Book Description
Nexus offers an engaging and insightful journey of an odd mix of people drawn together to a spiritual retreat to overcome personal pain. This book will please readers of spiritual, new age, inspirational, self-help and visionary fiction books. It weaves insights within the narrative like The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield and The Peaceful Warrior series by Dan Millman.
Starting with a dramatic suicide scene through intimate details of the struggle of Logan Andrews with depression and despair, we are brought on a journey of inner struggle and personal transformation. The reader is transported to a spiritual retreat where the experiences of people at the retreat provide illuminating life lessons. The tone of book creates an authentic journey that is both exploratory and insightful.
The overriding theme in
Nexus is mystical in its nature, narrating experiences of deeper connection felt with one another and all of life. This is poignantly highlighted in key passages, including Logan's empathy for a dying fish in Chapter 6.
Customer Reviews:
Need for Spiritual Change.......2007-07-01
I've read many spiritual books and this one really spoke to me with a story that communicated about both the highs and lows of spiritual life through the touching journey of people at a retreat center. Each person in the story is dealing with their own sorrow from the depression-despair of Logan, Sarah's loss of direction and Muriel's desire to be comforted in her old age. Steven is fixated on his money-making schemes and in order for him to experience growth, he needs to connect to the path of love.
The story speaks of something deeper - a need for spiritual change. It isn't always stated on the surface and you have to dig deeper to recognize that as the central theme of this book. Yet you feel this impulse motivating the communication between teachers and students at the retreat center and the experiences there allude to a deeper bond - to the Nexus that connects us all through our heart where empathy and compassion can grow with experiences of our Oneness. The compassion Logan shows for a dying fish vividly captures this theme. This vision of non-duality is always there beneath the surface though our ego stands in the way of its realization.
The message in this book is beautiful and so I want others to know about it. Through spiritual books like this, we can delve into consciousness transformation and share it with others.
Really Bad. Don't Buy.......2007-06-30
I made the mistake of purchasing this book because it was referenced in a review for The Road (an amazing fiction currently on the best seller list). Now I realize I was probably led into buying it by one of the authors' friends or supporters. The 5 star reviews are bias, to say the least! The dialogue is beyond bad. It is stilted and at times downright silly. I love top quality spiritual writings like "The Power of Now" by E. Tolle or the writings of D. Chopra. It's not that I am spiritually closed, I just know very bad writing when I see it.
This "fiction" is an attempt to flesh out the spiritual teachings of the two authors through poorly crafted, one dimensional characters. I would rather drink flax oil and fast for a week to better my soul than read this kind of stuff. I anticipate receiving some unsupportive votes for this review, and these will likely come from the friends of the authors who have written the 5 star reviews. So be it. I'd rather be honest and save the potential Amazon customer some money!
Thought Provoking.......2007-05-30
NEXUS is an absorbing guide to the dazzling universe of spirituality! Written in the appealing genre of a new age novel I found NEXUS to be a remarkable psychological and spiritual adventure filled with mystery, enchantment, romance, insights, as well as being highly realistic in terms of life's joys and sorrows. I just couldn't put the book down!!!
The diverse assortment of characters were realistic, and the plot was deep, lively and fast paced throughout. NEXUS WORKED AT VERY DEEP LEVELS OF MY MIND TO PENETRATE MY SUBCONSCIOUS AND TO EXPAND AND INSPIRE MY SUPERCONSCIOUS MIND. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!
By carefully reading NEXUS and reflecting on the philosophical insights inherent throughout the book I found that I could tap into my deepest inner centre of being- my inner source of strength, wisdom and compassion...what a discovery!!!
I heard about NEXUS from a friend and that is why I bought the book. I told another friend about NEXUS but she had already just finished reading it and was most impressed.
It seems that people everywhere are suddenly experiencing an intense attraction to NEXUS, one of the most valuable books I've read in a long time.
