The First Collier (Guardians of Ga'hoole #9): Volume 9

My son and I have really enjoyed the whole Guardians of Ga'hoole series. This book is no exception. The story is well written and holds your attention quite well. We have read all of the series at bedtime and 3-4 chapters a night never seems like enough. We both always want more. This story explains a lot of things mentioned in the other books. It was nice to see the background behind those books. Now we are anxiously awaiting the next addition to this wonderful series.

If you like the Guardiens of Ga'hoole series then you'll love this. Unlike the other series, now it talks about this one legend of this one spotted owl, Grank. He seems to have fire like powers such as.... when he looks at fire he has visions and so. This is so a must read and I can't wait to get the next book too!

This book was great because it was action-packed and discribes the action also. It was very interesting and I ALWAYS would read it again. (Which is 9 times) Well, It's a lot for an 8 year old like me!=)

From his death bed, the old owl Ezylryb warns Soren and the great tree's new king, Coryn, of a coming danger, and instructs them to read the Legends of Ga'Hoole so they will know the identity of this mysterious rising threat. The first of these three ancient volumes is entitled "The First Collier." In it, Soren and Coryn find a world of chaos, warring kingdoms, and nachtmagen, the dark magic of the evil half-crow, half-owl creatures known as hagsfiends. When good King H'rath is murdered by the foul hagsfiends, his mate Queen Siv knows she must give up her egg if it is to survive. The hagsfiend Ygryk knows that within the egg is a very special owl, and she wants nothing more than to steal it and turn the chick within to evil. To rescue her chick, Siv gives the egg to noble Grank, the first collier, so he can raise it far from the hagsfiends' harm. The First Collier is an excellent read for fans of the series, and Coryn's startling revelation at the end will leave readers hanging and anxious for Book Ten: The Coming of Hoole, which arrives in bookstores this summer. Keep up the great writing, Mrs. Lasky!

The First Collier was very good, as I'm sure any Guardians of Ga'Hoole fan would agree. I, personally love the characters Soren & Coryn and their stories, and to have them in the Prologue and the Epilogue was great! Sure, I'd like to see them in a whole book, but this is good enough for now. When the Legends are through, Kathryn Lasky may continue on with Soren, Coryn, and the Band, at least I think so, because if Nyra is what Coryn & Soren think she is (I won't say, so I don't ruin it for you all who havn't read it yet) then how can they stop her in just a Prologue & Epilogue of 2 books? What I think will happen is, over the time that the young king and his uncle are reading the Legends of Ga'Hoole in Ezylryb's hoolow, they will figure out exactly how (what Nyra is) was stopped then, so they could do the same now to save Ga'Hoole. The First Collier had it's thrills and sadnesses, and a lot of new words! (Nacht Ga', nachtmagen, gadfeathers, spottilate, ect.) And of course, the surprising end to the book in the Epilogue, in which Soren refers to Coryn "Why, dear boy, why?" and "Go on, my boy", and Coryn reveals what he thinks the reason was for reading the Legends as Ezylryb instructed. Now, is The Coming of Hoole has an Epilogue, and I think it will, then it will probably be a surprise as well to readers. I think Mrs. Lasky has outdone herself with this stunning prequel to the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series, and I think the next, the 10th, the Coming of Hoole, and the last, the 11th, To Be A King, will both be equally spectacular and an overall enjoyable reading experience!!!