Customer Reviews

The 10th Kingdom

5 star:		(128)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I really liked this book. It follows the movie pretty closely, with some changes that only improve on the plot. It is a rather long book, but I never got bored while reading it. This is a great story for persons of all ages and for people who like all types of books. There's something about the written word that just makes a story more magical than a movie could ever be. If you haven't seen the movie, the plot is something like this:

Virginia and her father live near Central Park in New York. Virginia is a waitress at the Grill on the Green, and her father is a handyman in the building where they live. Their lives are normal and somewhat monotonous until the Dog formerly known as Prince steps in, and suddenly everything has gone haywire. Virginia and Tony find themselves in an enchanted kingdom where bumbling trolls, evil stepmothers, and terrifying huntsmen are the least of their troubles. This book is full to the brim of action, adventure, and romance. Try reading it, you won't regret it.

I love fairy tales, all of them. That's why I picked this up from a Wal-Mart display last night and started reading in the checkout line--by the third page page I was addicted. This is a really, really good story. The writing is a little rough in places, but the actual *story* is amazing. It's funny, heartfelt, with interesting characters and a few plot twists that actually aren't trasparent. The best part of all is Wolf; I got an *incredible* feel for the character..I'm in love with him already, and the miniseries is a month away! ^_^ The Wolf/Virginia dynamic is probably my favorite part of the book--it's a classic romance, with the added twist that one of the participants...isn't...quite...human.

It's a good book; one that will leave you both emotionally satisfied and craving more(and more, and MORE!). Kudos to NBC and the writers for bringing this wonderful story to life for me. I'm setting my VCR Timer to "Record" *TODAY!*

Virginia, a beautiful New York waitress, didn't know the adventure that would unfold the day she hit a dog with her bike. She and her single parent father, Tony, a bumbling but caring man, follow the magical Prince turned dog into a world straight out of Grimm's Fairy Tales. They soon find Happily Ever After didn't turn out the way everyone hoped as they are pursued by Trolls, and an Evil Queen. They are joined by Wolf, a werewolf who can't decide whether he wants to love or eat Virginia. Through page after page of striking comedy, fast-paced chases pitfalls and magic spells, they fight to save all the 10 Kingdoms and find out about their true destinies.

10th Kingdom keeps alive the traditions of fantasies, but manages to give a modern twist to old fairy tales and eventually weaving itself into its own unique legend. The characters are as colorful in the book as in the aclaimed TV series, but it lacks in how it's written, which could be a bit better. However, I believe that for a book written from a TV mini-series, this is the most excellent of its kind. I found 10th Kingdom to be extremely thrilling and I could easily get into the vast storyline. It was long enough to fully develop each character's personality and most of it commented on each character's inner thoughts and desires.

My favorite character has to be Wolf, who acted as the dashing but dangerous hero. He was constantly moody, yet could always figure out what to do when different problems came into play. His favorite phrases are "Huff-puff," and "Cripes," which he frequently uses. Wolf says on page 471 near the end of the book to Virginia, "This is not the end of the story. It is just a chapter." This story is all about the end of one story and beginning of another, and ends in the same way. When you close one chapter of your life, another is just beginning and with each chapter, there's always a second chance to make your life better.

10th Kingdom does contain a good amount cussing, and also some gory scenes, (Which, if you've read any of the original Grimm Tales, you know this is how they are.) so I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. I believe most younger kids would be better off with something else, but if they still want to, I suggest having an adult read it so they get more out of it. It would make a great bedtime story in that way also. There are many more wonderful fantasy books out there that are begging to be read by adventurous readers like yourself. This is only one of them, and what a jewel it is!

