Customer Reviews

The Land of Elyon: Into the Mist - Audio Library Edition

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Into the Mist by Patrick Carman is the beginning of a new trilogy by this author based in Elyon. It picks up just a few days after the close of the last trilogy, but the author goes to great lengths to set the context for the story. I haven't read the earlier books, but I still enjoyed this one.

The story is a mix of the present day and reminiscence of the past. Alexa Daley is on a ship captained by Roland Warvold heading for some unknown destination. She convinces the captain to say where they are going, but to do that, the captain must tell the story of how he became captain of the Warwick Beacon.

The story begins with Roland and his brother Thomas in an orphanage where they mine a garbage dump for treasures for the owner of the house where they and the other orphans live. Something they find sends them off on an adventure to learn who they are and what their place in the world will be. They travel back and forth across their world following mysterious clues left for them.

Into the Mist is a well-written and enjoyable story. There are interesting characters and exciting discoveries. The chapters weave back and forth from past to present, but not in manner that is confusing for the reader. For those who have read the first Elyon trilogy, this book will reveal the history of two of the principal characters. For those who are entering Elyon for the first time, this is a delightful introduction to that magical world.

I was captivated by this story and plan to read the earlier trilogy, and to follow along with this second trilogy. Into the Mist is a to be book enjoyed by younger and older readers alike.

Armchair Interviews says: The author's web site is well worth checking out for the artwork and excerpts from his other books.

This is the fourth book in "The Land of Elyon" series, beginning right after Tenth City, but then switching to the past through the recollections of Roland Warvold, seafaring brother of Thomas Warvold.

Serving as the first part of the prequel to the first three books, this book picks up the adventure with Roland aboard the Warwick Beacon, afloat on the Lonely Sea, along with Alexa Daley, the main character of the first trilogy, and her friend Yipes. While temporarily becalmed, Roland tells the tale of their miserable childhood in an orphanage built on a hill of garbage, and the subsequent escape and adventures of the two brothers.

In this episode, the brothers learn the significance of their mysterious tattoos (kind of like Prison Break) and make their first forays into the uncharted lands. Some enchanting new characters are introduced, as well as a couple of unforgettable new locations, and although a working knowledge of the first trilogy would be useful, it isn't essential.

Now for the long wait until the next book......





Amanda Richards, October 20, 2007

This is the first book in the second trilogy set in the Land of Elyon. It can either be seen as a prequel to The Dark Hills Divide, or as a new beginning in a new saga. It really is, in part, both. For in this book Alexa Daley and Yipes from the first series are on a sea voyage with Thomas Warvold, brother to the late Rolan Warvold. This book is the tale of Roland and Thomas and their journey from being orphans in a house on the hill, to being respective leaders and adventurers in their own right.

Our three adventurers are on a voyage. Yet Thomas has not told Alexa or Yipes where they are going. But he does settle in and tell them the story of how he got there to be the captain of the Warvick Beacon, and also the tale of his brother's and his own adventures when they were younger than Alexa is now. The brother's journey goes from being little more than slave labor to journeys under the world, over mountains and into a magical land where you do not grow old.

All the while, the reader knows that they are being told this story, because Thomas had a task in the story for Alexa and Yipes, a task related to his past and a task that must be faced. Evil has been released in the land of Elyon, and a battle between good and evil is approaching Elyon and Abaddon. It is a battle that once again young Alexa and her friend Yipes will have to decide to choose, either bravery and face the challenge at hand, or ...

There are many great facets of Carman's writings. First is his smooth fluid prose. Second is the wonderful word pictures he creates in the reader's mind, and third, his stories center around normal people being called on to stretch their limits. It is not the classic story of the giant battle between good and evil. It is about small battles with people fighting to do right and learning from their own pasts. His stories have life lessons that can be applicable to almost any reader, yet written in such a way that he never preaches at the reader. The battles are between good and evil without it being a cosmic battle for the whole universe, the whole planet or in this case the land of Elyon.

This book is a great read for the reader of any age, and since it is the first in a new trilogy, it will leave you wanting and eagerly awaiting the next installment.

(First Published in Imprint 2008-05-16.)

This is a great series. Every year I read book one to my sixth grade students and just about every year several students get hooked and go out to buy the whole series. A well written prequel.

This is the first book in the second trilogy set in the Land of Elyon. It can either be seen as a prequel to The Dark Hills Divide, or as a new beginning in a new saga. It really is, in part, both. For in this book Alexa Daley and Yipes from the first series are on a sea voyage with Thomas Warvold, brother to the late Rolan Warvold. This book is the tale of Roland and Thomas and their journey from being orphans in a house on the hill, to being respective leaders and adventurers in their own right.

Our three adventurers are on a voyage. Yet Thomas has not told Alexa or Yipes where they are going. But he does settle in and tell them the story of how he got there to be the captain of the Warvick Beacon, and also the tale of his brother's and his own adventures when they were younger than Alexa is now. The brother's journey goes from being little more than slave labor to journeys under the world, over mountains and into a magical land where you do not grow old.

All the while, the reader knows that they are being told this story, because Thomas had a task in the story for Alexa and Yipes, a task related to his past and a task that must be faced. Evil has been released in the land of Elyon, and a battle between good and evil is approaching Elyon and Abaddon. It is a battle that once again young Alexa and her friend Yipes will have to decide to choose, either bravery and face the challenge at hand, or ...

There are many great facets of Carman's writings. First is his smooth fluid prose. Second is the wonderful word pictures he creates in the reader's mind, and third, his stories center around normal people being called on to stretch their limits. It is not the classic story of the giant battle between good and evil. It is about small battles with people fighting to do right and learning from their own pasts. His stories have life lessons that can be applicable to almost any reader, yet written in such a way that he never preaches at the reader. The battles are between good and evil without it being a cosmic battle for the whole universe, the whole planet or in this case the land of Elyon.

