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Splashdown Books; 1 edition 24 May Language: Be the first to review this item Would you like to tell us about a lower price? Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a product review. Most helpful customer reviews on Amazon. This is a box set with three volumes--the first two are definitely novella length, and the third is closer to full novel length. There is also a bonus short story at the end. This is one of those series that is hard to really categorize.
Underneath and within Prydain is the kingdom of the Fair Folk, a diminutive supernatural race that mostly keeps to its own affairs. Olivia Mangum rated it did not like it Mar 15, Get to Know Us. I work in the information technol I have been dreaming about fictional worlds since I was a kid. Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands. The Evaran Chronicles 6 books. Can she resurrect the dead again?
Darby is a police officer, so it definitely fits as a police procedural. However, it takes place in the future, so there are sci-fi elements, such as hover cars. Darby is a "super"--someone with superhuman powers--so it could be placed as a superhero series, but it doesn't have that comic book superhero feeling it's more real life.
The supernatural elements also give it a somewhat urban fantasy feel. And finally, the voice is a bit old-school detective. A lot, I know, but it all works together to make a very fun, very readable series. Things jump in pretty quickly. The author goes right to the action with book one. I tend to prefer books that ease in a little more, so it took me a bit to connect to Darby and her partner Mark, but connect I did. Darby and Mark are, simply put, likable and relatable characters.
Their relationship grows throughout the series in realistic way. No, this is not a romance--it's focus is taking down murderers and learning about Darby's newfound superpowers, but they are partners and they develop a strong friendship, with, um, figurative and literal sparks. Overall, I am enjoying this series and looking forward to the next installment.
I ready enjoyed this book! It was different and the main character is lovable! She is stubborn but loyalty to her friends and loved ones! She has values and takes responsibility of her actions! Yes sometimes it's would drive me crazy because she blame herself for things that isn't her fault!
I do like her partner, Mark! Just by reading these three books I think that they have a great opportunity to be good for one another.
As as partners in duty as cops and as in relationship more than friends. I love the part with Mark was talking to Kevin his best friend that he had fallen for her! I enjoy both of their point of views! I'm looking forward to read more from this author! I have book 4.
Hopefully we would get more to read this year!
If you're looking for a fun, quick read, this collection of super-powered cop stories is a great choice. Think X-Men crossed with your favorite police drama. The heroine, Kansas City police officer Darby Shaw is a likeable character who only recently discovered she has the power to bring people back to life - but only if they've been murdered, and only if she can touch both the murder and victim.
This leads to a series of complications, from Darb's kidnapping by government agencies, to pressure to find murderers especially quickly the resurrections only work within a certain time frame , to murders committed for - perhaps - altruistic reasons. The entire saga so far of Darby Shaw Chronicles in one boxed set is a great value. That exposed him to its castles, scenery, and language, which became "part of the raw material for the Prydain books". Originally he "planned to write one or two — three at the very most".
Later, a four-volume series would conclude with The High King. The editor felt that something was missing between third and fourth volumes, so Taran Wanderer was written one month after The Castle of Llyr was published, making it a five-volume series.
The stories that are now collected in The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain actually were published in three different volumes: Most of these act as backstories which fill in gaps for minor characters, but others are just short stories that stand apart from the books. Prydain's geography, culture, and names are based on ancient Wales, especially the tales of the Mabinogion. The High King rules over all the land, seconded by his war leader, with many subject kings ruling the various territories of Prydain, called cantrevs.
Only the Free Commots , a collection of villages that answer only to the High King, are outside any subject king's jurisdiction. Underneath and within Prydain is the kingdom of the Fair Folk, a diminutive supernatural race that mostly keeps to its own affairs. The Fair Folk have no love for the Death-Lord Arawn , however; and they occasionally aid the humans of Prydain against him.
In addition to the races of men and Fair Folk, Prydain is home to the Sons of Don and their descendants who are ostensibly related to the gods of Welsh mythology , though this is never overtly stated in the series. Other varieties of creatures such as the undead Cauldron-Born , the monstrous birdlike Gwythaints, and oddities such as the furry, human-like Gurgi whose race is undetermined also inhabit Prydain.
Having garnered a Newbery Medal and a Newbery Honor, Prydain is widely recognized as a valuable contribution to children's literature. Decades after their publication The Chronicles of Prydain hold their own in sales and readership and may be comparable to children's fantasy series such as The Chronicles of Narnia. Ruth Hill Viguers wrote in the Critical History of Children's Literature , "Like most good fantasies, the books are related to humanity; the characters have failings but also the potential for greatness.
In , The Book of Three was ranked number 18 and The High King 68th among all-time best children's novels in a survey published by School Library Journal , a monthly with primarily U. Characters are grouped first by the one of five Chronicles where they first appear, then by appearance in short stories only.
According to Alexander, nearly all of the proper names in Prydain are from Welsh myth or history, perhaps all except Eilonwy and Taran. All six stories explore prehistory, "before the birth of Taran Assistant Pig-Keeper ", [18] at least fifteen years before the novels.
In , Holt published an expanded edition of The Foundling [19] collecting all eight stories text only , the High King map, and a new "Prydain Pronunciation Guide" with entries for 49 proper names. The Pronunciation Guide is also included in and later editions of the five novels.
Each novel includes a map by Evaline Ness original illustrator of the picture books and covers of the novels and each story includes the illustrations by Margot Zemach for the original Foundling and Other Tales. The book's title is a reference to the fact that the Chronicles' narration often refers to any present combination of the main characters as "the companions. Entries cover major characters, locations, and so on, with insight gained by Tunnell's interviews with Alexander as well as research into the Mabinogion and The White Goddess.
One marketing capsule is "An informative resource for formal studies of the Prydain Chronicles, as well as an excellent opportunity to delve into the fantastic workings of Prydain. Walt Disney Productions released a Prydain animated film in The Black Cauldron is based primarily on the first two novels with elements from the others.
Critics found the film "pretty, but confusing and overly somber" due to its dark nature and disjointed script, though Roger Ebert gave it a positive review. In retrospect, then-newly appointed studio head Jeffrey Katzenberg was dismayed by the product, and the animators felt that it lacked "the humor, pathos, and the fantasy which had been so strong in Lloyd Alexander's work. The story had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it was heartbreaking to see such wonderful material wasted.
Of the film, Lloyd Alexander remarked: Having said that, the movie in itself, purely as a movie, I found to be very enjoyable. On March 17, , Variety confirmed that Walt Disney Pictures had re-acquired the film rights to The Chronicles of Prydain , with the intention to adapt the book series into an epic motion picture series, more attuned to Lloyd Alexander's high fantasy world.
The project is currently in early development at the Walt Disney Studios with no director, producer, or screenwriter attached yet. Early in the s, Listening Library Random House produced an unabridged reading by James Langton of the five main volumes, with author's notes read by Lloyd Alexander himself. The audiobooks were published on compact audio cassette and compact disc, and were also released for download from to