Book Description
BradyGames’ Dragon Quest VIII Official Strategy Guide includes the following:
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A walkthrough highlighting various aspects of the gameplay.
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Detailed maps of every region.
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Thorough coverage of all characters, spells, skills and items.
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Expert boss strategies to defeat even the toughest boss monster, and ultimately Dhoulmagus.
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In-depth bestiary of all monsters.
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Signature Series guide includes an exclusive poster, bonus content and more!
Platform: PlayStation 2
Genre: Role-Playing Game
This product is available for sale in North America only.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty good.......2007-10-07
Not a bad a game. I got it because it is getting harder and harder to find RPG games with the old fashioned turn based system. The enemies are a little cheesy, but the dialog isn't too bad. It also has the japanese animation feel to it. I give it a four because I have always been a fan of these type games. Final Fantasy I back umpteen years ago is what hooked me into these types of game...but FF now wants to incorporate real time into its games, so a game like this is a nice return to the turn based type games. I recommend this for those that like turn based RPG's, japanese animation AND if you like only loosing half of your gold money when you die...as opposed to having to start back where you last saved.
Great Buy.......2007-09-22
As strategy guides go, this one couldn't have been done much better. Graphically, the paper and coloring is great, but if you're expecting a ton of colorful Toriyama concept art you might be disappointed. As a reference it's one of the most useful I've purchased, and because Dragon Quest VIII is such a huge game, it really came in handy. Upon the first day using it I had already received alot of useful information I would have otherwise missed. Although not necessary to complete the storyline, this is an extremely useful resource for anyone trying to get the most out of their game.
another brady junk.......2007-05-17
just as most of their strategy guides, they use "no spoilers" as an excuse to NOT give you a lot of information. If you go by the stragy guide only, you will end up missing a lot of interesting places. There are much better walkthrus online, and free, too.
I buy a stragy guide for every RPG I own. The sole reason is to collect the artwork.
It's all right.......2007-04-11
I like the maps in the book and the alchemy list, but I was hoping for more of a walk-through.
dungeon_maps_only.......2007-02-27
this book simply dosen't tell you what to do. It provides maps and alchemy formulas only. For instance, I was in the libray about 20 hrs into the game. The book should have simply said what book to examine but it dosen't. The maps are okay, but the dungeons are usually smaller. The alchemy formulas are handy, but finding the items needed to make them are tedious. Right, now I have the ship and instead of telling you where to go, it provides a synapsis of the next town. Cross refercing it with the map it is usefull. Just be prepared to be frustrated that there are gaps in the walkthrough.
Book Description
A New Quest Begins
A dragonkeeper of Paladin, Kale is summoned from the Hall to The Bogs by the Wizard Fenworth to serve as his apprentice and tend his newly hatched meech dragon, Regidor. But Kale isn’t going alone. The Hall is sending a student to monitor her performance and report back to the scholars. Worst of all, it’s Bardon–an older boy Kale finds irritating, but who at least can hold his own in a sword fight.
New Friendships Are Forged
Meanwhile, the Wizard Risto has seized another meech dragon, bringing him dangerously close to gaining the power he seeks. So with only a motley band of companions, Kale sets out on a desperate quest to rescue the second meech, to free those dragons already enslaved, and to thwart Risto’s devious plans. It’s up to Kale to lead the search and to embrace the role that’s rightfully hers. But will her efforts be enough to save the land of Amara from the dark future that awaits at Risto’s hands?
Customer Reviews:
love this series.......2007-09-09
this was another good read by donita k. paul. i've enjoyed this series immensely!
Awesome story telling.......2007-07-23
This book is a great read, shares truthful insights. Grat to read with the kids.
Anyone hear that crunching sound?.......2007-03-11
The sound of words being eaten, eaten away.
Confession time: I made several negative comments in my review of DragonSpell (which I still agree with). But I also made several predictions, negative ones, and I have to say I was completely wrong.
I could tell by the first page of this book that Ms. Paul's writing style had improved. I could tell about twenty pages in that her characterization had improved. And I could tell about fifty pages in that this book had a really, really compelling plot. Best of all, the "moral dilemma" I had so begged for had come, too, with Kale's mother number 1 and mother number 2.
Did I mention there was a lot more humor, too, which is always nice with Christian fiction?