This book is a great read for the reader of any age, and since it is the first in a new trilogy, it will leave you wanting and eagerly awaiting the next installment.

(First Published in Imprint 2008-05-16.)

This is the first book in the second trilogy set in the Land of Elyon. It can either be seen as a prequel to The Dark Hills Divide, or as a new beginning in a new saga. It really is, in part, both. For in this book Alexa Daley and Yipes from the first series are on a sea voyage with Thomas Warvold, brother to the late Rolan Warvold. This book is the tale of Roland and Thomas and their journey from being orphans in a house on the hill, to being respective leaders and adventurers in their own right.

Our three adventurers are on a voyage. Yet Thomas has not told Alexa or Yipes where they are going. But he does settle in and tell them the story of how he got there to be the captain of the Warvick Beacon, and also the tale of his brother's and his own adventures when they were younger than Alexa is now. The brother's journey goes from being little more than slave labor to journeys under the world, over mountains and into a magical land where you do not grow old.

All the while, the reader knows that they are being told this story, because Thomas had a task in the story for Alexa and Yipes, a task related to his past and a task that must be faced. Evil has been released in the land of Elyon, and a battle between good and evil is approaching Elyon and Abaddon. It is a battle that once again young Alexa and her friend Yipes will have to decide to choose, either bravery and face the challenge at hand, or ...

There are many great facets of Carman's writings. First is his smooth fluid prose. Second is the wonderful word pictures he creates in the reader's mind, and third, his stories center around normal people being called on to stretch their limits. It is not the classic story of the giant battle between good and evil. It is about small battles with people fighting to do right and learning from their own pasts. His stories have life lessons that can be applicable to almost any reader, yet written in such a way that he never preaches at the reader. The battles are between good and evil without it being a cosmic battle for the whole universe, the whole planet or in this case the land of Elyon.

This book is a great read for the reader of any age, and since it is the first in a new trilogy, it will leave you wanting and eagerly awaiting the next installment.

(First Published in Imprint 2008-05-16.)The Dark Hills Divide: The Land of Elyon, Book 1

Alexa and her good friend, Yipes, are accumulating quite a long list of amazing adventures in the Land of Elyon. Now they prepare for another as they join Captain Roland Warvold on his majestic ship, the Warwick Beacon. However, Captain Roland refuses to tell Alexa and Yipes where they are heading. Before revealing the details of their impending journey, Roland needs to share with them an adventure of his own. So, as they sail across the Lonely Sea, Roland narrates the story of his own incredible childhood.

Ten-year-old Roland and his eleven-year-old brother, Thomas, don't remember their parents. Their earliest memories are of an orphanage, but their mischief and high jinks eventually get them transferred to the horrid House on the Hill run by an evil woman named Madame Vickers. The House on the Hill is a run-down, dilapidated dump perched upon the town's mound of garbage. She and her nasty son claim any unwanted orphans, make them sleep in the dark, bug-infested basement, feed them scraps and crumbs, and force them to dig through the piles of stinking, rotting garbage for anything worth selling. Roland and Thomas have sunk deep into a putrefying nightmare.

But one day, the brothers dig up an old saddlebag containing a strange piece of paper. It includes the words "Western Kingdom" and "Wakefield House," plus a strange symbol made up of circles and squares --- a symbol that exactly matches one found on the brothers' knees, resembling a tattoo or birthmark. Thomas and Roland decide that they must discover what it means, so they escape the House on the Hill and travel to the Western Kingdom.

Their dangerous journey takes them through magical places like the Great Ravine, the Lake of Fire, the Valley of Thorns, Lonely Sea and the maze-like Wakefield House. Along the way, they meet a gentle giant named Armon, a formidable mountain lion called Thorn, and an ageless instructor, Sir Alistair Wakefield --- all of whom help answer some difficult questions about their past and future.

Patrick Carman delivers another thrilling and magical tale from the Land of Elyon. In this fourth installment, he brings back the beloved and energetic characters of Alexa and Yipes. This time, however, they are preparing for their next adventure by learning about Roland's life, giving readers a story within a story. Filled with dream-like destinations, creative characters and audacious adventures, any fiction/fantasy fan will find a friend with this series. And another chunk of good news is promised with the final words on the last page: "To be continued."

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT and THE BLACK POND

Aaah - yes it is true! Over our Christmas Break my daughter and I enjoyed a day or two of laying around and entering the Land of Elyon once more! Into the Mist was worth the wait! It was so good to be with Alexa and Roland and Yipes once more... Our beloved Yipes - so well written and so entertaining! There were several times we would have to back up and reread a paragraph or two due to laughter or just the sheer joy of 'seeing' the imagery set before us! I loved how this book picked up where the Tenth City left off, and yet clearly and easily took us back reflecting on the past - (this is a prequel, of course!) ...and now the long wait for another adventure in the Land of Elyon begins!

My daughter loves the Land of Elyon series and this book was a great addition to it.

Into The Mist was a great start to what I'm sure will be yet another great series by Patrick Carman.

The story starts off where The Tenth left off, with Alexa, Yipes, and Roland Warvold sailing across the Lonely Sea on the Warwick Beacon. Though the story takes place in the present, much of the book is told in the past, through the memories of Roland. Roland's recollections are an exciting tale in themself, revealing much about the childhood of he and his brother, Thomas.

Overall, this book was great, giving the reader insight into the lives of two previously (somewhat) mysterious characters. It answers as many questions as it answers... I can't wait for the next book. It truly is a must-read for anyone who enjoyed the first three Elyon books!