Customer Reviews

Elfquest: Volumes I & II: Journey to Sorrow's End

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

 

 

How do you rate something like this? Wendy Pini has an exquisite sense of pacing, a master's command of the English language, and a grand story to tell. Without hesitation I would recommend any of her works.

This is the first book in the series. Told in text form, it stands easily on its own -- people who don't have or want the graphic art series won't miss anything here. It tells the story of a band of elves who are persecuted out of their home and must find a new one before they die in the desert. Along the way they encounter a new band of elves, hostile trolls, and some even more hostile humans. Sure, they're elves and they're cute, but these elves have courage, heart, and compassion -- they are as accessible and understandable as we are, metaphors for what we wish we could be.

Unlike many novelizations of graphic art, this book is accessible to newcomers and doesn't leave out important things. It expands some parts of the graphic art series, adding details like background, private thoughts, and extra interactions.

Although the story is fantastical in nature, it holds the universality of wanting a place to belong, fate, overcoming fears, and the conflict between man and the unknown. Wendi and Richard's textual adaptations of their first five comics offer a new look to the story, and a great deal more detail. Written from a third-person view, it allows the reader to feel like a part of the group, while not having to feel like their suffering all he hardships that the elves feel. The biggest things that drew me to this book, were the characters. They are so complexly simple, that it's hard to remember, sometimes, that they were originally ink and paper drawings, telling their stories through pictures, as well as words. Secondarily, I was drawn by the world, itself. How clearly and vividly it's described has captured me from the first time I even heard of Abode, distinctly the fact that it was inhabited by such creatures as the elves and their bonded wolves. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed realms of magic, love, fantasy, trial, or challenge. It holds all of these, and much, much more within it's comforting arms, and is definitely an excellent escape from reality.

I stumbled across this novel on accident: I remember thinking, "how complex can a story about some elves be???" Was I wrong!!! These elves ain't about no cookies, okay??? They have a rich heritage and stunning characterizations, and--like the humans they clash with--have the normal range of bonds and emotions. I love the characters, and their quest to find their origin isn't unlike ours. If you want a rich, classic story that entertains on all levels, or if you want to see what the big fuss is about the Pinis, this is a great place to start. STUNNING!!!!

JOURNEY TO SORROW'S END, like any of Richard & Wendy Pini's work, is superb. You could not ask for a better novel. It has everything: excitement, adventure, romance, and best of all, the world in the eyes of an elf. Be sure to read this one and I guarantee you'll be hooked to the everlasting and captivating world of ElfQuest!!!

This is a great book, mainly because it helps the reader understand what goes on in the minds of the characters like a comic book just can't.

As a hardcore Elfquestfan I really like the whole audio version of "Journey to Sorrow's end" and as I read the Elfquest novels first I was already familiar with the third-person-view the tapes are written in. The only thing I don't really like are the voices of some of the elves. But everything else- the story, the characteres, the style... makes it wonderful!