Dar is better, funny and loyal. Kale is better, smart and interesting. Two new dragons are introduced. The meech egg from Book 1 is back, almost fully grown, and there's another meech dragon too, a female in bondage to the evil guy, Risto. And the protagonists being who they are, they must rescue her.
And -- wait for it -- this book actually has a BATTLE at the end! A real one! Involving real danger!
Quite exciting. I was hoping DragonQuest would be better, I really was, because the premise of the series had so much potential, and I'm always up for reading Christian fiction as long as it isn't too preachy. The preachiness died in this book. Granted, it's obvious that it IS Christian fiction. But the characters aren't robots who spew Paladin's teachings all over the place (or, in non-fantasy Christian fiction, robots who become Christians and a week later know fifty Bible verses by heart). They're real, flawed, funny people.
Why, then, did I give it only four stars?
Well, there are little annoying details such as some awkward dialogue, confusing scenes, and just an edge of predictability. (Though, in all fairness, I was surprised when it was discovered that the dragons really hadn't deserted after all.)
So, of course it wasn't perfect -- but what is? It was compelling, and MUCH better than the first, so I'll be borrowing DragonKnight as soon as I can.
Rating: Very Good
great sequel!.......2006-05-18
I've always loved anything that has to do with dragons, so when i saw DragonSpell i wanted to read it, when i finished it, i was sad that i had. you know that feeling when you're coming to the end of the book and your happy your gonna finish it, but your sad that you are gonna finish it? yeah, thats how i felt. when i finished it, i looked into the author, and learn a little more about, to find out she already wrote two more! i was so happy, and imediatelly ordered DragonQuest. It is a great story, but if you haven't read the first one, you're going to be clueless. lol I can't wait to read what happens to Bardon and Kale in the next one, DragonKnight! BYE
Captivates fantasy lovers!.......2006-03-29
Kale and her friends return in this mesmerizing sequel to DragonSpell. Two weeks into her training at the Hall, Kale, a dragonkeeper for Paladin, is summoned to help the aging Wizard Fenworth with the meech dragon she quickened. Two minor dragons and a furry young street urchin are already under her care, but there's also an irksome someone to report on her and train her to defend herself - Bardon, a structured older boy called the Snitch behind his back.
Facing danger even to get to Fenworth's, the group soon finds that their journey is only beginning. The evil Wizard Risto has seized another meech to further his plans of taking over Amara. As they travel to free dragons already enslaved by Risto's influence, the mystery surrounding the mother Kale never knew begins to be hampered by more questions.
Rich in adventure, deep in insight, and filled with the intriguing creative touches that fantasy readers love, this book is a must-read for all ages. Seven high races and seven evil races people Amara, portrayed in detail and kept distinct. Multi-dimensional characters become friends you wish you could meet. Dragons permeate the story like a flock of tropical birds, with vivid coloring and varied personalities. The author also adds mind-speaking abilities, wizardry, gateways to travel long distances instantly, and a cloak with pockets that don't bulge, but these elements are only frosting to deeper issues like trust and discipline. A twisting and suspenseful plot finishes the novel on a high note but leaves room for sequels to come. The Dragonkeeper Chronicles are books sure to captivate every lover of fantasy. - Katie Hart, Christian Book Previews.com
Customer Reviews:
Start Your Journey.......2004-02-13
This is an excellent book for anyone who is navigating a personal spiritual journey. We used this book in a church study group and the discussions it generated were lively and interesting. Although I think I would have enjoyed this book if I had read it by myself, having a group to share with and an informed spiritual leader deepened my understanding.
Edward Hays has an amazing talent for gently waking up spiritual areas in the brain.
What you need to know about life.......2002-07-25
As I was sitting on a bench at the end of a long desolate road, slowly sipping my oolong tea, when I pulled out this book and began to read. Oh the joy. I breezed through the pages as my mind wandered throught the wonderful tales that Mr. Hays spins. I couldn't put the book down and the memories and myths will stay with me for a long time. I recommend this book to anyone that is trying to find their spiritual inner self.
