The Kingdoms & The Elves Of The Reaches (Keeper Martin's Tales , Book 1) (Keeper Martin's Tales Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Sunrise loomed across the horizon, pale as jasmine and mostly obscured by dark, feral clouds..." (more)
Key Phrases: sectional commander, lore keeper, dark priests, Robert Stanek, Queen Mother, Captain Brodst (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Dramatic illustrations draw the reader into the Tolkienesque world of Ruin Mist, plunged into darkness after a Great War five hundred years past. Blaming magic for their demise, the Kings of Men have decreed that all things magical be destroyed. Yet despite their efforts, the magical Dark Lord is slowly returning to power. Another bloody battle is foreshadowed for Ruin Mist when Adrina, the spoiled and lonely princess of Imtal, is visited by a mysterious woman who predicts Adrina's ghastly future. Meanwhile in the kingdom of Elves, Seth, devoted First of the Red Order of the Queen Mother Elf, is sent on a journey across the Great Sea to prevent war. Stuck somewhere in the middle is Vilmos, a young magical boy-who-would-be-mage, abducted for his own safety by a Yoda-like guide named Xith. All three journey to an unknown fate against treacherous and sometimes supernatural foes. Stanek augments the beginning of this complex tale with illustrations that are sure to attract fans of graphic novels and classic Tolkien alike-the only weakness in the illustrations is their scarcity. Stanek will likely draw a cult following, but his work is not for the novice fantasy reader. A complicated glossary at the end includes twenty-two pages of "People, Places, and Things in Ruin Mist," complete with geographical references, family lineages, and extraordinary sketches. Despite the sophisticated plot, however, this cliffhanger guarantees fans, and those fans will be ready to wield their swords against the Dark Lord in Stanek's next installment. -- VOYA, February 1, 2007

Product Description

All new deluxe edition for 2005! This edition replaces the standard edition and has the same price/ISBN. Features deluxe maps, 20 lavish illustrations, guide to the characters, and more.

Readers everywhere are discovering the works of Robert Stanek. Robert's books are published in over 20 countries around the world and beginning in 2005 the first of many translations will be published.

Recommended Age: 9 and up. Unleash the power of your imagination and enter a world you've never dreamed existed! Best-selling author Robert Stanek delivers an epic fantasy adventure that will open your mind and your heart. Perfect for the young and the young at heart! The Kingdoms & The Elves Of The Reaches is a refreshingly unique fantastic adventure where its only limits are the limits of your imagination.

Inside, you'll discover the breathtaking world of Ruin Mist where the mystical and the magical abound, and you'll fall in love with three heroes: a boy who would become a mage, a princess who is fleeing a dying kingdom, and a warrior elf who undertakes an epic journey. The adventure begins with Book 1.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Reagent Press (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575450593
• ISBN-13: 978-1575450599
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (351 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #232,682 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong first book in series, June 21, 2002

By A Customer

I am a HUGE Robert Stanek fan. I love the magical world he creates in the Ruin Mist Chronicles. This book takes the first half of Keeper Martin's Tale and makes it a bit easier for younger readers. As the father of two young readers, I couldn't wait to introduce them to these books. Both are already fans!

The Kingdoms and the Elves is for readers 9-12. The books have print that is easy on the eyes and the approach is much easier to read and tote around. These split versions of the books are great because your kids are much more likely to finish and then want the next book and the next and so on. Mine certainly did. They started with The Kingdoms and the Elves book 1, went on to book 2, then The Elf Queen and the King book 1, then The Elf Queen and the King book 2.

Now my kids are waiting for The Kingdoms and the Elves book 3 due out in August. The funny thing is that I am too. According to the description, book 3 picks up where Keeper Martin's Tale left off, meaning it should be the first part of the 2nd Keeper Martin book. Heck, I'm there. You don't have to tell me any more. Beats waiting!

I'm really glad Robert took the time to make adult and children's versions of his books. I actually preferred the children's version of Elf Queen's Quest (The Elf Queen and the King books I and II) to the adult version. The children's version has a completely different organization, which makes it flow more logically (IMHO). Whatever version you choose, regardless, you're going to have fun. Fun reading it what it's all about. Enjoy! Happy, happy, happy reading.

111 of 130 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Maybe a Fourth of a Book, January 28, 2008

By	T. Ambrosini - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Well, to start off, I'll say I was ecstatic when I picked up this book. However, that feeling quickly faded. This is not actually a book, not in the traditional sense of the word anyways. This is the very beginning of a book, a measly two hundred page offering that doesn't even attempt to have some sort of a resolution at the end. I got to the last chapter, sixteen, and said to myself, "Wait, that's it?" By the end of the "book", you only have an inkling of the plot, the setting, and the direction of the story. It's unfortunate if you happen to buy this "book", because you can get an actual book for much less than this. I would recommend Sean Russell's books, or Patrick Rothfuss if you want an actual fantasy book.

Though, this "book" gets two stars for it's decent characters. And I said decent; I don't know why people a praising them as amazing. They are interesting, though they aren't horribly complex, and some the character's, especially those of the elves, feel severely lacking. As for the plot, it's got a few cliched elements in there, and it develops in the least subtle way possibly. Two of the three protagonists are quite literally thrust into the plot, while the third, and most interesting, more or less makes the opportunity herself.

If you buy this "book", you most likely will be dissatisfied with its paltry length and high price. What you get is decent though, and of small quantity, but by no means an extremely deep story with complex characters.

62 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My #1 recommended book series, December 22, 2006

By	T. Tullet - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches (Keeper Martin's Tales, Book 1, Special Illustrated Edition) (Paperback)

I set out to hate this book, but I have to agree with others who have said books like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, etc get all the accolades but there are so many other worthy books out there that don't get the high accolades they deserve. Well, The Kingdoms and the Elves certainly deserves a place among the best of the best - the books have earned a special place in my heart and with my entire extended family.

This is one of those rare sets of books where each book in the series is better than the last, and you can't wait to get to the end only to want to start all over again at the beginning once you've finished. I was so glad I listened to the previous reviews and got Book 1 and Book 2 to start. I was also glad to have Book 3 and Book 4 at hand and what made it even better is that the second reading for me was even better than the first.

While the author isn't necessarily the best writer and some of his plots were predictable, the story was nevertheless utterly fascinating. In review of all four books in the set and in what is a first ever for me, I agree that this series is in many ways as good as Harry Potter, Narnia, etc in that it is a wonderfully character-driven story with strong plot, good action, and a fantasy world that is extremely interesting. The magnificent illustrations in the books don't hurt either - they are spectacular.

In summary, to get the full effect you need to have books one and two at the very least BUT books three and four are the best of the set so you might as well get them all.