rip Aro's head off. I guess I'll just go back to Buffy and Anne Rice and stay away from teen horror series. For the moment, anyway...

So Disappointed......, 29 Nov 2008
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I have loved the series. Loved Twilight, really enjoyed New Moon and loved Eclipse and then we got Breaking Dawn, which in my opinion was very disappointing. So much so I rushed through the last 200 pages. I just could not be bothered to give it anymore of my time.

I thought the book started off well, and I was really enjoying it. But when a certain unexpected thing happens to Bella, for me it went down hill. I found myself slogging through the book instead of enjoying it.

It felt like I was reading an entirely different book from the series, all the personalities of the characters seem to disappear, and the book just seemed empty and bland. I felt it was far too long and the story was just dragged on and on....
The book should of just ended when they got married, as the rest of it is complete rubbish. Having to slog through so much boring stuff, just to get that perfect ending.

But, although I disliked this book, I'm not going to put Stephenie Meyer down, as I really did enjoy the first three. She gave us Edward, Bella and Jacob. They are three of my most favourite characters. It's such a shame this book didn't live up to the other three (imo).

'Perfect' Bella returns for another crappy book, 27 Nov 2008
One of the most disappointing things about this book was that there was not fight at the end. What was the whole point of building up the climax to the fight with the Volturi if Meyer was just going to let perfect (and extremely annoying) Bella save the day with her brick wall of a brain? The only part of the book that was actually good was Jacob's part considering that he's the only person in the book that has character. Bella somehow manages to end up more perfect that she started off (but her dress sense doesn't improve). Overall, I think the book could have had a better ending and the series, in general, could have been less soppy and plotless.

Complete and Utter Rubbish - A Review By Someone Who Enjoys Reading Too Much to Keep Quiet!!, 25 Nov 2008
I am unfortunately the kind of person who likes to see things through to the end... Normally that is a good thing, but in the case of the Twilight Saga it most certainly is not. What it is, is a complete waste of time. I have to say that I feel quite passionate about this: The Twilight saga is over-hyped trash and nothing more. It pains me to read about all the praise it is getting. It is nothing and I mean NOTHING in comparison to books written for a similar target audience (i.e. Harry potter/His Dark materials). In all honesty, Stephenie Meyer just cannot write. Her style (if you can call it that) is just horrendous. And to think people moaned about JK Rowling! A literary genius by comparison.

Twilight was okay - it started well but went down hill. New Moon was painful to read because I could see the saga begin to fall apart at the seams. Eclipse was less painful than New Moon but still pretty bad... and that brings me to Breaking Dawn.

Absurd, ludicrous, inane and plain stupid. If I could have given it no stars, I would have. I wonder whether anyone else finds Werewolves imprinting on babies to be very disturbing?

Do yourselves a favour and AVOID the saga like the plague. Wuthering Heights, Fire and Hemlock (Dianna Wynne Jones) or even the Nightworld series/Anne Rice books (if you must read something to do with vampires) are much much worthier of people's time and praise.

Rubbish, 30 Nov 2008
This book makes a mockery of the whole Twilight series. The first book in the series was brilliant, the second okay, the third better than okay, but this is plain rubbish. The diologue is rubbish, the story is boring and dull and what I hate most *Warning spoiler* is how the character of Jacob imprints on Bella's daughter. It makes his love for Bella a waste of time and this was part of the reason the Twilight saga was so good. The story would have gone a bit better if he had imprinted on someone like Leah. I also found Bella annoying in this book, and sometimes found myself wanting to tell her to shut up.
Overall, a horrible read and I was so happy when I finished it. If you have only read the first three books, leave it at that as if you read this book, it will change how you feel about Bella and Edward. They aren't the same as in the other books and not in a good way.

Thank God that's over., 30 Nov 2008
I loved 'Twilight', but I wish it had just stopped there (or at any rate that I had), because following book 1 this series rapidly succumbs to Series Disease - editor apparently checks out, author rapidly loses the even more rapidly evaporating plot, and everything that made the first book unique and fresh gets repeated until it's formulaic with a vengeance.

Before I started reading this, I chuckled over an amazon reviewer who called it 'emetic', thinking it couldn't be that bad. After 700+ pages, though, I'll not only give him emetic, I'll riff of it too because, given the subject matter, I couldn't help comparing the reading experience with morning sickness: increasingly nauseating, all-consuming, and inevitable. In fact, once I figured out the premise of this book (and really, I never thought she'd stoop so low!), I was tempted to hurl it across the room. Stayed my hand because that would probably have resulted in a broken window (this is a tome of Potter-like proportions - RSI sufferers be warned!)

I hung in there solely because it seemed there would finally be an all-out, blood-and-guts vampire showdown at the end. Rue the misplaced hope! Because instead of the fight the second half of the book seems to promise, we get thirty-odd pages of vampirical squabbling, which culminates in the bad guys - and the Volturi had SUCH potential as bad guys! - stomping off in a snit because...well actually, I'm not really sure why. It had something to do with their inability to do anything else because then everyone might figure out they're not the righteous vampire police they pretend to be. Um, but didn't we already know that?

Oh, never mind. I'm sure my misanthropic reviews can't sway anyone who wants to like these books. And in the end I'm not so much out to trash them as to protest the waste: I mean, aren't vampires bloodthirsty predators first and foremost? Civilised as the Cullens might be in their stately home, it would have added a dimension to, say, Esme, to see her rip Aro's head off. I guess I'll just go back to Buffy and Anne Rice and stay away from teen horror series. For the moment, anyway...

So Disappointed......, 29 Nov 2008
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I have loved the series. Loved Twilight, really enjoyed New Moon and loved Eclipse and then we got Breaking Dawn, which in my opinion was very disappointing. So much so I rushed through the last 200 pages. I just could not be bothered to give it anymore of my time.

I thought the book started off well, and I was really enjoying it. But when a certain unexpected thing happens to Bella, for me it went down hill. I found myself slogging through the book instead of enjoying it.

It felt like I was reading an entirely different book from the series, all the personalities of the characters seem to disappear, and the book just seemed empty and bland. I felt it was far too long and the story was just dragged on and on....
The book should of just ended when they got married, as the rest of it is complete rubbish. Having to slog through so much boring stuff, just to get that perfect ending.

But, although I disliked this book, I'm not going to put Stephenie Meyer down, as I really did enjoy the first three. She gave us Edward, Bella and Jacob. They are three of my most favourite characters. It's such a shame this book didn't live up to the other three (imo).

'Perfect' Bella returns for another crappy book, 27 Nov 2008
One of the most disappointing things about this book was that there was not fight at the end. What was the whole point of building up the climax to the fight with the Volturi if Meyer was just going to let perfect (and extremely annoying) Bella save the day with her brick wall of a brain? The only part of the book that was actually good was Jacob's part considering that he's the only person in the book that has character. Bella somehow manages to end up more perfect that she started off (but her dress sense doesn't improve). Overall, I think the book could have had a better ending and the series, in general, could have been less soppy and plotless.

Complete and Utter Rubbish - A Review By Someone Who Enjoys Reading Too Much to Keep Quiet!!, 25 Nov 2008
I am unfortunately the kind of person who likes to see things through to the end... Normally that is a good thing, but in the case of the Twilight Saga it most certainly is not. What it is, is a complete waste of time. I have to say that I feel quite passionate about this: The Twilight saga is over-hyped trash and nothing more. It pains me to read about all the praise it is getting. It is nothing and I mean NOTHING in comparison to books written for a similar target audience (i.e. Harry potter/His Dark materials). In all honesty, Stephenie Meyer just cannot write. Her style (if you can call it that) is just horrendous. And to think people moaned about JK Rowling! A literary genius by comparison.

Twilight was okay - it started well but went down hill. New Moon was painful to read because I could see the saga begin to fall apart at the seams. Eclipse was less painful than New Moon but still pretty bad... and that brings me to Breaking Dawn.

Absurd, ludicrous, inane and plain stupid. If I could have given it no stars, I would have. I wonder whether anyone else finds Werewolves imprinting on babies to be very disturbing?

Do yourselves a favour and AVOID the saga like the plague. Wuthering Heights, Fire and Hemlock (Dianna Wynne Jones) or even the Nightworld series/Anne Rice books (if you must read something to do with vampires) are much much worthier of people's time and praise.

Not what I expected., 03 Dec 2008
I only gave this book 4 stars as I was expecting the usual side-splitting TP novel. It wasn't. It was still funny but not laugh-out-loud (except perhaps the shark story) and it didn't have the twisting and turning plots of his other novels. It was also fairly obvious where the story was going but what made it magical was the way in which the story was told. It's basically a story of growing up and the responsibility that brings but TP has such a creative way of explaining things that you won't be disappointed even if you did buy it like me expecting hours of hilarity. It's been a few weeks now since I read the book but I'm continually finding myself thinking about it. A book that makes you think about things is a good book. I'm glad I read it. Thank you TP. Can we have a Granny & Nanny one next though? We all need a bit of cheering up. xx

Pratchett at his most thoughtful, 02 Dec 2008
Terry Pratchett had been talking about a book called Nation he'd really wanted to write for almost half a decade when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. According to rumour, he'd already begun working on the next Tiffany Aching Discworld novel, I Shall Wear Midnight, but upon hearing the news he dropped it immediately to make sure Nation was written first.

Nation is not a Discworld novel, but is instead set in an alternate history very similar to our own late 19th Century when the British Empire was at its height. A tidal wave sweeps across the Great Southern Pelargic Ocean (the South Pacific) and wipes out the tribal civilisation of the Mothering Sunday Islands. In particular, the island simply known as the Nation is totally destroyed, apart from a single young man named Mau. Mau finds himself alone on his island, until he discovers the crashed remains of a foreign ship and a pale-skinned young woman who initially tries to kill him, but later invites him to tea. Soon refugees from the crisis gather on the island, and Mau realises he has the choice to rebuild the old world, or choose to do something new with his nation...