Life Changing Experience.......2000-05-30
I was a senior in High School when I was first introduced to this author. At that time in my life I seeked guidance in a spiritual sense but found few sources from society to help me. A theology teacher showed me 3 parables from Hays' writing and I quickly went out to buy the book. I won't try to explain the messages you get from this book because everyone takes away something different from reading it. Look at the other reviews and decide for yourself but this book is definetly worth the price and you won't spend too much time reading it since the book's length isn't all that long. Although be forewarned you will probably find yourself picking this book up off the shelf after completing it. I don't think I know anyone who has read it only once.
Theology for Everyone.......1999-06-24
Fr. Hays is a gifted storyteller. His parables find their way through cynicism and doubt, and work in the reader's heart at a profound level. Having read nearly all of Fr. Hays's books, I recommend _St. George and the Dragon_ as a starting place for his compassionate, loving, inclusive, and atavistic theology. It is the story of a man with a deep spiritual longing who is uncertain how to fulfill it. His mentor appears in the form of an ancient dragon offering assistance, guidance, and a slyly humorous wisdom. This is not a book to be read once and put aside, nor is it a book to be read quickly. It will seem new-age-y to some readers, but it isn't. It will appeal to those who are hurting, those who are young at heart, teenagers, and especially to those whose religious background includes ritual. Everyone embarking on, or already on, a spiritual journey will find something holy here.
Parables that Appeal to Everyone!.......1998-07-15
Edward Hays is a tremendously gifted writer and a thought-provoking theologian. His parables are truly amusing, but at the same time offer the reader much to think about. Hays has the rare ability to write for many levels. This book was recommended to me by a member of the clergy, but I have shared several stories with young teenagers who are just beginning to grapple with their own spirituality.
Reading this book was a personally rewarding experience. The best part is that when I pick it up again in a year or two, I will have completely new insights. It is a book about a spiritual journey that meets you where you are on your own spiritual journey.
I also recommend the sequel "The Magic Lantern" and "The Ethiopian Tattoo Shop".
Book Description
Welcome to Eberron
• With risk comes reward, and Prima will guide you through one to get the other. These pages contain the knowledge necessary to build your character and survive the quests you must face.
• Labeled dungeon maps guide you to victory through even the most challenging adventures.
• Comprehensive character class overviews, including suggested races, feats, skills, and multiclass options for each. Plus path notes so you'll make the right low-level choices to ensure a powerful high-level character.
• Detailed "Quest Logs" reveal each quest's monsters, treasures, secrets, completion rewards, and more. You'll be able to find every quest and level up quickly.
• In-depth looks at controls and gameplay mechanics to help maximize your abilities.
Customer Reviews:
okay.......2007-01-06
Has a lot of general info but not much specifics, like any of the hints, what the skills actually do, anything on the enhancements, that kind of stuff.
Dungeons and Dragons Online.......2006-06-28
One of the better internet games I have played. Well put together and not buggy.
Average customer rating:
- Cool book
- Hey, mature readers, don't look twice at this book, but 2nd and 3rd graders will love it!
- 2nd grader loved it
- Beast Quest Ferno The Fire Dragon
- Great "level 3" chapter book
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Ferno The Fire Dragon (Beast Quest)
Adam Blade
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0439906512 |
Book Description
Strange things are happening in Tom's village. First, the horses were attacked. Then, the river dried up. Now, the last of the crops has mysteriously burnt to the ground. Everyone is terrified. But Tom isn't afraid. He's always dreamed of a quest-a real quest!-and vows to go to the king and bring help for them all. But Tom soon learns that his village is not the only one in trouble. People are in trouble all over the kingdom. Hope is nearly lost. That is, until Tom is sent on the greatest quest of all--the Beast Quest.
Customer Reviews:
Cool book.......2007-06-12
The dragon was cool and it had a very neat ending. Very well written.
Hey, mature readers, don't look twice at this book, but 2nd and 3rd graders will love it!.......2007-04-07
Beast Quest: Ferno the Fire Dragon, is a story about a kingdom plauged by a mysterious power that is drying up rivers, destroying villages and crops, and causing mast turmoil. A young boy namd Tom vows several times to defeat this power, and travels to the king's place. What goes on from there is great adventure, quick-paced action, and cool magic.
For 2-3rd graders.
The print is very large, and the story is very simple. But if I was in the lower grades, I would have thought it the next big series. But Adam Blade does a very good job in writing this series.
