Amazon.com: Prophecy: Child of Earth (9780575072091): Elizabeth Haydon: Books

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Customer Reviews

117 Reviews

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(5)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (117 customer reviews)

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52 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The new fantasy master, July 7, 2000

By

Amari Kenyon (Issaquah, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prophecy: Child of Earth (Symphony of Ages, Book 2) (Hardcover)

Even the curmudgeons seem to have a hard time dismissing this new writer. They fume about the "hype" her first book, Rhapsody, received, try to pick it apart and complain, and yet in the end they all kind of grudgingly admit they enjoyed it a lot. Perhaps I am unique in that when I don't like something I'm reading, I don't bother to finish it.

It was literally painful for me to put this book and its predecessor down. The characters are beautifully written, full of warts and hidden gifts. The plot hums along, with fast paced action giving way to more methodical, contemplative passages, similar to, gee--life! This is not a book for someone who enjoys mindless pap. It's a book that makes you think, and feel, and marvel that one person can devise such a clever history, can show so many different sides of people, can make you laugh and shudder and cry and want to scream all within a few pages.

Prophecy is a much faster read than Rhapsody. It is written without compromise; Haydon takes brave steps with characters that NO other fantasy writer would dare take. She is the new master of this genre.

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23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars There's some great stuff in there, but..., December 27, 2001

By

Thomas (Langedijk, Noord Holland Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prophecy: Child of Earth (Mass Market Paperback)

There's one major problem; the romance. I might be somewhat oversensitive to this but there were two plotelements that threw me off this book immensely:

- Rhapsody's larger than life flawless character: I'm a big fan of the underdog. Rhapsody is Altruism made flesh to an extend that is really stretching the boundries of suspending disbelief. It got so bad at a few points I had to put the book down for a few days to restore my will to read any further.

- The Romance: I'll not spoil what romance, but it's dragged out far too long. It's really as if the author lost herself, and wanted to be Rhapsody so bad she started writing more of her bedroom fantasy instead of a story. These scenes frankly disgusted me at some points. Not because of their graphicness, I must say she did a fairly good job at that, but at their unrealistic sweetness.

Well, if you have a strong stomach when it comes to sappyness, you'll love this book. The plot is rather strong, the prose is phenomenal, though overly grandiose at points. The characters, with the exception of Rhapsody, are rather realistic and pleasant to read about.

All in all, I'd pick it up if I had nothing better to do.. Definately not worth a rush to the bookstore though.

Recommendations: CS Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy.

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25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book!, July 15, 2000

By

Lee Marin (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prophecy: Child of Earth (Symphony of Ages, Book 2) (Hardcover)

Prophecy, child of earth is easily the best book I have read this year, just as Rhapsody, child of blood was the best one I read last year. It is vastly superior to the works of the current "masters" of the genre. The battle scenes are sharp and focused, the emotions raw and real, and the characters are the best in fantasy, bar none. Four different people recommended this series to me before I finally bought Rhapsody because I am so sick of what passes for Epic Fantasy these days.

The female characters in this book are amazing--whether it's the dragon, the Grandmother, Oelendra or the two women from the previous book. I think Grunthor and Achmed are the best pair of male characters around.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a taste for fantasy, and even those who don't.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy for those who don't like Fantasy
Well ok I did love Rhapsody and to a certain extent loved Prophecy. I do see the point in making Rhapsody the most beautiful woman to ever exist. Read more

Published 22 months ago by Camp

1.0 out of 5 stars What happened?
I barely got through this book. I flagged numerous passages, including 60 pages straight to skip if I ever re-read the series. Read more

Published on August 6, 2009 by B. Osinski

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read. Very unique and entertaining.
This is truly an amazing read! I admit that the first book "Rhapsody" did drag a little, setting up the plot-lines for the next two books, but man, does "Prophecy" deliver... Read more

Published on April 19, 2009 by Therapychild

5.0 out of 5 stars The Prophecy takes hold...
Prophecy is the second installment in the New York Times and World Wide Bestselling series The Symphony of Ages. Read more

Published on March 19, 2008 by Summer Paulus

4.0 out of 5 stars Prophecy: Romance, Magic and Adventure does it get any better??
Romance, Magic and Adventure, does it get any better?? I think not. The suspence and mystery only improve the story and the visions created by this author are magical and action... Read more

Published on August 5, 2006 by M. Crabtree

2.0 out of 5 stars Stop after Rhapsody
The heroine is frequently called intelligent, but never proves this. Despite her intelligence, she's completely unaware of the effect her utter physical perfection has on everyone... Read more

Published on August 2, 2006 by J. Dabbs

1.0 out of 5 stars A Waste of Potential *Slight Spoilers*
I really wanted to like this book. I liked "Rhapsody" well enough and thought that it had a lot of potential as a first novel. Read more

Published on July 26, 2006 by Ian Smith

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good but from critical View
This was a good add on to the Symphony of Ages trilogy. Comparing it to the first book Rhapsody it was well done. Read more

Published on June 14, 2006 by J. Pearson

2.0 out of 5 stars no plot, no real personalities, no point
Ugg. The promise in Rhapsody was totally lost in this book. I can't even take the time to write a decent review of it. Basically, this book has no real plot. Read more

Published on October 29, 2005 by Lilly Flora

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it
I read alot of Fantasy books and I really liked the whole trilogy very much. When I read some of the negative reviews I did not understand why these people came to the conclusions... Read more

Published on April 29, 2005 by S. Schwab

› See all 117 customer reviews...

Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
Dawn found them at the crest of the foothills, laying their course for the lands north of the Avonderre-Navarne border. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Daystar Clarion, Sleeping Child, Living Stone, Lord Roland, House of Remembrance, Bethe Corbair, Lord Stephen, Sir Francis, High Holy Day, Great White Tree, Great Hall, Axis Mundi, Tristan Steward, Child of Earth, Lady Cymrian, Stephen Navarne, Krevensfield Plain, Lady Rowan, Tyrian City, Yer Ladyship, Cedric Canderre, Children of Earth, First Fleet, Lord Cymrian, Purity Diamond

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