Nation is Pratchett's most serious book since his 1992 classic, Small Gods. In fact, it shares some similarities with that book and acts as another treatise on faith, religion, atheism and morality. It is slower and more thoughtful than that earlier novel, where a younger and more angry Pratchett was in full-on fiery condemnation of blind fundamentalism, but works well due to those contrasts. It isn't as funny as a typical Pratchett book, although there are a few chuckles to be found here and there, particularly what appears to be a clever inverting of one of the premises of the TV show Lost in the final chapter and epilogue. However, it is also a more spiritual book, which is interesting given Pratchett gives New Age ideas pretty short shrift in his other books. But here things happen that can't be easily explained away by science, and it's debatable whether this is Pratchett perhaps considering things in a different light or simply a facet of this world which is different to our own (and is quite reminiscent of the gods in Discworld who exist purely because people believe in them, not the other way around).

Nation is being marketed as a YA novel, but it really isn't. It's depiction of tragedy and death in the opening chapters is pretty unflinching, and occasional moments of blood and cruelty abound throughout its length. Also, the central themes are pretty weighty and not something I see young children really getting into. However, for the adult reader Nation is an interesting and thought-provoking read which raises many interesting ideas and questions, whilst remaining entertaining and well-characterised.

Nation (****) is available in the UK from Doubleday and, with a spectacularly awful cover, in the USA from HaperCollins.

Disappointing, 28 Nov 2008
As a great Pratchett fan I found this book bitterly disappointing. It drops everything that Pratchett is good at. There were no intricate plot, no strong characters and didn't have the magic that we have come to expect from such a great writer. I actually had trouble motivating myself to finish this book.

Island of Hope? , 11 Nov 2008
Pratchett's books for young people have a tendency to reach beyond the intended age group and are just as enjoyable and relevant for adults. His latest novel, "Nation", is no exception. Anybody who has read his Tiffany Aching books will also know that Pratchett also has a fondness for headstrong young girls, delighting in exemplifying how they grow more or less smoothly into maturity. In this delightful novel Daphne, or Ermintrude as she was named by her family, is another example. Just for the pleasure of meeting her, the book would be worth reading... but there is so much more to explore here.

Thirteen-year-old Daphne is pretty, smart and well-educated, and loved by her aristocratic father. After the death of her mother, she was brought up by her strict grandmother, who instils in her a sense of values and responsibility but also, unintentionally, inquisitiveness and independence of mind. She is the counter part to Mau, also thirteen, and the actual hero of the story. His Nation, a small island in the South Pelagic Ocean is a traditional, pre-industrial society where gods reign and the spirits of the grandfathers maintain the ritualistic order by communicating their instructions to the selected few. While on "Boy's island", where he had been preparing for the rites of passage into manhood ceremony, Mau was oblivious to the tsunami of unheard of proportion that swept over lands and islands. The village had assembled on the beach for his return and celebration when the wave swept them away, leaving a trail of destruction. He reaches Nation in the aftermath of the disaster and discovers that he is all alone. Well, not quite... The ship that was to bring Daphne to her father in Port Mercia stranded on Mau's island leaving her with only a talkative parrot for company.

The story follows the two young people from worlds apart - without a common language and even gestures - who have to overcome their mutual suspicion and distrust and grow individually and together to become the centre of a new community as survivors from surrounding islands and from further afield seeking refuge with them. With great sensitivity and imagination, Pratchett explores the coming of age process in both. He exquisitely tackles the conflicts in Mau's mind between his old society steeped in mythology and hierarchy and the new reality where beliefs and rituals have to be questioned and new codes of morality be established. Daphne also has to develop a new understanding of society where class and privilege have no meaning. There are any number of challenges the young people have to face, starting with finding food and milk for a baby. There are pirates and renegades to deal with and much more... Can they, together with the diverse collections of refugees build a better and more hopeful Nation?

Pratchett's style is as always fluid and smooth, his imagery perceptive and innovative. His sense of humour, mostly subtle, shines through many sections. There are a few slow sections that a young person might skim over searching for the action on the next page. For adults the novel has many layers of narrative, food for thought on our perceptions of cultures, traditions and communication. [Friederike Knabe]


The new Terry Pratchett, 10 Nov 2008
This new book is definetly not Diskworld it seems that Terry has moved away from his usual writing and produced yet another great book with his talent,
This book follows a tale of devistation from what seems to be a tsumai on an island a boy arrives back to his island after being away to find everything he has known wiped out and sets out on building his island up again.. without giving away the plot and ultimatly the end this book is a bit morish , Has what I think chapters that tend to be far too long at times, and a very tear jerking end to the story BUT could of done without the very end chapter which makes me think this book was made to be made into a film (Though if it was then this book if acted by very good actors would make a very good film)

If your reading this Mr Pratchett

Well done Terry I enjoyed it!!

The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini -- of which Brisingr is the latest -- shows every sign of becoming one of the most exuberant and entertaining fiction sequences in modern writing, with a scope and ambition that genuinely takes the breath away. This is a fantasy world which is cleverly designed to appeal to the widest possible range of readership; the inevitable echoes of JRR Tolkien are transformed into something rich and strange here, and the events of the earlier books are being drawn together in the later developments with masterly assurance.

After the massive, punishing battle against the Warriors of the Empire, Eragon and Saphira are licking their wounds, having barely survived. The Rider and his dragon have an oath to fulfil; they must aid Katrina in escaping the most terrible danger. What follows is an epic journey, quite as action-packed and vividly described as anything in fantasy fiction. As in all the best such literature, the odds are overwhelming, nothing can be taken at face value, and the evil forces ranged against the protagonists are as vile as one could wish.

Christopher Paolini clearly now feels that he has readers securely in his pocket, and is prepared to take his time to achieve some of his best effects -- a tactic that pays dividends. So often with fantasy fiction, outlandish situations are relied upon to carry the action, and there is no shortage of them here. But Paolini is canny enough to realise that the characterisation of an endangered protagonist is crucial to maintain our involvement, and (as in previous books), he always takes care of business in this regard. Don't be put off by the daunting length of this book -- Paolini justifies every word in Brisingr. You'll find yourself reading it as quickly as many a shorter book. --Barry Forshaw

Rubbish, 30 Nov 2008
This book makes a mockery of the whole Twilight series. The first book in the series was brilliant, the second okay, the third better than okay, but this is plain rubbish. The diologue is rubbish, the story is boring and dull and what I hate most *Warning spoiler* is how the character of Jacob imprints on Bella's daughter. It makes his love for Bella a waste of time and this was part of the reason the Twilight saga was so good. The story would have gone a bit better if he had imprinted on someone like Leah. I also found Bella annoying in this book, and sometimes found myself wanting to tell her to shut up.
Overall, a horrible read and I was so happy when I finished it. If you have only read the first three books, leave it at that as if you read this book, it will change how you feel about Bella and Edward. They aren't the same as in the other books and not in a good way.

Thank God that's over., 30 Nov 2008
I loved 'Twilight', but I wish it had just stopped there (or at any rate that I had), because following book 1 this series rapidly succumbs to Series Disease - editor apparently checks out, author rapidly loses the even more rapidly evaporating plot, and everything that made the first book unique and fresh gets repeated until it's formulaic with a vengeance.

Before I started reading this, I chuckled over an amazon reviewer who called it 'emetic', thinking it couldn't be that bad. After 700+ pages, though, I'll not only give him emetic, I'll riff of it too because, given the subject matter, I couldn't help comparing the reading experience with morning sickness: increasingly nauseating, all-consuming, and inevitable. In fact, once I figured out the premise of this book (and really, I never thought she'd stoop so low!), I was tempted to hurl it across the room. Stayed my hand because that would probably have resulted in a broken window (this is a tome of Potter-like proportions - RSI sufferers be warned!)

I hung in there solely because it seemed there would finally be an all-out, blood-and-guts vampire showdown at the end. Rue the misplaced hope! Because instead of the fight the second half of the book seems to promise, we get thirty-odd pages of vampirical squabbling, which culminates in the bad guys - and the Volturi had SUCH potential as bad guys! - stomping off in a snit because...well actually, I'm not really sure why. It had something to do with their inability to do anything else because then everyone might figure out they're not the righteous vampire police they pretend to be. Um, but didn't we already know that?

Oh, never mind. I'm sure my misanthropic reviews can't sway anyone who wants to like these books. And in the end I'm not so much out to trash them as to protest the waste: I mean, aren't vampires bloodthirsty predators first and foremost? Civilised as the Cullens might be in their stately home, it would have added a dimension to, say, Esme, to see her rip Aro's head off. I guess I'll just go back to Buffy and Anne Rice and stay away from teen horror series. For the moment, anyway...

So Disappointed......, 29 Nov 2008
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I have loved the series. Loved Twilight, really enjoyed New Moon and loved Eclipse and then we got Breaking Dawn, which in my opinion was very disappointing. So much so I rushed through the last 200 pages. I just could not be bothered to give it anymore of my time.

I thought the book started off well, and I was really enjoying it. But when a certain unexpected thing happens to Bella, for me it went down hill. I found myself slogging through the book instead of enjoying it.

It felt like I was reading an entirely different book from the series, all the personalities of the characters seem to disappear, and the book just seemed empty and bland. I felt it was far too long and the story was just dragged on and on....
The book should of just ended when they got married, as the rest of it is complete rubbish. Having to slog through so much boring stuff, just to get that perfect ending.