Definently a series your elementary grade child has been looking for to make reading more fun.
2nd grader loved it.......2007-04-02
I bought this at the book fair, trying to find an exciting adventure series for my son. This is the first book he truly could not put down. I read the first chapter to him and then he continued to read, after dinner, in the tub, before bed, until he finally finished it that same evening. It was great to see him enjoy reading so much. We are buying the next one in the series now.
Beast Quest Ferno The Fire Dragon.......2007-03-14
My son age 10 doesn't enjoy reading as much as I would like him to. This book grabbed his attention. He enjoyed it very much and told me so. We look forward to this new Fantasy Adventure Series.
Great "level 3" chapter book.......2007-02-17
I have to admit I was very nervous when my son (2nd grade, RL 3) picked out this book. I wanted to read it with him to make sure it was appropriate. It is about a 12 year old boy who is saving the kingdom from beasts that are destroying the land. The beasts are usually the protectors of the ancient kingdom but a sorcerer has put enchanted collars around their necks so they have started to do his bidding. The thing I really appreciate about this series is that the hero never has to kill the beast - only unlock their collars and then the beasts become friendly again. A great read for any child who loves adventure.
Book Description
BradyGames’ Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime Official Strategy Guide includes the following:
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A comprehensive walkthrough of Slime Town and all field areas.
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Complete slime listing including location, function and more.
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In-depth bestiary.
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Seeds of Life revealed.
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Advanced mech strategies.
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Extensive mech item, recipe, HP upgrade and crewmen data.
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Role-Playing Game
This product is available for sale in North America only.
Customer Reviews:
A tutorial on a fantastic game!.......2007-01-01
Even though I finally received this guide after I finisned Rocket slime, and figured out my personal methods of playing it, this guide is a good review and explanation of what is going on.
Yet, with a game this complex and entertaining, there are a myriad of custom strategies you can create and perfect for maximum game enjoyment. This guide brings to light all he endless possibilities there are, to make he game's repeat playability always exciting and never boring!
Almost perfect.......2006-09-29
It has been some time since I came across a really good strategy guide, and I'm glad to say that BradyGames' effort for this book is more than commendable. It does a great job in doing the essentials, which include the following:
1. Basic information on controls, overworld adventuring and tank battles;
2. Detailed Maps of all areas, which are marked by several points of interests, and link arrows to inform the reader which path to take to transverse to these areas;
3. A reasonably useful walkthrough that utilizes the points of interests on the map to describe the events to note at these points.
While the main quest of rescuing Slimes is easy to blast through without a guide, players may require some help to get 100% completion. Apart from the basic features listed above, the book also includes the following details to help achieve that goal:
1. Lists of Slimes and their locations;
2. List of Bestiary and their locations;
3. List of Alchemy Recipes and how to get them;
4. List of Items/ Ammunitions and their locations;
5. All Seeds of Life locations;
6. Side Quests Information;
7. Tank HP Upgrades Information;
8. Tank Crew/ Helpers Information;
9. Additional Tips and Tricks
10. Multiplayer Information.
To put things in a nutshell, this book has reignited my faith in official gaming guides. My only (minor) gripe is that some of the maps are a little too small, making it difficult to figure out the locations at times. Nevertheless, this is not exactly a big issue, and I'd recommend this guide whole-heartedly if you really need help in completing this game fully.
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.
Product Description
The Quest for answers begins...with a
dream.
There havent been any dragons in Pretava for generations. Most people assume they died out long ago or were merely creatures of myth and legend.
But not everyone...
The Krys witch, Laural, knows that somehow her fate is bound up in the dragons disappearance. The answers are trapped, concealed in the forbidden history of her people and her own unresolved past. Something terrible happened in the Before Time, and dreams of dragons invade the young witchs sleep until she can take them no longer.
Laural is certain that unless she learns what really happened to the dragons of Pretava, the same fate awaits the people of Dragon Swan.
The tendency today is to think of the fantasy genre as kid stuff...but Trish Reynolds blows that theory out of the water.
This is not your childrens Harry Potter. Hang on for a ride full of adventure, dragons, and even sex. Fantasy is not exclusively for the younger set anymore!
