Customer Reviews

Calling on Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles)

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What? Only five stars?!? I need more to do this series justice! Patricia C. Wrede writes marvelous fantasy. It's like "Mixed-Up Fairy Tales" or something, but funnier, more engaging, and ripe for repeat reading (I just graduated from high school, and I just finished reading the entire series for the third time in a matter of days). These are timeless tales. Even her NAMES are inventive. Cimorene, Mendanbar, Kazul, Morwen, Telemain, Daystar, Shiara...and let us not forget Zemenar and Antorell. The chapter headings induce chuckles immediately, simply by their existence. She writes in a style that incorporates intelligent fantasy with enjoyable humor. The characters are some you would like to know personally. And nowhere else have I seen as unique a discussion of magic in its many forms as in these four books. I did notice a trend of centralization. Dealing was Cimorene's book. Searching was Mendanbar's. Calling was Morwen's. Talking was Daystar's. I wish the series was not concluded, because I'd love to see Telemain's book. And perhaps Kazul's book could be somewhat of a prequel. Oh, and what about a book from Antorell's perspective? That would make for an incredibly funny story. The Enchanted Forest and its surrounding is a world I want to know about. Not many authors can create an entire world that entices the reader so greatly. But Mrs. Wrede has. Unlike the Douglas Adams' Hitchiker's Guide series, which got progressively worse, each book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles compares to the original, as fresh and brilliant as ever. Needless to say, this series is one of the best ever. I have not really sampled a lot of the adult fantasy by Piers Anthony and Anne McCaffrey and such, but I doubt they can compare with the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. This is not mindboggling fantasy like the Lord of the Rings trilogy: this is fun. Oh, and remember: <points finger>..."Argelfraster."

Yet again, Wrede has produced an interesting, funny, thoroughly enjoyable work of fantasy. The troublemaking wizards are back again, despite multiple meltings in the past, and are once again trying to increase their power by draining and stealing the magic of the Enchanted Forest. Our heroes are also back to counter the dastardly plan--Queen Cimorene, King Mendenbar, Kazul the King of the Dragons, Morwen the witch, and Telemain the magician. This time, they are joined by Morwen's nine magical cats, who are finally allowed to give their full voice to the story (although only some of the characters can actually understand their cat language), and also by the good-hearted but annoying Killer. Killer, through a series of magical misadventures brought about primarily by his eternal hunger and lack of good sense, has changed from a normal rabbit to a giant rabbit, then to a giant blue donkey, after which he has also managed to grow giant wings, get himself stuck six inches above the ground, and become physically insubstantial. This time, the wizards have managed to penetrate Mendenbar's castle and steal his magic sword. With the sword now outside the Enchanted Forest, the wizards find themselves able to once again drain the magic from that land. Mendenbar is compelled to stay at home as the other protagonists, including his pregnant wife Cimorene, leave the forest in search of the sword. Wizards are melted (and finally even eaten by Kazul and some other dragons), strange characters are encountered, and things go pretty much as one would expect. However, things do not all work out this time around; the ending is thus not wholly satisfying, but it does provide a lead-in to the book Talking With Dragons, the action of which takes place several years after the events we read about in the present story.

All in all, this is a fun, entertaining, quick read. Morwen takes center stage for the most part this time and Mendenbar remains away from the action for the most part, but Cimorene, my favorite character, does play a large role in the affairs. The fire-witches encountered are a little annoying, and Killer takes belly-aching (both literally and physically) to great heights. I did love the nine cats, however. Their constant arguing and teasing, along with their heroism and importance, gave a new dimension to the story, and it was gratifying to see the pains to which Wrede went to give them the traits, emotions, and affectations of cats in general. The introduction of the magic mirrors, through which individuals can contact one another, is also a novel twist on both modern telephones and traditional fairy tales (Mirror, mirror, on the wall I would like to make a call), and the "operator" provides a good bit of humor. This book falls a little short of the greatness of its predecessors, but it clearly succeeds as a enchanted work of fantasy sure to delight young and old alike. I feel compelled to say that you really should read the two preceding books, Dealing With Dragons and Searching for Dragons, in order to really appreciate the characters to the utmost, especially the fair and lovely Cimorene.

What? Only five stars? I need more to do this series justice! Patricia C. Wrede writes marvelous fantasy. It's like "Mixed-Up Fairy Tales" or something, but funnier, more engaging, and ripe for repeat reading (After graduating from high school, I read the entire series for the third time in a matter of days). These are timeless tales. Even her NAMES are inventive. Cimorene, Mendanbar, Kazul, Morwen, Telemain, Daystar, Shiara...and let us not forget Zemenar and Antorell. The chapter headings induce chuckles immediately, simply by their existence. She writes in a style that incorporates intelligent fantasy with enjoyable humor. The characters are some you would like to know personally. And nowhere else have I seen as unique a discussion of magic in its many forms as in these four books. I did notice a trend of centralization. Dealing was Cimorene's book. Searching was Mendanbar's. Calling was Morwen's. Talking was Daystar's. I wish the series was not concluded, because I'd love to see Telemain's book. And perhaps Kazul's book could be somewhat of a prequel. Oh, and what about a book from Antorell's perspective? That would make for an incredibly funny story. The Enchanted Forest and its surrounding is a world I want to know about. Not many authors can create an entire world that entices the reader so greatly. But Mrs. Wrede has. Unlike the Douglas Adams' Hitchiker's Guide series, which got progressively worse, each book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles compares to the original, as fresh and brilliant as ever. Needless to say, this series is one of the best ever. I have not really sampled a lot of the adult fantasy by Piers Anthony and Anne McCaffrey and such, but I doubt they can compare with the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. This is not mindboggling fantasy like the Lord of the Rings trilogy: this is fun. Oh, and remember: <points finger>..."Argelfraster."

