The Naming: The First Book of Pellinor

While it may be a little to Tolkien, chosen one rises against the evil one, it is action packed. The descriptions of the land and the people are very good. There are some very good characters developed in this book. While this is geared to teens, I found it entertaining and I was a teen half a century ago.

The Naming was a fast paced, exciting book. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy at its finest, and relishes surprises, for that is what you will find in The Naming. Don't be played off by the cover; it fits. And it is not a gloomy, hopeless book, as it seems at first, though at times it does seem slow- but that will soon pass, trust me. Alison Croggon deserves a pat on the back for writing such a satisfying novel.

The Naming is about a girl named Maerad, a slave. She finds that she has the ability to use magic. Cadvan, a Bard, which is a sorcerer of light, helps Maerad escape slavery. By doing so, Maerad is enwrapped in a quest that will change her life. The book starts in the household of Maerad's owner, Lord Gilman. His fortress, called Gilman's Cot, is dirty, stinky, and ugly. Maerad is protected there, because people think she's a witch, so Gilman makes sure that she doesn't come to harm. Only a few days earlier, some slaves were beaten because they tried to drown her. This is when Cadvan comes into the story. He is so persuasive that Maerad goes with him to Innail, a fortress where many of Cadvan's friends, also Bards, live. Innail is a beautiful fortress, built with shining silver stones, and is filled with a warmth that Maerad is not used to. Everyone there is kind and happy, respecting her and letting her get used to Innail. It is too dangerous to stay, so they travel through forests and plains. The forests are dense, dark and mysterious, while the plains are bland and open to all who come by. This is hard for them, because Cadvan is helping Maerad in her lessons on literature, magic, and warfare, so they have to be careful when they travel through plains. Their destination is Norloch, a place where the Bards of power mainly are. Norloch is a place of beauty and wealth, where only the finest things are seen. The castle is gorgeous, and while the city isn't as nice, there are still many beautiful things. There is a deceitful glare that comes from Norloch, so Maerad and Cadvan are always on their guard. They meet with Bards, but these are not the kind Bards of Innail. These Bards are blank and cruel, led by the first Bard. I really enjoyed this book. I read very quickly, but since this book was so long, it took me about the amount of time I like books to be. I would give it a 5 star rating, because it had action and mystery, but also a mixed balance of emotions. I would recommend this book to fantasy lovers, because it held a lot of magic inside!

I really enjoyed reading this book as it is so well written. The text flows right a long and you are rooting for the characters before you realize how attached you've become. Occationally, there is a very modern sounding phrase that pulls you out of the text a bit, but on awhole it is a very smooth and enjoyable read. When The ending is not really a cliff hanger it will leave you waiting impatiently for the next book in this series. Alison Croggon has made me a fan and I look forward to reading the rest of her work.

I am a very big Tolkein fan. The style in which Alison writes "The Naming" reminds me in many ways of Tolkein. The Speech is spelt and sounds a lot like the Elven languages in Lord of the Rings, as well as all the poems that tell a story (and don't necessarily rhyme) but say so much in a few words. However, I do not like Alison's books just because they remind me of Tolkein. They books are strictly Alison. I love them because you can tell they were crafted with thought and by someone who really loves to write. I don't believe a story like this comes often. The Pellinor series is one of those rare books that come along that you just have to tell someone about, that you just have read over again, that you just have to scribble on your calendar the date the next book comes out and that you feel like you'd just go to pieces if you didn't have the books in your posession. The imagery is fantastic, yet leaves so much for our imaginations to run. The story is timeless, yet it's one we've never heard before. The characters are endearing, no matter how brooding or tempered they are. The world it is set in is strange and so different from our own, but it feels like home. I love this book simply because it gave me back the joy of reading and that elation that comes with being part of a wonderful story.

Sixteen-year-old Maerad's life has been a difficult one ever since she saw her family and their home of Pellinor shattered by war. Maerad and her mother, Milana, were taken as prisoners and forced to work as slaves in a desolate place called Gilman's Cot. Years have passed, and now Maerad is an orphan with only her mother's lyre to give her peace in an otherwise wretched and miserable prison. Then one day, a mysterious traveler visits Maerad and brings surprising news about the girl. The traveler is named Cadvan of Lirigon and says that Maerad possesses a great potential for Barding --- a complex and magical craft in which a person's Gift can be used for the Light or sometimes the Dark. Maerad is at first skeptical of the stranger, but accepts Cadvan's offer to help her escape from Gilman's Cot and take her with him to the School of Norloch. Maerad is soon on a journey through Annar, which slowly reveals secrets about her true heritage. Along the way, Maerad meets a cast of characters that are as unique as the many worlds of Edil-Amarandah. There's Silvia and Dernhil from the School of Innail, who each give Maerad friendship and knowledge unlike anything that she has ever known before, and Saliman of Turbansk, whose fiery wit and humor are much appreciated. However, the path of self-discovery will not be an easy one as Maerad --- with the resilient and mysterious Cadvan as her teacher --- begins to learn how to use her amazing powers while on the run from the Nameless One's minions that threaten to disturb the Balance. With a captivating plot and descriptive imagery, THE NAMING is both familiar and fresh in its originality. The concept of a lost manuscript makes the story seem strongly realistic while imaginative. This is the first book of a quartet that promises to be a favorite among fantasy fans. THE RIDDLE, the second installment in this thrilling fantasy adventure, is expected to arrive in the U.S. in 2006. --- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle ([email protected])