Customer Reviews:
Couldn't put it down........2006-04-06
reviewed by Angela Wilds for fantasynovelreview.com
Look out! The Dragons are returning to Pretava, bringing trouble close behind...or are they? Laural's troubled dreams are telling her it's so, but the Dragons have been gone from Pretava since the Before Times, if they ever existed. Laural knows she must find out the meaning of her dreams before she can ever achieve happiness with her betrothed, Mykal, the handsome Lord of Dragon Swan and its Province.
While Mykal isn't happy with Laural's decision, he loves her enough to wait until she works her way through her misgivings. Mykal would give his life for Laural. Together, they work out a plan to visit Zyalia, Laural's mentor and protector, the mysterious Old One of Ryndolt Forest. Only Zyalia can help Laural detect the meaning of her dreams and assume her destiny.
As Laural and Mykal make their way through the forest to Zyalia's dwelling, a dark assassin fires a poison dart at Mykal. In a desperate attempt to save Mykal's life, Laural sends a hasty mind call to any healer in the area and places Mykal in a state of suspended animation. Hopefully, it will be enough to save him until help can come! During all the confusion, the assassin abducts Laural, leaving Mykal to his fate. Luckily, Zyalia has heard Laural's frantic plea and hurries to Mykal's aid.
While Zyalia works to heal Mykal, Laural is held captive by the wicked Sorceress Rylinian and her accomplice, Magus Cryddyn. The corrupt Rylinian plans to use Laural in her bid to become the Dark Queen of all the land. Zyalia and Mykal stage a daring rescue of Laural. Then comes a mad dash to make good their escape and warn Willawyn, the High King of Pretava, of Rylinian's evil plan.
Finally, in the capital city of Thannon, Laural and Mykal find King Willawyn's court a veritable hot bed of intrigue! Is the King's heir, Lord Balizar, plotting against his father; or is Willawyn's friend Al'Fyndaln, the half elf, just being hoodwinked? The evidence points directly to Balizar, but are Lord Balizar's degenerate friends behind the plot? Is there someone else more sinister and menacing behind it all? Who is sending the assassins that keep creating mayhem? Just who is the mysterious Seeker who joins the story? Is he friend or foe, good or evil? Will Laural and Mykal finally marry and live happily ever after or is their destiny something altogether different? I'll never tell!
I'd have to call The Witch of Dragon Swan the book of questions. Like the old-time cliffhanger movies of the 40's, this book bewitches the reader into reading "just one more chapter" to see if they've guessed correctly before putting it down and attending to the duties of life. I have to admit to being guilty of it. I read until my eyes just wouldn't obey me anymore. Ah, but Ms. Reynolds doesn't give up her secrets so easily! Some of those answers are saved for book two, The Demons of Drey (soon to be reviewed on this site).
In this first book in the Seeker's Quest series, Trish Reynolds enchants her readers by weaving a spell of romance, intrigue, betrayal and coming of age. It's a tale full of good people--with their faults, just trying to make things better. It also has its twisted, malevolent bad guys and most importantly its magic! What would a fantasy book be without magic? If you'd like to be transported to another place and time, The Witch of Dragon Swan can do that for you!
WOW!.......2005-12-14
I was hooked on Ms Reynolds writing from the minute I first read Book 1 of the Doctor and the Witch...and now I am totally blown away.
The Witch of Dragon Swan is one of the best books in any genre that I have ever read. From the first paragraph (immediately hooked) to the last (I need more!)this book rocks.
Laural, the Witch of Dragon Swan and Mykal, the Lord of Dragon Swan have some issues. Problems with their relationship fade into the background when Laural is kidnapped and Mykal left for dead by her abductors... and that's only for starters!
As in her other series, Ms Reynolds takes the reader on a wild ride with barely time for a breath. I wanted to read the whole book in one sitting...and when I was finished the next one couldn't get here fast enough.
Just like the other reviewers I can't wait to see more in this series and from this author.
Couldn't put it down!.......2005-11-08
Look out! The Dragons are returning to Pretava, bringing trouble close behind...or are they? Laural's troubled dreams are telling her it's so, but the Dragons have been gone from Pretava since the Before Times, if they ever existed. Laural knows she must find out the meaning of her dreams before she can ever achieve happiness with her betrothed, Mykal, the handsome Lord of Dragon Swan and its Province.