Another new age novel that I highly recommend is The Saint, the Surfer, and the CEO: A Remarkable Story About Living Your Heart's Desires
Spiritually Uplifting.......2007-05-21
Every once in a while you come across a book that resonates at a deeper soulful level. "Nexus: A Neo Novel" is one of those books that touches you through a spiritual journey of transformation of people in the book. Their transformation is an inner one at the level of their heart and psyche.
For Logan Andrews the transformation requires that he move from negative thoughts and emotions to positive ones. This task is fraught with difficulties, since even at a spiritual retreat intended to help people find the centre of their being called the Nexus, Logan is confronted with his greatest loss as he meets his ex, Sarah.
I really liked the sub-plot with Steven, an arrogant millionaire, who at first is irritating but in time he grows on you and becomes an endearing person. Steven believes that money is the answer to life's problems but has he lost his way?
Even though the writers of "Nexus" have their own unique voice, still this book reminds me of other visionary writers like James Redfield, Carlos Castaneda and Dan Millman. I highly recommend "Nexus" as a deeply moving experience of personal transformation whose message spiritual readers will most appreciate.
Powerful Insights.......2007-04-23
The appeal of "Nexus" lies in an original story that is fast-paced and chock-full of powerful insights. This book is about transformation as an organic process.
The novel is unique as a collaborative effort by two authors who have successfully integrated their writing into an inspiring narrative. This book explores the ups and downs of spiritual life through the journey of people at a spiritual retreat and we can relate their experiences to our own life.
I love this book for its piercing insights and a memorable soulful journey. "Nexus" reminds me of books like "The Celestine Prophecy," "The Life of Pi" and "The Alchemist" - some other books that I've enjoyed reading.
Book Description
Thrice upon a time, three worlds were in peril. Twenty-three years have passed since Galen Arvad first exposed the deep magic. Now that magic brings tragedy and darkness to the lives of all who wield it in the world. Galen and his clans suffer an endless war in the realm of the dragonkings, the fairies contend with a gruesome kingdom of the undead, and in the realm of the reanimated, rusting titans, a tyrant goblin's lust for conquest goes unchecked.A new generation of heroes will set out on separate, life-altering journeys. Whether in search of freedom or atonement, each will find their redemption may be beyond the power of magic#151;for their darkest secrets and greatest dangers are those they bring with them.
Customer Reviews:
Best of the bunch.......2006-05-17
I read the first three books before writing a review.
This book moves to the next generation. It sets in motion three different quests in the three worlds (man, faerie, goblin). Again the goblin world gets short work. The world of man is the most interesting. It is worth going through this book.
I really not sure what is happening in the faerie world. All sorts of things happen that really don't seem to have any set up.
Okay so I was dumb enough to wander into the third book.
Okay, but now what?.......2006-03-15
This book left me confused. Some points were really well made, but overall it was hard to follow. I expected better after reading the first one.
If you like books like this one, might I suggest another I've recently come across. The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. It's another fantasy adventure sure to please. I highly recommend it. It's available in e-Book too and far better than this one!!
What Happened?.......2005-10-25
Usually I can follow a jump in time. This however was a bit much without some kind of prelude or a chapter interlude. I enjoy the authors writting style except for this point, which I found difficult to overcome and still enjoy the book.
Joe
Hours wasted.........2005-08-16
Well, I was hoping against hope that this the second book of The Bronze Canticles would be better than the first, after all the world was now established, the characters were set and ready to go... yet, what is in this bookis more drivel and a stalled storyline that leaves the reader ready to abandon the book all together. Don't get me wrong, that's not to say that there aren't a couple good points to this book, but in this novel they are few and far between. Which, is rather disappointing considering the great things Hickman was able to do in the Dragonlance world.
I really wish I could say something positive about this book, but in the end I just can't do it. While it's not the worst book I have ever read, it is surely not the best either... far from the best actually...
