The Naming: The First Book of Pellinor (Pellinor Series) [Kindle Edition]

Alison Croggon (Author)

Book Description

In the classic spirit of epic fantasy comes this glittering saga of a young girl who learns she possesses an uncanny gift - and is destined to use it to save her world from a terrifying evil. Maerad is a slave in a desperate and unforgiving settlement, taken there as a child when her family is destroyed in war. She doesn't yet know she has inherited a powerful gift, one that marks her as a member of the noble School of Pellinor and enables her to see the world as no other can. It is only when she is discovered by Cadvan, one of the great Bards of Lirigon, that her true identity and extraordinary destiny unfold. Now, she and her mysterious teacher must embark on a treacherous, uncertain journey through a time and place where the forces of darkness wield an otherworldly terror.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Australian poet Alison Croggon brings an eye for sensual detail to this heroic fantasy that follows the genre's familiar formula: A humble person is caught up in extraordinary events and led (or sent) on a journey by a wise figure, only to discover eventually that he/she is destined to save the world in an ultimate confrontation between the powers of good and evil. In this case the young person is sixteen-year-old Maedra, who is rescued from slavery by the Bard Cadvan. They share an exhausting journey toward Innail, one of the Bard schools and strongholds that govern the land, and Maedra grows to trust Cadvan as he reluctantly reveals his magical powers in several ambushes from evil creatures. But under duress she, too, begins to discover that she has a Gift--and more. After she has learned to read, ride a horse, and handle a sword at Innail, they set out on another dangerous trek to the prestigious city of Norloch, where Cadvan hopes to consult with his mentor Nelac to confirm his conviction that Maerad is the One who was Foretold. Many other characters and creatures come into this tale, as well as mystical intimations and dreams, and lavish descriptions of landscape, food, clothes, and room furnishings. In the tradition of Tolkien, a whole history of an ancient language and culture undergirds the story, and Croggon has even provided appendices of that history, a pronunciation guide, and an invented bibliography of her sources. Die-hard fantasy fans who can forgive its slow pace will enjoy this richly imagined story and look forward to its sequel, The Riddle. (ages 12 and up) --Patty Campbell

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 7 Up–In this first volume in a projected quartet, Croggon has created a world that is both authentic and exotic, welcoming and frightening. When 16-year-old Maerad meets a man named Cadvan, she is catapulted from her life as a slave to an epic destiny. Cadvan is a Bard, one of the magically gifted Starpeople, and he begins to teach her about her own gifts and abilities. He believes her to be the prophesied One who will oppose the Nameless, the dark power working toward the destruction of the Bards and the Balance of the world. As Maerad and Cadvan travel, they join forces with Hem, a mysterious orphan, and learn that the Nameless's influence reaches far into the world of the Bards. Encounters with great mythic figures of their world and threatening evil forces add to the epic flavor of their journey. Maerad's story is presented as a translation of the great epic of a lost civilization, and explanatory appendixes add to this fantasy's realistic feel. Maerad is a strong, bold, and appealing character, and her lack of knowledge about her world provides a framework for Croggan's background explanations. Supporting characters, including the Bards and those who oppose them, are given realistic traits and flaws. While some coincidences in the plot may stretch readers' belief, they are integral to the story. Maerad seems a kindred spirit to Tamora Pierce's Alanna, and her story will find a welcoming audience among readers looking for a challenging and fully realized epic adventure.–Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI
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Product Details

• File Size: 1663 KB
• Print Length: 530 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0763631620
• Publisher: Candlewick (December 7, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004EYSPAK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,989 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 78 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The formula for success? August 27, 2006

By C. Flanagan

Format:Paperback

The scenario: An orphaned young protagonist is whisked away from a bleak existence by a mysteriously powerful stranger, introduced to a world of magic and intrigue in which she has by birthright a special place. In addition to her previously undiscovered, unpolished, and innumerable talents that stagger everyone with their power, she also happens to be the Fated One, named in a mysterious prophecy as the hero to bring down a terrible villain so evil he is Nameless.