While Mykal isn't happy with Laural's decision, he loves her enough to wait until she works her way through her misgivings. Mykal would give his life for Laural. Together, they work out a plan to visit Zyalia, Laural's mentor and protector, the mysterious Old One of Ryndolt Forest. Only Zyalia can help Laural detect the meaning of her dreams and assume her destiny.
As Laural and Mykal make their way through the forest to Zyalia's dwelling, a dark assassin fires a poison dart at Mykal. In a desperate attempt to save Mykal's life, Laural sends a hasty mind call to any healer in the area and places Mykal in a state of suspended animation. Hopefully, it will be enough to save him until help can come! During all the confusion, the assassin abducts Laural, leaving Mykal to his fate. Luckily, Zyalia has heard Laural's frantic plea and hurries to Mykal's aid.
While Zyalia works to heal Mykal, Laural is held captive by the wicked Sorceress Rylinian and her accomplice, Magus Cryddyn. The corrupt Rylinian plans to use Laural in her bid to become the Dark Queen of all the land. Will Mykal recover and rescue Laural?
Finally, in the capital city of Thannon,there is a plot to kill the high king. King Willawyn's court is a veritable hot bed of intrigue! Is the King's heir, Lord Balizar, plotting against his father; or is Willawyn's friend Al'Fyndaln, the half elf, just being hoodwinked? The evidence points directly to Balizar, but are Lord Balizar's degenerate friends behind the plot? Is there someone else more sinister and menacing behind it all? Who is sending the assassins that keep creating mayhem? Just who is the mysterious Seeker who joins the story? Is he friend or foe, good or evil? Will Laural and Mykal finally marry and live happily ever after or is their destiny something altogether different? I'll never tell!
I'd have to call The Witch of Dragon Swan the book of questions. Like the old-time cliffhanger movies of the 40's, this book bewitches the reader into reading "just one more chapter" to see if they've guessed correctly before putting it down and attending to the duties of life. I have to admit to being guilty of it. I read until my eyes just wouldn't obey me anymore. Ah, but Ms. Reynolds doesn't give up her secrets so easily! Some of those answers are saved for book two, The Demons of Drey.
In this first book in the Seeker's Quest series, Trish Reynolds enchants her readers by weaving a spell of romance, intrigue, betrayal and coming of age. It's a tale full of good people--with their faults, just trying to make things better. It also has its twisted, malevolent bad guys and most importantly its magic! What would a fantasy book be without magic? If you'd like to be transported to another place and time, The Witch of Dragon Swan can do that for you!
The Witch of Dragon Swan .......2005-09-16
This book is a must read for any fans of LOTR or D & D. A great story of myth and magic told by a grand storyteller. The author is masterful at pacing the story. Setting the scenes and developing the characters concisely and quickly enough to gain the full flavor without putting you to sleep. (No offence to J. R. R., but he did tend to ramble on) In fact, much like the Witch and the Doctor series, you'll be flipping the pages as fast as your eyes can read. There are a number of characters that all of us can relate to on some level, so before long you'll have your favorite. But be forewarned, do not get too attached to your hero/heroine, as you might receive quite a shock as the story developes. As the synopsis states, "this is not your kid's Harry Potter." Without spilling too much of the delicious plot, keep in mind that there isn't always going to be a happily ever after ... That being said, you'll delight in the depth of character development. You will really empathise with their trials and triumphs. The detailed description of the scenery and surroundings will make you pull up your collar and pull down your cap in anticipation of "the Change." I highly recommend this book to any fantasy buffs and offer it as a rewarding change of pace to any mystery/suspense/thriller readers.
I love it........2005-09-06
The world of The Witch of Dragon Swan is reminiscent of any world created by Marion Zimmer Bradley or Anne McCafferty. Magic and non-human folk populate the pages. Trish Reynolds immediately draws the reader into Laural's world with the same seamless skill.
Laural has visions of dragons. Dragons are long extinct in Pretava. Laural means to follow her visions to their conclusion and find out their meaning, even if it means leaving her soul mate, Mykal behind. Meanwhile a plot to assassinate the high king has been uncovered.
Mykal follows his beloved Laural on her quest to find the meaning of the dragons of her dream s only to be ensnared unwittingly into what will become a fight of good against evil. He and Laural's friend, Zyalia, travel into a foreign land to save Laurel from a fate worse than death.