Fizzle Quest.......2005-08-16
The first book, Mystic Warrior, ended with a fledgling rebellion (human), a victory over a massive invasion (faerie), and radical regime change (goblin). Its sequel, Mystic Quest, takes place some two decades later where the original characters are placed in peripheral roles. The human protagonist in the first book, Galen Arvad, now the perfunctory leader of the rebellion against the Pir and their dragon masters, has two sons (from different women) who quest for a mythical safe haven for Arad's people. Dwynwyn, the faery, is now queen of the dead and gives her former charge, Aislynn, a quest to return a similarly lost land. Our intrepid goblin king, Mimic, being threatened by his conniving wife and likeminded daughter, sends his new boss mechanic Thux on a mission that will save both their lives.
As in the first book, the three protagonists face similar goals and challenges and encounter comparable metaphorical dreams as their predecessors did. However, the rift in time between the two books in addition to the new primary characters also insures that MQ suffers from the same thing that MW did - a dreadfully slow start.
Not surprisingly, given the intervening years that separate the two books and the new main characters, we're forced to play catch-up for the first hundred or so pages as we discover: what happened to Bikrita, how did Dwynwyn get to be Queen, what has Mimic been doing for the last 20 years? And so on and so forth.
Add to the slow start, you have some very poorly described events. At the end of one chapter, Arvad and his company are swept away in an avalanche. The chapter ends with him finding five of his cohorts and the melodramatic, "The Mists of Arvad (the name of the expedition) were no more..." However in the very next chapter new survivors seem to pop up with every new paragraph to the point where we are left wondering, how bad was this accident?
And finally, the finale - a convoluted jumble of events that was a complete let down. Instead of ending with a bang, it ended in a sigh, a wheeze, and a gasp.
Amazon.com
The Mystic Quest by David S. Ariel may be the most accessible and sophisticated introduction to Jewish mysticism available. Ariel starts by comparing Jewish mysticism to Christian mystical traditions, drawing on writers such as William James and Sigmund Freud to define his terms. He then provides a history of Jewish mysticism, starting with Ezekiel's vision of the chariot and working up to the present day, with special attention to the ways that kabbalah has influenced mainstream Judaism. (One notable detail is that Lekha Dodi, or "Come, My Beloved," the Friday-evening prayer, is a hymn to the kabbalist-derived feminine dimension of God.) In the book's concluding chapters, Ariel gives practical advice about how contemporary Jews can cultivate mystical spirituality. By demonstrating the pervasive mystical dimension of Jewish culture, Ariel gives his Jewish readers the great gift of enlarging their understanding of what they already know, enabling them to find new revelation in the religion that has always guided them. --Michael Joseph Gross
Book Description
The Mystic Quest is a lucid, accessible introduction to the esoteric mystical tradition in Judaism known as Kabbalah.
Jewish mysticism is a rich and varied tradition of secret teachings and practices that has been a part of Judaism since antiquity. Ariel locates the Jewish mystical tradition within the context of Jewish history and traces its evolution throughout the ages, concluding with the role of mysticism in contemporary Judaism.
David S. Ariel is president of the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies.
Customer Reviews:
Informative and provoking.......2005-03-05
Ariel starts with a good background on mysticism, the importance of individual experience and the uniqueness of Jewish mystics. He starts the history of mysticism with Ezekiel, and includes both German Hasidism and Safed on the Galilee. His inclusion of interpreted text from Zohar was revealing as well as Lekha Dodi, and I would have liked more such passages.
On "The Character of Jewish Mysticism" he states "Before there is mysticism, there is religion". But another view is that the individual experience does not require faith or knowledge. Being a book, perhaps he also does not emphasize the Oral tradition enough. The discussion on Sefirot, and "calculus" of the divine world, was difficult, but that difficulty may have been mine; with concepts of emanation as "self-contraction" or "man is conceived as a structure parallel to and analogous with the Sefirot". Ariel also continues with the metaphor of the "human soul upward toward the heavens", but Rabbi Albert Green has presented a metaphor of Jewish mysticism as inward. I appreciated the references to Isaac Bashevis Singer, and will read some of his works. Since the writing of this book (1988) there has been a more popular appeal, and I have heard that Jewish mysticism is now taught in rabbinical school.