The third installment in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles was no disappointment. The book starts out with Morwen living with her not one but nine cats. However when Morwen learns that the magic in the enchanted forest is disappearing and King Mendenbar's sword has been stolen she is determined to get it back. With much protesting from Mendenbar they finally decide who goes. Morwen is accompanied by the pregnant Queen Cimorene, the magician Telemain who is most liked when he doesn't open his mouth, Morwen's two cats, Kazul the King of Dragons,and Killer a rabbit who mysteriously turned in a donkey and don't get me wrong but there will be more transformations. As if their quest isn't hard enough they encounter a fire witch, mud, vines that want to eat them, and the all too familiar wizards society.(Need more lemon juice?) Can they get the sword back in time to save the Enchanted Forest and Mendenbar? A cliffhanger ending that you just can't miss!! These Chronicles are probably the best fantasy books I have ever read! I hope you enjoy them too!! Can't wait to read number 4. Too bad it is the last one!

I love these books (and I first read them when I was 35 years old). Of the four, though, this is certainly the weakest. The plot is rather formulaic, and only exists to set up the situation in the fourth book.

Of course, as the middle book in a trilogy (the first book really is more of a stand-alone), one can expect a certain slump. It's worth reading in order to set up book number four, and it's worth owning if you plan to buy the set. But it really wouldn't be memorable on its own.

When I first read Dealing with Dragons when it came out, I loved it so much that I decided to read the rest of the series. I finished Searching for Dragons, thought that it was okay and proceded onto this one. I never finished it. I got it from the library and never found the will to finish it. Surprisingly, this is now my favorite part of the series. I thought when I started it again that I wouldn't like it as much, since Morwen was never the strongest character in my head... I wanted more of Cimorene... but this book is seriously as good as Dealing with Dragons, if not better. I laughed out loud at this one. Morwen's encounters with the flying blue-donkey/rabbit named Killer is silly, but it is her conversations with the cats that made me giggle repeatedly. Although the end leaves you hanging, it just makes you want to read the next book even more. So, yes, read the whole series... :)

This is easily the best book of the series. I loved the entire series but this was REALLY good. I loved how all the cats have their own opions. It is amazingly good. For ur sake, READ IT!!!!! U will not regret it. Thanks, Morwen.

P.S. Argelfraster. U'll have to read the book to know what that means. It is SO great! READ THE BOOK! that is not an option; that is a command for ur own good.

This is possibly the best book in the series, using all the lovable characters, except the dragons were not represented as much as I'd like them to be. One of the things that makes this book so special is that it is written from a third-person perspective that follows Morwen, giving you a look into the hilarious personalities and prejudices of her nine cats. Although the synopsis may make the plot appear cheesy, it's perfectly logical for the series. And I do so love that logical magic that Telemain so eloquently describes, making you feel as if that, if you had the right tools, you could create your own spell. It seems to share this trait with Star Wars, where everything, no matter how outlandish, has a purpose, reason, and beliveable definition of how it works.I know I'm just agreeing with all the other reviewers on this page, but what does it do but boost the support? I must agree with various reviewers on this page, Telemain and Fiddlesticks are my favorite characters, and a book that follows Telemain would be wonderful, but I'm not asking for some disapointing late sequel. His wild "technospeak" is beautifully confusing to some, yet fascinatingly descriptive to those with the bravery to decipher it alone. I must agree with the other fans here, these books are reassuringly always rereadable.

You know something, I could go on and on for pages about these books, but I think I better stop here and finish my homework.

This book is my favorite book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles although you should not read it if you have not read the others first. When I read most books I skip the chapter titles but in this book they are half the fun (i.e. in which it is very muddy)and the end keeps you wanting more

Although I didn't read the first two books in the tilogy, I was hooked on the first page of Calling on Dragons. Morwen leads a hard life as a witch and owner of not one but nine talking cats. Her life only gets harder when she; a six-foot, blue, talking donkey; a magician named Telemain; Queen Cimorene; two of Morwen's cats; and Kazul, King of the Dragons set off on the task of retrieving the sword of the Enchanted Forest. Along the way, they encounter spells, fire witches, wizards, and mud, which make their expedition difficult. Will they succeed and live to tell the tale?