Magic in the Wind (Drake Sisters, Book 1)

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan presents the story of Sarah, the eldest of the extraordinary-and magical-Drake sisters, now rewritten and expanded, in this very special collector's edition.

"Sarah Drake has come home." Ever since Damon Wilder sought refuge in Sea Haven, he's heard the same breathless rumor pass the lips of nearly every local in the sleepy coastal town. Even the wind seems to whisper her name-a reverie so powerfully suggestive that it carries the curious Damon to Sarah's cliff-top home, and seeks to shelter him there. But Damon has not arrived alone. A killer has tracked him to Sea Haven, and into the shadows of Drake House. But Sarah has her own secrets, and danger-as well as a desire more urgent than either has ever known-is just a whisper away...

Customer Reviews:

Drake Series Book 1.......2007-10-05

Okay this book is really just a short story it just has about a hundred pages or so. Basis of story is Damon Wilder has come to Sea Haven and everyone is talking about Sarah Drake has come home. Sarah is a secuirty expert and Damon is some kind of lab guy well the bad guys are after him and Sarah and her sisters fight back. We are introduced to all the characters for upcoming books. This was basically getting to know the charcters for the Drake Sisters series. I loved Hannah and Jonas you just know they are getting together. Four stars because romance between main characters was pretty tame for me but like I said was not a whole book so that might have something to do about it. I would suggest getting it because the other books in this series are really good and this is a good starter book.

Magic in the Wind (Drake Sisters - Book 1) by Christine Feehan.......2007-09-06

I've enjoyed the first 5 stories about the Drake sisters, Sarah, Kate, Abby, Libby, and Hannah. Magic in the Wind is about the oldest sister Sarah and her love interest Damon Wilder. I must say, though, it wasn't enough. On one hand, as the lead into a series, I would have wanted more in the overall background for the sisters before moving into Sarah's story. And, because Sarah is such a exciting person in and of herself, I would have liked to have had more information on her professional life and how she used her abilities in her work. A more detailed Damon story would have been good --- the brief references to his past was not satisfying to the overall storyline.
Of course, on the other hand, a novella like 'Magic in the Wind' would leave some readers eager for more . . . such as 'The Twilight before Christmas' which is Kate and Matt Granite's story.
I love Christine Feehan's books, and eagerly look forward to Joley and Elle's stories. I expect these to be fabulous --- and totally satisfying!

Great find!.......2007-08-28

This was a book I needed to start a series, but it had been out for a few years. I couldn't find it any place else but here. I received it in only a matter of days. I was very pleased!!

Very short book (Barely over 100 pages).......2007-08-14

This story originally appeared in Lover Beware--a book with 4 short stories.

Ths was the first of the Drake sisters novels--Sarah and Damon.

Two okay characters. Not one of my favorites, but if you are reading the Drake sisters, you should read this. It won't take long. LOL It's not a bad read in any way. Just not one of my favorites.

Too short!.......2007-08-04

However, it pulled me in enough I have ordered the next 5 in the series. I'm always looking for different authors I feel "comfortable" with. Too many times I lose interest and put it down. I'm happy Amazon recommended this author to me. I'm looking forward to reading her other series, as well.

Average customer rating:

A strange mix but entertaining
Said the Mole...
Never stumbled over it until adulthood, still thought it was great
Don't Read This Book
A charming classic

The Wind in the Willows
Kenneth Grahame
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0805072373

Amazon.com

If you ever feel like falling into a beautiful comic-book story--in the same way one falls back into a warm field of grass--reach for Michel Plessix's lush adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows. The artwork is an aquarelle, with thin, precise, detailed lines. It's no wonder he received numerous awards for his previous effort, Julien Boisvert, a contemporary take on the Tintin character type. In Wind in the Willows, Plessix breathes life into Mole, Rat, and Toad (of Toad Hall) as they picnic on the riverbank, indulge in Toad's latest fad, and get lost in Wild Wood. The pacing is masterful: each panel lingers just long enough to make you appreciate the simple pleasures of life.

This review refers to ISBN 1561631965.

Book Description

Perfect for gift-giving--a classic illustrated by Michael Hague, in a beautifully redesigned edition. Kenneth Grahame originally wrote The Wind in the Willows to amuse his only son. It has become a classic tale of friendship and adventure, enjoyed by countless children around the world.

Customer Reviews:

A strange mix but entertaining.......2007-08-22

A children's classic that escaped my childhood readings, I read this as research for a short story I did.

A rich vocabulary with a strange mix of sometimes natural and sometimes human characteristics for the animals, the short sections were enjoyable and fast paced.

I think I prefer either the simpler Pooh stories or the more complex Watership Down, however.

Said the Mole..........2007-07-24

"What's a little wet to a water rat?"

If it's been a while treat yourself to a re-read of this story. There's something for everyone inside, but WIND IN THE WILLOWS must be read for itself. Take it slow and easy, and let the story grab hold. This is not the book to be read among throngs; but it will become a perfect vacation treat, to be consumed on a beach, or a cruise, or a quiet backyard weekend.

"I'm more in the water than out of it most days."

Never stumbled over it until adulthood, still thought it was great.......2007-06-04

I've read a lot of heavy stuff in the last year or so, and I decided to stick to children's fiction and other light reading for a month to sort of clear my palate. I picked up The Wind in the Willows and started into it without expecting much; I'd seen cartoon versions of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride quite a bit when I was a little kid, but never really felt interested in the book itself.

