The CHIMES OF ALYAFALEYN [Hardcover]

Grace Chetwin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Punished by her fellow villagers for her uncanny influence over the mysterious golden spheres that guard the well-being of Alyafaleyn, Caidrun is pulled from the brink of destruction by Tamborel, who has loved her from afar.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-In the world of Alyafaleyn, the balance of life is maintained by small golden spheres or heynim, which chime in a tinkling cloud over the head of each adult. The village has two misfits, Tamborel, who reaches his teen years without being able to catch any heynim of his own, and Caidrun, who attracts the spheres away from their rightful owners. Strongly drawn to the willfull girl, Tamborel becomes her close friend. Deprived of her beloved chimes by the townspeople, Caidrun grows up angry and restless. When she disappears and bad luck comes to the village, Tamborel sets out to find her. In the first part of the story the two characters are small children; a few pages into the second section, they have abruptly become teenagers. Though Tamborel is the main character, the moody, rebellious Caidrun is the more interesting of the two. The idea of the golden spheres is a fascinating one, and Chetwin has worked out her fantasy world with loving care. Unfortunately, her plot has received less attention, as is shown by a lack of focus and a too-hastily resolved ending.
Ruth S. Vose, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Caidrun, born with extraordinary powers, must wear a helmet that shuts out sight and sound to protect her and the town's other citizens. Deprived of sensory learning, feared and mocked by other children, Caidrun has only one friend and protector, Tamborel. When Caidrun is provoked, she commits the unpardonable crime of snagging and dispersing clusters of heymin, floating golden spheres that keep the world in harmony. Running away to escape punishment and to find the source of the heymin, she nearly destroys the world. Tamborel finally saves her from herself and releases the all-important heymin. Chetwin describes a complex world with intriguing situations and characters, but for much of the book, Caidrun is so spiteful and demanding and Tamborel so acquiescent to her demands that the reader almost loses interest. This seems to be the first book in a series, and since at the end, Caidrun has found some peace from her inner demons and Tamborel has shown himself to be resourceful and brave, it seems likely that future stories about the mysterious land of Alyafaleyn will have a hero and heroine worthy of mighty adventures. Sheilamae O'Hara

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: Bradbury Press (October 31, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027182223
• ISBN-13: 978-0027182224
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,224,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Sherwood Forest, England. Now a US citizen.

Mid-nineties, founded her own company, Feral Press, Inc., taking control over her works, preserving the old, creating new ones, keeping them all fresh and alive and available to readers.

In 2000 left the North Shore of Long Island for the North Carolina mountains to get some peace and quiet. Working at present on the book 3 of The Last Legacy Quartet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book for Gifted Children, March 5, 2008

By 

Sallie Reynolds (Sierra foothills, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chimes of Alyafaleyn (Kindle Edition)

The newly revised edition of this book, available through Kindle, has a strange history. As Chetwin was finishing the first edition, the publisher put a page and time limit on it, and the writer had to scuttle her plans for the end. The result was a spectacular first half of a book that strikes a deep and vibrant chord - gifted children who are feared and mistreated in their society, and the consequences of that attitude. One of these children, Caidrun, goes "bad" in her distress at being mistreated, and the other, Tamborel, runs away from home to seek help in saving her. Meanwhile, Caidrun's remarkable capabilities, which should have been guided into constructive channels, have become destructive, and cause far-reaching chaos. The first edition ends with no real change in the characters. In this glorious Kindle edition, however, the lives of Brel and Caidy unfold in fascinating detail, as a whole world based on harmonies is revealed. Chetwin is one of those rare writers who can make a character's growth and development believable - and inevitable. This book is about the individual's spirit and the power of harmony. Music is the art explored here, but all children who long to express their special gifts will treasure this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Worldbuilding, Charming story, February 11, 2002

By 

Shanshad "shanachie_shadowfax" (Discworld) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The CHIMES OF ALYAFALEYN (Hardcover)

This story has some fabulous ideas for a world in which the very foundations depend upon music. The music is created by the use of the musical spheres that the adults "snag" and the more control and spheres an adult can control, the more powerful he or she is. Thrown into this world are two misunderstood young people--Caidrun, a mercurial girl who has been an outcast since before she was born, and Tamborel, the boy who has steadfastedly remained her best friend.

This book makes for a wonderfully emotional coming of age story of these two protagonists. What the author does best is to create that emotional relationship that exists between Tamborel and Caidrun. The understanding and the value of friendship is appealing--this book will most likely interest sensitive young teens who are exploring facets of emotional interaction and enjoy fantasy settings.

Those who prefer action, or more complex world building may feel this story drags at times, and the story rather simplistic. There are many aspects of this world that are never expanded upon, and the characters other than the story's two protagonists never become fully realized. The adventures of Tamborel, therefore, come across as lackluster. And most of Caidrun's adventures are skipped over entirely. Had the author spent some time on Caidrun's experiences from her POV, it might have made the story stronger.

Still, I very much enjoy this book for what it is. I am glad to have it in my collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Chimes of Alyafaleyn, September 15, 2003

By 

Andrea Kennedy (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The CHIMES OF ALYAFALEYN (Hardcover)

In the spirit of The Giver and The Alchemist, The Chimes of Alyafaleyn is a fantastical book that opens readers' (children AND adults) imaginations and hearts. The journey of the human spirit/consciousness is often better told in the context of an imaginary world. Chetwin understands the need for global consciousness and community. I imagine her a strong woman, a peace activist, clutching magic dust. It is a shame this gem is out of print. If you stumble upon this book, savor it and read it more than once. Read it to your children. And then ask your children to teach you something.