Boneslicer (Quest for the Trilogy #1) [Hardcover]

Mel Odom (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 20, 2007

The secret to protecting the civilized world from an ancient threat may lie in the pages of three books…and it is up to master librarians of the past and present to secure these pages of knowledge.

Set in the years after Lord of the Libraries, young halfer Juhg is still growing into his job as Grandmagister when an ally from the past, the wizened wizard Craugh returns with warnings of an ancient threat that may resurface--the so-called "Kharrion's Wrath" which endangers the existence of the world.  Juhg must now unlock the secrets contained in the journals of his now absent mentor Wick, the former Grandmagister and legendary hero known as "The Rover."  He must also continue his documented but clandestine search for a trilogy of books, which brings him through many different realms of their very dangerous world…and into conflict and contact with other races (elves, dwarves, and men) whose fates are all intertwined among the pages of the great book of Time.

 

The Quest for the Trilogy weaves three separate quests into one as the young historian races against the clock to protect not just his world, but all others as well.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Last seen in Odom's Lord of the Libraries, the hobbitlike Grandmagister Edgewick "Wick" Lamplighter (aka "The Rover") and his protégé, Juhg, hunt for rare books for their library, unearth enchanted armament and barely survive their respective brushes with the evil Goblinkin in their rousing fourth outing. Grandmagister Juhg (promoted after Wick went walkabout at the end of the previous book) goes in search of three encrypted journals that belonged to Wick as well as treasure Wick describes in these journals. In a tricky literary maneuver, Juhg reads through the journals that depict Wick's quest to find all three of the magical weapons lost after the battle of Fell's Keep as if he himself were Wick. Filled with talking beasts, including a cat and a donkey, and quests that have a thousand years of history, this latest addition to this popular series is sure to tickle the fancy of high fantasy fans. (Mar.)
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From Booklist

Rover series fans will be delighted by the fourth book (after The Rover, 2002; The Destruction of the Books, 2004; and Lord of the Libraries, 2005), which features young Juhg, now Grandmagister of the Vault of All Known Knowledge, tracking down his predecessor's three hidden journals, which may hold the key to defeating the dark forces threatening the civilized world. Odom interweaves two alternating, extremely hazardous quests: Juhg's desperate search through diverse realms, and his mentor's struggles, as related in the journals. As in the preceding Rover volumes, the characterizations sparkle, the action thrills, and the evil doings are truly scary. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (March 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765315173
• ISBN-13: 978-0765315175
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,836,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write in a number of fields, but always with the hope of telling an interesting tale that will incite a reader to think for himself or herself, to examine his or her own place in the world, and offer a little nudge in the direction of dreams, faith, and personal growth in spite of whatever odds a person has to face. I also believe we were all put here for a purpose. Hopefully, several purposes. I'm a father, a little league coach, a teacher, a friend, and a writer. I struggle to keep that balance, as many of us do these days, but I hold tightly to the belief that I'm doing all I can be doing, and doing what I should be doing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mel has done what few authors have done......, March 21, 2007

By 

Ronald W. Simpson (oklahoma City, ok United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Boneslicer (Quest for the Trilogy #1) (Hardcover)

With the fourth book in his Rover series, Mel has done what few authors have done, hooked me on a fantasy world. Yet again, Mel weaves a compelling tale of fantasy and adventure full of wonderful characters. The story has two parts, Jugh in the present and Second Level Librarian, Wick in the past.

Juhg is now the Grandmagister of the Vault of All Known Knowledge. He is trying to reintroduce books and reading to the world. His passion to bring this knowledge is supported by his best friend, Raisho, and his most powerful ally, the wizard Craugh. The story opens with Juhg meeting a diverse group of humans, elves and dwarves on the mainland. He is asking for help to establish the schools and libraries on the mainland. He is met with both resistance by some and open interest by others.

Juhg is attacked by bogbeasts, a new type of enemy, and launched into another quest. Craugh has recruited him to finish a quest started years before by Jugh's mentor, Wick. The evil of Lord Kharrion has not passed. Kharrion's diabolical ambitions infected the world and still fester to this day. Someone betrayed the Unity at the last battle, and that betrayal has stained relations between the races ever since. For a thousand years, the Dwarven leader Oskarr has been blamed for the betrayal and his descendents have lived with that burden. Wick left three books hidden throughout the lands for Juhg to find and finally put the past to rest.