The book is like no other children's book I've ever read. It's ostensibly set in England, but obviously the anthropomorphic animals and idyllic setting make it more of a fantasy England than a real one. Kenneth Grahame loved the countryside, loved the relaxed life of someone who spends entire days drifting down a river in a boat, and one of his best achievements in this book is making you feel every ounce of pleasure that he ever got out of that lifestyle.

The funniest and most entertaining chapters center mostly on Mr. Toad, his boisterous personality and his exploits. He is an arrogant fool, but it's impossible to dislike him. Grahame draws him perfectly, and his story is never dull, but if this book were only about Mr. Toad's comical adventures it would be merely a great children's book and not a great book for all ages.

Fortunately, we also have Mr. Toad's three friends, Water Rat, Badger and Mole. The best chapters for the adult reader center around these characters and their relationships. The chapter in which Water Rat and Mole go looking for a friend's lost child and end up meeting a god is incredibly affecting. The chapter Wayfarers, in which Water Rat almost leaves the riverside life to go traveling, is also incredible. There is a depth of adult emotion in many of the non-Toad chapters that make the book well worth reading for anybody, and what makes the book so singular is that these very adult yearnings and feelings are addressed in a way that makes them entertaining even to children, who will not relate to them in most ways. The book goes to some very odd and peculiar places for a children's book, but it does so in a way that allows the children to come along as well. Anybody seeking to write for a universal audience should take notes from Grahame.

I wish I'd read this as a child so I could better know the child's perspective on it, but as an adult, I'm saying go ahead and read it no matter who you are. This book really does have something for everyone.

Don't Read This Book.......2007-04-13

Wind in the willows by Kenneth Grahame is a very childish book that I would recommend to my two year old cousin. I would not recommend this book to kids are age because it is childish and it isa fast read. It is about talking animals that get their house stolen by weasels and they steal it back by running at them and hitting them on the head with sticks.
Toad go's off on a trip, he gets put in jail for stealing a car. He escapes jail, finds some washer woman close, so every one things he's a washer woman. He gets on a train, he's the only passenger. When they are about halfway to Toads house they see a train coming after them faster and faster. Toad finally tells the Conductor that that is the police and they are coming after him because all he had done. so the conductor helps him get away. Then he runs into a barge woman, he asks if he can get a ride after a while she figures out he is not a washer woman but a frog so she throws him off. So he steals the horse that's pulling the boat and rides off on it. He runs into a man the. He asks man if he wants to buy a horse but Toad wants more money than the man is offering but Toad makes a deal "if you give me a meal and that money I will give you this horse. When he was done eating he left with the money and a full belly. He found a road while walking he saw a car coming but then he figured out it was the car he had stolen before, he froze he could not move. so the people thought he was in trouble so they put him in the car.

Like I said this is a very childish book, the only reason anyone would read this is to get an easy A.

A charming classic.......2007-04-09

No child who loves a good story should be without this book. The illustrations are indeed wonderful and will delight the adult and the child. This story is loaded with life lessons. The characters represent a mixed sampling of life's offerings.

The story is a little difficult to read and will be very frustrating for children 4 to 8 to attempt on their own. In fact, depending on the child, some 10 year-olds might very well require assistance.

Reading it aloud is a good idea for several reasons: it is British and therefore doesn't read like an American novel and the characters are old fashioned. There is magic in that "read aloud time" one spends with their little ones. The characters and storyline itself will lead to questions and we are then amazed at how much our child understands. And because of these elements and simple charm of this story our children acquire a taste for better literature.

There are too few books that help us grow and recognize what to avoid in life without preaching to us, and The Wind in the Willows is one of those. I am rating this 4 stars, because as good as it is some my get lost in translation from British to American.

Average customer rating:

Girl saves world
L'Engle educates with stories
a lot of pompous idealism with no real message...
Great science fiction/fantasy
A Wind in the Door

A Wind in the Door
Madeleine L'Engle
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0440487617
Release Date: 1974-03-15

Amazon.com

"There are dragons in the twins' vegetable garden," announces six-year-old Charles Wallace Murry in the opening sentence of The Wind in the Door. His older sister, Meg, doubts it. She figures he's seen something strange, but dragons--a "dollop of dragons," a "drove of dragons," even a "drive of dragons"--seem highly unlikely. As it turns out, Charles Wallace is right about the dragons--though the sea of eyes (merry eyes, wise eyes, ferocious eyes, kitten eyes, dragon eyes, opening and closing) and wings (in constant motion) is actually a benevolent cherubim (of a singularly plural sort) named Proginoskes who has come to help save Charles Wallace from a serious illness.

In her usual masterful way, Madeleine L'Engle jumps seamlessly from a child's world of liverwurst and cream cheese sandwiches to deeply sinister, cosmic battles between good and evil. Children will revel in the delectably chilling details--including hideous scenes in which a school principal named Mr. Jenkins is impersonated by the Echthroi (the evil forces that tear skies, snuff out light, and darken planets). When it becomes clear that the Echthroi are putting Charles Wallace in danger, the only logical course of action is for Meg and her dear friend Calvin O'Keefe to become small enough to go inside Charles Wallace's body--into one of his mitochondria--to see what's going wrong with his farandolae. In an illuminating flash on the interconnectedness of all things and the relativity of size, we realize that the tiniest problem can have mammoth, even intergalactic ramifications. Can this intrepid group voyage through time and space and muster all their strength of character to save Charles Wallace? It's an exhilarating, enlightening, suspenseful journey that no child should miss.

