Customer Reviews

Shadows over Lyra

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is a compliation of three Lyra novels, Shadow Magic, Daughter of Witches, and The Harp of Imach Thyssal. Reviewer #1 only describes the first novel, and completely leaves out the other three.

The first novel, and the best of the three, Shadow Magic, is the story of Alethia, who meets all four races of Lyra and leads them to victroy against the Shadowborn (evil).

The second novel is about a young woman bonded to an innkeeper who must battle evil and come to terms with her legacy (that she is a witch). "Magic is death in Drinn. And the three strangers who come to Ranira's inn are definitly magic. So why does she link her destiny to theirs?"

The third, is certaintly not Wrede's best work, but it is worth the read anyway. A bard finds the legendary harp of Imach Thyssel and must return it to its rightful owner before it comes into the hands of the evil Shadowborn. "Music to make the Shee weep and power to bring a dying man to life again-that's the magic of the harp. But the cost may be higher than Emereck the minstrel is willing to pay."

If you'll permit me one more comment... In the back of the compilation is a useful timeline of the history of Lyra, which helps the reader to understand the events leading to the novels. Wrede is one of the best authors I have ever encountered-and not just for her Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Please find the time to read this. You won't regret it. :)

If you have already read many of Patricia Wrede's novels you may want to skip buying this one since it is really a repackaging of three previous novels: Shadow Magic, Daughter of Witches, and The Harp of Imach Thyssel. (I discovered this the hard way.) The novels themselves are quite good. Wrede's depiction of magic is very creative and succeeds in evoking a sense of mystery that sets it apart. The cultures of "Lyra" are intriguing and her characters have plenty of depth; her heroes have flaws and some of the villains aren't all evil. Each story is different, but each skillfully combines political intrigue, diverse personal motivations and significant cultural clashes to create a gripping, fast paced plot that operates on a number of levels. These three stories are well worth reading.

The world of Lyra is one of the greatest fantasy worlds ever created. Patricia C Wrede has brought about the most relistic and loveable characters ever in this book series. All three books in Shadows over Lyra are action packed, with humor and even romance around every bend. Daughter of Witches, the second book in the collection, is the most amaizing take on magic that I have ever read. I could not put it down. I also loved Shadow Magic and the Harp of Imach Thyssel. I higly recomend this book for anyone who love fantasy, regardless of how old they may be. Wrede is truely a master at her craft.

I have to say say that I wasn't very happy with the review titled "Is This Really Wrede?". First, she/he was acting as though there was only one book in Shadows over Lyra. There are, in fact, two others. How did she/he like those?

Second, she/he writes that the main charater is a princess. She is not. There is no royal family. She comes from a noble but not very important family. I have doubts as to whether anyone who doesn't read a book well enough to tell whether the main character is or is not a princess should be writing a review of of it.

I haven't read Shadow Magic so this book is worth getting, because I lost my copy of Daughter of Witches. But the title and info is misleading, I am glad I decided to check one more time before buying. I also wanted Caught in Crystal, which is out of print. Daughter of Witches, is very imaginative and ahead of its time; I found it to be really descriptive of women warriors and women who have not choice in their lives. Patricia C. Wrede is totally unbiased and writes from both objects which really helps her tell a good story. Don't go backwards like I did, I started with Daughter of Witches and read Caught in Crystal, which I think is Ms. Wrede's best book, about a former warrior from Lyra, now an innkeeper who has to deal with witch-hunters after her beloved daughter because she inherited her deceased husband's magic.

All of these books are out of print in their original editions, so this makes a very good way to read these early novels without hunting through used-book stores. Each of the books is very well written, and entertaining. Not cliched at all.

This is an excellent book except for one thing. Each of the stories leave a lot of unanswered questions, but it set the mind to thinkin' what did happen afterwords. Read it. I think you will enjoy it.

While I haven't read "Shadows Over Lyra", I have read the books that constitute the collection. While not "high" fantasy on the order of Tolkien, Rawn, or Martin, the books are well written entertainment and a pleasant way to spend a rainy afternoon. Written in a different style from Wrede's "Enchanted Forest" series, the stories are free of the pretentious nonsense that a lot of current fantasy wallows in.

Shadows of Lyra was the best book I have read for a long time. I couldn't put the book down once I began reading and finished the book in a week. After reading the book I also read most of Patricia C. Wrede's other books.

This is the best book of this genre I've read in ages! The story and characters make me want to be there!
ENJOY!