Sound familiar? It should, as it's impossible to skirt around the fact that The Naming is awash in clichés that evoke shades of every popular young adult fantasy series on the shelf today. But it would be a mistake to write this one off as just another would-be Tolkien-- despite the familiarity of the plot (and yes, a few settings ripped straight from Middle Earth), this particular attempt somehow manages to rise above the ranks of fellow imitators to become the real deal.

Surprisingly well-written (despite an arsenal of adverbs that would make even J.K. Rowling blanch, she said bewilderedly), the narrative is compelling even though one has the distinct feeling they know exactly where this one is headed. It's the characters, however, that drive this one, and though they might not be terribly original, they are nuance, complex, and compelling. Maered is a genuinely fascinating heroine, plucky and sympathetic, troubled and strong. Young girls looking for an inspiring fictional role model need look no further-- this is a girl who could twist Harry Potter into a pretzel, and then make him blush while discussing her menstrual cramps. Girls age twelve and up will most likely enjoy this series immensely....

In summary-- while the books of Pellinor are without question dwarfed among the ranks of fantasy classics, as a young adult fantasy series this one stands out above the rest. In fact, I'd even go so far as to say that it's series like these that are the reason The Formula works: although you know exactly how this one is going to end, you've become attached enough to the characters to follow them there. I know I will. Read more ›

60 of 66 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative and well-written with unfortunate similarities to Tolkien May 24, 2006

By S. A. Cain VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Alison Croggon is obviously a writer of great talent. I was sucked into her world and held riveted. Her language is lyrical and characterization is very strong. She's obviously put a lot of thought into her world.

Unfortunately for me, some of this was overshadowed by what I felt were unfortunate influences by Tolkien. Of course everyone who writes fantasy is influenced in one way or another by Tolkien. The Hulls didn't bother me as they did another reviewer--they're very obviously human and not nearly as powerful as Ringwraiths. But Ardina's forest hold did smack strongly of Lothlorien, and Cadvan, though I loved his character deeply, was more than a little reminiscent of Aragorn. There are numerous examples of times when, in my opinion, Croggon probably wrote what felt right to her without realizing how similar it was to Tolkien.

Does this mean the book isn't worth reading? By no means. I have read the Lord of the Rings so many times I can recite parts off by memory--there are doubtless many readers who aren't as obsessed with Tolkien as I am, and I am certain that those readers will be unhindered by these similarities. I enjoyed the books thoroughly, and will not hesitate to recommend them to several people I know who read fantasy.

Admittedly, I dislike fantasy stories that purport to be about this world in a long-gone age--that's a personal bias of mine, and for that reason I chose not to read the introduction. I don't think it takes away any of the pleasure of the books. I think Alison Croggon is very talented, and obviously, as a poet, she has a strong command of language. I do wish that there were fewer similarities, but I will point out that the first book bears much more similarity to Tolkien than the second book....

To me it feels as though Croggon became more comfortable with her own voice as she wrote the second book, and drew less heavily on the stories influencing her and more heavily on her own imagination. Definiately a strong addition to the Young Adult fantasy genre, and I look forward to the third book. Read more ›

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a story you don't want to miss... October 30, 2005

By innoxious

Format:Hardcover

I am a very big Tolkein fan. The style in which Alison writes "The Naming" reminds me in many ways of Tolkein. The Speech is spelt and sounds a lot like the Elven languages in Lord of the Rings, as well as all the poems that tell a story (and don't necessarily rhyme) but say so much in a few words.

However, I do not like Alison's books just because they remind me of Tolkein. They books are strictly Alison. I love them because you can tell they were crafted with thought and by someone who really loves to write.

I don't believe a story like this comes often. The Pellinor series is one of those rare books that come along that you just have to tell someone about, that you just have read over again, that you just have to scribble on your calendar the date the next book comes out and that you feel like you'd just go to pieces if you didn't have the books in your posession.

The imagery is fantastic, yet leaves so much for our imaginations to run. The story is timeless, yet it's one we've never heard before. The characters are endearing, no matter how brooding or tempered they are. The world it is set in is strange and so different from our own, but it feels like home.