The other books of the Time quartet, continuing the adventures of the Murry family, are A Wrinkle in Time; A Swiftly Tilting Planet, which won the American Book Award; and Many Waters. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

Meg Murry can't help but be worried when her six-year-old brother, Charles Wallace, announces there are dragons in the vegetable garden. He's so bright, and so different from other kids, he's getting bullied at school, and he is also strangely, seriously ill.

But Charles Wallace is right about the dragons--actually a friendly entity who has come to help Charles Wallace fight his sickness, and to take Meg and her friend Calvin O'Keefe on a terrifying, wonderful journey into galactic space--where they must battle the force of evil to save Charles Wallace, and themselves.

Customer Reviews:

Girl saves world.......2007-09-08

SummerlandThere is evil loose in the world.
The forces of good send good send Meg to deal with.
We aren't told that the devil is behind it
or that it is God that has dispatched the fire truck.
Science is always in Madeleine L'Engle's books
on the side of the cherubim ( in the Daniel like Babylonian form).
Cosmology and molecular biology aren't really helped here,
but not done any real harm either.
The bullies attacking the Charles Wallace's of the world are very real
as are the Mr. Jenkins'
who are supposed to be there to help,
but are jealous too.

L'Engle educates with stories.......2007-06-29

A Wind in the Door is a great novel about Meg Murry and Charles Wallace. Charles Wallace finda a cheribum in the twins' vegatable garden, and Megs doubts him. But apparently Evil is present and Charles Wallace maybe in danger from a terrible illness, and Meg and Calvin O'Keefe must shrink down and enter his mitchordia to save him because the cosmic plan depends on it.
This book is a great read. I love how L'Engle incoprates science and fantasy. I read this book in junior high and completely loved it. However,I found myself reviewing biology. L'Engle creates a believe world and is a unique writter in all respects. This is a great book for anyone in the mood for something different than Harry Potter and someone ready to learn about how the universe is all connected.

a lot of pompous idealism with no real message..........2007-06-04

im sorry, but i truly and honestly do not understand how anyone can find this book the least bit interesting. the characters r absolutely random (in appearance, significance to the story, and in their actions), and the story brings us nowhere. there is no character development (even though l'engle desperately tries to make meg appear as though she learns something), and every character and theme is cliche. on top of all this, l'engle loses herself in the religiously-soaked, scientific part of the story. she goes into a ridiculously unorganized chaotically-written adventure within the mitochondria of the boy-genius (another cliche), charles wallace.
i only read this text because i had to create a workbook for it for an intensive summer literature camp. after reading it, i suggested that this book be omitted from the curriculum because it is so poorly written.
my suggestion? if u want your child to experience a sci-fi adventure, pick up THE GIVER, a book that actually teaches him something about humanity. dont read these religiously-biased pseudo-intellectual worthless novels. your child will grow up to think that this is good literature and will thereby become an imbecile with bad taste (much like the others who have reviewed this book on this site).
sorry to be so harsh, but this book was so bad that i will forever be disgusted by the author's photo in the back cover of the book.

Great science fiction/fantasy.......2007-05-14

I love Madeleine L'Engle's work! Nice sequel to "A Wrinkle in Time".

A Wind in the Door .......2007-04-25

Echtori, a cherubim named Proginoskes, Meg Murry, and Meg's peculiar brother, Charles Wallace are a few of the characters in this fantastic, page turning story, A Wind in the Door. Charles Wallace has always been different because of his ability to know how his sister and mother feel and what they need and also being small for his age. So, Meg worries terribly when he comes home from his first day of first grade covered in bruises with a black eye, but soon it seems that that is not all that seems to be wrong, he starts seeing things that Meg thinks do not exist. A few days later Charles starts to look pale, and Mrs. Murry, his mother and a scientist, makes a shocking discovery about the illness he has. Meg soon discovers that it is up to her to go on a dangerous mission to save her brother, and (as she finds out later) herself. She will not go alone for affable and trustworthy cherubim named Proginoskes. Together they face the evil echtori and try to save their world.
This really is a remarkable story about trust, loyalty, hope, and bravery! I really enjoyed this book and if you have a wide imagination and love adventures you will too! Madeleine L'engle really allows you to feel like you are in the book with Meg and Charles the whole time, and she causes you to feel like you have known them your whole life. With Mrs. L'engle's vivid descriptions this book becomes even better. What is wrong with Charles Wallace? What is his illness? Will Meg be able to save him? You will have to read the book to find out.

Average customer rating:

a wonderful series!
Best Yet

River Of Wind (Guardians Of Ga'hoole)
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439888077

Book Description

Coryn and the Band have returned to the Great Ga'Hoole Tree and restored order. With the Ember safely hidden away, the tree shakes off its gaudy golden glow and recovers its natural majesty. Meanwhile, deep in the Palace of Mists, Bess finds an ancient map fragment that reveals that there are not 5 owl kingdoms -- as has been thought since time immemorial -- but 6. Coryn and the chaw of chaws set off to find this unknown land. In a landscape of perpetual winter, they discover a monastery of serene, learned owls, the likes of which no one has ever seen before.