Well-written, accessible, and Jewishly authentic.......2003-10-08
This is one of the better introductions to Jewish mysticism on the market today. Although written in an academic style (plenty of citations, footnotes, etc.) it is still spirit-filled and inspiring. Unlike the overly-ponderous works of Gershom Scholem, this is a book that the average person with a college-level reading ability can pick up and understand.
The author, David Ariel, is (or was at the time this was published) President of the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies, and, I would assume, produced this book to fill a gap in the usual (i.e., heavily Christian/gentile) college philosophy curriculum. By doing so, he has no doubt educated quite a few professors as well as their students in the beauty and complexities of various forms of Jewish mysticism.
Ariel begins with the question "What is mysticism?" and a discussion of some non-Jewish writers on mystical topics, such a William James, Sigmund Freud, Aldous Huxley, Evelyn Underhill, etc. -- names whose works are generally more familiar to philosophy students than those of the Jewish mystics. He then goes on to present the basic concepts of Jewish mysticism (kabbalah) chapter by chapter, drawing on commentaries, Zohar, classical anecdotes from Jewish tradition, excerpts from the synagogue liturgy, etc.
One of the best features of this book is Ariel's gift for translating "archaic" symbols into modern language. On pp. 98-99, for example, he give a glossary of kabbalistic symbols and terms, then challenges the reader to use them to decipher a cryptic passage from the Zohar -- which becomes quite clear, once you understand the "code." He does an equally nice job with "Lecha Dodi," a Sabbath hymn that every Jewish congregation sings on Friday evening, but whose deeper kabbalistic meanings are seldom understood. His original translations of source materials are also excellent, making this a very accessible book without "talking down" to the reader. Highly recommended.
An Excellent and Lucid Introduction.......1999-10-06
I'm currently reading this book along with many others related to mysticism. This is an excellent and clearly presented introduction to Jewish mysticism. The chapter titles are as follows: 1) Seekers of Unity: The Nature of Mysticism 2) Bridging the Abyss: The History of Jewish Mysticism 3) Living with the Abyss: The Character of Jewish Mysticism 4) The Hidden and the Revealed: The Principles of Jewish Mysticism 5) The Calculus of the Divine World: The Teaching of the Sefirot 6) The Shekhinah: The Feminine Aspect of God 7) Language and Being: The Torah as God's Emanation 8) The Oneness of Being: The Destiny of the Soul 9) The Mystic Drama: The Religious Life of the Jewish Mystic 10) Uplifting the Sparks: Modern Jewish Mysticism 11) Jewish Mysticism and the Mystic Quest
For those interested in Christian Mysticism, check out the multi-volume "The Presence of God" series by Bernard McGinn, esp. the first volume "The Foundations of Mysticism." - Brad Clark
Book Description
A beautifully illustrated introduction to Sufism, the mystic tradition of Islam.
Sufism is the inner dimension of Islam, expressing hidden archetypes in concrete symbols. To the Sufi, both the ritual of the worshipper and the work of the craftsman evoke the life that resides within all things: the preparedness of matter to answer the call of God. The basis of Sufism, as of all Islam, lies in the twin doctrines of the Unity of Being ("There is no god but God") and the Universal Prototype ("Muhammad is the Prophet of God").
Through the Sufi themes of the descending arc of Creation, the foundation of the human soul, and its return through the ascending arc of the Quest, Laleh Bakhtiar brings to light the spiritual reality that underlies the forms and rhythms of the Islamic tradition. Her introduction is suitable for both novice and experienced readers. 137 Illustrations, 30 in color.
Customer Reviews:
Tasawwuf al-Irani.......2004-01-27
Bismillah! Even after years of reading Sufi material, this book retains a special place in my memory for the beautiful introduction it provided to the Way of Return. This book is esentially the most inspired best coffee-table book I've ever come across, combining luxuriously illustrated design with lucid essays on the sacred quest, the relationship of shaykh and disciple, and various doctrines such as expansion and contraction in creation and consciousness. All of this places the Sufi way firmly in the unveiling of the last Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and the world of Islam. Culturally, this book favors the Iranian (and therefore Turkish and central Asian as well) tradition and neglects aspects of the Arab and Indian Sufi expressions.