I love this book simply because it gave me back the joy of reading and that elation that comes with being part of a wonderful story.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Flat Character, Predictable Plot March 5, 2012

By Katrin von Martin

Format:Paperback

"The Naming" is described as being "Tolkien-esque." I'm fast learning that fantasy novels with this sort of description are generally very long and boring; this book is no exception. Spoilers follow.

"The Naming" tells the tale of Maerad, a sixteen-year-old whose story starts as a mistreated slave. She remembers nothing of her life before slavery, but soon discovers that she is descended from greatness when she is rescued from her plight by Cadvan, a mysterious and wise mage. Maerad begins to uncover her past, learning that she is the last of a once-noble family and posses great power.

She receives some basic training, and then she and Cadvan set off for the capital, travelling on back roads to avoid evil bards. From here, the novel turns into a travelling log with detailed descriptions of the land and its history. Along the way, Maerad learns more about her powers and family, the pair meets the Ice Witch, and they pick up Hem, a young boy who strongly resembles Maerad.

Upon reaching the capital, they find things to be in a dangerous state. The school of magic has barred women from attending and the head of the circle is cold and, it seems, corrupt. Cadvan and a few other bards determine that Maerad is, in fact, The One and that Hem is Maerad's brother. Maerad uncovers more of her family history, including who was responsible for the death of her parents. Cadvan's past is also revealed. It is determined that Hem and Maerad must be separated to continue their studies; while departing, Cadvan and Maerad are attacked by the head of the school but manage to escape. The novel ends with the pair sailing to a far off land.

The plot is, well, predictable...very predictable.... It has a very typical story for the fantasy genre: orphaned teen discovers that they are the last of some faction capable of great power; they must travel with a mentor to become trained; they find out that they are the "chosen one," destined to rid the world of evil; for this reason, everyone wants to help or kill them. There aren't any surprises; for the most part, everything goes as you'd expect (with perhaps the exception of Cadvan's past, but that's a pretty small event). The book is over 500 pages long, but the story isn't nearly big enough to fill that many pages. Sticking to a tried-and-true story isn't necessarily a bad thing if the author puts a spin on it to make it their own. Croggon's concept of bards channeling magic through song and language is fairly unique (I don't recall having read it in a fantasy novel before), but nothing new is otherwise offered. A majority of the book is description of the land and its history, which gets very boring very quickly. That's the major complaint here: the story is predictable and boring.

The pacing of "The Naming" contributed to the story not feeling long enough. As mentioned earlier, a large percentage of the book is given to Maerad and Cadvan travelling to the capital. They get there about 100 pages from the end; a lot of that is contributed to the characters talking. The ultimate climax is short and unsatisfying, affirming that Maerad is The One, something most readers likely figured out long before this point. There is a brief battle as Cadvan and Maerad leave, but it's over after a couple of pages. The payoff honestly isn't worth getting through 400 or so pages of travelling. Most of the book is too slow and the climax and wrap-up are over too quickly. It was very difficult to stay engrossed in the story with its predictability and length to push through to the end.

Croggon's writing is actually very nice. She uses a somewhat poetic style to describe the world she created, and it works well. Everything scenic is described nicely and in a manner that seems to flow easily; it lends itself well to fantasy writing. The author is skilled and her writing style is beautiful.

It is also apparent that Croggon put a lot of time and thought into her world. This ends up being both a good and bad thing. Good because it gives the reader a pretty clear idea of where everything is and how things work. However, far too much of the book is spent describing the land and its history. Nearly everywhere the pair goes, Maerad asks Cadvan to tell her about the land, and then several pages are spent describing everything that has taken place in the area. It's not particularly interesting and it serves no purpose to the plot; it merely ends up wasting pages and dragging the book out far longer than it needs to be. It's great that the author put a lot of work into the setting, but she spends way too much time telling the reader about it.

