Strands of Sunlight [Paperback]

Gael Baudino (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1994

Natil, the last survivor of the ancient Elven race, journeys across time to the twentieth century to find a new breed of Elves, humans who had unlocked the path to magic and immortality, but their new world is threatened with perils that not even Elven magic may defeat.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Roc (July 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451454081
• ISBN-13: 978-0451454089
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,446,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Eerie., April 25, 2001

By 

R. Martin (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strands of Sunlight (Paperback)

Gael Baudino writes this third book in the Strands series as a conclusion to the story of the death and rebirth of the Elves. The story begins as the last elf, living in contemporary times, realizes that her race of the Elves is being reborn into the humans of the twentieth century. The story follows her in her quest to find and help these Elves discover themselves and their Goddess who guides them.

I came into this book with a certain set of expectations, and I must say that they were only slightly disappointed. After reading the first in the series, Strands of Starlight, I was expected something the same--a romanticized transformation story with gorgeous writing and an overwhelming mysticism. Instead, though beautiful, this book was perhaps a bit too real for what I was expecting. Woven throughout were themes of violence, racism, abuse--all very important in these troubled times, but also not what I was expecting to find. In a way it enhanced the story somewhat: it showed that Gael can deal with these frightening topics with a graceful and real prose that many authors struggle to find. However, in this fantasy lover's mind, these modern problems didn't seem to mesh with my ideas of Elves very well. I was much more comfortable with the idea of Elves living in the forests of long past than I was with them awakening in Yourtown, USA. For some reason it seemed wrong. But don't let that stop you from picking this book up--the premise is certainly unusual and you cannot lose with Gael's beautiful writing. Once again this book fled past--I couldn't put it down, and I'm sure that no matter your reaction to this resurrection of elves, you will love her descriptive powers and gorgeous imagery.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than chocolate!, June 17, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (The Live Music Capital of the World) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strands of Sunlight (Paperback)

Strands of Sunlight is an absolutely wonderful book and definately the best of Gael Baudino's writings that I have read so far. She has a certain sense of reality, of truth in her words that read more like an autobiography than a fantasy novel. Her characters are amazingly well developed, the mood perfect, and the ending is not only suprising but also leaves the reader with a feeling of cleanliness and light (that kind you get after taking a shower and the sun is shining beneath the clouds as you look out the window, a rainbow shimmering like a mirrage but still tangible as you sigh and smile) ^_^;; Well, read it and see! I'm certain you will fall in love not only with her characters but the author herself! =P

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new twist to an old theme..., November 18, 1999

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strands of Sunlight (Paperback)

Fantasy has , in many ways become stagnant. Or at least it was becoming so, until this wonderful writer appeared. She has taken old, dried up themes from medievalist D & D genres and brought them into the '90's .. She tackles everything from abusive relationships to racism in this book-- with style and grace. Reading this book truly makes you believe... at least while you're reading the book--that Elven blood runs through your veins, and that it is waking up, and that there IS mystery and magick.