Customer Reviews

The Thief Queen's Daughter

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Almost seven years ago, Haydon introduced Rhapsody, whom became a Namer and befriended two half-breeds on the island of Serendair. People all over the world fell in love with the Symphony of Ages, and the series quickly became a World Wide Bestseller! Haydon created memorable characters, like Rhapsody, Grunthor, and Achmed the snake whom traveled to the tree of Sagia and escaped the destruction of the Lost Island of Serendair.

In 2006, Haydon introduced a new hero, a new character which we had heard of from Requiem for the Sun, and The Assassin King of the SOA series. Ven Polypheme, the Nain explorer who went on to write: The Book of All Human Knowledge, and All the World's Magic. Which takes place in the Second Age: The Broken World. (Arrival of Man whom dominate as the surpreme beings after the Racian Wars against the F'Dor [demonic fire spirits]).

While The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme are more for the 'Young at Heart,'we can still enjoy Haydon's wonderful skill of creating memorable characters and her wondeful imagination. We don't see a very detailed plot, (of course, this series is for young readers) but we do get to enjoy exploring Serendair more. Since Haydon only showed us Easton and Sagia in Rhapsody. Which is one reason why I bought the book series in the first place, I wanted to learn more about Serendair.

But, in the bargain I grew to love Ven Polypheme and his close friends. The Floating Island was a real treat! And the magic in it seemed so more original and familar than the epic Mythical atmosphere in the SOA series. The novel was a nice, easy read and didn't cause me to have a headache afterwards. Nevetheless, if you are over 13 and haven't checked out the SOA series, you should do so. But, anyway back to the real reason why I'm here.

The Thief Queen's Daughter brings Ven back to life. The only problem is that, first, The King of Serendair wishes Ven to travel into The Gated City (a place where long ago thieves lived without following the laws and there decendants are not allowed to leave the city) and is a very dangerous place. And two, The King of Serendair fires Ven infront of the entire court (for a reason which you will learn later on) and the Albatross that was always following Ven turns out to be watching him by somebody afar...

Ven than journeys into The Thieves Market with his friends, Char, Saeli, Nick, and Clem to find out about a treasure in the Inner Market when he ask Madame Sharra a question, and the Seren reads from The Stolen Deck (dragons scales that appear gray, but turned in the light, reveal there true hue) for Ven, three scales, and Ven finds out three things. One inludes that something will be stolen from him by The Thief Queen herself.

So begins the second tale of The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme. I wish not to spoil anymore than I had. So your going to have to read the book for yourself. This series is a delight, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment (The Dragon's Lair) and Haydon's next novel in the Symphony of Ages.

I loved the Floating Island. It was one of the best books of any genre that I have read in a long time, and reminded me of my favorite childhood tomes, with the right amount of magic and adventure, and probably the most likable hero I've encountered. Second books are usually very disappointing, especially when the first is as amazing as that one was, so I was shocked and delighted to discover that The Thief Queen's daughter, which I've awaited anziously since I read the last page of the Floating Island, is even more engagingly magical.

This is a series I recommend, as a teacher, parent, and proud perennial kid, to everyone and anyone. There is nothing offensive about it, but the lessons woven artfully into the plot are good ones for anybody to adopt. The characters, especially Felonia the Thief Queen, will stay in your memory long after the last page of this book is done. I am now anxiously awaiting The Dragon's Lair, the next of Ven's adventures. The little trailer for it at the end hooked me immediately.

As I said, the Thief Queen's Daughter took me a little bit of time to get into, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. The characterization is lovely for the most part, especially that of Ven himself, who can sound like a 12 year old or a 50 year old, whatever your age and however way you prefer.

(He's a self-proclaimed 12 year old, but his species, the Nain--who I assume are similar to dwarves--live five times as long as humans and therefore consider 20 years old to be 5 years old, for example.)

Ven loves his mother and speaks very highly of her, even while acknowledging her legendary strictness. He has a dry sense of humor. He also has an empathetic heart, as indicated by his reaction to the title character's relationship with her mother.

The other characters traveling with Ven are indeed their ages: Ven's own age. (Now I leave you to figure it out until you go and buy the book to relieve you of the torture of not knowing. Okay, maybe not.

Above all, the story is fun to read. It has good descriptiveness, making it easy for you to visually picture where Ven and the others are and what they are doing. Not a minute goes by without something happening.

The prose is easy to read. That combined with the colorful story leads me to particularly recommend this book to those of Ven's age. Oh, not that I think people of other ages aren't allowed to enjoy it. I'm five, myself.

...In Nain years, that is.

The Thief Queen's Daughter (2007) is the second fantasy novel in The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme, following The Floating Island. In the previous volume, Ven dug up a Rover box and Ida repaired its lid. Then they reburied the box. Mr. Whiting got in trouble with the King for his actions and lies.

In this novel, Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme is a Nain, a species of humanoids who dwell underground. However, Ven comes from a family that lives above ground in the city of Vaarn. But now he lives on the island of Serendair in the Crossroads Inn outside Kingston. He has recently been appointed as Royal Reporter.

King Vandemere is the human King of Serendair. Naturally, he is not the only king on the island. Other species have their own kings. He has hired Ven to go out and continue the explorations that he had to forgo when he became king.

Char is a young human who had been the cook's mate on the Serelinda. His name comes from his tendency to burn the bread. Now Char lives with Ven in the Hare Warren at the Crossroads Inn.