- /^>

The "10th Kingdom" was a very well written book that offers the reader adventure, suspense, and even a little bit of romance. The story begins with Virginia and her adventures in the inner city urban streets of New York City. She comes across a dog that suddenly appears in front of her bicycle that suddenly changes her life. She experiences Trolls, a crazed half man/half wolf, and a dog that seems to understand what she is saying. After a series of near death experiences, Virginia meets up with her father and they enter an alternate world, also known as the Nine Kingdoms. Virgina, her father, Tony, the dog, named Prince, and a man named Wolf, journey through the Nine Kingdoms to recapture the Prince's throne and overthrow the Evil Queen. Through thier journeys, the adventurers experience prison, dwarves, goblins, trolls, magic wishing wells, magic mirrors, and magic. This book is an adventure in itself and is a pleasing novel that a reader of any age would enjoy over and over again.

I'd watched this movie so many times that I finally broke down and read the book (even though I'd had the book for a couple of years bought as a set from NBC - the videos, book and soundtrack). I'd say the book is true to the movie. I suppose it would be since the authors (Rusch & Wesley) were probably commissioned to write it from the screenplay. I thought it humorous they changed Tony's swamp song from "A Whiter Shade of Pale" to "Dark Side of the Moon". A few other small changes. Nothing major.

The movie is my "work" movie. I work from home (selling books including lots of this one) and like to have some background noise which usually turns out to be this movie. It's the perfect workday length at about 7 hours and I don't actually have to see the TV to know what's going on. Like everyone else, I've got it memorized. It's also the perfect movie to watch if you have to stay home sick *cough, cough*. :-)

I've noticed people wondering why they never wrote the other 5 books (the editorial review above talks about 6 books). I'm pretty sure those 6 books are referring to the other TV movies released by Hallmark about that time (The Monkey King, Arabian Nights - both also written by the pseudonym Kathryn Wesley).

BUT if you are looking for more stories about The 10th Kingdom, there are many fan writings available - some quite good even. Look up "Culinary Disasters & Other Stories" (in the quotes) for a list of about 40 stories.

Okay, this was without a doubt the best book ever. I loved every rich, detailed page and held my breath as Virginia, Wolf and Tony got closer and closer to the mirror. Each triumph sent them spinning in a completely new direction and there's definitely something in here for everyone! Romance, adventure, comic relief, mystery...it's all there. There simply must be a sequel. Stories like this are too good to confine to one volume.

This book is the best book I have ever read. It blew me away with the love story, kept me turning the page until I fell asleep with it. I reccomend you read this book to anyone who likes fairy tales or een a good love story.

After starting several books and putting them back down in boredom -I picked up The Tenth Kingdom. I had seen the advertisement for the mini-series and I figured I would give the book a chance. I was concerned because I just had 10 days to finish it before the mini-series started. But I had no need to worry - I finished it in 3 days! Simply put, this book is just a wonderful story! It's akin to the Harry Potter series, just a great story that the whole family can enjoy! I told my teenager daughter, who hates to read, that she had to read this story. After convincing her to give it a 3 chapter "trial run" she is now halfway through the book and I can't get her to put it down. She loves the story too! The mini-series has started, and as usual, TV is never as good as the book that inspired it. So, even if you saw the mini-series, don't let that stop you from reading this timeless fairy tale book also!

This book is a fairytale with a modern twist. It intertwines many fairy stories to produce a wonderful tale about a young woman on a journey through the nine kingdoms. I loved the mini-series on tv so much that I bought the book. It's a wonderful story and I love the character Wolf. He's so hilarious and the actor who played him is really cute. I loved the romance between Wolf and Virginia. I look forward to a sequel to this wonderful book.

If you've seen and loved the movie you'll love the book. Virginia, Tony, Wolf, and Prince, fight to save the 9 Kingdoms from the Queen, the trolls, and the Huntsman just like in the movie. The book's plot is much the same, with the main characters visiting the kingdoms and meeting characters from fairy tailes such as: Snow White, Cinderella, Jack 'n' the Beanstalk, etc. There are slight differences between the book and movie in the plot, but that, in my point of view, only makes it better. The book also clears up a few question left over from the movie, and gives you a better point of view to understand why everything is happening.