Beautiful Introduction to Sufism.......2000-08-11
This book is a wonderful introduction to Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam. The first part of the book is a lucid essay about the origins and basic outlook of the Sufis; Bakhtiar contrasts Creation ("the arc of descent") with the mystical quest ("the arc of the ascent"). The second part of the book is an exquisitely beautiful collection of photographs and reproductions of traditional Sufi illuminated manuscripts; the colors are strikingly clear. The third part of the book highlights particular themes in Sufism, including the Sufi understanding of geometry, architecture, music, poetry, and dreams. This book is a must for anyone who intuitively understands the connection between spirituality and the visual arts.
Book Description
In the wake of the renewed interest in Kabbalah comes David Ariel's Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest in Judaism, a thoroughly updated edition of his classic best selling book, The Mystic Quest. Ariel beautifully presents the complex elements of Jewish mysticism's major ideas in clear, understandable, and accessible language for Jewish and non-Jewish readers alike. Hailed as brilliant by Publishers Weekly, the book has a completely revised Introduction that sets a contemporary context for understanding Jewish mysticism. Concluding with how Kabbalah can be incorporated into our daily lives, Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest in Judaism, is an intellectually sophisticated yet straightforward book studded with deep insights on what Jewish mystical thought is all about.
Customer Reviews:
A scholarly study of Jewish mysticism suitable for the nonspecialist as well as the Jewish thinker.......2006-03-03
Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest In Judaism by David Ariel is the first book to provide an intellectual focus on Kabbalah, providing a scholarly study of Jewish mysticism suitable for the nonspecialist as well as the Jewish thinker. People outside the Jewish faith are exploring concepts of Kabbalah and applying them to life situations, so this revised edition represents the perfect study for all faiths to provide a focus on academic scholarship and understanding Jewish mysticism. From basic concepts of the divine world in the Kabbalah to the influences of Greek and other philosophies, Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest In Judaism is packed with memorable insights.
Customer Reviews:
Deeply insightful and transformative book.......2007-01-28
This is one of the most insightful and transformative books I have ever read. Christina's lucid writing style is a pleasure to read, and her understanding and compassion emerge page after page almost like from an ocean of wisdom. It's the kind of book that it would take a lifetime to understand, in each reading seeing something in a fresh way or finding new gems of teaching through changing life situations. I found especially empowering her sections on bringing a radical light of awareness to the belief systems we accept and/or internalize. Her exploration of the subject opens new doors in seeking and finding our own belief systems that are of benefit to ourselves and our world. This can be a tough journey to navigate, and she gives not solutions but compass points by which to travel our own, individual, unique journeys. What a truly beautiful book, it is a gift to come upon! I am buying more copies to give to others - I came across it through the lending library of my meditation group and want spread the joy around plus have my own copy. A beautiful complement to Feldman's other fabulous books - Silence was a deeply moving spiritual experience for me to read, and the Beginner's Guide to Buddhist Meditation is also a gem. Ms. Feldman radiates a beautiful and empowering spirit, it is a blessing to come upon her writings.
A Deluge of Insight.......2004-02-19
I opened this book not knowing what to expect. I was soon engrossed in one of the most inspirational and insightful books I've ever read. Many of the book's passages are rather deep but also very beautifully written. The statements in themselves were like mini works of art. I started dog-earing pages that I wanted to be able to refer back to, and quickly noticed I was marking nearly every page. I think this book may be difficult for some to read because it is very profound, but for those whose minds work that way, it will deliver nothing but page after page of exhiliration and awe.
This book renewed my spirit and validated the journey........1999-09-01
This book is a wonderful find for any woman that is on her spiritual journey. I am sorry to learn it is out of print, for I long to order copies and send them to all my friends. If you can beg, borrow, or steal a copy of this book...do so. and share it with as many women as you can.
Average customer rating:
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The Beggar King: A Quest for the Mystic Female
Kim Ashley
Manufacturer: Booklocker.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1591131596 |
Book Description
Allegory of romance, intrigue, and spiritual devotion. Young king goes on quest for beautiful Grail Maiden, one chosen to tend Holy Grail and heal the human heart. King dedicates life to liberating Grail Maiden from powers that enslave her.
