3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put it down!, November 7, 2005
This review is from: The Witch of Dragon Swan (Seeker's Quest) (Paperback)
Look out! The Dragons are returning to Pretava, bringing trouble close behind...or are they? Laural's troubled dreams are telling her it's so, but the Dragons have been gone from Pretava since the Before Times, if they ever existed. Laural knows she must find out the meaning of her dreams before she can ever achieve happiness with her betrothed, Mykal, the handsome Lord of Dragon Swan and its Province.
While Mykal isn't happy with Laural's decision, he loves her enough to wait until she works her way through her misgivings. Mykal would give his life for Laural. Together, they work out a plan to visit Zyalia, Laural's mentor and protector, the mysterious Old One of Ryndolt Forest. Only Zyalia can help Laural detect the meaning of her dreams and assume her destiny.
As Laural and Mykal make their way through the forest to Zyalia's dwelling, a dark assassin fires a poison dart at Mykal. In a desperate attempt to save Mykal's life, Laural sends a hasty mind call to any healer in the area and places Mykal in a state of suspended animation. Hopefully, it will be enough to save him until help can come! During all the confusion, the assassin abducts Laural, leaving Mykal to his fate. Luckily, Zyalia has heard Laural's frantic plea and hurries to Mykal's aid.
While Zyalia works to heal Mykal, Laural is held captive by the wicked Sorceress Rylinian and her accomplice, Magus Cryddyn. The corrupt Rylinian plans to use Laural in her bid to become the Dark Queen of all the land. Will Mykal recover and rescue Laural?
Finally, in the capital city of Thannon,there is a plot to kill the high king. King Willawyn's court is a veritable hot bed of intrigue! Is the King's heir, Lord Balizar, plotting against his father; or is Willawyn's friend Al'Fyndaln, the half elf, just being hoodwinked? The evidence points directly to Balizar, but are Lord Balizar's degenerate friends behind the plot? Is there someone else more sinister and menacing behind it all? Who is sending the assassins that keep creating mayhem? Just who is the mysterious Seeker who joins the story? Is he friend or foe, good or evil? Will Laural and Mykal finally marry and live happily ever after or is their destiny something altogether different? I'll never tell!
I'd have to call The Witch of Dragon Swan the book of questions. Like the old-time cliffhanger movies of the 40's, this book bewitches the reader into reading "just one more chapter" to see if they've guessed correctly before putting it down and attending to the duties of life. I have to admit to being guilty of it. I read until my eyes just wouldn't obey me anymore. Ah, but Ms. Reynolds doesn't give up her secrets so easily! Some of those answers are saved for book two, The Demons of Drey.
In this first book in the Seeker's Quest series, Trish Reynolds enchants her readers by weaving a spell of romance, intrigue, betrayal and coming of age. It's a tale full of good people--with their faults, just trying to make things better. It also has its twisted, malevolent bad guys and most importantly its magic! What would a fantasy book be without magic? If you'd like to be transported to another place and time, The Witch of Dragon Swan can do that for you!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love it., September 5, 2005
This review is from: The Witch of Dragon Swan (Seeker's Quest) (Paperback)
The world of The Witch of Dragon Swan is reminiscent of any world created by Marion Zimmer Bradley or Anne McCafferty. Magic and non-human folk populate the pages. Trish Reynolds immediately draws the reader into Laural's world with the same seamless skill.
Laural has visions of dragons. Dragons are long extinct in Pretava. Laural means to follow her visions to their conclusion and find out their meaning, even if it means leaving her soul mate, Mykal behind. Meanwhile a plot to assassinate the high king has been uncovered.
Mykal follows his beloved Laural on her quest to find the meaning of the dragons of her dream s only to be ensnared unwittingly into what will become a fight of good against evil. He and Laural's friend, Zyalia, travel into a foreign land to save Laurel from a fate worse than death.
At the court of the High King, intrigue abounds. Who is behind the assassination attempts and mysterious deaths and why? What will happen if the Heir to the Kingdom is as unfit to rule as he appears? Are the long-gone dragons the enemy? Or are they the kingdom's savoir?
Ms. Reynolds tells a tale with so many interwoven layers, you'll never want to put down this book. Just when you think you've figured out who the bad guys are, another character puts in an appearance or you learn something more about the characters you thought you already knew. Ms. Reynolds weaves a tale of many interwoven layers, including a cliff hanger of an ending that will have you running for the next volume in this trilogy as fast as you can get to the book shop!
W. Lyon Martin, author/illustrator of An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW!, December 14, 2005
This review is from: The Witch of Dragon Swan (Seeker's Quest) (Paperback)
I was hooked on Ms Reynolds writing from the minute I first read Book 1 of the Doctor and the Witch...and now I am totally blown away.
The Witch of Dragon Swan is one of the best books in any genre that I have ever read. From the first paragraph (immediately hooked) to the last (I need more!)this book rocks.
Laural, the Witch of Dragon Swan and Mykal, the Lord of Dragon Swan have some issues. Problems with their relationship fade into the background when Laural is kidnapped and Mykal left for dead by her abductors... and that's only for starters!
As in her other series, Ms Reynolds takes the reader on a wild ride with barely time for a breath. I wanted to read the whole book in one sitting...and when I was finished the next one couldn't get here fast enough.
Just like the other reviewers I can't wait to see more in this series and from this author.
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