The Great Tree of Avalon, Book One: Child of the Dark Prophecy [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

T.A. Barron (Author), Richard Easton (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 2004 | Series: Great Tree of Avalon (Book 1)

Long ago, the great wizard Merlin planted the seed that would become the peaceful world of Avalon. Now, though, Avalon is suffering from mysterious droughts. And when the very stars begin to lose their light, it seems that the Lady of the Lake's dire predictions are about to come true. The fate of Avalon now rests with three young people: Tamwyn, a wandering wilderness guide; Elli, an apprentice priestess; and Scree, a young eagle man. One of them is the true heir of Merlin, the only person who can save Avalon, and one of them is the dreaded child of the Dark Prophecy, fated to destroy it.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9–In this first installment in a new series, Barron reimagines the legendary world of Avalon as a gigantic tree, with a separate realm located on each of its seven roots and stars hanging in the unseen branches far atop its trunk. A crippling drought has brought the realm to the verge of warfare, and 17-year-old Tamwyn and his bickering companions seek the advice of the fabled Lady of the Lake. Tamwyn fears he's the child of the Dark Prophecy, foretold centuries ago as the one who would destroy Avalon, and he wants desperately to change his destiny and save his beloved world. With its mixture of high fantasy and slapstick humor, the tale resembles Barron's "The Lost Years of Merlin" series (Philomel) and Lloyd Alexander's "Chronicles of Prydain" (Holt). Despite loads of goofiness and violence, the plot moves rather slowly through lengthy introductions of the large cast and descriptions of the Great Tree. While the characters and setting are interesting, this is clearly the prologue to a much longer saga: all beginning, with no middle or end. The story will appeal most to devoted fantasy readers, particularly fans of the "Merlin" series, who will recognize details from the earlier books and try to guess how the epics will converge.–Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Gr. 6-12. Barron builds on his popular Lost Years of Merlin saga, creating an elaborate, richly detailed world spread out on the seven roots of the Great Tree of Avalon, which grew from "a seed won by Merlin on his journey through a magical mirror." The story begins in Avalon's year 1002, when it appears that the Lady of the Lake's Dark Prophecy is coming true and the only hope of saving Avalon lies in finding Merlin's true heir. The fates of two boys born 17 years earlier and raised as brothers are intrinsically bound to the prophecy: Scree, the orphaned eagleboy charged with guarding Merlin's staff, and Tamwyn, who fears he is the Dark Child destined to destroy Avalon. Liberally laced with humor and wit, the first book in The Great Tree of Avalon series effectively introduces and fleshes out remarkable characters, both human and nonhuman. It also vividly sets the scene through the adventures of various beings who eventually come together in a desperate quest to stop the evil that threatens Avalon and its denizens. Even readers unfamiliar with The Lost Years will relish this fine debut of a promising new fantasy series. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Listening Library (Audio); Unabridged edition (October 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400090997
• ISBN-13: 978-1400090990
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 4.3 x 2.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,384,767 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

T.A. Barron is the award-winning author of fantasy novels such as The Lost Years of Merlin epic--soon to be a major motion picture. He serves on a variety of environmental and educational boards including The Nature Conservancy and The Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, and is the founder of a national award for heroic children. Following a life-changing decision to leave a successful business career to write full-time in 1990, Barron has written seventeen books, but is happiest when on the mountain trails with his wife, Currie, and their five children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stellar read, June 10, 2005

By 

Gretchen Tolls "Gretchen" (TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy (Hardcover)

The Great Tree of Avalon by T.A. Barron is not only the best book by this masterful writer but one of the best books ever written in the English language. It's truly riveting, fabulous, and full of surprises. With colorful descriptions that make you feel like you are really there, Barron leads the reader through a rip-roaring adventure of epic proportions. It made me think instantly of the marvelous storytelling of J.R.R. Tolkien. All of the characters are so real and vivid that I now count them among my friends. I just can't wait for Book Two! I think that everyone (including adults, because this is definitely NOT just for younger readers) should immediately put this on the very top of their summer reading list!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Great Tree of Avalon, December 1, 2004

By 

Jennifer Ayn English "jenayn" (Evergreen, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy (Hardcover)

I am an avid reader and though fantasy isnt usually my pick, this story drug me in and kept ahold of me. The plot flows nicely and the characters are easily identifiable, which to me usually doesnt happen in fantasy. From the very begining you know that one child will save Avalon and one will try to destroy it but it never tells who and as you work your way through the story, meeting very different types of characters along the way, you begin to guess who is whom. A definite hit with the teens, this book will also draw in adults and possible preteens. A great read all around.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best!!!!!!, August 7, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy (Hardcover)

When I first read it I was just expecting a good read, what I got was the best book I've ever read. I have read all the major fantasy books, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, The Bartemaus Trilogy, Eragon, The Narnia Series, you name it I've probably read it. But out of all the books I've ever read this one has got to be my favorite. A boy who loves to stare at the stars and run searching for his lost brother, a girl just esacaped from slavery helping a stuck up priestess search for merlin's staff and heir, a hoolah (no I am not going to tell you what a hoolah is you'll have to read it to find out), who learns that life is not completely just a game, and an evil wizard bent on taking over Avalon. When these people all collide things might get a little messy. Everything in the book though revolves around this one prophecy that in the eighteenth year there will be a child that spells the end of avalon and the only one who can stop him is Merlin's true heir. You have got to love this book, hope you read it.;)