Customer Reviews:

a wonderful series!.......2007-07-16

My son and I have read this series together. Each book has held both of our attention. We started before he could read, now he is reading the series on his own.

Best Yet.......2007-06-09

This book is excellent! Exhilarating, exciting, and full of adventure. I recommend this book to anyone who likes owls, adventure, and exciting stories.

This series is the best I have ever read.

Shapers of Darkness: Book Four of Winds of the Forelands

Average customer rating:

This means WAR!
Great addition to the series!
Best of the series so far
Brilliant!
They just get better and better!

Shapers of Darkness: Book Four of Winds of the Forelands
David B. Coe
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 081259021X

Book Description

The Forelands are at war. The magic-wielding Qirsi and their Eandi masters have mobilized their forces. The Eandi have had to look beyond past differences to make alliances for the sake of the future, praying it isn’t too late for them to change the outcome of the war. Tavis, an Eandi prince who was framed for murdering the princess to whom he was pledged, and endured torture before winning his freedom, has at last avenged her death. Still, the murder and its aftermath have brought war to the Forelands just as the Qirsi conspirators who bought his love's blood had intended. Now Tavis and Grinsa, a Qirsi shaper with more powers than he reveals, who saved Tavis when nobody else would believe his innocence, venture across the Forelands, risking death to help save the land they love . . .

A powerful Qirsi weaver has brought this terrible war to the land, bending the minds of those he controls and of his enemies in an effort to forge alliances and mobilize forces to destroy the Eandi. His powerful magical ability estranges lovers, betrays leaders, and wreaks murder and death throughout the land. But even with his powerfully malign intelligence, he underestimates the mettle of his opponents. In a psychological duel with Grinsa, the Weaver’s formidable powers are sorely tested. Grinsa withstands the Weaver’s most powerful attacks at nearly the expense of his own life, and in the process discovers the Weaver’s identity.
Will Grinsa’s challenge to the Weaver spell the end of the Weaver’s reign of doom? Or has Grinsa’s discovery come too late to help the Eandi cause? The answers lie in the growing war that may sunder the Forelands forever.

Customer Reviews:

This means WAR!.......2007-05-10

Shapers of Darkness is the fourth volume in David Coe's engaging Winds of the Forelands series.

Where the previous installment (Bonds of Vengeance: Book 3 of The Winds of the Forelands) focused almost entirely on the political intrigue, Shapers of Darkness is non-stop action from cover to cover. At this point, the Qirsi Weaver's behind-the-scenes machinations have all come to fruition and the entire realm is at war, and there are as many internal threats as there are external. As the penultimate volume in the series, Shapers of Darkness does a great job of pulling plotlines together and building anticipation for the series conclusion Weavers of War.

The series suffers a bit from the sheer volume of characters, nations, plots, and subplots, and to his credit the author seems to realize this. Coe provides a helpful "who's who" list of characters at the beginning of the book, which is a nice way to get reacquainted with the cast before jumping into chapter 1. There's still a sense of repetition or perhaps homogenization, in that the various nations seem interchangeable. This is especially noticeable in comparison to George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. Martin gives each people their own culture, mannerisms, customs, and speech patterns. Coe does this to a far lesser extent, almost as if it were an afterthought. Still, this is a relatively minor complaint against an otherwise very enjoyable series.

Shapers of Darkness is so action packed it's almost exhausting, and it will definitely leave you panting for more. Fortunately the end is near. Weavers of War will be the series' final volume.

Great addition to the series!.......2007-03-16

I loved this book as I did all the others in the series. I can't wait to read Weavers of War.

Best of the series so far.......2006-12-26

If you are already to this book, you know this is a great series. I have read everything that David Coe has written and I'm not disappointed with this volume. I can't wait for the conclusion to find out which weaver wins!

Brilliant!.......2006-08-01

David B. Coe is just such an amazing writer, and all of his books are just so enjoyable to read, that I couldn't put it down. Not only are his characters well developed, but his book has a great plot, which further adds to the suspense of this novel. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantasy novel, and if you haven't read any of his other books in this series, I would recommend that you start with the first, Rules of Ascension. This series is amazing, and I cannot wait for the 5th book to come out!

They just get better and better!.......2006-03-11

More good stuff from Coe. With the close of each book in this series I anxiously await the arrival of the next. This time fortunately I didn't have to wait too long---2 books in 1 year, simply awesome. I can hardly wait for the conclusion of this awesome series!

Voyage of the Jaffa Wind (Secrets of Droon, 14)

Average customer rating:

Secrets of Droon, 12 through 15 plus Special Edition, Book 1
Great series.
This Book Is Awesome

Voyage of the Jaffa Wind (Secrets of Droon, 14)
Tony Abbott
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439306078

Book Description

When the Turtle City of Droon vanished, all that remained was the Ruby Orb of Doobesh. Spar's powerful, magical red orb. Nobody knew then what evil the mysterious object held-but they are about to find out. Soon after Eric, Neal and Julie return to Droon, Max becomes a prisoner of the evil charm, and is whisked far away. Galen and Keeah are intent on finding him, and of course the kids want to help their friends. But to find the Ruby Orb, they must first locate its companion, the blue Sapphire Star. And that search will take them far out onto the wild sea in a epic voyage aboard the Jappa Wind. A voyage that could only happen in the magical world of Droon.

