Song of the Ovulum (Children of the Bard) [Paperback]

Bryan Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 28, 2011 | Series: Children of the Bard (Book 1)

It has been fifteen years since Billy and Bonnie Bannister helped repel the demonic assault on Heaven. Now they and Ashley Foley sit in a maximum security prison where the authorities conduct experiments on them to learn the secrets of long life. Earlier, the world’s acceptance of dragonkind crumbled, and the Enforcers took the infant twins born to Billy and Bonnie and stole Excalibur, hoping to develop a weapon to battle the dragons that are sure to try to rescue their allies. All the while, a great secret from the past is being revealed to Bonnie through a dream. Joran and Selah, teenaged children of Methuselah, have been trapped in a strange world for centuries, yet still able to manipulate certain events in our world during that time.
 
Walter Foley finds the Bannisters’ son and hopes to use his dragon traits to help him rescue the prisoners. In the meantime, an ancient demon locates the Bannisters’ daughter and plans to use her to help him discover the hiding place of the most powerful ovulum in the world and squelch its protective song. With that ovulum in his possession, he will be able to conquer and control both Earth and Second Eden.
 
The fate of two worlds now rests on the Bannisters’ two teenagers who must use their dragon traits and their innate courage to battle demons, a sorceress, and soldiers in a military compound in order to rescue parents they don’t even know.
 

Editorial Reviews

Review

Song of the Ovulum is the first book in Bryan Davis's new fantasy series, Children of the Bard, which is a continuation of the story world established by his previous works the Dragon's in our Midst series and Oracles of Fire series. If you haven't read Dragon's in our Midst and Oracles of Fire, I highly recommend you do so in order to fully enjoy this addition.

Now on to my thoughts about Song of the Ovulum ...

Bryan Davis is one of my top favorite authors. Why? Because he writes the most unique stories I've ever read--period. All of Davis' books contain a creative, allegorical take on Biblical figures and events, unheard-of fantasy elements like anthrozils (human/dragon hybrids), and multifaceted plots that go beyond imagination.

This latest adventure, Song of the Ovulum, is no exception. It has Davis' signature blend of heart-stopping action and heart-stirring emotion. All the characters that I love from the two previous series are back. Plus, there are great new characters to meet like Billy & Bonnie's kids, and Listeners Joran and Selah. I was especially moved by Joran as he struggled to forgive the woman who murdered his sister. Through his journey Joran learns that if you keep holding tightly to bitterness, you will find that you are strangling yourself.

Such priceless words of wisdom are another reason why this story is a must read. If you're looking for a book unlike anything you've ever read before, check out Bryan Davis and Song of the Ovulum.

—Angela Bell

About the Author

    Bryan Davis is the author of the best-selling Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire series, contemporary/fantasy blends for young people. His book Eye of the Oracle hit number one on the January 2007, Young Adult CBA best-seller list. His book The Bones of Makaidos won the 2010 Clive Staples Award, recognizing the best work in Christian worldview speculative fiction. With the September 2010 release of Masters & Slayers, Bryan has begun his first fantasy series for adults, Tales of Starlight.

    Bryan is a graduate of the University of Florida (B.S. in Industrial Engineering). From the time he taught himself how to read before school age, through his seminary years and beyond, he has demonstrated a passion for the written word, reading and writing in many disciplines and genres, including theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.

    Bryan continues to further his writing education by attending relevant writing conferences and conventions. Bryan is a craftsman with words and an excellent interviewee on various topics, including his books, young adult fantasy fiction, and creative writing in general.  He makes appearances around the country for book signings and for special presentations to enthusiastic young readers and developing young authors in middle schools, high schools, and homeschool groups. Although he is now a full time writer, Bryan was a computer professional for over 20 years. Bryan and his wife, Susie, have homeschooled their four girls and three boys.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Living Ink Books (June 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780899578804
• ISBN-13: 978-0899578804
• ASIN: 0899578802
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bryan Davis is the author of the following young adult fantasy series: Dragons in our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Echoes from the Edge, and Dragons of Starlight. He also wrote I Know Why the Angels dance, a contemporary novel for adults.

After laboring as a computer geek for 20 years, Bryan followed a dream to become an author. He began by writing a story to motivate his seven children to gain some excitement about writing, and that story grew into a novel. After spending the next eight years learning the craft and enduring more than 200 rejections from publishers and agents, he broke through with his best-selling series Dragons in our Midst. He is now a full-time author and lives with his wife, Susie, and their children in western Tennessee.

Bryan's novels have been readily accepted in schools worldwide, whether public, Christian (Protestant or Catholic), Jewish, or otherwise. Such is their wide appeal. For more information, see his website - http://www.daviscrossing.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Spectacular Addition to a Fantastic Storyworld July 5, 2011

By Seth Reid

Format:Paperback

Song of the Ovulum is the first book in Bryan Davis' new series, Children of the Bard, which builds upon two past series, Dragons in our Midst, and Eye of the Oracle. While it is helpful to read the other two series to get the maximum enjoyment out of this, I believe anyone can enjoy it nonetheless.

