The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780345456328
• <a title='Condition Guide' href='/content/Condition_and_S hipping_Guide.htm' target='_blank'>Click here to intent our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices</a>
• Form: NEW
• Notes: Trade mark New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Description

Millions of readers have discovered the magic of David Eddings’ New York Times bestselling series The Belgariad. Now the first three books in this monumental epic appear in a single volume. Here, long-time fans can rediscover the wonder—and the uninitiated can embark upon a thrilling new journey of fantasy and adventure.

It all begins with the theft of the Orb that for so long protected the West from an evil god. As long as the Orb was at Riva, the prophecy went, its people would be safe from this corrupting power. Garion, a simple farm boy, is familiar with the legend of the Orb, but skeptical in matters of magic. Until, through a twist of fate, he learns not only that the story of the Orb is true, but that he must set out on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger to help recover it. For Garion is a child of destiny, and fate itself is leading him far from his home, sweeping him irrevocably toward a distant tower—and a cataclysmic confrontation with a master of the darkest magic.

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Customer Reviews

great book
This is a classic fantasy series. I first read it many years ago when my oldest was a teen, and wanted to revisit this world. Very worth it.

2010-02-07 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Classic, no frills, fantasy series
Note: This review applies to the entire "Belgariad" and "Mallorean" series. I am lazy and am not going to review each book in particular.

There is nothing that stands out in particular when it comes to the Beldariad and it's sequel the Malloerean. They are solid, good, straightforward, clean fantasy fun. For anyone who likes to hearken back to the "good old days" of fantasy when everything was new and exciting and what has become cliche today was trendsetting yesteryear, would enjoy these books greatly. The characters are very dependable, though not two dimensional, the plot twists are predictable but no less enjoyable because of it. The hero is young and perhaps a bit irritating and self pitying at times, but maybe even this is part of the charm of the entire story.

There is quite a bit of story to get through, much of it might even be considered a bit dull, but for fans of the epic fantasy genre this should be of no surprise or consequence. I am not sure if I would recommend this book to someone interested in getting started with the fantasy genre, as it can be bland at times, but for what it's worth to me this book could be considered very architypical of the genre.

That being said I would like to say that for myself, this series was very enjoyable, and I hope to return to it one day (when I have the time to dedicate to it once again). Wait for a snowy day, curl up on the couch with a blanket, and enjoy!

2010-01-03 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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A PG Rated Fantasy - Rated R Fans, Look Elsewhere (Spoiler Free Review)
Although I gave the Book 3 stars, kids might rate this book as a 4 Star adventure, where adults may think it's a 2 Star chore.
This is a pretty good book for 12-14 year olds, but adults craving complex plotlines, action, or emotion may become bored.

Story:
An orphaned farm boy is destined to take down a Dark Lord. Garion, the orphaned farm boy, discovers that his Aunt Pol and Mr. Wolf are more than meets the eye. A party of adventurers is formed and they journey across a very detailed fantasy world to catch a thief that stole an extremely powerful relic. Because of the prophecy, most of the mystery is taken out of the story, so it's predictable. There aren't a lot of surprises here. The story is linear and only follows the party from one place to another. Don't expect three to five story arcs to be expertly interwoven to create a frantic page turning experience. However, the linear plot is easier for younger readers to follow.

World
The World of Belgariad is very diverse, interesting, and complex. The party journeys from one end of the world to the other, meeting all sorts of diverse characters. All of the kingdoms have different forms of trade, governments, and cultures. Clearly, a lot of thought went in to the creation of this universe and the details are impressive. However, there is some racism in the book, but it's the kind of racism found in most fantasy. In other books, all elves are nimble, all dwarves are strong, etc... In this book, it seems odd because the races are human. So, when this book says, "All Murgos cannot be trusted" or "Tolnedrans pay attention to details," it seems a bit more on the racist side. It would have been better if the party didn't make racial judgments on every race, and the reader just observed these traits. Each civilization gives a diverse perspective on the world, which is good for kids!

