Song In The Silence: The Tale of Lanen Kaelar [Abridged] [Mass Market Paperback]

Elizabeth Kerner (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Starscape

American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults
VOYA Best Science Fiction & Fantasy selection

Lanen Kaelar has dreamed of dragons all her life. But not just dreaming, for Lanen believes in dragons.

Her family mocks her that dragons are just a silly myth. A legend. But Lanen knows better. And she means to prove it. One day she sets out on a dangerous voyage to the remote West to find the land of the True Dragons.

What she discovers is a land of real dragons more beautiful-and surprising-than any dream she could have imagined.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Abandoned as a baby by her mother, orphaned at 23 by the cold man she thought was her father, Lanen Kaeler leaves home to find Dragon Isle of which she has long dreamt. This adventure fantasy by a gifted storyteller belongs on most fantasy collection shelves.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Every time it looks as if dragons had been done to death, along comes a yarn like this to revive them. Lanen Kaelar has always dreamed of dragons. Now she sets out on a long, perilous, winding road to find them. As she proceeds, magic seems to be pursuing her; perhaps that is because she may be the child of a father who promised his firstborn to demons. The dragons she seeks are ultimately not the ones she has dreamed of, for they are divided among themselves over whether the best way to preserve their ancient culture is to deal with humans or to shun them. With excellent narrative technique, wit, and intelligence, Kerner weaves these strands into a brisk story capped by a plausible happy ending. Her very superior debut deserves its place in most fantasy collections. Roland Green --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Starscape; 1st edition (March 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765342685
• ISBN-13: 978-0765342683
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,072,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in 1958 in Florida, and have spent much of my life since getting away from hot weather. As a Navy brat I never did know where home was, but have now settled as an American living happily in Scotland.
I've always been in love with fairy tales, mythology, legend - and dragons. The Oriental dragons, who could take human form, were especially mysterious and wonderful. For years I hunted for the perfect dragon story, until - sorry about the cliche - I eventually realised that I was just going to have to write it myself. Song in the Silence and its sequels are the result. And to whet your appetite, I am currently working on the next series of Kolmar novels featuring Lanen and Co. - the first is due out in April 2011. Watch this space!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Romantic Fantasy!, December 1, 1999

By 

Christine Campbell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Song In The Silence: The Tale of Lanen Kaelar (Tor fantasy) (Mass Market Paperback)

Song in the Silence is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read, and I have read many! The book is primarily about the relationship between a woman, Lanen Kaelar, and a dragon. The setting is in another world that has an almost medieval feel to it. The author's writing style is superb and the book begs for a sequel. It is hard not to fall in love with the characters. Lanen is very strong willed and goes up against many dangers and terrible odds just to fulfil her dream of meeting real dragons. The book is a must of all who enjoyed Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series. A pure joy to read. Delightful and entertaining. Romance and fantasy are skillfully interwoven in this brilliant book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous story - a must for all dragon lovers, February 6, 2002

By 

"sistermoon1" (SoCal, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Song In The Silence: The Tale of Lanen Kaelar (Hardcover)

Thank you Elizabeth Kerner! I am so tired of dragons being portrayed as angry, blood-thirsty killer beasts with no concious thought. Dragons are noble, wise, ancient, and fantastic creatures and here Elizabeth Kerner has captured these aspects with a new resounding flare.

When I began this book, the story was understandable and well thought through. The scenes and descriptions were vivid and thouroughly enjoyable. However, first person POV can be difficult for many people,(mainly because few authors write in it) and this book has many first persons - but I recomend patience and persistance. For thos who don't have patience, try to find some (you will be well rewarded), soon after the POV shifting began and I had accepted it, it no longer became a struggle to read, but actually brought a new depth to the story.

I recommend this tale (and *The Lesser Kindred*) to all women. Lanen is a Phenomonal and strong woman, to whom all women can relate and see something of themselves (past, present, and future) in her.

49 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Love and lyricism- if only..., December 11, 2002

By 

Anadrel (Crestwood, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Song In The Silence: The Tale of Lanen Kaelar (Tor fantasy) (Mass Market Paperback)

It's not that bad a book.

Of course, it's not that good a book either.

First of all, the good parts (because, after all, quite a few people like this sort of thing, and for all I know someone would like the book for this): The description of the dragons is fairly interesting. For some reason, the book's opening captured me, perhaps because the romantic in me likes to think of a character looking back on her adventures after all's said and done. Wonderful lyricism when she spoke of dreams of dragons. Night scenes in the book that were simply wonderfully described.

And then there are the Unfortunate Diseases it suffers from:

TLAFSS (True Love at First Sight Syndrome): There are people who don't fall in love at first sight. I find them much more realistic than Lanen and Akhor. Yes, she has a grand destiny, we know that. Does she _have_ to have a true love in a few days? While I enjoyed the unusual aspect of an interspecies romance, it didn't last all that long, and was severely undercut by the TLAFSS part.

UFS (Unfortunate Feminist Syndrome): It's yet another spunky heroine! See her prove she's just as good as the boys! See her get underestimated. See her have a perfect love affair with a male who just adores her.

I probably wouldn't mind this story if I hadn't seen it a hundred other times, and if it wasn't for the genre. It's _fantasy_. Authors can create their own gender-equal (or gender-free- even more fun) societies if they want to, and move past the tired old tropes. Getting banged over the head with a message is getting tiresome.

UDS (Unfortunate Demon Syndrome): Why do there have to be demons? Why? Make up something new! Please! This author has proven she can describe dragons breathintakingly; make up a new race and describe them breathtakingly.

CJS (Character-Jumping Syndrome): It was insane. It's the reason I quit reading Robert Jordan. The story might have gotten three stars if not for that.

So: Light, lyrical, romantic reading. Heroine unfortunately is spunky, falls in love at first sight, is pursued by demons, and doesn't step out of 'destiny-ridden-heroine' mode. Too bad.