Customer Reviews:

Secrets of Droon, 12 through 15 plus Special Edition, Book 1.......2007-06-02

Got it quickly and at a good price.

Great series........2007-03-21

My daughter loves all the Droon series books. In the third grade she had some trouble reading these books. But now, in the fourth grade, she goes through a book a week! Droon is a land of magic, adventure, and mystery. I would recommend you start from number 1 in the series and continue from there. These books are not just for younger readers. I also find them fun and interesting to read, and I'm... not going to say how old I am.

This Book Is Awesome.......2006-01-23

I liked this book because there is a lot people looking for Max and they all help in a different way. Like how Khan uses his nose to smell danger and evil. I also like this book because when Eric, Neal and Julie played soccer it was so cool because they talked to themselves in their mind's. And it was also cool when Galen whent to the under world of Goll. And the best part was when the ninns stole a giant hammer.

Joe T. age:9 Holland Elementary

Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind : Perfect Collection (Vol 3)

Average customer rating:

the first two books.
miyazaki doesn't just excel at movies
The Best Manga I've Read in YEARS!! Too good to pass up!
More Than A Children's Book
not comic, this is art.

Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind : Perfect Collection (Vol 3)

Manufacturer: VIZ Media LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1569311110

Amazon.com

Hayao Miyazaki is probably best known in the West for his films; My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service are celebrated for their lavish animation and sophisticated treatment of their young heroes. But among his many fans in Japan, his epic manga tale, Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind, which Miyazaki later made into a animated movie, is often cited as his greatest work. Indeed, the Comics Journal once described the first volume as "the best graphic novel ever." Many critics favorably compare the story to such fantasy classics as C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia or J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

In Nausicaä, as in most of his work, Miyazaki centers his narrative on a strong young woman who struggles to create peace in a world torn by war. Readers of Homer's The Odyssey will recall that Nausicaä is the name of the Phoenician princess who healed Odysseus when he washed up on her shores. Miyazaki took that character as the inspiration for his Princess Nausicaä, but their worlds could not be further apart. Underscoring the book's deep ecological messages, Miyazaki's Nausicaä is a passionate defender of the natural world, and her ability to commune with the creatures of the forest appears almost magical. As a princess, she is testing the waters of leadership as her father languishes on his deathbed. As a citizen of the Valley of Wind, she has mastered reading the shifting wind currents and air pockets as she navigates the skies in her glider.

Readers learn at the beginning of her tale that the Earth has become a hostile place. Environmental crises have made the forest--known as the Sea of Corruption--into a kingdom of spores and giant insects called Ohmu. The remaining humans huddle in the valleys and sheltered cities while holding on to the remnants of technologies long-since rendered mysterious. Now, the Imperial family has begun a massive campaign to extend its hold on the remaining pockets of civilization. However, intrigue between the reigning Princess Kushana and her brothers suddenly place Nausicaä and her people at the center of a civil conflict that could extinguish the last people on earth. With the grandeur of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and the grace of Miyazaki's Totoro, Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind is a classic of fantasy literature and one of the finest works ever in the comics medium. --Patrick O'Kelley

Customer Reviews:

the first two books. .......2007-06-01

these are two reviews for the two different volumes combined here.

Volume One.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the wind is one of my favorite movies. After seeing for the first time I was amazed that I hadn't seen it sooner. It had everything I like in a movie, a good premise, deep and emotional characters, amazing art work, a deep meaning, and an awesome soundtrack to boot. So when I heard that there was more to the story I went out and bought this book to see if it was as good as the movie. After waiting about a month for it to come in, I bought it on Amazon, I finally got it. I was not disappointed. Let's break this book down into categories.

Art Work. The drawing pretty much, how do they look and how much detail is put into them. Miyazaki, I have to say, is a master in his field. All his drawings are extremely detailed and you can really get a sense of the surroundings. The characters emotions are brought out almost perfectly, especially the Nausicaa herself, who is shown as a powerful, yet fragile girl. Overall the drawings are almost perfect and I don't think anybody would disagree with that.

Characters. I was already familiar with all the characters in this book, having seen the movie already. They are pretty much the same here as they are in the movie so if you've seen it, which I'm taking for granted you have, and then isn't much knew. They mostly do the same things as they did in the movie and feel the same emotions with a few fun differences, but nothing really is too different.

Story. This book follows the movie almost exactly up to the point where Nausicaa and Asbel discover the underground system under the sea of corruption, or toxic jungle as it is called in the movie. There is one big difference that I must share, the Valley of the Wind is really an alley of Torumekia, and Nausicaa goes out to fight under Kushana agents the Doroke principalities, a nation not even mentioned in the movie. Other than that it follows the same story almost to the letter.

Overall a very good and strong opening to the series. This entry doesn't really add a whole lot to the overall story if you've already seen the movie, but there are some important differences which mean you can't simply skip over it if you want to read the series.

Volume Two.
As I continue my reviews on this series I have come to Vol. 2. Nausicaa has left the Valley of the Wind to go to war with Princess Kushana of Tormekia, but on their way to the front their attack group is attacked by Asbel of Pejite. Asbel is shot down and Nausicaa goes to save him, only to be stuck under the Sea of Corruption. As the first book ends Nausicaa and Asbel are seen trying to fly out of the bottom of the Sea and get out.