Characters:
The characters are archetypal, but all have distinct personalities and a little more depth than most fantasy stories.
Garion is the farm boy who's never seen anything outside of his village.
Aunt Pol and Mr. Wolf are immortal wizards.
Silk is a spy / rogue.
Durnik is the blacksmith, turned adventurer.
Barak is the dual wielding warrior.
Hettar is the horse lord.
Lelldorin is the best archer in the world.
Mandorallen is the chivalrous knight.

Overall, the characters are friendly, entertaining, and have personality, which is sorely lacking from most fantasy novels. They're a bit on the simple side, which is good for kids!

Action:
The action is on par with afternoon cartoons. The bad guys appear, snarl, shake their swords, and charge, then get demolished in two paragraphs. It never really feels like the party is in any danger. The story feels more like a journey, than a perilous adventure. This keeps the book from becoming too intense but will alienate the action fans of Howard, Gemmell, Salvatore, Abercrombie... It never really gets too violent, which is good for kids!

I did have one problem with the action. When the swords start clashing, one of the grown ups always prevents Garion from engaging. It feels like your reading about a guy who is watching the action. You feel twice removed. This aggravated me, but it could add an element of safety for kids. Garion is on a journey, and he's protected by an almighty mother figure and father figure. Maybe the added degree of safety is good for kids.

Writing Style:
Eddings' writing style is a mixed bag. It's simple and covers a vast world, but it lacks the depth of a Tolkien or Jordan. Not so great for experienced readers, but great for kids!

Parts of the book are overly complex. There are many different races at war. The Algars, Chereks, Drasnians, Rivans, Grolims, Malloreans, Murgos, Nadraks, Thulls, Asturians, Mimbrates, Wacites, Marags, Nyssians, Tolnedrans, Sendars, Dals, Karands, Melcenes, Moridim, Ulgos, and Godless Ones are all human races that inhabit the world. Red vs. Blue would have been much easier for kids... and me. But if you like incredibly complex worlds, then it's good for you!

Many of the characters have multiple names as well. Wolf, Mr. Wolf, Belgarath, Father, and Grandpa are the same guy. Silk is called Silk, unless he is in disguise, or he's sometimes called by his royal name. etc... There are places in the book where 3 people could be talking and 8 different names are used. This is unnecessarily complex and really doesn't help out anybody.

Maturity: This would be rated PG for some swordplay, monsters, and magic.

Overall, I can see how kids would really get attached to these books, but if you're an adult, like bloody action, complex story arcs, and mature themes, these books probably won't hold your interest.

If you like your adventures Rated R or PG-13, then you can skip this series.

2009-10-20 (California) | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 3

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I just can't stop reading these books!
I've been reading Eddings now for nearly 10 years and his "Garion" books are by far the best. Truthfully, though, I wouldn't have been as big a fan if I had actually started with the first book. I read Belgarath the Sorcerer first and fell in love with it.

The Belgariad may start out a bit slow and you get tired of Garion's bellyaching, but trust me, the series as a whole is exceptional!

2009-08-21 (NC) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Boring and shallow
I bought this book after reading a lot of good reviews about it.
But I can't seem to get into it. I made it to the beginning of the second book and then I stopped.
It is just not interesting.
All the way through the first book, the only character that evolves is Garion. And he's thoughts are shared with us all the time. The only problem is that they are a child's thought and are not that interesting.
Everything from the dialogs, to the setting and the very few combat scenes is so plain that you get no sense of wonder, passion, drama or whatever.
There is very little action and most of the dialogs are Polgara reprehending Garion. Again and again. Ah, if I want to hear family arguments I can go to my parents...
The party is traveling from place to place disguised as merchants, you even get to join them as they sell their load of turnips. Wow. Turnips. Very exciting.
Don't buy this book if you're looking for interesting plot, dialogs or characters. It just doesn't have the spark needed to be a good book.

2009-08-13 (Israel) | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 2

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The Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780345483874
• Notes: Variety New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Prepare: NEW

Description

Here is the epic conclusion of David Eddings’s enthralling series The Malloreon–two magnificent novels in one volume. This monumental fantasy follows the story of two age-old opposing destinies locked in a seven-thousand-year war for control of the world, its gods, and its men. Indeed the victor will determine nothing less than the fate of all creation.