While the author excels at describing the setting, she fails when it comes to the characters. The protagonist, Maerad, never demonstrates much of a personality. In the beginning, she has the maturity and mentality of a sixteen-year-old, which is perfectly fine. Unfortunately, she doesn't demonstrate any maturity by the end of the novel; her character never really grows. She spends most of the book, as to be expected from a character of this sort, being confused about her origins, powers, and future. This would work if the reader was given a decent idea of how Maerad actually felt; instead, we're bluntly told exactly how she feels. She's a boring protagonist who fails to show enough character to stay interesting. Her emotions seem to be getting mildly angry about something and sulking about it or passively watching and reacting to what's going on around her. A good fantasy series needs a captivating heroine, and Maerad simply doesn't fit the bill.

The other characters are equally as one-dimensional. Most can be split into two groups: those who like Maerad and are therefore good; and those who dislike Maerad and are resultingly bad. There is no room for ambiguity or complex characters, no shades of grey to be found. Cadvan and Hem show promise, but even they fail to be truly interesting. Things that should be big, such as Cadvan's reveal of his past, are brushed over rather quickly, leaving little room for any character development.

The character development is an issue that needs to be addressed. What little character-building there is happens far too quickly. For example, when Hem is introduced, he's scared and always on the alert, constantly looking for food, and attached to Maerad in a very child-like sort of way (that is, wanting to be around her for the feeling of safety and security). In the matter of a day, he is cleaned up, receives new clothes, and is suddenly more confident and mature than previously portrayed. Had this change taken place over time, it would have been believable; but he manages to get over a life of trauma in a day. He goes from being scared and unsure, to confidently reassuring his sister that everything will be all right in no time at all. It's not realistic, and unfortunately, most of the character development, what little there is, is handled in this manner.

A huge problem with the characters is that Croggon tells us about them more than she shows us. Rather than demonstrate how a character is feeling through actions or dialogue, she flat out tells us that the character is feeling this or that way. Adding to the problem is that the dialogue is very formal and flat, regardless of who is speaking. There is simply too much being told with no evidence of it being shown. For example, we're told that Maerad has learned a lot and matured for it, but we never actually see this; we're told that Cadvan and Maerad are very close, yet we never know or are shown why.

A couple more things regarding Maerad should be mentioned. First, many people either comment on her beauty or fall in love with her. When the character show so little personality and we're given very little idea of the appearance of any character, it's very difficult to figure out why Maerad is so popular. Second, did the author really need to update us on every period Maerad has? I feel that this was done to make the heroine more human and relatable, but it becomes eye-roll inducing and annoying. It's such a minor thing to bring up again and again and the characters make a big deal of it every time it happens. It's apparently so significant that, when given one wish by the Ice Queen, Maerad chooses to eliminate her period cramps, rather than something more important to her quest.

On a random note, Croggon includes a lot of her world's lore and language in the book. This isn't too uncommon for the fantasy genre and I can certainly appreciate the author giving it so much thought. However, I didn't find Maerad to be that intriguing of a character, so I wasn't very motivated to read the various poems and lore about her.

The best word to sum "The Naming" up is "boring." For something described as being "Tolkien-esque," it lacks the depth and excitement of Tolkien's books. The plot is very predictable and typical; the pacing is terrible with most of the novel reading like a travel log; the characters are one-dimensional; the dialogue is flat; character development is either too fast or lacking; and the book is entirely too long for what it is. Croggon's writing style is wonderful, she clearly put a lot of thought into the world presented, and her idea of bards using magic through language and music, but that isn't enough to make this book interesting or worth reading. I spent months reading it, often putting it down for long periods of time because I wasn't engrossed enough to continue; nothing about the book enticed me to keep reading or continue the series. One and a half stars, rounded down to one. Read more ›

More About the Author

Alison Croggon writes in many genres, including criticism, theatre and prose. She is the author of the acclaimed young adult fantasy quartet, The Books of Pellinor. The first volume, The Gift, was nominated in two categories in the Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction in December 2002 and named one of the Notable Books of 2003 by the Children's Book Council of Australia. The US edition, The Naming, was judged a Top Ten Teen Read of 2005 by the editors of Amazon.com. Her new novel, Black Spring, is due for publication in 2012. In 2009, she was named Geraldine Pascall Critic of the Year for her theatre criticism. She is a prize winning poet, described by the Australian Book Review as "one of the most powerful lyric poets writing today."