But, although I disliked this book, I'm not going to put Stephenie Meyer down, as I really did enjoy the first three. She gave us Edward, Bella and Jacob. They are three of my most favourite characters. It's such a shame this book didn't live up to the other three (imo).

'Perfect' Bella returns for another crappy book, 27 Nov 2008
One of the most disappointing things about this book was that there was not fight at the end. What was the whole point of building up the climax to the fight with the Volturi if Meyer was just going to let perfect (and extremely annoying) Bella save the day with her brick wall of a brain? The only part of the book that was actually good was Jacob's part considering that he's the only person in the book that has character. Bella somehow manages to end up more perfect that she started off (but her dress sense doesn't improve). Overall, I think the book could have had a better ending and the series, in general, could have been less soppy and plotless.

Complete and Utter Rubbish - A Review By Someone Who Enjoys Reading Too Much to Keep Quiet!!, 25 Nov 2008
I am unfortunately the kind of person who likes to see things through to the end... Normally that is a good thing, but in the case of the Twilight Saga it most certainly is not. What it is, is a complete waste of time. I have to say that I feel quite passionate about this: The Twilight saga is over-hyped trash and nothing more. It pains me to read about all the praise it is getting. It is nothing and I mean NOTHING in comparison to books written for a similar target audience (i.e. Harry potter/His Dark materials). In all honesty, Stephenie Meyer just cannot write. Her style (if you can call it that) is just horrendous. And to think people moaned about JK Rowling! A literary genius by comparison.

Twilight was okay - it started well but went down hill. New Moon was painful to read because I could see the saga begin to fall apart at the seams. Eclipse was less painful than New Moon but still pretty bad... and that brings me to Breaking Dawn.

Absurd, ludicrous, inane and plain stupid. If I could have given it no stars, I would have. I wonder whether anyone else finds Werewolves imprinting on babies to be very disturbing?

Do yourselves a favour and AVOID the saga like the plague. Wuthering Heights, Fire and Hemlock (Dianna Wynne Jones) or even the Nightworld series/Anne Rice books (if you must read something to do with vampires) are much much worthier of people's time and praise.

Not what I expected., 03 Dec 2008
I only gave this book 4 stars as I was expecting the usual side-splitting TP novel. It wasn't. It was still funny but not laugh-out-loud (except perhaps the shark story) and it didn't have the twisting and turning plots of his other novels. It was also fairly obvious where the story was going but what made it magical was the way in which the story was told. It's basically a story of growing up and the responsibility that brings but TP has such a creative way of explaining things that you won't be disappointed even if you did buy it like me expecting hours of hilarity. It's been a few weeks now since I read the book but I'm continually finding myself thinking about it. A book that makes you think about things is a good book. I'm glad I read it. Thank you TP. Can we have a Granny & Nanny one next though? We all need a bit of cheering up. xx

Pratchett at his most thoughtful, 02 Dec 2008
Terry Pratchett had been talking about a book called Nation he'd really wanted to write for almost half a decade when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. According to rumour, he'd already begun working on the next Tiffany Aching Discworld novel, I Shall Wear Midnight, but upon hearing the news he dropped it immediately to make sure Nation was written first.

Nation is not a Discworld novel, but is instead set in an alternate history very similar to our own late 19th Century when the British Empire was at its height. A tidal wave sweeps across the Great Southern Pelargic Ocean (the South Pacific) and wipes out the tribal civilisation of the Mothering Sunday Islands. In particular, the island simply known as the Nation is totally destroyed, apart from a single young man named Mau. Mau finds himself alone on his island, until he discovers the crashed remains of a foreign ship and a pale-skinned young woman who initially tries to kill him, but later invites him to tea. Soon refugees from the crisis gather on the island, and Mau realises he has the choice to rebuild the old world, or choose to do something new with his nation...

Nation is Pratchett's most serious book since his 1992 classic, Small Gods. In fact, it shares some similarities with that book and acts as another treatise on faith, religion, atheism and morality. It is slower and more thoughtful than that earlier novel, where a younger and more angry Pratchett was in full-on fiery condemnation of blind fundamentalism, but works well due to those contrasts. It isn't as funny as a typical Pratchett book, although there are a few chuckles to be found here and there, particularly what appears to be a clever inverting of one of the premises of the TV show Lost in the final chapter and epilogue. However, it is also a more spiritual book, which is interesting given Pratchett gives New Age ideas pretty short shrift in his other books. But here things happen that can't be easily explained away by science, and it's debatable whether this is Pratchett perhaps considering things in a different light or simply a facet of this world which is different to our own (and is quite reminiscent of the gods in Discworld who exist purely because people believe in them, not the other way around).

Nation is being marketed as a YA novel, but it really isn't. It's depiction of tragedy and death in the opening chapters is pretty unflinching, and occasional moments of blood and cruelty abound throughout its length. Also, the central themes are pretty weighty and not something I see young children really getting into. However, for the adult reader Nation is an interesting and thought-provoking read which raises many interesting ideas and questions, whilst remaining entertaining and well-characterised.

Nation (****) is available in the UK from Doubleday and, with a spectacularly awful cover, in the USA from HaperCollins.

Disappointing, 28 Nov 2008
As a great Pratchett fan I found this book bitterly disappointing. It drops everything that Pratchett is good at. There were no intricate plot, no strong characters and didn't have the magic that we have come to expect from such a great writer. I actually had trouble motivating myself to finish this book.

Island of Hope? , 11 Nov 2008
Pratchett's books for young people have a tendency to reach beyond the intended age group and are just as enjoyable and relevant for adults. His latest novel, "Nation", is no exception. Anybody who has read his Tiffany Aching books will also know that Pratchett also has a fondness for headstrong young girls, delighting in exemplifying how they grow more or less smoothly into maturity. In this delightful novel Daphne, or Ermintrude as she was named by her family, is another example. Just for the pleasure of meeting her, the book would be worth reading... but there is so much more to explore here.

Thirteen-year-old Daphne is pretty, smart and well-educated, and loved by her aristocratic father. After the death of her mother, she was brought up by her strict grandmother, who instils in her a sense of values and responsibility but also, unintentionally, inquisitiveness and independence of mind. She is the counter part to Mau, also thirteen, and the actual hero of the story. His Nation, a small island in the South Pelagic Ocean is a traditional, pre-industrial society where gods reign and the spirits of the grandfathers maintain the ritualistic order by communicating their instructions to the selected few. While on "Boy's island", where he had been preparing for the rites of passage into manhood ceremony, Mau was oblivious to the tsunami of unheard of proportion that swept over lands and islands. The village had assembled on the beach for his return and celebration when the wave swept them away, leaving a trail of destruction. He reaches Nation in the aftermath of the disaster and discovers that he is all alone. Well, not quite... The ship that was to bring Daphne to her father in Port Mercia stranded on Mau's island leaving her with only a talkative parrot for company.

The story follows the two young people from worlds apart - without a common language and even gestures - who have to overcome their mutual suspicion and distrust and grow individually and together to become the centre of a new community as survivors from surrounding islands and from further afield seeking refuge with them. With great sensitivity and imagination, Pratchett explores the coming of age process in both. He exquisitely tackles the conflicts in Mau's mind between his old society steeped in mythology and hierarchy and the new reality where beliefs and rituals have to be questioned and new codes of morality be established. Daphne also has to develop a new understanding of society where class and privilege have no meaning. There are any number of challenges the young people have to face, starting with finding food and milk for a baby. There are pirates and renegades to deal with and much more... Can they, together with the diverse collections of refugees build a better and more hopeful Nation?

Pratchett's style is as always fluid and smooth, his imagery perceptive and innovative. His sense of humour, mostly subtle, shines through many sections. There are a few slow sections that a young person might skim over searching for the action on the next page. For adults the novel has many layers of narrative, food for thought on our perceptions of cultures, traditions and communication. [Friederike Knabe]


The new Terry Pratchett, 10 Nov 2008
This new book is definetly not Diskworld it seems that Terry has moved away from his usual writing and produced yet another great book with his talent,
This book follows a tale of devistation from what seems to be a tsumai on an island a boy arrives back to his island after being away to find everything he has known wiped out and sets out on building his island up again.. without giving away the plot and ultimatly the end this book is a bit morish , Has what I think chapters that tend to be far too long at times, and a very tear jerking end to the story BUT could of done without the very end chapter which makes me think this book was made to be made into a film (Though if it was then this book if acted by very good actors would make a very good film)

If your reading this Mr Pratchett

Well done Terry I enjoyed it!!

in need of an editor, 03 Dec 2008
this book drags on and on without actually going anywhere, and was incredibly boring, around 600 pages are about finding something to eat and getting a sword. suddenly roran has become as powerful as eragon (the book gives no reason) and can kill 200 men with only a hammer while everyone else stands around chatting. this book is not the last in the series and doesn't add anything really so avoid it and buy the next one (the conclusion)if you like this series. you wont have missed anything

dissapointing-, 03 Dec 2008
What was so surprising about the first two novels was the maturity of Paolini's writing. His world and character development was charming and beautiful. Unfortunately all the magic from the fist two books seem to get lost in this third (and unfortunately not the final) book.
There are moments that I enjoyed the book but it just felt like this was a money making scheme- an extra book to cash in. Had this been the final of the promised "trilogy" then this could have been a memorable series, unfortunately it is longwinded and a bit bland. I really loved the first two books and I really hope that the last will resque, what up to this book, has been a beautiful series.


The best book I have ever red!, 27 Nov 2008
Thank You very much to write so lovely book. It's the best book I have ever red!


