Beyond the North Wind [Library Binding]

Gillian Bradshaw (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

After learning that the evil Arimaspians and their witch queen plan to destroy the Issedones, Aristeas comes to the aid of his friends. By the author of The Dragon and the Thief.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bradshaw maximizes the power of this taut fantasy adventure by grounding it in classical mythology. Aristeas, a Greek poet, is spirited off on a mission by Apollo. Captured by a couple of Arimaspians, a one-eyed people living under a terrible curse, Aristeas discovers that their powerful queen is planning an attack against the griffins. Instinctively, Aristeas knows that he must warn these winged beasts of impending ambush, yet feels it is also his duty to save the war-mongering Arimaspians. To resolve this seemingly paradoxical task, he calls on his magical powers, his sheer determination and his stalwart griffin friend, Firegold. As the opposing sides move into action and magic begins to take its course, the plot builds to an exciting climax. The mix of beasts and humans, of the mythical and the magical, results in a happy synergism. Especially well portrayed is the griffin nation, its mores and foibles, history and culture. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9-- A few lines from the Histories of Herodotus provide characters for a cheerful fantasy-adventure. Aristeas, a young poet armed with a powerful but firmly limited gift of magic from the god Apollo, is drawn east of his native Greece by a sense of terrible danger, "a catastrophe that he was somehow expected to prevent." Entering the country of one-eyed Arimaspians, he is immediately captured by two of these ignorant giants as a prize for their flesh-eating queen. Aristeas escapes them to join forces with their archenemies, the griffins, who communicate telepathically and shelter him in their mountain fortress. Persisting through battles, spells, and transformations, the reluctant hero arrives at last at the idyllic land beyond the North Wind. There, the wise Hyperboreans suggest a way for Aristeas to save both Arimaspians and griffins from mutual destruction. Unpretentiously informed by the Greek idea of fate, served up with a smooth conversational style and a dash of humor, this light entertainment makes a sweet but not entirely necessary addition to fantasy collections. --Margaret A. Chang, North Adams State College, MA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 184 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow; 1st edition (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688113575
• ISBN-13: 978-0688113575
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,837,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The beginning of a long love of fantasy, March 10, 2005

By 

Patrick O'Reilly "Tank" (MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the North Wind (Library Binding)

I read the book in two days during seventh grade. It was and still is one of my favorite books of all time. I am now 18 and and avid reader of fantasy from Tolkien to Jordan to Feist (my favorite) and I am currently 50 pages into a fantasy book I am writing. The characterization in Beyond the North Wind from the Griffins to the poet are strong enough to still be with me. Do yourself a favor and read this book. If you are a parent, do not let your child dive into the ocean of Harry Potter without reading this book.