Troubles mount as King Garion, Belgarath, and Polgara pursue Zandramas, the Child of Dark, across the known world. The wicked creature has abducted the King’s infant son for sinister purposes. If Garion and his companions cannot reach the Place Which Is No More, as the Seeress of Kell has warned, then Zandramas will use Garion’s son in a rite that will raise the Dark Prophecy to eternal dominion over the universe. Only the Seeress of Kell can reveal the mysterious locale, but first Garion and Polgara must fulfill an ancient prophecy in the mountain fastness of the Seers. Although Kell is closed to Zandramas, her dark magic can forcefully extract the intelligence she needs from one of Garion’s party. Setting traps and dispatching her foul minions, she is determined to claim the world for the Dark Prophecy. But Garion will let nothing stand between himself and his son. . . .

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Customer Reviews

Great series
I have shared this series with my kids and grand kids thanks for allowing this to continue

2010-02-01 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Splendid Read!
All I really need to say about this: it is a splendid read! The book was in new condition, physically. And the material within the covers is nothing short of magic! If you are just starting out in fantasy, The Belgariad and The Mallorean will make you a life-long fan. I would recommend for anyone from teens to adults. I would also recommend the seller, as I said, the book was new.

2009-11-19 | Lady of Literature (West Virginia, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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David Eddings
Over the years I've worn out the 10 paperbacks that made up the series. While I like the fact that 10 paperbacks have been compressed to 4 larger books, the pages are very thin.

2009-08-30 | babyziff (Chicago, IL) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A good ending to a good series.
Like with all of Eddings's work these are very good light Fantasy, I think this would be the perfect Fantasy for beginners or for kids just starting out on their Fantasy adventures. A like all of the characters in this series from Garion to Silk and even the King of the Murgos, Eddings writes his characters very well to the point were you really start to care about them and I even found myself sad when main characters were killed. All in all these works are great traditional Fantasy that is a must for any Fantasy fan to read. Also this omnibus edition of The Malloreon is great value for money.

After escaping the plague ridden city of the Malloreon Emperor, they must race to find the missing codex texts and also find the lost city of Kell. Along the way they will meet old friends and older enemies, do battle with demons and dodge assassins all the while trying to stay one step ahead of two huge armies that plan to end their quest. The fate of the world stands in the hand of the child of light!

2009-05-11 | Fantasy Doctor (Liverpool,England) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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NICE EDITION: SAVE SOME SHELF SPACE
This is of course a combination of the first three books which make up "The Melloreon," which is the continuation of the five books that made up "The Belgariad." In this one volume you get Gardians fo the West, King of the Murgos and Demon Lord of Karanda. This is actually a pretty good deal as it does save some space. On the other hand, the print in this edition is smaller than normal and if your eyes are getting as old as mine, then this is something to consider. That is really the only gripe I have about this particular book.

As has been pointed out by many, many reviewers, these books are not "high literature," and in fact are completely filled with errors from the first book to the last. That is not a problem though. As I have pointed out in other reviews on this series, these books are simply fun to read. The plot is simple and to be honest, The Melloreon is just another version of The Belgariad, only told just a bit differently. Again, this is okay, they are still fun. I read these books purely for the relaxation. I know the characters as I have read the books several times, could care less about the plot, and don't rally have to give any deep thought to the reading process. Now don't get me wrong, it would be horrible to have an absolute steady diet of this stuff, but to read these books between heavier works sort of acts as a cleaning agent.

For a light read that is purely for entertainment, you cannot go wrong. You must start though with the first book in The Belagriad which is the Pawn of Prophecy, and read all the books in order our you will never know what is going on. After reading the first book in the two series, and if you find you do not like it, then drop them and don't waste your time as you get about ten books of the same.

Personally, I love this entire series and plan to keep reading them even as I wear copy after copy out.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

2008-11-15 (The Ozarks) | Helpful Votes: 5 | Rating: 5

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Magician's Gambit (The Belgariad, Book 3)

Product Details

• Notes: Label New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• ISBN13: 9780345335456
• Contingency: NEW

Description

Ce'Nedra, Imperial Princess of Tolnedra, had joined a dangerous mission to recover the stolen Orb that supposedly protected the West from the evil God Torak. And somehow, she found herself feeling quite tender for Garion, the innocent farm boy, who would be forced into the strange tower in the center of all evil to retrieve the Orb by himself.