Don't give up...start on page 600(ish)!!, 25 Nov 2008
Okay...I'll try to be critical with this review:

1) Plot:
Well the story moves at a lethargic pace from the beginning.! It starts off where Eldest ended. We learn a few twists to the plot in the end which should be interesting to read in the fourth book. However, the plot is wafer-thin, consisting of lots of annoyingly irrelevant conversations that seem to drag. Morals and magic...ZZZZzzzzzz

2) Characters:
Well the characters don't leave much of an impression. Nasauda is really annoying. The whole knives challenge thing was a bit over the top. Eragon still seems to be weak. I just expected him to be a bit more of a warrior type figure by now...

3) Length:
Too long!! How did this book get approved for publishing!?!? It's actually been edited (there's a message at the end). Couldn't imagine this one any longer.

4) Conclusion:
This book should have been rated one star. But because the book gets better from page 600ish I've given it two. The ending is quite good, but not worth the torturous task of getting through the first 600ish pages.

Someone needs to re-edit this book.

The tale that seems to go on and on...and on....and on?, 24 Nov 2008
My initial impressions upon hearing that the previously named Inheritance trilogy had been repackaged as a cycle [collection of 4] was that of cautious optimism. Somewhat optimistically, I was pleased with the extension of what has shown to be a relatively promising fantasy series thus far. Yet I was also wary of, that which a previous reviewer has alluded too, 'cash cow' syndrome.

To put the case bluntly, Paolini stretches the limits of my good graces when it comes to putting up with inane musings in fantasy literature. It is a given that all books based on fictional events and make-believe worlds will have have a certain amount of story setting in order to bring the reader properly into the 'right of things'. You cannot, or at least if you intend for it to read well, simply pop the characters from point A to point B without suitable explanation. This rings a note of particular importance in epic fantasy. Veterans will understand the importance of quests and journeys in character building, yet there is very little of this in Brisingr. A symbolic tree to Paolini is never a tree, instead he produces endless preachy diatribe about how important it is that in *his* book *he* regards it as a tall perennial woody plant; this of course means that everything he writes is remarkably deep and meaningfully...right.

Characters seem remarkably 2-D throughout, Nasuada is a particular dislike of mine - considerably more authoritative and demanding towards and of the protagonist - yet to no particular end. Common sense dictates that what she is doing is idiotic, yet he still rolls over and takes it anyway. Gone is the outspoken and individual character of the first two books, enter generic drone with the morality of a bishop. You may deem this as insignificant, yet it makes the story remarkably hard to read - Arya, written in as the fey elf, now becomes the somewhat pathetically detached and damaged recluse.

The same applies to almost all of the existing and new characters within this chapter of Paolini's work; a complete and rather catastrophic failure to keep the 'readability' element going strong. Some will try to excuse this as 'a filler - holding out until the brilliantly crafted conclusion that nobody will ever expect', yet there is no excuse for this [even if everybody didn't already know that his work is about as unpredictable as a stick]. There should never be a reason for something like this - it is an affront to what could have been a gripping third installment, rather than the rather unreadable thing in front of me. To cap it all off, we see what I can only assume is a new trend [I would hope - I can't seem to find it in the first two, and I don't think I'm going mad] of Paolini's to attempt to write in a style similar to that of a badly produced BBC television series on the medieval period; lots of 'thous' and 'smites'. It is all most disconcerting.

I suppose that telling you to not to buy this would be a waste of time, after all - perhaps we can all hope that the fourth installment will be better - it is difficult to believe dismissive reviews on a book that attempts to follow on from the much better written prequels or indeed on a book that is midway through a rather extensive story. Fans of the series will inevitably buy it, as did I, and draw their own conclusions about it. Yet this is one fan that felt he just had to laugh at the whole thing, whether it is out of indulgent amusement for one who managed to mess up on his latest work, or instead a sense of frustrated disbelief at an author that has let his own reputation instill him with an undeserved confidence in his writing, I do not know.

What I will tell you though is that no matter how many times he attempts to connect the words 'Paolini' and 'As good as the Dragon Series of Pern' in a paragraph, it is all one rather laughable, distressing and strangely disappointing lie.

2/5

Rubbish, 30 Nov 2008
This book makes a mockery of the whole Twilight series. The first book in the series was brilliant, the second okay, the third better than okay, but this is plain rubbish. The diologue is rubbish, the story is boring and dull and what I hate most *Warning spoiler* is how the character of Jacob imprints on Bella's daughter. It makes his love for Bella a waste of time and this was part of the reason the Twilight saga was so good. The story would have gone a bit better if he had imprinted on someone like Leah. I also found Bella annoying in this book, and sometimes found myself wanting to tell her to shut up.
Overall, a horrible read and I was so happy when I finished it. If you have only read the first three books, leave it at that as if you read this book, it will change how you feel about Bella and Edward. They aren't the same as in the other books and not in a good way.

Thank God that's over., 30 Nov 2008
I loved 'Twilight', but I wish it had just stopped there (or at any rate that I had), because following book 1 this series rapidly succumbs to Series Disease - editor apparently checks out, author rapidly loses the even more rapidly evaporating plot, and everything that made the first book unique and fresh gets repeated until it's formulaic with a vengeance.

Before I started reading this, I chuckled over an amazon reviewer who called it 'emetic', thinking it couldn't be that bad. After 700+ pages, though, I'll not only give him emetic, I'll riff of it too because, given the subject matter, I couldn't help comparing the reading experience with morning sickness: increasingly nauseating, all-consuming, and inevitable. In fact, once I figured out the premise of this book (and really, I never thought she'd stoop so low!), I was tempted to hurl it across the room. Stayed my hand because that would probably have resulted in a broken window (this is a tome of Potter-like proportions - RSI sufferers be warned!)

I hung in there solely because it seemed there would finally be an all-out, blood-and-guts vampire showdown at the end. Rue the misplaced hope! Because instead of the fight the second half of the book seems to promise, we get thirty-odd pages of vampirical squabbling, which culminates in the bad guys - and the Volturi had SUCH potential as bad guys! - stomping off in a snit because...well actually, I'm not really sure why. It had something to do with their inability to do anything else because then everyone might figure out they're not the righteous vampire police they pretend to be. Um, but didn't we already know that?

Oh, never mind. I'm sure my misanthropic reviews can't sway anyone who wants to like these books. And in the end I'm not so much out to trash them as to protest the waste: I mean, aren't vampires bloodthirsty predators first and foremost? Civilised as the Cullens might be in their stately home, it would have added a dimension to, say, Esme, to see her rip Aro's head off. I guess I'll just go back to Buffy and Anne Rice and stay away from teen horror series. For the moment, anyway...

So Disappointed......, 29 Nov 2008
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I have loved the series. Loved Twilight, really enjoyed New Moon and loved Eclipse and then we got Breaking Dawn, which in my opinion was very disappointing. So much so I rushed through the last 200 pages. I just could not be bothered to give it anymore of my time.

I thought the book started off well, and I was really enjoying it. But when a certain unexpected thing happens to Bella, for me it went down hill. I found myself slogging through the book instead of enjoying it.

It felt like I was reading an entirely different book from the series, all the personalities of the characters seem to disappear, and the book just seemed empty and bland. I felt it was far too long and the story was just dragged on and on....
The book should of just ended when they got married, as the rest of it is complete rubbish. Having to slog through so much boring stuff, just to get that perfect ending.

But, although I disliked this book, I'm not going to put Stephenie Meyer down, as I really did enjoy the first three. She gave us Edward, Bella and Jacob. They are three of my most favourite characters. It's such a shame this book didn't live up to the other three (imo).

'Perfect' Bella returns for another crappy book, 27 Nov 2008
One of the most disappointing things about this book was that there was not fight at the end. What was the whole point of building up the climax to the fight with the Volturi if Meyer was just going to let perfect (and extremely annoying) Bella save the day with her brick wall of a brain? The only part of the book that was actually good was Jacob's part considering that he's the only person in the book that has character. Bella somehow manages to end up more perfect that she started off (but her dress sense doesn't improve). Overall, I think the book could have had a better ending and the series, in general, could have been less soppy and plotless.

Complete and Utter Rubbish - A Review By Someone Who Enjoys Reading Too Much to Keep Quiet!!, 25 Nov 2008
I am unfortunately the kind of person who likes to see things through to the end... Normally that is a good thing, but in the case of the Twilight Saga it most certainly is not. What it is, is a complete waste of time. I have to say that I feel quite passionate about this: The Twilight saga is over-hyped trash and nothing more. It pains me to read about all the praise it is getting. It is nothing and I mean NOTHING in comparison to books written for a similar target audience (i.e. Harry potter/His Dark materials). In all honesty, Stephenie Meyer just cannot write. Her style (if you can call it that) is just horrendous. And to think people moaned about JK Rowling! A literary genius by comparison.

Twilight was okay - it started well but went down hill. New Moon was painful to read because I could see the saga begin to fall apart at the seams. Eclipse was less painful than New Moon but still pretty bad... and that brings me to Breaking Dawn.

Absurd, ludicrous, inane and plain stupid. If I could have given it no stars, I would have. I wonder whether anyone else finds Werewolves imprinting on babies to be very disturbing?

Do yourselves a favour and AVOID the saga like the plague. Wuthering Heights, Fire and Hemlock (Dianna Wynne Jones) or even the Nightworld series/Anne Rice books (if you must read something to do with vampires) are much much worthier of people's time and praise.

Not what I expected., 03 Dec 2008
I only gave this book 4 stars as I was expecting the usual side-splitting TP novel. It wasn't. It was still funny but not laugh-out-loud (except perhaps the shark story) and it didn't have the twisting and turning plots of his other novels. It was also fairly obvious where the story was going but what made it magical was the way in which the story was told. It's basically a story of growing up and the responsibility that brings but TP has such a creative way of explaining things that you won't be disappointed even if you did buy it like me expecting hours of hilarity. It's been a few weeks now since I read the book but I'm continually finding myself thinking about it. A book that makes you think about things is a good book. I'm glad I read it. Thank you TP. Can we have a Granny & Nanny one next though? We all need a bit of cheering up. xx

Pratchett at his most thoughtful, 02 Dec 2008
Terry Pratchett had been talking about a book called Nation he'd really wanted to write for almost half a decade when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. According to rumour, he'd already begun working on the next Tiffany Aching Discworld novel, I Shall Wear Midnight, but upon hearing the news he dropped it immediately to make sure Nation was written first.

