Alison Croggon

[rune]

Has anyone discovered this authors fantasy series for YA's?

[star_song]

If you mean the books of Pellinor, then yes, i unfortunately am in america so the second installment will not be before my eyes for sometime. i just finished reading 'the naming' or is it 'the gift'? well i just dont understand why every good book by an author from elsewhere must be renamed. it's upsetting lol ... anyways i really enjoy this author already and eagerly await book two.

[Teresa Edgerton]

I read "The Naming" and liked it alot -- I'm really looking forward to book number two in the series.

Nevertheless, I probably would have liked it even more if I'd read it 35-40 years ago -- due to the adolescent female wish-fulfillment quotient being so high (and used to such good effect).

[rune]

I'm half way through The Riddle, taking a while to read because I have my project to complete

I really enjoyed The Gift and find this authors writing style very nice to follow. She has a lovely way with words

[Fantasyohyeah]

i loved the books aswell

[rune]

Just started The Crow, enjoying it so far

[-putawaythosepliers-]

ive read the gift and the riddle, about to start the crow, being a bit slow because school is beginning to take over my life in the form of unending punishment, also known as homework. gosh i sound a lot like a teenager dont i?

[Mouse]

I started the Gift and it turned out to be the one and only book I haven't finished. Did not like it!

[DarkIntentions]

Wow =o'
I CANNOT BELIEVE IT.
I've just started a thread not realising there was already one about this peticular series and i can't believe you didn't enjoy it. :O
---
I started The Riddle and didn't really enjoy it at first because of Maerads little envolvement in it, seen as this one is about her brother, Hem and his journeys with Saliman. i'm one of those Maerad and Cavan fans [M<3C] But by the end of the book i was totally into Hem and the new character Zelika.

[rune]

Must agree I am getting into Hem's storyline with The Crow

[LJonesy]

*shudder* Croggon's initial ideas are sound and fair for fantasy, but she completely loses her writing ability as the plot progresses in both the Riddle and The Gift.

The Gift and the Riddle were filled with the same monotonous cycles of events with the addition of some flashy ideas which Croggon inserted into the book. As i read it, i noticed that she was repeating the same formula of describing the lands they passed through as they travelled, to describing the town and the people, then describing every painful morscle of food Maerad ate, to then the pressing plot at hand. I'm sorry, but that just became compeltely boring, more often than not i'd find her talking about food when you, the reader, knows that explanation is completely displaced.
What's more is the constant referrences to Gilman's Cot in the second book. The second of the series, of all places to talk about the very first setting! I think i'll read The Crow just to see if Hem keeps referring to Norloch or his 'enormous appetite'!

On a final note, it was a BIG turn off to see Maerad lose some of her fingers. That sent of warning signals, it sounded like a really bad move for Croggon to make. Decapitating your hero makes a cliche struggle for victory for the rest of the series. What's more is the writer needs some sense of empathy to write, and last time i checked Croggon has all of her fingers.

Well, there was chunks of it i did like, and i could rant about it at the same length i have here.

-End Rant-

[Siobhan1471]

I love the whole series! I have read all 3 out and have been waiting for almost a year now for number 4 to get out!!! I read the preview chapter on her website and it sounds fantastic. TBH I wasnt as keen on the 3rd book because I really wanted to follow Maerad and Cadvan. I would completely recommend this series to anyone they are fantastic!
P.S. The 4th books should be out in England in August/September time. Enjoy!