Shadows on the Stars (Great Tree of Avalon) [Library Binding]

T. A. Barron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2008 | Series: Great Tree of Avalon

When young Tamwyn, determined to solve the mystery of the vanishing stars, seeks a vision in the mountains, he is confronted by a vision he never expected: From the place of the stars, dark shadows, omens of evil, are pouring out toward Avalon, posing a threat to the Great Tree’s very existence. Tamwyn and his loyal troupe must split up: Elli to rush to the Lady of the Lake, Scree to heal with the Eaglefolks, and Tamwyn to journey to the Heartwood of Avalon itself to discover the portal to the highest branches and confront the very powers of Darkness.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up–In this second book of a proposed trilogy, Barron continues the epic adventures of Tamwyn, Elli, and Scree in the year 1002 in the legendary world of Avalon, a seven-root tree that was planted from a seed by Merlin. The wizard's 17-year-old grandson, Tamwyn, is a wilderness guide with the ability to understand the languages of nonhumans. But, is he his grandfather's true heir–or is he the child of the Dark Prophecy who is destined to bring about the end of the peaceful world of Avalon? In the tradition of classic high fantasy, this is a lengthy novel of the battle between good and evil. It has a fully realized universe replete with a large cast of characters and is laced with some humor, gory battles, and many magical elements. Barron touches on many worthy themes: the power of one person to make a difference; trusting in one's abilities; the fragility of our environment; the need to honor all forms of life. There is much to keep track of and the plot moves along slowly with long explanations that reference Child of the Dark Prophecy (Philomel, 2004) and set the stage for the final installment. Fans of the author's Lost Years of Merlin series (Philomel) will enjoy finding places where the two series converge.–Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. The sequel to Child of the Dark Prophecy (2004) continues the saga in a fine and multilayered fashion. The plot takes readers deep underground to a dark cavern where the evil Rhita Gawr, who was banished by Merlin, has managed to return to the realm and plots to conquer Avalon, the bridge between mortal and immortal worlds. Meanwhile, above ground, the small but determined band of young people striving desperately to defeat the villain separate: Tamwyn, who is coming into his powers and possesses Merlin's staff, to make his way up the Great Tree and relight the stars; his foster brother, Scree, to be healed and then to lead the eaglefolk; and apprentice priestess Elli to do the bidding of the Lady of the Lake. Once again, Barron infuses the story with humor as he shares both the wonders of his lovingly created world and his appreciation of nature. Some obvious foreshadowing and coincidences notwithstanding, this dynamic fantasy adventure will leave readers wanting more. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 364 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439513368
• ISBN-13: 978-1439513361
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

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

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE GREAT TREE OF AVALON, Shadows On The Stars Is Superb!, November 22, 2005

By 

Kimberly Gelderman (Spring Lake, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shadows on the Stars (The Great Tree of Avalon, Book 2) (Hardcover)

I'm happy to report that I've never been disappointed by any of T.A. Barron's novels and this one is absolutely no exception! It continues the story from the first in this trilogy, "The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy." The companions Tamwyn, Ellie, Scree, Nuic, Batty Lad, Brionna, Henni, Rhita Gawr & Kulwych return with a few new characters including a sinister "jester" who is really an assassin supposedly working for Rhita Gawr & Kulwych but who really has an agenda of his own.

Elli sets out on her own quest with help from Nuic, her sprite, to destroy a corrupted crystal that Rhita Gawr is using to summon his hordes of the undead to fight a war. Meanwhile, Tamwyn is journeying to the stars, as his father once tried to do, to keep the stars in Pegasus from going out and to relight the stars in the Wizard's Staff constellation. Then Scree is trying to join his brother Tamwyn but is trying to heal in an eaglefolk settlement from his wounds when he and his healer are attacked by other eaglefolk. He then goes on a mission to destroy the Queen of this clan and her merciless warrior who has connections to Scree.

This is a powerful and mesmerizing sequel that only leaves the reader eagerly anticipating the conclusion of this trilogy. The descriptions of nature, magical and otherwise are eye opening and transport the reader into the story. You feel as though you can touch and see the magnificent plants, creatures, clouds and smell the scents of rare flowers, see the horror of giant termites and marvel at the sights of "prism" birds.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent bridge to part three, October 7, 2005

By 

John Rogers ClarkIV "Seawizard" (Hartland, ME United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shadows on the Stars (The Great Tree of Avalon, Book 2) (Hardcover)

Middle books in trilogies can be tricky. Not only must they sustain the story introduced in the first installment, they must develop it sufficiently to keep the reader turning pages before handing everything off to the last of the trio. Good middle books do this; very good middle books leave the reader impatient for the finale and keep him or her thinking about where the story is likely to go for quite some time. I am happy to report that T.A. Barron has done that and more with the second installment of The Great Tree of Avalon.
The book is divided into three separate story lines after an unsettling beginning that finds Tamwyn, Ellie, Briona and Scree atop Hallia's Peak, awaiting a vision they hope will tell them how and where to begin their fight to save Avalon and finally defeat Rhita Gawr and his minion, Kulwich. No sooner has this vision unfolded than a shocking attack kills one of the rarest creatures in Avalon and wounds Scree. From there, Tamwyn, Ellie and Scree must follow separate paths, hoping the results of their journeys will return Avalon and the stars overhead back to a healthy state.
As each character follows their quest, their growth and realization that their need and feelings for other members of the story unfold in ways that feel right and contribute to the flow of the story. Enough happens in this middle part of the trilogy to keep you turning pages while leaving a setup for a dandy finale in the book to come. Tamwyn and Ellie both do some growing up in this book, but the surprise is how the events in the book effect Scree. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found myself pondering how T.A. Barron will resolve some of the seemingly impossible challenges that face the characters by the final page.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As fantastic as its first part, August 11, 2006

By 

Ashraf A. Dawod "Ash" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shadows on the Stars (The Great Tree of Avalon, Book 2) (Hardcover)

T.A. Barron's imagination is truely great. This book is the 2nd of a GREAT Trilogy.
The first book (TGTA: Child of the dark prophetcy) not only introduces you to the main characters but gets them well started on their magical journey. This book continues that journey only with GREATER expectations, since this is the great auther of the "Merlin" series, you know there is going to be dragons, ooo yea.

Also the way this book ends litterally leavs you hanging, I mean I got a hold of the first 2 books in 2005 and I've been waiting since then for the third book to come out, thats how good this book is, I've read books before that stop in the middle of something just so that you would get the next one, but they are NO comparesson to this great book. You can litterally see everything he's describing.

T.A. Barrons writting is very poetic, gentle and descriptive all at once, combined with his vivid imagination, its a perfect 10.

You HAVE to read the 1st book in order to understand this world and the mission all these characters are on, you will be lost if you don't.
I recommend buying all 3 at once, and since the third one (TGTA: The eternal flame) is coming out on Aug 16th I believe, you have no excuse.

Trust me, you will want the books with you back to back, its an intense read, it will keep you on your toes and then some.

enjoy.