Nation is not a Discworld novel, but is instead set in an alternate history very similar to our own late 19th Century when the British Empire was at its height. A tidal wave sweeps across the Great Southern Pelargic Ocean (the South Pacific) and wipes out the tribal civilisation of the Mothering Sunday Islands. In particular, the island simply known as the Nation is totally destroyed, apart from a single young man named Mau. Mau finds himself alone on his island, until he discovers the crashed remains of a foreign ship and a pale-skinned young woman who initially tries to kill him, but later invites him to tea. Soon refugees from the crisis gather on the island, and Mau realises he has the choice to rebuild the old world, or choose to do something new with his nation...

Nation is Pratchett's most serious book since his 1992 classic, Small Gods. In fact, it shares some similarities with that book and acts as another treatise on faith, religion, atheism and morality. It is slower and more thoughtful than that earlier novel, where a younger and more angry Pratchett was in full-on fiery condemnation of blind fundamentalism, but works well due to those contrasts. It isn't as funny as a typical Pratchett book, although there are a few chuckles to be found here and there, particularly what appears to be a clever inverting of one of the premises of the TV show Lost in the final chapter and epilogue. However, it is also a more spiritual book, which is interesting given Pratchett gives New Age ideas pretty short shrift in his other books. But here things happen that can't be easily explained away by science, and it's debatable whether this is Pratchett perhaps considering things in a different light or simply a facet of this world which is different to our own (and is quite reminiscent of the gods in Discworld who exist purely because people believe in them, not the other way around).

Nation is being marketed as a YA novel, but it really isn't. It's depiction of tragedy and death in the opening chapters is pretty unflinching, and occasional moments of blood and cruelty abound throughout its length. Also, the central themes are pretty weighty and not something I see young children really getting into. However, for the adult reader Nation is an interesting and thought-provoking read which raises many interesting ideas and questions, whilst remaining entertaining and well-characterised.

Nation (****) is available in the UK from Doubleday and, with a spectacularly awful cover, in the USA from HaperCollins.

Disappointing, 28 Nov 2008
As a great Pratchett fan I found this book bitterly disappointing. It drops everything that Pratchett is good at. There were no intricate plot, no strong characters and didn't have the magic that we have come to expect from such a great writer. I actually had trouble motivating myself to finish this book.

Island of Hope? , 11 Nov 2008
Pratchett's books for young people have a tendency to reach beyond the intended age group and are just as enjoyable and relevant for adults. His latest novel, "Nation", is no exception. Anybody who has read his Tiffany Aching books will also know that Pratchett also has a fondness for headstrong young girls, delighting in exemplifying how they grow more or less smoothly into maturity. In this delightful novel Daphne, or Ermintrude as she was named by her family, is another example. Just for the pleasure of meeting her, the book would be worth reading... but there is so much more to explore here.

Thirteen-year-old Daphne is pretty, smart and well-educated, and loved by her aristocratic father. After the death of her mother, she was brought up by her strict grandmother, who instils in her a sense of values and responsibility but also, unintentionally, inquisitiveness and independence of mind. She is the counter part to Mau, also thirteen, and the actual hero of the story. His Nation, a small island in the South Pelagic Ocean is a traditional, pre-industrial society where gods reign and the spirits of the grandfathers maintain the ritualistic order by communicating their instructions to the selected few. While on "Boy's island", where he had been preparing for the rites of passage into manhood ceremony, Mau was oblivious to the tsunami of unheard of proportion that swept over lands and islands. The village had assembled on the beach for his return and celebration when the wave swept them away, leaving a trail of destruction. He reaches Nation in the aftermath of the disaster and discovers that he is all alone. Well, not quite... The ship that was to bring Daphne to her father in Port Mercia stranded on Mau's island leaving her with only a talkative parrot for company.

The story follows the two young people from worlds apart - without a common language and even gestures - who have to overcome their mutual suspicion and distrust and grow individually and together to become the centre of a new community as survivors from surrounding islands and from further afield seeking refuge with them. With great sensitivity and imagination, Pratchett explores the coming of age process in both. He exquisitely tackles the conflicts in Mau's mind between his old society steeped in mythology and hierarchy and the new reality where beliefs and rituals have to be questioned and new codes of morality be established. Daphne also has to develop a new understanding of society where class and privilege have no meaning. There are any number of challenges the young people have to face, starting with finding food and milk for a baby. There are pirates and renegades to deal with and much more... Can they, together with the diverse collections of refugees build a better and more hopeful Nation?

Pratchett's style is as always fluid and smooth, his imagery perceptive and innovative. His sense of humour, mostly subtle, shines through many sections. There are a few slow sections that a young person might skim over searching for the action on the next page. For adults the novel has many layers of narrative, food for thought on our perceptions of cultures, traditions and communication. [Friederike Knabe]


The new Terry Pratchett, 10 Nov 2008
This new book is definetly not Diskworld it seems that Terry has moved away from his usual writing and produced yet another great book with his talent,
This book follows a tale of devistation from what seems to be a tsumai on an island a boy arrives back to his island after being away to find everything he has known wiped out and sets out on building his island up again.. without giving away the plot and ultimatly the end this book is a bit morish , Has what I think chapters that tend to be far too long at times, and a very tear jerking end to the story BUT could of done without the very end chapter which makes me think this book was made to be made into a film (Though if it was then this book if acted by very good actors would make a very good film)

If your reading this Mr Pratchett

Well done Terry I enjoyed it!!

in need of an editor, 03 Dec 2008
this book drags on and on without actually going anywhere, and was incredibly boring, around 600 pages are about finding something to eat and getting a sword. suddenly roran has become as powerful as eragon (the book gives no reason) and can kill 200 men with only a hammer while everyone else stands around chatting. this book is not the last in the series and doesn't add anything really so avoid it and buy the next one (the conclusion)if you like this series. you wont have missed anything

dissapointing-, 03 Dec 2008
What was so surprising about the first two novels was the maturity of Paolini's writing. His world and character development was charming and beautiful. Unfortunately all the magic from the fist two books seem to get lost in this third (and unfortunately not the final) book.
There are moments that I enjoyed the book but it just felt like this was a money making scheme- an extra book to cash in. Had this been the final of the promised "trilogy" then this could have been a memorable series, unfortunately it is longwinded and a bit bland. I really loved the first two books and I really hope that the last will resque, what up to this book, has been a beautiful series.


The best book I have ever red!, 27 Nov 2008
Thank You very much to write so lovely book. It's the best book I have ever red!


Don't give up...start on page 600(ish)!!, 25 Nov 2008
Okay...I'll try to be critical with this review:

1) Plot:
Well the story moves at a lethargic pace from the beginning.! It starts off where Eldest ended. We learn a few twists to the plot in the end which should be interesting to read in the fourth book. However, the plot is wafer-thin, consisting of lots of annoyingly irrelevant conversations that seem to drag. Morals and magic...ZZZZzzzzzz

2) Characters:
Well the characters don't leave much of an impression. Nasauda is really annoying. The whole knives challenge thing was a bit over the top. Eragon still seems to be weak. I just expected him to be a bit more of a warrior type figure by now...

3) Length:
Too long!! How did this book get approved for publishing!?!? It's actually been edited (there's a message at the end). Couldn't imagine this one any longer.

4) Conclusion:
This book should have been rated one star. But because the book gets better from page 600ish I've given it two. The ending is quite good, but not worth the torturous task of getting through the first 600ish pages.

Someone needs to re-edit this book.

The tale that seems to go on and on...and on....and on?, 24 Nov 2008
My initial impressions upon hearing that the previously named Inheritance trilogy had been repackaged as a cycle [collection of 4] was that of cautious optimism. Somewhat optimistically, I was pleased with the extension of what has shown to be a relatively promising fantasy series thus far. Yet I was also wary of, that which a previous reviewer has alluded too, 'cash cow' syndrome.

To put the case bluntly, Paolini stretches the limits of my good graces when it comes to putting up with inane musings in fantasy literature. It is a given that all books based on fictional events and make-believe worlds will have have a certain amount of story setting in order to bring the reader properly into the 'right of things'. You cannot, or at least if you intend for it to read well, simply pop the characters from point A to point B without suitable explanation. This rings a note of particular importance in epic fantasy. Veterans will understand the importance of quests and journeys in character building, yet there is very little of this in Brisingr. A symbolic tree to Paolini is never a tree, instead he produces endless preachy diatribe about how important it is that in *his* book *he* regards it as a tall perennial woody plant; this of course means that everything he writes is remarkably deep and meaningfully...right.

Characters seem remarkably 2-D throughout, Nasuada is a particular dislike of mine - considerably more authoritative and demanding towards and of the protagonist - yet to no particular end. Common sense dictates that what she is doing is idiotic, yet he still rolls over and takes it anyway. Gone is the outspoken and individual character of the first two books, enter generic drone with the morality of a bishop. You may deem this as insignificant, yet it makes the story remarkably hard to read - Arya, written in as the fey elf, now becomes the somewhat pathetically detached and damaged recluse.

