Customer Reviews

Glenraven (Hardcover)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When JayJay Benning picked up a book in a bookstore, she thought the book was a travel guide to a small principality in Italy called Glenraven. Glenraven had supposedly been sealed off from the world and was for the first time opening it's borders to a few select individuals. Since she needed some time away from her husband, JayJay thought that Glenraven sounded perfect. After getting her friend Sophie to agree to come with her, they started on their trip. When the book starts rewriting itself before their eyes, seemingly talking to them, they realize that they're not where they thought they were. The people of Glenraven needed was a couple of heros to save them from a thousand year old ruler that feeds on the souls of Glenraveners to keep herself alive. JayJay and Sophie are not quiet what they had in mind. The pain of the Glenraveners can clearly be felt, and Sophie and JayJay's misery with their husbands is palpable. This book was touching, interesting, and well written.

i love marion zimmer bradly and really enjoy her writing style and glenraven was no exception. while this book may not be for hard core fantasy fanatics this is really a very entertainable book with witty, charming characters that often had me laughing and thinking "that's just what i'd say."

jayjay is a woman watching her third marriage fall apart when she finds a fodor's guide to glenraven, supposedly a small country in europe, and decides that's just the place for her much needed get away. her friend sophie who is still reeling from her daughter's death asks to come along. but glenraven is no small, obscure country in europe, it's another world that's dying because its thousand year old watchmistress is sucking the land dry. these unlikely heroes are like your best friend from high school and you find yourself smiling often throughout this work.

it's not a fantasy epic but instead a light hearted read that's just pretty damn good and begs to be read. there is a sequel which i am currently on which follows the same pattern of witty characters. i would definetly advise anyone to give this book a try for something alittle light and fun.

This, I must say, is one of my favorite books. I loved the characters and the actual land of Glenraven. It seemed like an actual place that could have exsited (well except for all the magic stuff). The plot was great and the characters were interesting and realistic. It's a fabulous book that I would suggest to anyone.

Anyone who loves fantasy will love this novel. The characters are fresh and vivd, and Jay was a great example of a modern day woman with emotional scars. Her interacticon with her friend Sophie was very believable, not wish-washy un-flinching loyalty and love like in so many other novels. But best of all were the fanciful character. The Machan, the Kin, and the Machan are all wonderful characters and attest to the fantastic merrit of both Bradley and Lisle. Wonderful Novel. A must read.

...What they got were Sophie, a woman who stopped living when her daughter died, and Jayjay, a woman who just left her third husband. The Machnan had poured all of their magic into creating an artifact that would call to someone who would be able to free them from Aidris Akalan, the evil Watchmistress who ate the magic of other people to stay eternally youthful and immortal. The artifact took the unlikely guise of a guidebook in a bookstore. When Jayjay picked it up, she thought it would be the perfect place to get away/hide until she could face the fact that she would be getting divorced for the third time by the time she was thirty-five years old. Sophie unexpectedly found herself wanting to go along too. But when they arrive at Glenraven, nothing is at it seems. Can they trust their tour guide or is he setting a trap so he can rob them? In trying to evade their "pursuers" they walk right into their enemies and stumble across a hidden revolution among the Alfkindir, the long-lived race that Aidris Akalan comes from. Matthiall is the leader of the revolution, but he is betrayed by one of the warrags, a wolf/dog hybrid that is unlike anything Jayjay and Sophie have seen before. As they flee Aidris' palace with Matthiall, they run into the other monsters, including the Watchers, the demons that Aidris Akalan has called forth out of the Rift to keep her immortal. When the ancient race of the Aregen get involved, things become even more complicated...

This is not really deep fantasy, but it is a very good light fantasy. The characters are well-drawn and the reader can empathize with them as they struggle to accomplish something that they didn't even know that they were supposed to accomplish. None of the creatures/people in the book are what they seem and this makes for some interesting plot twists as unexpected events are always happening. The idea of a Glenraven was quite fun as it is portrayed as another small European country that has gone overlooked for hundreds of years. Everything is still in a medieval setting and they are very insulated. This is just a fun, quick read that has a nice, happy ending. A great break from some of the heavier fantasy that is out there right now.

Read all that was available as a "sample chapters" and still bought the book. The sociology/history of 'Glenraven' provides so many options for following stories that I hope MZB and HL continue, not only in one direction, in (hoping) subsequent books.

I finished Glenraven.....WOW....I couldn't start another book right away because it was still running through my mind. I recomend it to all. I'm waiting very impatiently for the next one

I am not usually a fan of science fiction, but when I read the jacket of this book, I admit I was intrigued. When I started reading this book, I found myself enthralled and I couldn't put it down! All I can say now is ---Where's the sequel!?!?!

Glenraven (1996) is the first Fantasy novel in the Glenraven series. Jayjay is having trouble with her third marriage and Sophie is still grieving for her lost child. When Jayjay finds a Fodor guide to Glenraven, she decides to run away from her troubles and easily convinces Sophie to accompany her.

In this novel, Jay and Sophie ride their tour bikes up to a dilapidated building that looks abandoned. They are supposed to meet their tour guide here and they gingerly walk in to find him. Although not immediately apparent, the guide soon appears, changes their money, and stores their bikes in his car. They drive off through the Italian Peimonte.

Transferring to the bikes when they reach the intersection of the main highway and an ancient Roman road, Jayjay, Sophie and their guide ride through delightful mountain country. Their guide, however, does not provide a running description of the points of interest or the native plants and animals on the way. Jayjay and Sophie begin to suspect him of nefarious intentions.

After climbing an endless series of switchbacks, they reach the mouth of a tunnel through the mountain. The tunnel seems to go on forever, but they eventually reach a set of intersections and turn back and forth until reaching daylight. The guide convinces them to change into less conspicuous clothes and goes ahead to make further arrangements. Jayjay and Sophie never see him again.

This novel involves Jayjay and Sophie in a number of strange incidents. Gradually they come to realize that Glenraven has absolutely no modern conveniences. The life of the peasants is nasty, brutal and short. The nobles have indoor plumbing and central heating, but nothing more than the Romans had.

Although initially dealing with the Machnan -- ordinary looking people -- they quickly encounter the Alfkindir and the Aregen, who obviously differ from humankind. The Alfkindir also have made servants -- the kin-hera -- of various kinds. Ruling over all these peoples is Aidris Akadan, the Watchmistress; she is Kin, but preys on her own people to stay alive.

They also soon realize that magic is not a myth in Glenraven. All three of the peoples have magic of some kind, but the Machnan have been losing their magic for years. Only Yemus, First Wizard of Zearn, has any magic left. All else has been instilled into the magical guide to Glenraven.

This novel is about magic, love and fear. Too much magic is controlled by Aidris, but Glenraven has a bit more to fight the Watchmistress. Jayjay has a need to love, but is afraid to try once more. Aidris fears death, but Sophie is beginning to crave death and deny her loves. Jayjay and Sophie are the chosen heroes of Glenraven, but can only defeat Aidris by losing their fears and accepting their loves.

These authors are past mistresses of adventure and romance writing and this work is a splendid example of their skills. It might not be their best work, but it certainly maintains the reader's interest and suspense. It is well worth the time and expense.

Highly recommended for Bradley and Lisle fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of adventure, love and magic.

-Arthur W. Jordin

A very good book, this is one of Ms. Bradley's best. She creates a world that I would love to visit....