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Customer Reviews

A Difficult Book to Finish
I found this to be even worse than the first book, as far as unrealistic human behavior goes. I understand it's fiction, with characters inhabiting another universe, but if they don't behave like real human beings, I might as well be reading Science Fiction, not fantasy.

I read this after being recommended the series, and found this, the third one, the worst so far. There are some interesting aspects that have been added, such as the Ulgos, but I kept finding myself getting angry with the way everyone behaves.

*** Spoiler Warning ***

The worst example of this unbelievable characterization is when the main bad guy in the story, a sorcerer who is thousands of years old, breaks the single greatest law of magic, destroying himself in the process. I mean, come on! The guy would know better than that. As soon as he casts the ill-fated spell, he immediately says "No, wait! I didn't mean that!". Duh. Very disappointing.

Anyway, some of the events of the story kept me reading, but if the next book doesn't have some kind of turnaround, I'm done with the series, and maybe the author.

2009-08-18 | chemikalguy (Durham, NC USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Bit Of A Sag In The Middle.
It's fine. I'm still feeling a bit like this was one large book that was broken into five separate ones. That said I felt a bit that this installment became a bit repetitive. I mean how many mountain passes can these characters go through? Still, my interest is still peaked to see how the series will turn out.

2009-08-18 (Los Angeles, CA USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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A pleasurable visit of various landscapes.
This is the third book in the Belgariad (after Pawn of Prophecy and Queen of Sorcery, and before Castle of Wizardry and Enchanter's End Game).

In this volume we follow our heroes as they try to catch up with the Grolim Ctuchik, who's bringing the Orb to Torak, while Garion learns more about his powers and about the dry voice in his head.

They start by going through Maragor and meeting the mourning, inconsolable god Mara whose people became extinct following a Tolnedran gold rush. They are then summoned to the Vale of Aldur, where Belgarath grew up and became a sorcerer. There Garion visits his grandfather's tower and is taught how to use the magic. The party then makes for Ulgoland and its troglodyte people. They are joined by the zealot priest Relg, who has the ability to find secret underground passageways and can travel through solid rock. He will help them penetrate the Murgo capital of Rak Cthol, where Ctuchik awaits their arrival.

What I enjoyed in this volume was watching Ce'Nedra becoming more and more infatuated with Garion, but also and mostly the variety of landscapes visited by the protagonists: the haunted land of Maragor and its terrifying ghosts, the peaceful and bucolic Vale of Aldur, the snowy peaks and claustrophobic caverns of Ulgoland, and the black sands of the Wasteland of Murgos.

The monsters that are naturally sprinkled along the way are a little dangerouser and tougher than in the previous volumes, and Silk even gets captured, but thanks to the group's assortment of strengths, they always manage to come out unscathed.

Again, this is a light and fast read, but very pleasant as well.

2008-11-08 | crooty (Lausanne, Switzerland) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Best one yet
Well, yet another book in the series down, and this one is by far the best one yet. Good action, the outstanding dialogue continues, there's a lot that is, as far as I'm concerned, fairly original and unique that he presents us with here. Although he's not my favorite character I absolutely love the abilities and the characterization of Relg. And what a cliff-hanger of an ending. Great book, great series.

2008-09-11 (Houston, TX) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Great Transaction!
This transaction went very smoothly and was completed in a timely fashion. I would certainly do business with this company again!

2008-07-14 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda

Product Details

• Notes: Make New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Adapt: NEW
• <a title='Condition Guide' href='/content/Condition_and_S hipping_Guide.htm' target='_blank'>Click here to observe our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices</a>
• ISBN13: 9780345483867

Description

Discover the magic of The Malloreon–David Eddings’s acclaimed series, the sequel to his bestselling The Belgariad. Now the first three Malloreon books appear in a single volume, taking us on an epic quest across strange lands among gods, kings, sorcerers, and ordinary men. It is a gripping tale of two ancient warring destinies fighting a battle of good against evil.