The same applies to almost all of the existing and new characters within this chapter of Paolini's work; a complete and rather catastrophic failure to keep the 'readability' element going strong. Some will try to excuse this as 'a filler - holding out until the brilliantly crafted conclusion that nobody will ever expect', yet there is no excuse for this [even if everybody didn't already know that his work is about as unpredictable as a stick]. There should never be a reason for something like this - it is an affront to what could have been a gripping third installment, rather than the rather unreadable thing in front of me. To cap it all off, we see what I can only assume is a new trend [I would hope - I can't seem to find it in the first two, and I don't think I'm going mad] of Paolini's to attempt to write in a style similar to that of a badly produced BBC television series on the medieval period; lots of 'thous' and 'smites'. It is all most disconcerting.

I suppose that telling you to not to buy this would be a waste of time, after all - perhaps we can all hope that the fourth installment will be better - it is difficult to believe dismissive reviews on a book that attempts to follow on from the much better written prequels or indeed on a book that is midway through a rather extensive story. Fans of the series will inevitably buy it, as did I, and draw their own conclusions about it. Yet this is one fan that felt he just had to laugh at the whole thing, whether it is out of indulgent amusement for one who managed to mess up on his latest work, or instead a sense of frustrated disbelief at an author that has let his own reputation instill him with an undeserved confidence in his writing, I do not know.

What I will tell you though is that no matter how many times he attempts to connect the words 'Paolini' and 'As good as the Dragon Series of Pern' in a paragraph, it is all one rather laughable, distressing and strangely disappointing lie.

2/5

Great story, nice user friendly packaging, 18 Oct 2008
I think my title says it all, this episode 5 of Chronicles of Ancient Darkness is classic for 21st Century. At present pricing, the six disc set at less then £10 delivered, is very good value. Unlike other Audio CDs the packaging is well made and lends itself to repetative listening. The story is very well read with full character voices. I must say this story is getting quite 'dark' now, so some Parents may wish to sample it first. That said, I believe Adults and children will really enjoy it. Enjoy!

Waited a year for Oath Breaker. Now another for Ghost Hunter., 08 Oct 2008
I waited a year for this book, but it was definatley worth the wait. So much happens in this one, and a few things are answered.
An excellent fifth installment to the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. In my opinion, the best of the series so far.
I will probably re-read this and the previous four I own repeatedly, until next September, when the final book comes out.

I waited a year for this, and I wasn't disappointed..., 06 Oct 2008
When I first read Wolf Brother, I thought WOW, this is seriously good. I've collected and read all the books since, and I'm over halfway through Oathbreaker. And it's brilliant.

I'll try not to give out too many spoilers, but this is one of the darkest installments so far, with Torak desperate for revenge after one of his closest friends is murdered by the Soul-Eaters. There's no hanging around in the story, already there's a huge amount of action before you've even finished the second chapter. The Deep Forest is also beautifully described in great detail, plus the character's emotions have become far more complex and it's easier to feel strong sympathy or hate towards them.

If you liked the first four, you'll definitely love this one. It has to be the must-have book of 2008.

Another great installment!, 02 Sep 2008
Another unmissable episode in the story of Torak and his "pack"! I agree with the other reviewer that the stories are getting darker with each book, as Torak goes through his adolescent rites of passage, and much sadder too, in line with the overall series name - "Chronicles of Ancient Darkness". I can imagine my youngest son, who is 9 and yet to read "Oathbreaker"(ha! ha! I got first dibs!!), becoming quite upset, as the plot for this story not only introduces us to new characters, but says goodbye to someone very important to Torak. Michelle Paver also reveals more of Torak's history and that of his parents, with some heartbreaking revelations. It is exciting and full of tension as Torak faces yet another threat to his and his friends security, and reluctantly acknowledges his destiny. He is also growing up, and has to learn to control all the raging emotions within him. Renn too is maturing and Torak feels a frisson of attraction between them as their bonds of friendship deepen. I can't wait for the final installment, although I will freely admit that I will be very sad to say goodbye to these characters. Great stuff!

Torak becomes the hunter, 31 Aug 2008
After another year of waiting, the fifth book in the Chronicle of Ancient Darkness series is finally out.

Despite my age I devour good quality children's books and Michelle Paver is one of a few good writers serving our literature needs. I have followed Torak, Wolf and Renn from the very beginning and so it was an absolute certainty that a copy of the book come into my possession quickly.

As Michelle Paver continues towards the climax of the series we find 15 year old Torak swearing an oath of vengeance against a Soul Eater who has killed his friend, just as a war between the clans of the Forest looms.

As Torak, Renn and Fin Keddin travel into the deep forest unaware of the war that is brewing, the remaining Soul Eaters come out of the darkness and make their presence felt leaving Torak and Renn to complete the journey. Ultimately Torak steps into the fire alone to confront the enemy of his father without Wolf and his side.

Michelle unravels more of Toraks' background in this volume joining the dots of his father and mothers role in the unfolding events and exposing more of the bigger picture that is the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.

Like with JK Rowling I find that Michelle Paver has turned her series darker, that is not to say that I did not enjoy the book but her earlier books are, to me, far more enjoyable.

I read to enjoy and enjoy to read
David

Rubbish, 30 Nov 2008
This book makes a mockery of the whole Twilight series. The first book in the series was brilliant, the second okay, the third better than okay, but this is plain rubbish. The diologue is rubbish, the story is boring and dull and what I hate most *Warning spoiler* is how the character of Jacob imprints on Bella's daughter. It makes his love for Bella a waste of time and this was part of the reason the Twilight saga was so good. The story would have gone a bit better if he had imprinted on someone like Leah. I also found Bella annoying in this book, and sometimes found myself wanting to tell her to shut up.
Overall, a horrible read and I was so happy when I finished it. If you have only read the first three books, leave it at that as if you read this book, it will change how you feel about Bella and Edward. They aren't the same as in the other books and not in a good way.

Thank God that's over., 30 Nov 2008
I loved 'Twilight', but I wish it had just stopped there (or at any rate that I had), because following book 1 this series rapidly succumbs to Series Disease - editor apparently checks out, author rapidly loses the even more rapidly evaporating plot, and everything that made the first book unique and fresh gets repeated until it's formulaic with a vengeance.

Before I started reading this, I chuckled over an amazon reviewer who called it 'emetic', thinking it couldn't be that bad. After 700+ pages, though, I'll not only give him emetic, I'll riff of it too because, given the subject matter, I couldn't help comparing the reading experience with morning sickness: increasingly nauseating, all-consuming, and inevitable. In fact, once I figured out the premise of this book (and really, I never thought she'd stoop so low!), I was tempted to hurl it across the room. Stayed my hand because that would probably have resulted in a broken window (this is a tome of Potter-like proportions - RSI sufferers be warned!)

I hung in there solely because it seemed there would finally be an all-out, blood-and-guts vampire showdown at the end. Rue the misplaced hope! Because instead of the fight the second half of the book seems to promise, we get thirty-odd pages of vampirical squabbling, which culminates in the bad guys - and the Volturi had SUCH potential as bad guys! - stomping off in a snit because...well actually, I'm not really sure why. It had something to do with their inability to do anything else because then everyone might figure out they're not the righteous vampire police they pretend to be. Um, but didn't we already know that?

Oh, never mind. I'm sure my misanthropic reviews can't sway anyone who wants to like these books. And in the end I'm not so much out to trash them as to protest the waste: I mean, aren't vampires bloodthirsty predators first and foremost? Civilised as the Cullens might be in their stately home, it would have added a dimension to, say, Esme, to see her rip Aro's head off. I guess I'll just go back to Buffy and Anne Rice and stay away from teen horror series. For the moment, anyway...

So Disappointed......, 29 Nov 2008
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I have loved the series. Loved Twilight, really enjoyed New Moon and loved Eclipse and then we got Breaking Dawn, which in my opinion was very disappointing. So much so I rushed through the last 200 pages. I just could not be bothered to give it anymore of my time.

I thought the book started off well, and I was really enjoying it. But when a certain unexpected thing happens to Bella, for me it went down hill. I found myself slogging through the book instead of enjoying it.

It felt like I was reading an entirely different book from the series, all the personalities of the characters seem to disappear, and the book just seemed empty and bland. I felt it was far too long and the story was just dragged on and on....
The book should of just ended when they got married, as the rest of it is complete rubbish. Having to slog through so much boring stuff, just to get that perfect ending.

But, although I disliked this book, I'm not going to put Stephenie Meyer down, as I really did enjoy the first three. She gave us Edward, Bella and Jacob. They are three of my most favourite characters. It's such a shame this book didn't live up to the other three (imo).

'Perfect' Bella returns for another crappy book, 27 Nov 2008
One of the most disappointing things about this book was that there was not fight at the end. What was the whole point of building up the climax to the fight with the Volturi if Meyer was just going to let perfect (and extremely annoying) Bella save the day with her brick wall of a brain? The only part of the book that was actually good was Jacob's part considering that he's the only person in the book that has character. Bella somehow manages to end up more perfect that she started off (but her dress sense doesn't improve). Overall, I think the book could have had a better ending and the series, in general, could have been less soppy and plotless.

Complete and Utter Rubbish - A Review By Someone Who Enjoys Reading Too Much to Keep Quiet!!, 25 Nov 2008
I am unfortunately the kind of person who likes to see things through to the end... Normally that is a good thing, but in the case of the Twilight Saga it most certainly is not. What it is, is a complete waste of time. I have to say that I feel quite passionate about this: The Twilight saga is over-hyped trash and nothing more. It pains me to read about all the praise it is getting. It is nothing and I mean NOTHING in comparison to books written for a similar target audience (i.e. Harry potter/His Dark materials). In all honesty, Stephenie Meyer just cannot write. Her style (if you can call it that) is just horrendous. And to think people moaned about JK Rowling! A literary genius by comparison.

Twilight was okay - it started well but went down hill. New Moon was painful to read because I could see the saga begin to fall apart at the seams. Eclipse was less painful than New Moon but still pretty bad... and that brings me to Breaking Dawn.