Customer Reviews:
An allegory for our time.......2002-07-13
The Beggar King is an allegory that can be understood on several levels. On one level, The Beggar King is an adventure story about a young king who enters a forbidden room in his father's castle where he discovers a portrait of a beautiful and mysterious woman--the Grail Maiden--the one chosen to tend the Holy Grail and heal the human heart. The portrait awakens in the young king a universal longing for the Mystic Female and speaks to him of suffering and grace. So the young king dedicates his life to finding the Grail Maiden and freeing her from the powers that enslave her.
On a symbolic level, the Grail Maiden is the king's anima, his life principle or Soul. The king discovers that the Grail Maiden is enslaved by Patriarchy--the dominance of the masculine archetype, yang, over the feminine archetype, yin, through the institutional powers of family, tribe, and religion. On a psychological level, this dominance is manifest in the cultural preferences we give to extroversion over introversion, thinking over feeling, and the left hemisphere over the right hemisphere.
In order to free the Grail Maiden, the king must defeat three adversaries--a Black Knight, a Red Dwarf, and a three-headed dragon named Holdfast, who represents the Status Quo and the Patriarchy. He must also overcome three temptations and endure the perils of three curses--each of which test his fidelity to the Grail Maiden and, ultimately, his faith in God. In addition, each ordeal reveals a hidden psychological truth.
In the end, the king marries the Grail Maiden, which restores the harmony of the two opposing archetypes--masculine and feminine, yang and yin--giving each its proper place in the Soul and in the Kingdom.
So The Beggar King may be read as a tale of romance, intrigue, and spiritual devotion or as a psycological drama of the Soul's heroic ordeal. In either case, it is an easy read with lots of action and adventure.
Average customer rating:
- Very Entertaining
- A good overall message
- Sweetness for a little princes to endure
- Fun fiction that teaches as it entertains.
- Daring Quests of Mystics is a fantastic fantasy!
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Daring Quests of Mystics
Shirley Cheng
Manufacturer: Lulu.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books
Fairy Tales | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1411656644 |
Book Description
Thousands of people of all ranks and ages flood into King Fulacian's castle for charming Princess Sophia's seventeenth birthday. Dancing, music, and feasting of all varieties of dishes are the main menu of the day. At last, the highlight of the event is brought forth--a reading of fortune by Dawn, a special friend of the royal family. Turning to the princess, the oracle utters the startling omen: "Terror and adventure you shall face on your wedding day." Dawn then bestows two magical gifts upon Princess Sophia: a white dove and a multicolored ring of rhinestones. How can a dove and a ring possibly help her? Little does she know that these presents will be of so much help as daring quests are conquered, and the importance of life is taught and cherished more so in each tale.
Download Description
The prodigious, stone castle overlooked a prominent countryside of the kingdom known as Noxellia, where days were filled with the bliss of sunshine kissing the gentle rolling hills yonder, while impish winds playfully teased women's hair as trees whistled tunes of joy. It was certainly a scene of exquisite tranquility--or so it seemed. Thousands of people of all ranks and ages flooded into King Fulacian's castle for the charming Princess Sophia's seventeenth birthday. Dancing, music, and feasting of all sorts and varieties of dishes were the main menu of the day. At last, the special highlight of the event was brought forth--a reading of fortune by Dawn, a special friend of the royal family. Turning to the princess, the oracle uttered these startling words, "Terror and adventure you shall face on your wedding day." Where upon, two gifts were bestowed upon Princess Sophia: a white dove and a multi-colored ring of rhinestones. How could a dove and a ring possibly help her? Little did she know that these presents would be of so much help as daring quests were conquered, and that the importance of life was taught and cherished more so in each tale.
Customer Reviews:
Very Entertaining.......2006-05-15
Daring Quests of Mystics by Shirley Cheng is an enchanting story that will be loved by anyone who reads it. On a scale of a one to five stars, this book receives a ten! Most would say a sixth grader knows nothing about books but, believe me, I've read a lot and this is one of the best I've ever read. From the beginning to the end, this book keeps you on the edge.