Description:
Song of the Ovulum follows two main sub-plots that work together to the conclusion. Matt and Lauren are two sixteen-year-olds who begin to realize they have abilities that are unlike those of the normal human as they both find themselves in a strange prison that holds mysterious prisoners. The second plot follows the story of Joran and Selah, the children of Methuselah and grandchildren of Enoch as they travel through fascinating and dangerous lands in hopes to sometime escape the expansive prison they live in.
For more information on the book, visit the book's web page.

If you've read my reviews of previous Davis titles then you know that for some reason, I have had past troubles reading the author's books straight through. Something about them typically just makes it difficult to stay in the story continually. I read this book digitally on the computer straight through. It hooked me that much. I very much enjoyed this novel.
The book starts with a prologue in first person explaining a tragedy that has befallen some of the original anthrozils. It hooks the reader from the very first page and doesn't let up. The tale goes through various points in time and locations. The book references events from past books and can be really rewarding for readers that have read both of the Dragons in our Midst and Oracles of Fire series'. What I thought most interesting is how the world reacts to the dragons, anthrozil's, and Second Eden. The past books have left the world out of what's really going on, but this book engages the rest of the world full on and it was definitely an interesting idea to explore.
The characters were very fleshed out, and while they kept their perfect characteristics that all of the protagonists of Davis books are known to carry with them, they still maintain their realistic nature. Many might complain about this factor-that they don't mess up-but I think Mr. Davis handles it well and doesn't make the characters seem less real at all. The characters are well developed, attachable, and realistic.
The writing in the book was outstanding, showing just how much the author knows his craft. P.O.V.'s, while hard to discern sometimes, never switched mid-scene. Description was wonderful and easy to see while also leaving room to the reader's imagination. The writing was done very well.
The majority of the time is spent in one place, which I found a little irritating. I thought that the location was a little boring at first, but it soon because a set piece for a very nice plot. I look forward to some more varied settings in the future books of the series, but I can definitely see the purpose of the location in this book.
Overall, I really loved the book. It kept me engaged and wanting to return to read it again and again. The themes are really beautiful-mercy, love, forgiveness, sacrifice-and they are displayed wonderfully. I know at least a few people that will complain about the perfect characters, but it really didn't faze me at all. The characters were well done. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to any fan of Mr. Davis' or anyone looking for a nice piece of fiction for the summer. I am highly curious to see what The Children of the Bard series has next.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I was fascinated by how well the multiple stories interlocked so ingeniously! July 11, 2011

By The Book Runner TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Review written by 14 year old girl:
"Children of the Bard: Song of the Ovulum" by Bryan Davis is the first book of the amazing continuation of the "Dragons in our Midst" and "Oracles of Fire" series. I really liked the ending to "The Bones of Makaidos" and I thought that it was a perfect way to end the series with a realistic happily-ever-after. When I discovered that Bryan Davis had continued this incredible masterpiece, I was stumped on what he could possibly have to write about. One fascinating story is told through three amazing series and many incredible adventures.

Bonnie, Billy, Ashley, and a few other anthrozils have been separated from their families and been imprisoned for the "safety" of the people. Second Eden has refused to become part of the United Nations and be put under a government other than that of their beloved King and Queen, so they are not on friendly terms with the United Nations. Bonnie and Billy's children were smuggled away and given new backgrounds but before anyone could be informed of their new identities, the messenger was killed. So for fifteen years, Billy, Bonnie, and Ashley are experimented on in a prison with little or no knowledge of their friends and family, while their children grow up in different foster homes without any knowledge of the truth.

This was an awesome book and I love that Bryan Davis continued this series. It was incredibly well told and I was fascinated by how well the multiple stories interlocked so ingeniously. My one and only regret is that I read this book before the other three were written. It ended on a strangely satisfyingly, yet frustrating cliffhanger, but any patience I had for waiting on the next book died most tragically no more than five minutes after I finished reading the last page.

I only use 5 stars on books I buy for my permanent library. This book is part of my "all ages" library.

Would I/Did I buy it? Yes
Would I read it again? Yes
Would I recommend it to friends? Yes

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Once again - FANTASTIC! July 5, 2011

By D. Lavender

Format:Paperback

Wow. And we thought this series was over. I can't imagine it without "Song of the Ovulum" anymore. It was a perfect addition: filled with the same action, suspense, high stakes, and unshakable faith as the first eight. From "Raising Dragons" through "The Bones of Makaidos", we have been growing to know and love Billy, Bonnie, Walter, Ashley, and all their friends. This book not only brought back nearly all the familiar faces, it introduced still more characters just as captivated and endearing as the originals. The stakes seemed so high, I often found myself thinking that there was no possible way out this time, but I was again proven wrong. Dragons, at least those that serve the Lord, really can take on almost anything. From the days of the flood, all the way to the stormy world relations with Second Eden, Mr. Davis has shown his amazing skill in weaving memorable characters into fantastical worlds where anything and everything might happen: plants may turn to people, voices may be stolen and returned, and songs of mercy have power incomprehensible. For those of you who thought the ride was over with "The Bones of Makaidos": Buckle your seat belts and get ready to dive in even farther, because you ain't seen nothin' yet.