Song Quest (The Echorium Sequence, Book 1) [Paperback]

Katherine Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002 | Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Echorium Sequence (Book 1)

The debut title in Katherine Roberts' thrilling new fantasy trilogy, The Echorium Sequence.

Welcome to a world from another time -- where legendary half-creatures still exist. A world where nature itself can be controlled by unearthly music. A world where the forces of good and evil are held in harmony by the Singers who have mastered the secret Songs of Power. A world on the brink of destruction, threatened by a dark lord whose evil knows no bounds. Rialle and Kherron, two novice Singers, are all that's left to stand in the enemy's way. Stranded in a strange land with only one another to rely on, these former rivals must work together if they are to survive. In a timeless coming-of-age journey, Rialle and Kherron discover the strength of spirit that lies within them in their quest to help good triumph over evil.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: The Chicken House; First edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439338921
• ISBN-13: 978-0439338929
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,231,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Katherine Roberts (1962 - ) was born in Torbay and lives in the UK. She trained as a mathematician at the University of Bath and worked with racehorses for ten years, before becoming a professional author in 1999 with the publication of "Song Quest", which won the inaugural Branford Boase Award for children's fiction. She is a champion of the fantasy/sf genre and has a unicorn for a muse who blogs at reclusivemuse.blogspot.com.

Katherine's website with competitions and more details about her books can be found at www.katherineroberts.co.uk.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fairly good fantasy for all ages, December 14, 2002

By 

"kandladin" (Castle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Song Quest (The Echorium Sequence, Book 1) (Paperback)

While I wouldn't compare this book to Harry Potter, or the Prydain Chronicles, it was a good entry into what I'm sure will be a fun new series, definitely worth the time I spent reading it. It was unpredictable enough so that, unlike most fantasy books I read I really couldn't guess how it would end after finishing the first chapter, but also not so intense so that it couldn't appeal to younger kids as well. The plot flowed along nicely in most places, though a few times it got a bit dull and difficult to move through. Rialle has been raised for most of her life on the Isle of Echorium, where children who possess magical talents are taught how to "sing" their powers. She's truly happy there; not only is she the best at what she does, but she's also lucky enough to have friends who adore her. However, she somehow knows her childhood is over when one day, the first Singer summons her to go on a dangerous mission to try to help the half-creatures, whose angiushed wailings only Rialle seems able to hear... Without giving away more of the plot, I can definitely say that this would be an excellent book for anyone ten or older.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Song Quest: The Echorium Sequence, June 7, 2002

By 

Rachel (Mercer Island, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Song Quest (The Echorium Sequence, Book 1) (Paperback)

The book Song Qest, by Katherine Roberts, is the most exciting book I've ever read. This book is a thrilling tale of magical creatures and great evil. Song Quest is a fantasizing story, extremely original and is like the next Harry Potter. The story by Katherine Roberts is about an island far away where strange and mysterious creatures live: the Singers. The Singers can hear the silent voices of magical half-creatures and can speak over great distances using only their minds. Safely away from teh mainland on the Isle of Echoes, wehre the forces of good and evil are held in harmony, they use their unearthly songs to keep peace in the world. Although the singers live in a deeply isolated island, there are still evil threats to destroy their Isle and all that is good in the world. Now only two young Singers can save the Isle on an incredible journey to defeat the forces of darkness. Sweet Rialle who stays strong, and rebellious Kherron who's longing for freedom pushes him into the arms of the enemy. There are many more characters in the book besides Rialle and Kherron: Frenn, Graia, Chissar, Singer Toharo, Cadzi, the Karchlord, Half-Creatures, First Singer, and many more. In my opinion, Frenn is my favorite character. He is rialle's boyfriend who is very loving and caring. He protects Rialle on their wild adventures and sticks up for her whne she's in trouble. These characters go through many obstacles in tryin gto find out who they are and where they belong. Frenn, Rialle, and Kherron go on a life or death journey and realize whom they really are. I could never go through what Rialle went through while away from home. she was hungrey, sick, and scared and the thought of dying on the journey made her nauseous. I have never experienced what she went through, but I have experienced similar emotions. Song Quest is my favorite book because I never could tell what would happen next and I would have never predicted what happened at the end. This wa the most suspenseful book i've ever read in my life and it never got boring. I was also thankful for the glossary in teh back of the book because there aer so many made up names that I needed to know. I recommend this book for ages 10 and older. It might be a little confusing for younger ages. If you like adventure, suspense, love, and fantasies then this is the book for you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absoloutly enchanting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, April 23, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Song Quest (The Echorium Sequence, Book 1) (Paperback)

This is a wonderfull book filled with everything there is to have in a book. I've read the most books and this is one of my favorites. Truley a glittering gem. Fantasy, adventure, this book has it all. A must read