Garion has slain the evil God Torak and is now the King of Riva. The prophecy has been fulfilled–or so it seems. For there is a dire warning, as a great evil brews in the East. Now Garion once again finds himself with the fate of the world resting on his shoulders. When Garion’s infant son is kidnapped by Zandramas, the Child of Dark, a great quest begins to rescue the child. Among those on the dangerous mission are Garion and his wife, Queen Ce’Nedra, and the immortal Belgarath the Sorcerer and his daughter, Polgara. They must make their way through the foul swamps of Nyissa, then into the lands of the Murgos. Along the way, they will face grave dangers–captivity, a horde of demons, a fatal plague–while Zandramas plots to use Garion’s son in a chilling ritual that will make the Dark Prophecy supreme. . .

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Customer Reviews

Old friends
Ah, the Malloreon - Belgarion and his eastern counterpart managing NOT to carve up the world. The only problem is... there ain't no more! Yet, anyway. There are the stories from the rest of his family, but no continuation. I'd still like to see how the Riven Queen manages childrearing. Maybe Pol will tell us some other day.

This particular pair of books is a nice size- the first three sets I purchased, I got the individual books, and the only thing missing is the various cover art. But for those of us who already know exactly how the characters look, it's not an unimaginable loss.

Maybe, with multiple books in one volume, they won't leave my house so fast. Maybe.

2009-10-03 (Durham, NC United States) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Not as good as the first series, but worth reading!
These are not as good as his first series, that being said I still think they're well worth reading. If you're just starting on your Fantasy adventure then these books are perfect for you or if you're a kid who wants a good fantasy yarn then any of Eddings's work will be enjoyable. However if you're a veteran Fantasy reader who might be expecting a series like Erikson's or Martin's then Eddings's work is not for you. While he writes well his writing is nowhere near the standard of the top writers of Fantasy, what I usually do is read Eddings after I read a top notch Fantasy, just to sort of mellow me out a bit. lol This all being said I still think Eddings's work is well worth reading for any Fantasy lover and for all ages.

The story starts a few weeks after the end of The Belgaraid, Belgaraid is just starting to settle down being King when a crisis is start, the bear cult have united behind one leader and are preparing for war. It falls to the new King of Rivan to put a stop to their fanaticism, behind the scene a new plot is being brought together, while Belgaraid is away fighting the bear cult a new dark power kidnaps his new born son Garan. Here starts the new war between light and dark, as the Rivan King and a few chosen companions race to fight this new evil, they will face fanatic Golems, demons from the very pits of her and the new possibility that a new dark God will rise.

2009-05-11 | Fantasy Doctor (Liverpool,England) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 4

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Mallorean Vol 1
A real joy to re-read this epic fantasy with a new forward by the author. Enjoyable and shelf-saving to have all five books in two volumes. I received the Belgariad Vol 1 and 2 for Christmas and then purchased these. A welcome addition to my library.

2009-03-21 (Astoria, OR) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Awesome Read!
If you're an Eddings fan and enjoyed the Belgariad - don't miss this follow-up! I didn't want to put it down, and now I'm buying Volume 2 to finish the story.

2008-10-15 | Tucker (Spokane, WA USA) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3
This is an excellent continuation of the Belgariad series by David Eddings. He has created so much depth in this series. The world is vivid and the characters seem to pull you right into the story. It is like you live it as you are reading.

2008-08-15 | Niki (West Virginia) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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The Elenium: The Diamond Throne The Ruby Knight The Sapphire Rose

Product Details

• Notes: Trade-mark New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• ISBN13: 9780345500939
• Accustom: NEW
• <a title='Condition Guide' href='/content/Condition_and_S hipping_Guide.htm' target='_blank'>Click here to scrutiny our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices</a>

Description

Now for the first time in one thrilling volume–the three magical novels that make up David Eddings’s epic fantasy The Elenium.

In an ancient kingdom, the legacy of one royal family hangs in the balance, and the fate of a queen–and her empire–lies on the shoulders of one knight.

Sparhawk, Knight and Queen’s Champion, has returned to Elenia after ten years of exile, only to find young Queen Ehlana trapped in a crystalline cocoon. The enchantments of the sorceress Sephrenia have kept the queen alive–but the spell is fading. In the meantime, Elenia is ruled by a prince regent, the puppet of the tyrannical Annias, who vows to seize power over all the land.