Absurd, ludicrous, inane and plain stupid. If I could have given it no stars, I would have. I wonder whether anyone else finds Werewolves imprinting on babies to be very disturbing?

Do yourselves a favour and AVOID the saga like the plague. Wuthering Heights, Fire and Hemlock (Dianna Wynne Jones) or even the Nightworld series/Anne Rice books (if you must read something to do with vampires) are much much worthier of people's time and praise.

Not what I expected., 03 Dec 2008
I only gave this book 4 stars as I was expecting the usual side-splitting TP novel. It wasn't. It was still funny but not laugh-out-loud (except perhaps the shark story) and it didn't have the twisting and turning plots of his other novels. It was also fairly obvious where the story was going but what made it magical was the way in which the story was told. It's basically a story of growing up and the responsibility that brings but TP has such a creative way of explaining things that you won't be disappointed even if you did buy it like me expecting hours of hilarity. It's been a few weeks now since I read the book but I'm continually finding myself thinking about it. A book that makes you think about things is a good book. I'm glad I read it. Thank you TP. Can we have a Granny & Nanny one next though? We all need a bit of cheering up. xx

Pratchett at his most thoughtful, 02 Dec 2008
Terry Pratchett had been talking about a book called Nation he'd really wanted to write for almost half a decade when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. According to rumour, he'd already begun working on the next Tiffany Aching Discworld novel, I Shall Wear Midnight, but upon hearing the news he dropped it immediately to make sure Nation was written first.

Nation is not a Discworld novel, but is instead set in an alternate history very similar to our own late 19th Century when the British Empire was at its height. A tidal wave sweeps across the Great Southern Pelargic Ocean (the South Pacific) and wipes out the tribal civilisation of the Mothering Sunday Islands. In particular, the island simply known as the Nation is totally destroyed, apart from a single young man named Mau. Mau finds himself alone on his island, until he discovers the crashed remains of a foreign ship and a pale-skinned young woman who initially tries to kill him, but later invites him to tea. Soon refugees from the crisis gather on the island, and Mau realises he has the choice to rebuild the old world, or choose to do something new with his nation...

Nation is Pratchett's most serious book since his 1992 classic, Small Gods. In fact, it shares some similarities with that book and acts as another treatise on faith, religion, atheism and morality. It is slower and more thoughtful than that earlier novel, where a younger and more angry Pratchett was in full-on fiery condemnation of blind fundamentalism, but works well due to those contrasts. It isn't as funny as a typical Pratchett book, although there are a few chuckles to be found here and there, particularly what appears to be a clever inverting of one of the premises of the TV show Lost in the final chapter and epilogue. However, it is also a more spiritual book, which is interesting given Pratchett gives New Age ideas pretty short shrift in his other books. But here things happen that can't be easily explained away by science, and it's debatable whether this is Pratchett perhaps considering things in a different light or simply a facet of this world which is different to our own (and is quite reminiscent of the gods in Discworld who exist purely because people believe in them, not the other way around).

Nation is being marketed as a YA novel, but it really isn't. It's depiction of tragedy and death in the opening chapters is pretty unflinching, and occasional moments of blood and cruelty abound throughout its length. Also, the central themes are pretty weighty and not something I see young children really getting into. However, for the adult reader Nation is an interesting and thought-provoking read which raises many interesting ideas and questions, whilst remaining entertaining and well-characterised.

Nation (****) is available in the UK from Doubleday and, with a spectacularly awful cover, in the USA from HaperCollins.

Disappointing, 28 Nov 2008
As a great Pratchett fan I found this book bitterly disappointing. It drops everything that Pratchett is good at. There were no intricate plot, no strong characters and didn't have the magic that we have come to expect from such a great writer. I actually had trouble motivating myself to finish this book.

Island of Hope? , 11 Nov 2008
Pratchett's books for young people have a tendency to reach beyond the intended age group and are just as enjoyable and relevant for adults. His latest novel, "Nation", is no exception. Anybody who has read his Tiffany Aching books will also know that Pratchett also has a fondness for headstrong young girls, delighting in exemplifying how they grow more or less smoothly into maturity. In this delightful novel Daphne, or Ermintrude as she was named by her family, is another example. Just for the pleasure of meeting her, the book would be worth reading... but there is so much more to explore here.

Thirteen-year-old Daphne is pretty, smart and well-educated, and loved by her aristocratic father. After the death of her mother, she was brought up by her strict grandmother, who instils in her a sense of values and responsibility but also, unintentionally, inquisitiveness and independence of mind. She is the counter part to Mau, also thirteen, and the actual hero of the story. His Nation, a small island in the South Pelagic Ocean is a traditional, pre-industrial society where gods reign and the spirits of the grandfathers maintain the ritualistic order by communicating their instructions to the selected few. While on "Boy's island", where he had been preparing for the rites of passage into manhood ceremony, Mau was oblivious to the tsunami of unheard of proportion that swept over lands and islands. The village had assembled on the beach for his return and celebration when the wave swept them away, leaving a trail of destruction. He reaches Nation in the aftermath of the disaster and discovers that he is all alone. Well, not quite... The ship that was to bring Daphne to her father in Port Mercia stranded on Mau's island leaving her with only a talkative parrot for company.

The story follows the two young people from worlds apart - without a common language and even gestures - who have to overcome their mutual suspicion and distrust and grow individually and together to become the centre of a new community as survivors from surrounding islands and from further afield seeking refuge with them. With great sensitivity and imagination, Pratchett explores the coming of age process in both. He exquisitely tackles the conflicts in Mau's mind between his old society steeped in mythology and hierarchy and the new reality where beliefs and rituals have to be questioned and new codes of morality be established. Daphne also has to develop a new understanding of society where class and privilege have no meaning. There are any number of challenges the young people have to face, starting with finding food and milk for a baby. There are pirates and renegades to deal with and much more... Can they, together with the diverse collections of refugees build a better and more hopeful Nation?

Pratchett's style is as always fluid and smooth, his imagery perceptive and innovative. His sense of humour, mostly subtle, shines through many sections. There are a few slow sections that a young person might skim over searching for the action on the next page. For adults the novel has many layers of narrative, food for thought on our perceptions of cultures, traditions and communication. [Friederike Knabe]


The new Terry Pratchett, 10 Nov 2008
This new book is definetly not Diskworld it seems that Terry has moved away from his usual writing and produced yet another great book with his talent,
This book follows a tale of devistation from what seems to be a tsumai on an island a boy arrives back to his island after being away to find everything he has known wiped out and sets out on building his island up again.. without giving away the plot and ultimatly the end this book is a bit morish , Has what I think chapters that tend to be far too long at times, and a very tear jerking end to the story BUT could of done without the very end chapter which makes me think this book was made to be made into a film (Though if it was then this book if acted by very good actors would make a very good film)

If your reading this Mr Pratchett

Well done Terry I enjoyed it!!

in need of an editor, 03 Dec 2008
this book drags on and on without actually going anywhere, and was incredibly boring, around 600 pages are about finding something to eat and getting a sword. suddenly roran has become as powerful as eragon (the book gives no reason) and can kill 200 men with only a hammer while everyone else stands around chatting. this book is not the last in the series and doesn't add anything really so avoid it and buy the next one (the conclusion)if you like this series. you wont have missed anything

dissapointing-, 03 Dec 2008
What was so surprising about the first two novels was the maturity of Paolini's writing. His world and character development was charming and beautiful. Unfortunately all the magic from the fist two books seem to get lost in this third (and unfortunately not the final) book.
There are moments that I enjoyed the book but it just felt like this was a money making scheme- an extra book to cash in. Had this been the final of the promised "trilogy" then this could have been a memorable series, unfortunately it is longwinded and a bit bland. I really loved the first two books and I really hope that the last will resque, what up to this book, has been a beautiful series.


The best book I have ever red!, 27 Nov 2008
Thank You very much to write so lovely book. It's the best book I have ever red!


Don't give up...start on page 600(ish)!!, 25 Nov 2008
Okay...I'll try to be critical with this review:

1) Plot:
Well the story moves at a lethargic pace from the beginning.! It starts off where Eldest ended. We learn a few twists to the plot in the end which should be interesting to read in the fourth book. However, the plot is wafer-thin, consisting of lots of annoyingly irrelevant conversations that seem to drag. Morals and magic...ZZZZzzzzzz

2) Characters:
Well the characters don't leave much of an impression. Nasauda is really annoying. The whole knives challenge thing was a bit over the top. Eragon still seems to be weak. I just expected him to be a bit more of a warrior type figure by now...

3) Length:
Too long!! How did this book get approved for publishing!?!? It's actually been edited (there's a message at the end). Couldn't imagine this one any longer.

4) Conclusion:
This book should have been rated one star. But because the book gets better from page 600ish I've given it two. The ending is quite good, but not worth the torturous task of getting through the first 600ish pages.

Someone needs to re-edit this book.

The tale that seems to go on and on...and on....and on?, 24 Nov 2008
My initial impressions upon hearing that the previously named Inheritance trilogy had been repackaged as a cycle [collection of 4] was that of cautious optimism. Somewhat optimistically, I was pleased with the extension of what has shown to be a relatively promising fantasy series thus far. Yet I was also wary of, that which a previous reviewer has alluded too, 'cash cow' syndrome.

To put the case bluntly, Paolini stretches the limits of my good graces when it comes to putting up with inane musings in fantasy literature. It is a given that all books based on fictional events and make-believe worlds will have have a certain amount of story setting in order to bring the reader properly into the 'right of things'. You cannot, or at least if you intend for it to read well, simply pop the characters from point A to point B without suitable explanation. This rings a note of particular importance in epic fantasy. Veterans will understand the importance of quests and journeys in character building, yet there is very little of this in Brisingr. A symbolic tree to Paolini is never a tree, instead he produces endless preachy diatribe about how important it is that in *his* book *he* regards it as a tall perennial woody plant; this of course means that everything he writes is remarkably deep and meaningfully...right.