Clemency is a young human, a curate-in-training, and the Steward of Mouse Lodge. Clem has the ability to communicate with the Spice Folk -- who are very small invisible flying sprites -- and is the assistant pastor to these creatures.

Saeli is a Gwadd, a very small humanoid who talks with animals and has mystic powers over plants. She lives in the Mouse Lodge with Clem.

Nick is a young human, the inhouse courier, and a resident of the Hare Warren. He delivers letters and other packets for Mrs. Snodgrass.

Ida is an orphan who resides in the Mouse Lodge when she is not in jail for theft. She is a very annoying person, but has done several favors for Ven.

In this story, Ven is summoned before the King and taken to the castle in the Royal Coach. The king is not available, so Ven is sent out to the gardens to wait. There he meets the king disguised as a gardener.

King Vandemere shows Ven a secret passage within the castle and teaches him how to open the entrance. Inside, the passage terminates in a large room that contains many treasures. The king gives Ven a shining stone and suggests that he go within the Gated City in Kingston to learn the origins and powers of the stone.

Then Ven is dismissed back into the castle. After awhile, he is admitted into the throne room and told that he is fired from the job of Royal Reporter. Yet the King still thinks of him as a friend and welcomes him to stop by and visit now and then.

Ven invites his friends to go with him into the Gated City. Once a week, the Main Gate is opened for people who are wearing a Market Day token. The king has furnished some garnets to exchange for the tokens. Any surplus funds can be used for walking-around money.

Ida doesn't want to go within the Gated City, but accompanies them to town. Ven, Char, Clem, Saeli, and Nick buy their tokens and go inside the Main Gate to the Market Square. They start looking around for anything that resembles the shining stone.

Ven is drawn to the shop labeled Arms of Coates. He is familiar with coats of arms, but what does the reverse mean? They enter the premises and are met by two dogs. Naturally, Saeli gets along well with the dogs.

The proprietor introduces himself as Mynah Coates, a weapon smith. He seems friendly and even gives them a gauntlet with several hidden features. But he repeatedly tells them not to trust anyone within the Gated City, including himself.

Still, Coates shows them spots on their backs that indicate their value to the thieves. He also sends them to Madame Sharra -- a fortune teller -- to learn something about the stone. He warns them that Madame Sharra may not be found if she doesn't want to meet them.

This tale leads Ven and his friends into all kinds of troubles. First, they lose Saeli. Then they lose Coates. Ven sends Nick out to get help. Then the Main Gate is closed with them trapped inside for a week until the next Market Day.

This tale shows Ven even more aspects of magic. The next volume is The Dragon's Lair. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Haydon fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of exotic magics, curious young Nains, and unusual friendships.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I loved the second book to the Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme. The tale of adventure and magical happenings and creatures continues but one thing remains constant Ven. Ven continues on his adventures of self discovery and finally seems to come to terms with his gift of curiosity. Ven also realizes and draws upon the wisdom of those around him. He remembers wisdom shared by his mom, his dad, his best friend Char and even some of his new friends that we meet. My favorite thing that Ven writes is that each person has the chance to be what life decides for him, or to make life what he decides it will be. Ven is growing up. He even begins to grow his beard.

My only disappointment with this book was knowing before beginning the book that Ven was in the company of the Queen of Thieves' daughter. I would have preferred not knowing that until it is revealed in the story line. The knowledge kept some of the mystery from developing about the characters that were introduced.

Wow! This new series for young adult readers had most of the staff at my elementary school lining up to read before the kids got a chance. Excellent characters, exciting plot, you find yourself wanting to know these people. Thank you! I loved Rhapsody, and this is also terrific.

My 10 year old is a good reader, he is really enjoying the stories of Ven Polypheme. I read him a chapter at bedtime, then he reads on himself. I'm going to have to go back and read what I've missed, it's very interesting.

My son, age 14, didn't put this book down for 2 days. Great book!

Ven Polypheme is fifty years old, but he is a Noin which translates to twelve in human age. He lives on the Island of Serendair in the lodge of Hare Warren located behind the Crossroads Inn where he eats and does odd jobs. He is also the Royal Reporter to the High king Vanemere so when he is called to come to the palace for his first assignment he is excited.

The King meets Ven in the garden before taking him to a hidden room where he shows him a special artifact that comes from the Gated City in Kingston, a former penal colony in which the citizens can never leave. He orders Ven to go there accompanied by four friends to learn who sent the artifact and why and what does it mean. When they enter the Gated City, they are immediately dazzled by its glitter, games, and market. However when one of them is stolen, the others must reach the inner city governed by the Thieves Guild. There they are taken prisoner so they must find a way to escape while seeking the person who sent the artifact but the gates are close so they will have to find an alternate means pf leaving.

Elizabeth Haydon is a great storyteller whose current work will appeal to the Harry Potter crowd. Her hero Ven is likable and willing to learn which makes him intelligent as he lives in a place where life is cheap. There is lots of action The Thief Queen's Daughter and Ven's curiosity makes him want to learn about the Inner City culture. Not all the people who reside inside the Gated City are evil as some risk their lives to try to help the children as best they can, knowing they will never leave. The villain has a surprising relationship to one of the children leaving the audience with hope that maybe the heroes will survive their ordeal although that is doubtful.

Harriet Klausner