Now Sparhawk must find the legendary Bhelliom, a sapphire that holds the key to Ehlana’s cure. Sparhawk and his companions will face monstrous foes and evil creatures on their journey, but even greater dangers lie in wait: for dark legions will stop at nothing to reach the radiant stone, which may possess powers too deadly for any mortal to bear.

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Customer Reviews

An Exciting Read
I've read both the Belgariad and the Mallorean, as well as Polgara and Belgarath and loved them all...I've since reread them many times. I always liked Eddings' humor, characters and convoluted politics.
The Elenium lives up to all these expectations. It has the humor, the great characters and some truly awesome conspiracy/political moments. Who would have thought political manuevering could be so exciting?!
A great read, though I felt the second half of the third book of the trilogy dragged a bit.

2010-03-10 | book-a-holic | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Great story, mediocre book...
Most of the other reviewers have discussed the pros and cons of these three books pretty well, so I'll just say that I loved this trilogy, and leave it at that.

What I *do* want to focus on in this review, however, is the quality of this actual book itself. I originally ordered this book because I thought it would make a nice, compact way to replace my original set of these books (two mass-market paperbacks and one hardcover). However, when I received it, I was disappointed to find that the book's quality of construction fell short of my expectations.

I found that the paper used for each page is a little on the thin side (not as much as some bibles I've seen, but something along those lines), and the cover itself isn't terribly stiff either. Furthermore, the type on the pages is quite densely packed, which takes some getting used to.

None of this matters if you're going to be sitting at home reading this on the couch, but if you were planning to throw this book in a bag for a day at the beach/lake, think again -- it's a little delicate for that kind of rugged use.

Now, I'll freely admit that my expectations may have been slightly out-of-whack, but I have purchased trade paperbacks before (e.g. Neil Stephenson's Cryptonomicon), and been very happy, so I'm not COMPLETELY off-base here. I'll also admit that the publisher may have had to make some compromises into order to squash three full books into a single volume, but I wonder if they REALLY had to cut as many corners as they did.

I'm going to give this review five stars, because I don't want people to judge the book by it's cover (nyuk-nyuk-nyuk), but it would be fair to say that this is a five-star story in a three-star book. If you're looking to consolidate your library, maybe try looking for an eBook version instead.

2009-09-13 (Florida, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Wonderful book(s)!
I have loved this series since I first read it. I was so sad to find out Mr. Eddings had passed away. :-( I was a little worried about the 3-in-1, but it is well bound.

Sparhawk is a wonderful character that slaps aside the stereotypical "Oh he works for the church so he must be a crazy fanatic." Mr. Eddings obviously did his homework. I heartily recommend that everyone picks up the sequel trilogy "The Tamuli".

2009-06-13 | Chentra (KY) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Elenium
I enjoyed this book, like every David Eddings book, because of the descriptive way he writes - it's like seeing the pictures as you read. (I love the maps.)I also enjoy the vast number of characters that are part of the story and how clearly and deeply they are created and developed. Once again - I was hooked and couldn't get on with my regular life until I finished reading it.

2009-04-04 | multitasker (Iowa) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Purchased as a gift
I purchased this for a family member as a holiday gift. The price was excellent, we received it quickly and in perfect condition. I've never read the books, but my husband like them a lot when he was a teenager.

2009-01-12 | kmacintyre44 (Albany, NY) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Crystal Gorge (The Dreamers, Book 3)

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780446613316
• Notes: Characterize New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Equip: NEW

Description

The epic trilogy by two "New York Times" bestselling authors concludes. Aracia, sister of the goddess Zelana ("The Elder Gods"), and Veltan ("The Treasured One") have ignored the prophecy of The Dreamers. Now their ignorance may bring about the destruction of Dhrall.

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Customer Reviews

The Crystal Gorge
The book was everything it was suppose to be. I was very happy with it.

2009-10-30 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Great Series
David and Leigh Eddings are great writers. This series is filled with unexpected delights. Where does their imagination come from? A great book to be followed by the rest of the series.
Have always loved the Eddings books.

2009-10-30 | MRSGADGET71 (APO, AP, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Getting worse and worse...
How low can this go? The Belgarion series was great, but the quality has dropped with each series. Is there ever any doubt that the heros will win? Not only do they have 4 "old" gods on their side, but 4 "new" gods, as well as an uber-god, who takes care of problems at the end of each book. The bad guys/gods get more and more cliche each time, and at no time did I feel anything could go wrong for the good guys.

The heroes are caricatures as well - the greatest archer (able to kill a buffalo at 200 yards with one arrow the first time he sees one), the greatest general ever, the most inventive man ever, the greatest sailor ever, and on and on. Thank goodness I bought thisu sed for 50 cents.

2008-05-30 | Panfold (Chicago) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 1

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A Steady Decline. Who's Really Writing This???
The third book of the Dreamers, Crystal Gorge, is actually worse than the dreadful second book; and that's a near impossible feat to accomplish.

The once interesting story of four Gods battling an evil being called the Vlagh is getting bland and horribly repetitious. What happens in this book is pretty much what happens in the other two previous installments of the Dreamers. The four Gods are nearly non-existent until the end of the book when all the sudden, they do everything--again. The human characters all talk in the ridiculous, overdone sarcasm that is boring and not funny in the slightest way (older David Eddings series/books were just not like this). The characters that are "hired" by the Gods do all the talking, but actually do absolutely nothing for the story--they only talk about building forts and about the weather while all they do is build and then abandon these forts when the Vlagh's servants attack. The story is about war, but there are no action sequences, and, in fact, there is very little mention about this war. The "good guys" always win while not losing any allies--even when the enemy gets smarter and stronger. There's too much dialog among characters that are ALL alike. Any difference among the characters that existed in the first book, The Elder Gods, is completely gone now. They all talk the same, try to be funny when they aren't even close to being funny, and they all say the same things even though they are from different parts of the world. Too much unnecessary italicizing, too.

This book is nothing new to this series. It starts the same, ends the same, but manages to get worse in the middle of it. Not to mention that the entire story is falling apart and is beginning to get confusing. The story mentions that the Gods are hiring Man to do the fighting because the Gods aren't allowed to kill anything. In the end, though, Man kills virtually nothing while a God (as in all three books, so far) kills off the vast majority of the enemy which leaves everything that is said and done throughout the book meaningless. Hopefully the fourth and final book of the Dreamers will bring this story to a good conclusion and explain everything. Nothing makes sense; and that's not a true David Eddings story.

2007-04-15 (Brooklyn, N.Y. United States) | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 2

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Don't Worry, It's not You, It's Them
I discovered David Eddings for the first time last year. I voraciously devoured The Belgariad and The Mallorean, and I was hungry for more.

I had heard a few things about The Dreamers series that did not bode well. For instance, it was reportedly childlike and the story-telling was stilted and uninteresting. These reports were not true. No: in fact, they came nowhere close to portraying the hideousness of the series.

As I patiently plowed through The Elder Gods and The Treasured One, I found myself overcome with horror. So many things in the series were similar to his first two series, which I had found enjoyable. Did I really enjoy reading such rot? How could I not have noticed it was this terrible? Finally, halfway through Crystal Gorge, I realized that it wasn't me. It was them. One could easily suspect that the book was written by a David Eddings imposter. The same jokes are retold again and again. You will hear many versions of the following repartee:
"Blah blah blah, wouldn't you say?"
"Not if I wanted to live, I wouldn't."
Funny the first time, but once you've heard it three times within a span of twenty pages, it gets a little old.

For every two pages of plot, there are 15 pages of rehashing and irrelevant side story which adds nothing to the depth of characters or enhances the storyline in any way.

For this review, I'll stay away from summarizing the plot. The back of the book covers the plot in almost about as much detail as the book itself.

Please, if you're new to David Eddings, don't read this series first. Don't read it at all, actually, unless you absolutely need to prove to yourself that this book is a startling and unwelcome departure from Eddings' usual writing style.

2007-01-19 | ChurchCN (WA, USA) | Helpful Votes: 9 | Rating: 1

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