Mines of the Minotaur (Companions Quartet) [Paperback]

Julia Golding (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2010 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Companions Quartet (Book 3)

"The clock continued to tick calmly in the hall, out of step with the stormy sea of panic surging inside Connie. She could make no sense of this. How had she ended up on the beach? She felt a hum in her bones as if she had been meeting with some powerful creature. But what beast or being had the power to draw her out of her house without her knowing about it? And what had happened when they were together?"

Thirteen-year-old Connie Lionheart is the only Universal Companion, able to communicate with all the mythical creatures hidden in our world. She is the most important member of a secret society sworn to protect the bonds between humans and creatures. But her power brings great responsibility and great danger.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–8—This fantasy follows Secrets of the Sirens and The Gorgon's Gaze (both Marshall Cavendish, 2007). Though certain humans have the secret ability to bond with particular types of mythical creatures, 13-year-old Connie is the only one who can communicate with all species. When she unintentionally begins to raise violent storms, she learns that her power has a dark side. It turns out that the evil shape-shifter Kullervo is to blame, but the far more frightening foe is bureaucrat Ivor Coddrington, who removes Connie from the Society for the Protection of Mythical Creatures and threatens expulsion to any member who associates with her. Connie prevails against both enemies with help from friends. The camaraderie and mutual respect shared by characters of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and even species are believable and uplifting. A debate about constructing a wind farm to generate environmentally sustainable power (the winged creatures are opposed) thoughtfully integrates ecological issues into the story. Golding falters when it comes to creating and sustaining atmosphere; the setting is occasionally thin, and Kullervo never seems truly present or threatening. Despite these flaws, fans of the series will enjoy watching Connie and her friends triumph and grow.—Megan Honig, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

`[Of Book 1, Secret of the Sirens:] 'I rated this book 5/5 because the story is so brilliant you simply have to read it. I would strongly advise this book so just buy it and read it!!!!!!!!' Jenii, age 10

`This book is the most excellent book I have ever read.' Amazon review

`If you are looking for a book for a child of junior age or above (or their Mum or Dad!) who enjoys fantasy fiction, then this would definitely be a great choice.' Amazon review

`This has all the ingredients of a must-read series' Publishing News

`I really like it - it reminded me of Susan Cooper's Over Sea Under Stone.' Amanda Craig

`Crackles with tension' TES

`[Of Book 1, Secret of the Sirens:] 'I rated this book 5/5 because the story is so brilliant you simply have to read it. I would strongly advise this book so just buy it and read it!!!!!!!!' Jenii, age 10 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 269 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corp/Ccb; Reprint edition (April 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761457968
• ISBN-13: 978-0761457961
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #528,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My journey to becoming an author has been a roundabout one, taking in many other careers. I grew up on the edge of Epping Forest (Essex, UK) and was that dreamy kind of child who was always writing stories. After reading English at Cambridge, I decided to find out as much as I could about the wider world so joined the Foreign Office and served in Poland. My work as a diplomat took me from the high point of town twinning in the Tatra Mountains to the low of inspecting the bottom of a Silesian coal mine.

On leaving Poland, I exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. I then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the impact of conflict on civilians living in war zones - a cause about which I still feel very passionate.

Married with three children, I now live in Oxford between two rivers, surrounded by gargoyles, beautiful sandstone buildings and ancient trees. I plan my books while walking our dog, Caspar, on Port Meadow by the Thames or Isis.

My first novel, 'The Diamond of Drury Lane', won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2006 and the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 (formerly known as the Smarties Prize). I was also chosen by Waterstone's in 2007 as one of their 'Twenty-five authors for the future'. 'Empty Quarter' was longlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009; 'Wolf Cry' in 2010. In the US, 'Secret of the Sirens' won the honor book medal of the Green Earth Book Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now HERE we go!, February 7, 2009

By 

DJMEC - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mines of the Minotaur (The Companions Quartet) (Hardcover)

I must say that I LOVED the first two books in the series when I read them but then I read this book and thought "NOW the series is REALLY taking off". This book was soo good and the formula changes from the first two books, which I found refreshing. The first two books kind of beat in to you the importance of preserving our environment which is a good message and all but it got a little too much at times. This book seemed to tone down that message a bit and focus more on just the story and the characters development.

If you find the first two books not to your liking just keep reading until you get to this book because it's amazing. I have one friend that gave up after 100 pages of the first book. Then I have a friend who read all of the books and he was skeptical after the first two but agreed that he really liked it after he read this book. Although, I think all 4 books are fantastic! Definitely check them out!

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my daughter's favorites, September 29, 2010

By 

Valaya Gaudet "Prassina" (Tucson, Arizona) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mines of the Minotaur (Companions Quartet) (Paperback)

My 9-year old daughter absolutely loves this series. She reads the books over and over again. She also enjoys sharing them with her friends and acting out some of the stories. Not only is it fun reading but she has learned a lot about mythology. Talk about killing two birds with one stone! I would highly recommend these books.

4.0 out of 5 stars Control and Power, October 2, 2007

By 

Wyvernfriend (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mines of the Minotaur (Companions Quartet) (Bk. 3) (Paperback)

This story is all about power. Connie has a lot of power as a universal. She can talk to any mythical creature, unlike most companions who can only communicate with one, or a certain niche, of creatures. This makes her envied, feared and coveted. She has fought Kullervo and won before, he still wants the control of her powers so he can subdugate humanity and allow mythical creatures the ascendance.

Connie's power is going out of control, or is is, this story is the unravelling of why and how. Connie has to face up to the other members of the Society for the Protection of Mythical Creatures, and their fears as well as her own.

Secret of the Sirens (Companions Quartet) (Companions Quartet)was great, The Gorgon's Gaze (The Companions Quartet, Book Two) (Companions Quartet) faltered a bit but this made me want to find The Chimera's Curse (Companions Quest) and finish the series. I thought it was an interesting look at responsibility and standing up for yourself.