This book is highly entertaining and I recommend it to everyone. From the strange beginning to the tearful end, this book is an excellent book for all ages (especially girls). I loved it very much. Many times when I read a book and recommend it to others, they aren't interested or say that I read too much. I think that most of those people would love this book and will read it once they start. Daring Quests of Mystics is very entertaining.
This exciting book has many interesting twists and many morals to share. In this book you will find romance, enchantment, and mystery at every turn. From Princess Sophia's kidnapping to Lord Veldolf's love for Princess Sophia, you can see that this book is unpredictable. Of the many messages in this story, the one that stands out to me is that good always conquers evil. I love this book very much and I hope whoever else reads this agrees.
--Sophia, Age 12
A good overall message .......2006-04-05
I love the vision of Shangri-la in Shirley Cheng's book. I was enchanted by the descriptions of intriguing settings throughout, and I like how some of the rich details get wrapped around the dramatic moments. Each has a compelling lesson to which readers are drawn. It gives a good overall message - the power of a daring heart, magic and goodness defeating evil.
While I would like to see more plot twists in her stories, I understand Shirley's motivation to be simplistic. Her story is in sync with her motto of bringing hope and healing to this world. God knows we need them!
Sweetness for a little princes to endure.......2006-02-02
Reviewed by Sondra Fowler for Reader Views (2/06)
"Daring Quest of Mystics", is an anthology of very short stories that centers around the life of Princess Sophia. Sophia is aided by the gifts given to her by mystic friend Dawn. The Princess and her gifts effortlessly fight against evil in every selection.
The stories are written with a wide eyed innocence and simplicity of plot that would be well suited to stories for young children's story books. I can see these as bed time stories for the smallest of children as there is no tension, no real peril and everything is sweetness and light. There will be no monsters under the bed due to the reading of these stories.
The writing was descriptive. But I found the characters to be less than full bodied. They were more caricatures than characters and at times the complexity of language used in the text went far beyond the depth of the story.
There is a sweetness to these stories that to an adult seems unbearable to withstand but that should prove the perfect portion to a tiny princess tucked snuggly beneath a candy pink blanket.
Fun fiction that teaches as it entertains........2005-10-19
Daring Quest of Mystics by Shirley cheng is a fun adventurous read for all ages. This is a facsinating book of short stories, each with a moral. I would recommend this book for all ages, I have passed it on to my teenage son to read, because the fun, magical story is also teaching while entertaining. Something that is hard to find. I look forward to the next book by this author.
Daring Quests of Mystics is a fantastic fantasy!.......2004-12-17
"Daring Quests of Mystics is a charming collection of short stories that is filled with quaint, old-world imagery and poetic visualization. Author Shirley Cheng has captured the hearts of youngsters who still beg for the fairytale filled with Princesses, Kings and imminent danger.
Follow Princess Sophia as she foils evil plots with the help of the magical gifts given to her by Dawn, a soothsayer and wise woman. Learn the lessons of betrayal and forgiveness, deception and honesty, loss and love. Daring Quests of Mystics may remind the reader of Aesop's fables-short tales that touch upon the importance of morals.
Shirley Cheng, an American author who has overcome great physical disabilities herself, is a `princess' at heart, and one can only imagine some of the pain she has endured. However, with this wonderful collection of stories, she shares her inner world and exudes a radiant light that speaks volumes. Here is a young author who inspires. Hats off to Shirley Cheng for giving us Princess Sophia and the engaging world of Noxellia! Daring Quests of Mystics is a fantastic fantasy for the young...or the young-at-heart!"
~ Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song and Divine Intervention, www.cherylktardif.com
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- The Lively Arts: Gilbert Seldes and the Transformation of Cultural Criticism in the United States
Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't
Quantum Success: The Astounding Science of Wealth and Happiness
The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World
The Divine Matrix: Bridging Time, Space, Miracles, and Belief
The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham
