The Druid's Tune [Paperback]

O. R. Melling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1993

While visiting distant relatives in Ireland, a teenage brother and sister, curiously uneasy about the strange workman on their cousin's farm, discover his strange powers when they are all transported back in time to take part in the struggle between Cuchulain of Ulster and Queen Maeve of Connaught.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: O'Brien Pr (February 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0862782856
• ISBN-13: 978-0862782856
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,705,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A marvellous introduction to the fantasy genre, April 5, 2001

By 

"doracell" (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Druid's Tune (Paperback)

This book is one of the very first fantasy novels I have read. I found The Druid's Tune amazing when I first read it at age fourteen, and up to this day, I still find it wonderfully engrossing! The idea of two modern day teenagers being transported into another time/world is nothing new, but O.R. Melling made up for this cliched storyline by her powerful characterization skills, and rich description of the world of the Tain. I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers everywhere.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Filled with Action Fantasy, Love and Friendship, May 23, 2011

By 

Jennifer Donnelly (Bath, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DRUID'S TUNE, The (Mass Market Paperback)

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***
This review is not going to be as detailed as I would have liked because I've read quite a bit in the few days since finishing it. The problem with reading so many books is they start to blend in your mind and it's sometimes hard to separate one from the other.

Rosemary and Jimmy are two Toronto teenagers sent as a punishment to Ireland to spend the summer working on their uncle's small farm. To wrapped up in their own wants and needs to listen to their parent's edicts, their father send them away to keep them from the bad crowd they've fallen into back home. Neither is excited about the journey. When their curious nature has them following their uncle's strange hired help they are pulled into a summer adventure that they will never forget and that will change all of them forever.

The premise of the book is based on Celtic Mythology and the tale of the Ta`in Bo` Cailnge - The Cattle Raid of Cooley. The children come upon the hired help - a modern day druid in the midst of a spell and are pulled to another world, one where Ireland's Mythical past is still taking place. They are pulled into Queen Mauve's Army when one of her sons finds them in the woods.

Jimmy is enlisted as a chariot driver for the Ulster outcasts who have joined Mauve's army to avenge their leaders ruined honor. Rosemary becomes a companion to Finnabar, queen Mauve's only daughter and falls in love with one of her son's Maine. The two grow as they learn to survive without modern conveniences and are drawn into the causes of the ancient people.

In a twist of fate Jimmy meets Cuchulainn, the hero of Ulster and changes side to help defend the man who becomes his closest friend. Lost in his own pursuits of friendship and honor he doesn't think of the worry or danger his actions cause his sister who is still with the enemy troops.

Throughout the adventure the two teenagers risk life and limb as they learn about the ties of family, honor and love. Their own growth helps the angry druid who accidentally brought them along recover a part of himself that is lost and reconnect with the people he is among.

While the growth of all of the characters involved is tremendous I would have liked to have seen more of the love story between Maine as Rosemary as well as the relationship between Jimmy and Cuchulainn. Even with the magical ending, I was left wanting to know what happens next for the two children and the people that changed their lives.

The book is a delightful read filled with action, adventure, fantasy, love and friendship.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of O.R. Melling's Best, September 13, 2003

By A Customer

This was the book that got me hooked on to O.R. Melling as well as Irish Mythology. I recomended this book to several of my friends who also enjoyed this book. The Singing Stone, also by O.R. Melling, was an even better story.