Warriors Of Alavna [Turtleback]

N. M. Browne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2004

When Dan and Ursula become lost in a thick mist, they have no idea that once they step out of the other side they will find themselves in an England of thousands of years ago and embroiled in a civil war between ancient Britons and Romans. Soon they will have to rely on strengths that neither of them knew they had as they battle both physical and magical enemies, not only to ensure their own safety, but also to try and help save the lives of the Combrogi who face the might and power of the Roman army. In this powerful and sweeping epic novel, survival depends on learning magical arts and respecting codes of behaviour that pre-date all modern life. It is a difficult world to survive in. Are Dan and Ursula able to master all they need to know in time to ensure that they do not become victims of a time far harsher than any they could ever have imagined?

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10-An absorbing fantasy with thought-provoking issues to ponder. A field trip to the battlefield at Hastings turns into much more when a mysterious yellow mist transports Dan and Ursula to A.D. 75 Britain. The indigenous Combrogi tribesmen are fighting the invading Ravens for their land and their lives, and Combrogi Princess Rhonwen has used magic to summon the present-day teens to help her brother battle the enemy. Dan is popular and athletic and becomes an incredibly effective but mindless killing machine. Ursula, who is too tall and bulky to fit in at home, once again becomes the butt of teasing and torment until she realizes that her talent in this world is the same magic that Rhonwen used to find her and Dan. Gradually she learns to use her powers and, in the end, it is she who raises the Warriors' Veil, first to bring an entire Roman legion to help the Combrogis, and then to try to get her and Dan home again. Both teens find themselves wondering who the good guys are-the blood-thirsty Combrogi, who butcher as much as battle and collect severed heads as trophies, or the "more civilized" Ravens, who fight in organized legions but slaughter entire villages of men, women, and children. In the end, Dan and Ursula leave the Combrogi wondering about their place in their own world after what they have experienced. Combining the thrill of a video game come to life with the tempering of both a strong heroine and hero finding themselves in a difficult world, this novel deserves a wide audience.
Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'Riveting adventures in a story which is also crammed full of historical interest' Independent Praise for 'Warriors of Ethandun': 'One of the very best magical adventures of the past 30 years ... [Browne] is a part of the grand Celtic storytelling tradition in British children's literature that began with Kipling's Puck of Pook's Hill, continued with T.H. White's The Sword in the Stone and blossomed in Tolkien and Alan Garner' The Times --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (April 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606303006
• ISBN-13: 978-0606303002
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best modern novels for 9 + but..., March 2, 2003

By 

A. Craig "Amanda Craig" (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Warriors of Alavna (Hardcover)

Be warned, this brilliant and thrilling novel is VERY violent. If you have the kind of child who finds gore distressing, they could be in for a few nightmares. But let's hope not, for this time-travel tale into a parallel past, in which the Romans (or Ravens) are the baddies and the wild Cetlic Combrogii the goodies is fantastically vivid and exciting.
NM Browne's two teenaged heroes could not be more different, but you come to care passionately about them. Dan is super-cool - great at sports, clever, popular. Ursula is a hulking, overweight 6ft sulker whom nobody at school likes. When they're transported back in time, however, both find themselves with strange powers. Dan turns Berserker, capable of killing ten men in so many seconds (Browne describes this marvellously, so that you feel his fierce joy, then his terrified remorse.) Ursula can do magic. But first, they are captured by the Combrogii, whose princess/Druidess has brought them "through the Veil" to help a dying tribe. They have to train, fight, survive and change out of all recognition - and even then, only the legend of the lost legion of the Ninth (which Rosemary Sutcliffe also used for her best-selling novel)can save them.
Three people in my family, ranging from my husband to my 9 year old daughter have been absolutely hooked by the fusion of real Celtic/Roman in Britain history, myth of Macsen and Browne's insight into the way modern teenagers think and feel. The contrast between the twenty-first century and pre-Christian Britain made very funny, but it's the passionate conviction that thrills. There's also a sequel, Warriors Of Camlann, which is also excellent, using the myth of King Arthur.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read - though I don't know why, November 27, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Warriors of Alavna (Hardcover)

I loved this book. When I started reading this story, I immediately picked up on the poor writing and characterization. However, fifty pages into the novel, I forgot about all that and really got interested. I was captivated right up till the end when Reality came back with a hard thump. I was soooooo disapointed at the ending. I want to find out what happens when Ursula gets home, but the author left me dangling off the cliff by a pinky.

I rushed to get the sequel, and experienced the same intense excitement at the story. Once again, though, the end let me down, harder than before. What kind of author leaves one of her characters dying on their way back to their world? I was really mad.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poorly Written, November 18, 2008

By 

Typing Tanya (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warriors Of Alavna (Paperback)

I knew from the get-go this book would not be very good. N. M. Browne attempts to follow those learn-how-to-write-books advice, for example start right out into the meat of the story and keep things moving fast. The book does start out fast but without any type of introductory beginning: no character introduction or anything. For some that works, but it kept the book very aloof to me. The first thing you know, some boy is disappearing into some yellow mist because he's chasing after some girl he doesn't really have very much of an attachment to anyways. There is a lot of vagueness in this book and acceptance of things simply because the character "feels like she can trust him" or "Knows that's how it is" without any explanation as to why. Things happened simply because the author wanted them to.

There is very little character development and no sympathy generated for the characters. I found myself not caring at all what happened in the book and read it as fast as I could to get it over with. There is lots of nudity in this book and a lots of blood-shed/violence. Also a case of a girl physically transforming herself into a man by willing it, which I found a little... disturbing. I did not care for this book at all. Don't waste your time on it. I suppose the good thing that came of it was that I now appreciate some of the other books I've read more. Nothing like a dose of bad fantasy writing to make you appreciate good fantasy writing.