This book, for those who've seen the movie, covers closely the events that take place in the second half of the movie. Here's the difference. One of the Doroke tribes, mentioned in the first book, has been driven from their lands by the Tormekia invasion and has been sent to conquer and settle the lands of the Periphery, where the Valley of the Wind lies. To do that they must first destroy Kushana's army by luring the insects out of the Sea to attack. Of course Nausicaa finds out about this and manages to not quite foil the plot, but she does save the baby Ohm larva. Much of the Tormekian army is destroyed but the Dorokes are forced to retreat. By the end of the story Kushana takes what is left of her army south to join up with the rest of her men already engaging in battle, and she takes Nausicaa with her to find the stone that controls the God Worrier.

halfway through this book it goes in a completely different direction than the movie, Nausicaa goes off to war, Asbel and Yupa foil a Doroke plan to conquer the Valley, and we are introduced to knew characters such as the Doroke Priest, who is known as the Holy One, and Ketcha, a Doroke girl who serves him. The part where the Ohm attack the Tormekian army is one of the highlights of the series, but the ending was a little odd and might feel rushed. Not the best in the series, but it is a good follow up to the first.

If you have seen the movie then there isn't anything new in the first half of this book for you. But don't just skip this book to save money, there are enough differences to make buying it worth wild.

miyazaki doesn't just excel at movies.......2007-02-28

I have just finished reading this series, and I must say that I am AMAZED. The books are much more philosophical than the movie (which corresponds to only the first two books), and contains many more characters that are more developed. Unlike the movie, where Nausicaa was practically perfect, and Kushana was purely evil, the book's characters are much more complex. Kushana reminds me of Lady Hiboshi from Princess Mononoke.

The tone of the series changes from beginning to end. This makes sense, as the series was written over about 10 years, with a number of hiatuses. The first two books are confusing and not terribly interesting, but the story blossoms from there.

On top of that, I don't even like manga or anime as genres. Miyazaki is truly exceptional.

The Best Manga I've Read in YEARS!! Too good to pass up!.......2005-02-28

I've been a Miyaki fan for years! Of all of his movies and books, Nausicaa is definitely the best one! Miyaki creates a beautifully vivid world and characters that will you will most certainly NEVER forget! This is one manga series (and the movie as well) that I've never gotten tired of. Every anime fan should have Nausicaa in their collection! You won't regret it!!!

More Than A Children's Book.......2004-12-31

Just like LOTR, children love it, but until they grow well into their adulthood, they will not be able to fully comprehend the essence of the story.
Children, both boys and girls, will love the major characters in "Nausicaa", because children can find all they wish to be in these characters, but most of them would be puzzled (or troubled!) by the development of the story. An exceptionally smart kid may be able to guess some of Miyazaki's plan of the story before he/she reaches Vol. 7, but I dare to bet, he/she will not accept that plan until he/she reaches 30.
This is a great gift to children. They will thank you many, many years later.

not comic, this is art........2004-03-14

I am surprised that USA people watch this comic series in addition to the same title movie.

As you know, Naushika's story don't finish to the movie. The truth story start from reading this comic. Even if Japanase read them, the story is a little difficult, but there are more wondeful things than the minus point.
For instance, the drawing ways. Generally comic(Japanese MANGA) is simple drawing. But the comic is very detailed drawing. They is like art rather than comic.

And in addition to the wonderful drawing,the expression of the character's face is very excellent, for instance joy, sarrow, longing, anger... Mr. Miyazaki can write their expressions very well. There are writers that can write comics very well in the world, but there will not are writers that can write their expressions of face very well.

If there are people that was moved when watched the movie, absolutely we recommend this comis..art series.

You will not waste your money by buying this arts series.

I am sorry for my poor English.

Average customer rating:

Enchanting. I couldn't put it down!

An antidote to today

Magical Tale from A Clear-Eyed Author

Nice story

Unforgettable Magic
The Wind Boy
Ethel Cook Eliot
Manufacturer: Raven Rocks Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0961596155

Customer Reviews:

Enchanting. I couldn't put it down!.......2005-02-07

I bought this book to read to my 5-year old as an alternative to the some of the ridiculously banal children's books out there. He loved it, but so did I. I found myself re-reading the book on my own while running on the treadmill (to keep myself from getting bored). It's so full of beautiful prose and magic and earth and a little of everything. From the first paragaph, I was hooked:

Chapter 1 - The girl from the mountains
"In a spring twilight a young girl was walking down a village street. Just at a glance anyone might know she was a stranger there. For one thing her dress was like nobody's else's. It was the color of sunlight on a brown forest path when the sun is low behind the trees... Do you wonder that people turned to look after her?"

An antidote to today.......2004-10-25

If your family life is anywhere near as hectic as ours, then a bedtime read of this book is a wonderful way to bring peace and happiness to sleepy children. Her book "The House Above The Trees" has been our favorite so far, but all of this author's stories bring a great sense of comfort to little ones old enough to sit through chapter books. The stories also fit well with the themes of Waldorf education. Enjoy!