Characters seem remarkably 2-D throughout, Nasuada is a particular dislike of mine - considerably more authoritative and demanding towards and of the protagonist - yet to no particular end. Common sense dictates that what she is doing is idiotic, yet he still rolls over and takes it anyway. Gone is the outspoken and individual character of the first two books, enter generic drone with the morality of a bishop. You may deem this as insignificant, yet it makes the story remarkably hard to read - Arya, written in as the fey elf, now becomes the somewhat pathetically detached and damaged recluse.

The same applies to almost all of the existing and new characters within this chapter of Paolini's work; a complete and rather catastrophic failure to keep the 'readability' element going strong. Some will try to excuse this as 'a filler - holding out until the brilliantly crafted conclusion that nobody will ever expect', yet there is no excuse for this [even if everybody didn't already know that his work is about as unpredictable as a stick]. There should never be a reason for something like this - it is an affront to what could have been a gripping third installment, rather than the rather unreadable thing in front of me. To cap it all off, we see what I can only assume is a new trend [I would hope - I can't seem to find it in the first two, and I don't think I'm going mad] of Paolini's to attempt to write in a style similar to that of a badly produced BBC television series on the medieval period; lots of 'thous' and 'smites'. It is all most disconcerting.

I suppose that telling you to not to buy this would be a waste of time, after all - perhaps we can all hope that the fourth installment will be better - it is difficult to believe dismissive reviews on a book that attempts to follow on from the much better written prequels or indeed on a book that is midway through a rather extensive story. Fans of the series will inevitably buy it, as did I, and draw their own conclusions about it. Yet this is one fan that felt he just had to laugh at the whole thing, whether it is out of indulgent amusement for one who managed to mess up on his latest work, or instead a sense of frustrated disbelief at an author that has let his own reputation instill him with an undeserved confidence in his writing, I do not know.

What I will tell you though is that no matter how many times he attempts to connect the words 'Paolini' and 'As good as the Dragon Series of Pern' in a paragraph, it is all one rather laughable, distressing and strangely disappointing lie.

2/5

Great story, nice user friendly packaging, 18 Oct 2008
I think my title says it all, this episode 5 of Chronicles of Ancient Darkness is classic for 21st Century. At present pricing, the six disc set at less then £10 delivered, is very good value. Unlike other Audio CDs the packaging is well made and lends itself to repetative listening. The story is very well read with full character voices. I must say this story is getting quite 'dark' now, so some Parents may wish to sample it first. That said, I believe Adults and children will really enjoy it. Enjoy!

Waited a year for Oath Breaker. Now another for Ghost Hunter., 08 Oct 2008
I waited a year for this book, but it was definatley worth the wait. So much happens in this one, and a few things are answered.
An excellent fifth installment to the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. In my opinion, the best of the series so far.
I will probably re-read this and the previous four I own repeatedly, until next September, when the final book comes out.

I waited a year for this, and I wasn't disappointed..., 06 Oct 2008
When I first read Wolf Brother, I thought WOW, this is seriously good. I've collected and read all the books since, and I'm over halfway through Oathbreaker. And it's brilliant.

I'll try not to give out too many spoilers, but this is one of the darkest installments so far, with Torak desperate for revenge after one of his closest friends is murdered by the Soul-Eaters. There's no hanging around in the story, already there's a huge amount of action before you've even finished the second chapter. The Deep Forest is also beautifully described in great detail, plus the character's emotions have become far more complex and it's easier to feel strong sympathy or hate towards them.

If you liked the first four, you'll definitely love this one. It has to be the must-have book of 2008.

Another great installment!, 02 Sep 2008
Another unmissable episode in the story of Torak and his "pack"! I agree with the other reviewer that the stories are getting darker with each book, as Torak goes through his adolescent rites of passage, and much sadder too, in line with the overall series name - "Chronicles of Ancient Darkness". I can imagine my youngest son, who is 9 and yet to read "Oathbreaker"(ha! ha! I got first dibs!!), becoming quite upset, as the plot for this story not only introduces us to new characters, but says goodbye to someone very important to Torak. Michelle Paver also reveals more of Torak's history and that of his parents, with some heartbreaking revelations. It is exciting and full of tension as Torak faces yet another threat to his and his friends security, and reluctantly acknowledges his destiny. He is also growing up, and has to learn to control all the raging emotions within him. Renn too is maturing and Torak feels a frisson of attraction between them as their bonds of friendship deepen. I can't wait for the final installment, although I will freely admit that I will be very sad to say goodbye to these characters. Great stuff!

Torak becomes the hunter, 31 Aug 2008
After another year of waiting, the fifth book in the Chronicle of Ancient Darkness series is finally out.

Despite my age I devour good quality children's books and Michelle Paver is one of a few good writers serving our literature needs. I have followed Torak, Wolf and Renn from the very beginning and so it was an absolute certainty that a copy of the book come into my possession quickly.

As Michelle Paver continues towards the climax of the series we find 15 year old Torak swearing an oath of vengeance against a Soul Eater who has killed his friend, just as a war between the clans of the Forest looms.

As Torak, Renn and Fin Keddin travel into the deep forest unaware of the war that is brewing, the remaining Soul Eaters come out of the darkness and make their presence felt leaving Torak and Renn to complete the journey. Ultimately Torak steps into the fire alone to confront the enemy of his father without Wolf and his side.

Michelle unravels more of Toraks' background in this volume joining the dots of his father and mothers role in the unfolding events and exposing more of the bigger picture that is the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.

Like with JK Rowling I find that Michelle Paver has turned her series darker, that is not to say that I did not enjoy the book but her earlier books are, to me, far more enjoyable.

I read to enjoy and enjoy to read
David


a story for all time, all ages, 20 Jul 2008
This is a classic story for children, set in the 50's, it is about time, memory and friendship.
Tom, lonely and isolated as he is in quarantine, finds his way back in time, at night (when the hall clock strikes 13), to a wonderful old garden and a little girl called Hattie, who, to his curiosity, is dressed in old fashioned clothes. The two lonely children become friends and I don't want to give away the beautifully devoloped plot, but Tom slowly realises that Hattie is growing up, while he remains the same age.
The atmosphere of the story is both mysterious and engaging, as Tom slowly works out where he is and who Hattie really is.
The end of the story takes in the biblical idea of time coming to and end, or the modern notion of not existing at all and the recognition that Tom and Hattie can/could be friends across time and for always.





Let your imagination soar into your own midnight garden, 13 Jul 2008
Tom, quarantined from his brother's measles and sent off to relatives, faces several weeks in a house converted into flats with no other kids, no playground and nothing at all for a boy of his age to do. A grandfather clock that tells the correct time but clangs different hours stands in the hallway of the house. One night, when the clock chimes a mysterious thirteenth hour, Tom goes down to investigate.

What he finds is an entirely different house with rich decorations and carpeting. And, behind the back door that in the daytime gives out to an alley, is his fondest wish - a vast garden to play in and a friend with whom to explore every tree and hedge and even the meadow and river beyond.

Time is the great mystery in this book. For Tom only 24 hours may have gone by since his last visit but seasons have passed in the garden. As for his friend, a girl named Hatty, sometimes she appears younger than he is and sometimes, she is almost an adult. And while he may spend a whole day in the garden, the grandfather clock shows that he only spent a few minutes out the door.

As with all good stories, the reader is not only immersed in the mystery and the enjoyment while reading, her imagination is stirred. And who knows what kind of concoction boils up when that happens? Oh to find one's own secret garden and a good friend behind a seemingly mundane door!

This book is not only for children but for adults as well. I would translate Tom's adventures to Zoe's Mid-afternoon Caribbean Cabana in which a cubicle-dwelling computer programmer enters a supplies closet in that hazy time between lunch and tea and finds a white sand beach, a hammock, a chick-lit novel and a cold, umbrella-decorated cocktail.

Essential reading, , 22 Jan 2008
A beautiful and tradtional story of magic, freindship & growing up. Adored by my children, loved by me.
Every school shelf should be stocked with this classic and every home shelf too.
When the trend for books is to 'gross out' young readers, this story reminds us that there is and always will be space for beautifully written well told enchanting stories.

A timeless classic, 13 Nov 2007
Tom is sent away to stay with his uncle and aunt in their small flat when his brother gets the measles. He misses his brother and their garden but one magical night, the grandfather clock in the hall strikes thirteen and Tom discovers a secret garden outside. Over the next few weeks, he spends time in the garden and befriends Hatty, a lonely orphan girl. But time obeys different rules in the "midnight garden" and gradually Hatty grows up and away from Tom...
This is a breathtakingly beautiful book. Not only are the descriptions of the garden and the frozen river lovely and evocative but the book raises all sorts of interesting questions about the nature of time, about ghosts, about dreams, about growing up and about the power of the imagination. It is quite similar in theme and feeling to "The Children of Green Knowe" - another book about a lonely boy who meets children from the past in a big garden - but is none the worse for that.
I read this book to my son, aged 7. He's probably still a little young for it but loved it all the same and I hope he'll read it for himself when he's older.

Absolutely timeless!, 04 Jun 2007
I first read this book when I was about ten and I still absolutely love it! Despite the fact it was written nearly half a century ago it has not dated at all and however many times I re-read it I still enjoy every page of it.

An absolutely magical book about time, growing up and long hours playing in leafy gardens, not just for kids but for everyone!

Go and read it, if you haven't already. And then read it again.