Wick's story is told in flashbacks and starts with Wick being shanghaied, again, by Craugh and the dwarven pirate crew of the One Eyed Peggy. Craugh needs Wick to help him find and defeat Kharrion's last weapon. To do so he must recover three magical weapons lost for a thousand years and finally solve the mystery of who betrayed the Unity.

Boneslicer is a magical battle axe imbued with the power of the Earth. Mastersmith Oskarr created it and the other weapons. He eventually discovered it was cursed at the last battle and was coveted by Kharrion. He hid it to keep Kharrion from using it as part of his great weapon.

Seaspray was a great magical weapon Oskarr created with Boneslicer. Wielded by the great human hero, Captain Duluan, it is imbued with the power of the Seas. It was lost at the last battle to the goblinkin, but later stolen back and hidden by one of Duluan's heirs.

Deathwhisper was the third weapon Oskarr crafted and is the great magical bow of Sokadir, Prince of the Elves. He is the last surviving hero and still has his bow. Deathwhisper has the power of the storms. Each hit is like lighting bolt. Sokadir has left the world of elves in grief over the loss of his sons at the last battle. He is haunted by the betrayal.

Wick must recover the magical weapons and reunite them to defeat Kharrion's Wrath. With the help of Craugh, Brandt and his band of thieves, the crew of the One Eyed Peggy and some not-so-helpful talking animals Wick finds the missing weapons and defeats Kharrion's Wrath. But he cannot put the mystery of the betrayal to rest. That task is left to Jugh, his apprentice and successor as Grandmagister.

Wick left Jugh three journals, hidden for safekeeping. These journals hold the evidence of who actually betrayed the Unity a thousand years ago and how that person could destroy the future Wick, Jugh and the rest have fought so hard to bring about. Juhg and Craugh must defeat the last remnant of Lord Kharrion's evil if the races are ever to rebuild the Unity and defeat the evil goblinkin.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another homerun for Mel Odom!, August 2, 2007

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Boneslicer (Quest for the Trilogy #1) (Hardcover)

This sequel to Lord of the Libraries returns us to Mel Odom's world of elves, dwarves, wizards and (hobbit-like) dwellers. Grandmagister Juhg is trying to spread his dream of libraries returning enlightenment to the world that was so desperately ravaged during the Cataclysm, but the elves, dwarves and humans cannot shake their mutual distrust. Just what really happened at the Battle of Fell's Keep, and betrayed whom? It's a question that seems to have no answer.

However, quick as a wink, the great wizard Craugh has whisked Juhg off on a new adventure. It turns out that the three magical weapons that were used at the Battle of Fell's Keep are the answer to the riddle, but someone else is after them, and if Juhg doesn't get to them first a new Cataclysm may be awaiting a tired and traumatized world!

Overall, I found this to be a very good book, and another home run for Mel Odom! I like his world, which is set in the aftermath of a great crisis, unlike most Fantasy books (such as The Lord of the Rings), I like how he treats the magical races that are a part of so many books, and I like his characters. Plus, the storyline is completely gripping. So, if you like a good book of elves, dwarves and wizards, then you will love this book. I know I did!

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great "literary" fantasy, March 25, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Boneslicer (Quest for the Trilogy #1) (Hardcover)

After Grandmagister Edgewick "Wick" Lamplighter vanished while searching for rare books and fighting off evil doers, his assistant recently promoted Grandmagister Juhg wants to stay home studying how to establish schools throughout the realm. However wizard Craugh directs him to continue Wick's quest so Juhg searches for three encrypted journals that belonged to the missing Grandmagister.

Upon completing the first leg of his literary quest by finding the journals, Juhg reads the Wick entries of seeking three magical weapons lost after the battle of Fell's Keep. Craugh says these artifacts are needed to stop an evil person from employing a weapon of mass destruction. As he goes into the field on his quest, Juhg also battles the malevolent Goblinkin who care little that the world is in peril.

This is a terrific entry in one of the best fantasy series on the market today (see LORD OF THE LIBRARIES). The story line is fast-paced even when the plot pays homage to libraries. Especially fascinating is Juhg "reading" Wicks' journals as if he is Wick (that segment is worth the price of admission). Fantasy quest fans will appreciate Mel Odom's latest thriller in which once again the hero hopes to prove that the pen is mightier than the sword.

Harriet Klausner