Magical Tale from A Clear-Eyed Author.......2003-12-08

The Wind Boy is not my absolute favorite of Ethel Cook Eliot's work, but it's a marvelous story for young children with creative minds and very well written - and an unsung classic. It's also a blessing that one publisher wised up to the great loss to our generation of the difficulty finding her books - best among them I'd say is "House on the Edge of Things", also try to get your hands on a copy of "House Above the Trees". For young adults, "The Vanishing Comrade" is an ABSOLUTE MUST!! and this book is easy to obtain on www.bookfinder.com (Amazon is one of many booksellers listed there).

The basic concept inherent in most of Eliot's books is that all life is interconnected (yet she takes no particular religious tack whatsoever, so the books are truly universal) and that most people (EVEN KIDS!) are simply too jaded to see it, and therefore our blurred vision holds us back from seeing most of the beauty in life. Eliot's characters, however, have clear vision, so we see what some of what they see - a fantasy world unparalleled in modern fantasy lit, in it's idyllic vision. In "The Wind Boy" Nan comes out of the mountains seeking this particular family, the children clearly in need and in a painful situation, their father apparently lost. She teaches the children what we all need to be taught - she brings magic to their lives. The children go on to share the magic with others. What more should we ask of our own children?

I can't imagine a better gift to share with children than Eliot's literature, and while I make no claims at being an expert, I have run the Children's section at a Borders store, I'm a sometime storyteller and I'm a huge collector of children's/young adult lit. If you want a picture book for young kids, and you can't find Eliot's "House" books (they are almost impossible to come by at any price) try Seymour Leichman's "The Boy Who Could Sing Pictures" (also out of print but easily available through Amazon or Bookfinder.

I bless you to see with clear eyes.

Nice story.......2002-07-04

One of the relative few pre-Tolkien fantasies, originally published in the 1920s, "Wind Boy" is substantially more juvenile than books of that sparse fantasy era. Despite a slightly dated feel, it's a cute little read that children may appreciate as a bedtime story.

A strange girl called Nan arrives in response to an ad for a housekeeper, put out by a refugee family in an idyllic little village. The only problem is a mysterious figure, wearing a cloak and a frightening mask, that is roaming around the neighborhood and scaring the kids. Nan drives the Masker away, then helps out the overworked mother and her two children, Gentian and Kay.

It is soon revealed that Nan is not all she seems. She brings the two children into the fantastical Clear Land to be fitted for silver and gold sandals that can walk on the air. They also befriend the Wind Boy, a beautiful young boy with a pair of purple wings. Gentian and Kay continue their jaunts into the Clear Land with their friends, until the identity of the Masker threatens all of them.

This is a cute little fantasy; the style of it, which includes constant addresses from the author to the readers, is somewhat dated, as is the idyllic village life with such career-named characters like "Artist" or "Policeman." There is no family strife, problematic parents, and there are no villains. However, if the young readers do not dislike these elements -- or lack of them -- then they may like this book. It's ideal for very young kids, as there are no plot complexities or frightening elements.

The writing style is somewhat flat, as often the author addresses the readers rather than describing, for example, Gentian's transitions into the Clear Land. However, the biggest bonus are intriguing scenes such as the weaving of the "starry-brightness," as well as the charming little illustrations.

A cute early fantasy for young kids with a high nostalgia factor. For all sweetness and light, try reading this.

Unforgettable Magic.......2001-07-24

I am so excited to find that this favorite and haunting book from my childhood has been reprinted. I've attempted to find a copy over the decades. My book was borrowed when I was a kid and never returned. I just discovered the reprint and ordered several copies. This is a magical read for kids of any generation.

The Time Quartet Box Set (A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters)

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Such a good book
A Wrinkle in Time
A Wrinkle in Time Review
Wonderful!!!

The Time Quartet Box Set (A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters)
Madeleine L'Engle
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0440360374
Release Date: 2001-09-11

Amazon.com

With very special cover illustrations by Peter Sís and an introduction in each novel by the author, this boxed set of Madeleine L'Engle's modern-day classic series in paperback is much welcome! L'Engle challenges concepts of time, space, and the power of good over evil in each of her four riveting novels. Sís's original new cover illustrations capture the hopeful innocence of the characters and the quirky cosmic tensions of the universe. In her introduction, L'Engle writes, "What a delight to see these beautiful new covers for the Time Quartet. It is another indication that stories have a life of their own, and that they say different things to different people at different times. And it is an affirmation that story is true and takes us beyond the facts into something far more real."

The handsome paperback set includes the 1963 Newbery Medal winner, A Wrinkle in Time, plus A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, which won the American Book Award, and Many Waters. Every young reader should experience L'Engle's captivating contribution to children's literature. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

With over 10 million copies in print, Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery Medal-winning classic, A Wrinkle in Time, along with its bestselling companions, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, and Many Waters, has enthralled and inspired readers of all ages. This newly designed boxed set features the stunning art of Peter Sís.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A book for children, but not too bad for that. A bored girl, her brothers and others get mixed up in an adventure across the space-time continuum by way of some nifty tesseract tricks.

When a strange older woman comes visiting they set off to find the father of all these children, who is a prisoner of one of your standard supervillains, a giant disembodied telepathic brain.

Such a good book.......2007-05-04

This has been one of my all-time favorite books since I first read it as a girl. It is excellent reading for elementary school children, but also fun for adults. Highly recommended!