At the court of the High King, intrigue abounds. Who is behind the assassination attempts and mysterious deaths and why? What will happen if the Heir to the Kingdom is as unfit to rule as he appears? Are the long-gone dragons the enemy? Or are they the kingdom's savoir?
Ms. Reynolds tells a tale with so many interwoven layers, you'll never want to put down this book. Just when you think you've figured out who the bad guys are, another character puts in an appearance or you learn something more about the characters you thought you already knew. Ms. Reynolds weaves a tale of many interwoven layers, including a cliff hanger of an ending that will have you running for the next volume in this trilogy as fast as you can get to the book shop!
W. Lyon Martin, author/illustrator of An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child.
Book Description
In a place where mystic creatures wander the forests and dragons rule the sky, where magic is common practice and the seasons are ruled by the natural order, the delicate balance of the land would forever be cast into turmoil by an innocent of the wild. With the balance already disrupted by humans, one unicorn would find herself imperiled by forces she could never have imagined. To rescue her heart, Shahly must rescue the stallion she loves from the clutches of the humans. Driven by the love of her stallion, she must enter the world of the humans, known enemies of the unicorns, and put all she is and all she knows at risk to free him. She can't know of the dark forces at work, forces that could be the very undoing of everything she has ever known, forces that could mean the very extinction of her kind, and youth and inexperience conspire against her at every turn, as does her own heart. Before she can realize, she is so entangled with the role she must play to free him that her quest becomes a blur, and at times her very survival depends upon the actions of those around her, some wanting to protect her and others wanting her dead! But treacherous humans and horrific monsters are only part of her problem as another invades her heart, determined to unwittingly take the place of her stallion-and end her simple life as a unicorn forever. To complete her mission, she must battle the unseen forces around her, see through the deceptions, and win a hopeless fight with her own heart. And with only three days and nights to do this, she must rely upon the help of her kind's greatest and deadliest enemy, unaware that he has an agenda of his own.
Average customer rating:
- Stunning interpretation of history
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Quests of the Dragon and Bird Clan
Paul Kekai Manansala
Manufacturer: Lulu.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1430308990 |
Book Description
"Quests of the Dragon and Bird Clan" examines how the seafaring trading people known as the "Nusantao" from Insular Southeast Asia influenced world history. This is a "blook," a book based on a weblog (blog). The decision to publish the book came after requests to make the information in the blog available in an easier-to-read and more portable format. The advantage of the printed work is that the blog entries are arranged in easy-to-manage chronological order with out the need for the clicking through the blog archives. The glossary entries are also in alphabetical order for easy look-up, and a word index and table of contents further increase the readiblity of the blog/book. Important supplementary articles have also been included in the appendices. A must-read for those who think there is more to history than what we find in "mainstream" publications.
Customer Reviews:
Stunning interpretation of history.......2007-01-10
For those who found books like Stephen Oppenheimer's Eden in the East as interesting and intriguing, or who favor the theories of Wilhelm Solheim and Carl Sauer on Southeast Asia and the Pacific, this book is for you!
Quests of the Dragon and Bird Clan explores the history of an ancient maritime trade thalassocracy founded by peoples called Nusantao. The latter seafaring people were mostly but not entirely of Malayo-Polynesian and Austronesian language. However, they interacted with other peoples included the Neolithic Yayoi who the author suggests used Nusantao trade routes in migrating to Japan.
Catastrophic events like sea flooding and volcanoes stimulated Nusantao exploration and migration further and further abroad. In the course of these wide-ranging travels, Manansala suggests that the maritime traders altered history in wide-ranging areas in ways never before explored.
For example, he claims that the legendary king Prester John of the Indies was an historical and not-so-legendary Nusantao king. Also he provides evidence that the Holy Grail, which most medieval texts claim came and returned to the Indies, was related to Nusantao spiritual culture.
Manansala shows how in the early medieval period, little known wares known as Rusun jars were traded at extravagant prices to merchants from Japan, Borneo and elsewhere as last remnants of a long-forgotten Eden, a paradise that the author suggests was identical with the one found in the Old Testament.
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- Edge of Glory: The Inside Story of the Quest for Figure Skating's Olympic Gold Medals
- Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2)
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