A Wrinkle in Time.......2007-04-25

Everyone in the Murray household is impatiently awaiting the father's return. He had mysteriously disappeared while experimenting with 5th dimension time traveling. Both Mr. and Mrs. Murray are intelligent scientists. The book is about how two of their four children and their friend travel light years through time to save their father. Meg, the oldest and only sister in the family, finds it difficult to conceal her anxiety for her father. To support her and get her through life, she spends a lot of time with her brother, Charles Wallace. The two of them always had a tenacious bond. Charles Wallace is very bright, but is inexplicably known as the "dumb baby brother." Sandy and Dennys are twins at ten years old. Meg once overheard, "The twin brothers seem to be nice, regular children, but that unattractive girl and the baby boy certainly aren't all there."
Meg also has a friend named Calvin O'Keefe. He is a smart, popular basketball player a couple of grades above Meg. He and three witches help Meg and Charles Wallace try to find their father. These witches' names are Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. They are all helpful and unique in their own ways. Maybe a little too unique. Are they smart enough to keep the three children unharmed?
With these interesting characters and a page-turning plot, there's no way you can miss this Newbery Medal book! As you are reading, you come up with questions such as, what does "tesseract" mean? Or, Will everyone come home safely? How does Meg learn to overcome her weakness to save her brother? Also, ask more questions when you read A Wrinkle in Time's sequel, A Wind in the Door and the rest of the series. [...].

A Wrinkle in Time Review.......2007-03-16

The Murrys are often gossiped about since the disappearance of Mr.Murry whom disappeared when Charels Wallace was just a baby (Charles Wallace is the youngest of four children).Charels Wallace is a unique boy and many people think he is a dumb and never learned how to talk when he is really in a way a genius .Margret Murry (Meg) is Charles Wallace's older sister and is the youngest of the four Murry children. Meg is doing poorly in school and is upset because of her "plainness". Eventually Charles Wallace,Meg and Calvin O'Keefe go on a crazy galactic adventure with the help of Mrs.Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which and their ability to tesser.

A Wrinkle in Time is an exciting and creative story that definitely deserves the Newbery Medal. The only problems in the story were that some of the characters were hard to believe and a few things were hard to understand but all in all it was a great book.

6th grader from WI

Wonderful!!!.......2007-03-12

I've loved this book since I was a kid. Now I can listen to it while I'm walking in the mornings.

Wind on Fire Trilogy, The: Slaves of Mastery - Book Two: The Wind on Fire Trilogy (Book Two in the Wind on Fire Trilogy, 2)

Average customer rating:

Good middle instalment
Slaves of the Mastery
Second is the best out of all three
Waiting for the movie
WOW!

Wind on Fire Trilogy, The: Slaves of Mastery - Book Two: The Wind on Fire Trilogy (Book Two in the Wind on Fire Trilogy, 2)
William Nicholson
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 078681800X

Book Description

The people of Aramanth are finally free of the Morah, the evil power that controlled them for generations. But a ruthless attack by soldiers from a distant land destroys the city, and its people are driven off as slaves. During the invasion, Kestrel and Bowman are separated for the first time in their lives. Bowman becomes a slave of the Mastery. Kestrel escapes, then sets off to avenge the enslavement of her family. As the twins embark on their parallel adventures, their mother's prophetic dreams reveal their true identity and their dangerous fate. Bowman's mind power and Kestrel's fierce spirit are soon joined once again to fight for the freedom of their people.

Customer Reviews:

Good middle instalment.......2007-06-09

This was a pretty good follow-up to an excellent dystopian novel. The best part of this was the character development we see in Kestral, Bowman, and Mumpo. They've come a long way from their encounter with the Morah.

Slaves of the Mastery .......2007-05-23

I got this book a couple of days ago and I enojoyed reading it. I would recommend this book to 7th and 8th graders. It was a book that I couldn't put down. The characters were the best, but they didn't have alot of description. They did have alot of emotion and feel. My favorite character Mumpo was odd but kind hearted. I also loved the setting of the book. Its such a beautiful and wonderful place. This is book perfect for enjoyment and as a book report. I really liked the book but the beginging was alittle bit on the down side. The middle and end was great. I hope everyone who reads this review also reads the book. This book was a number one book because of its emotional feel on me and its a very addicting to read. I can't wait to read the next book. Remember never judge a book by its cover.

Second is the best out of all three.......2006-07-19

I picked up The Wind Singer when I was in 7th or 8th grade and I remember reading the last two in 3 or 4 days. I am very glad I picked up the Wind Singer when I got it, otherwise I wouldn't have known about this great trilogy. I own all three books but Slaves of the Mastery has remained my favorite for years. Even so that I don't even read the first book anymore, not that I don't like the first one but the second and third take on a kind of different atmosphere: Kestrel, Bowman, Pinto, and Mumpo are all older, as is everyone else and the trilogy itself takes a turn into a more mature state. I guess another reason why I like this one so much is because it's right in the middle of the trilogy and you know that when you read the last page it's not over yet. If you didn't like the first one I do have to tell you that the second is WAY better, it's not as juvenile. Not trying to down his first book, it just seems that way.

Waiting for the movie.......2006-02-25

Couldn't wait to read the third one after finishing this one. The imagination of the writer is incredible. The adventures in this book kept me reading into the night.

WOW!.......2005-12-03

I've just finished reading this book. I loved it so much that wherever I went it was always staring at me, waiting for me where I put it down last. In one word: Mastery!

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