Review: The Crow by Alison Croggon

Title: The Crow
Author: Alison Croggon
Series: Book Three of the Pellinor Quartet
Format: Paperback
Pages: 511
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication Date: August 12th, 2008
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Rating: 9

Summary:
From Goodreads: As this enthralling epic nears its climax, the young heroine’s brother discovers his own hidden gift — and the role he must play in battling the Dark.

Hem is a weary orphan whose struggle for survival ends when he is reunited with his lost sister, Maerad. But Maerad has a destiny to fulfill, and Hem is sent to the golden city of Turbansk, where he learns the ways of the Bards and befriends a mysterious white crow. When the forces of the Dark threaten, Hem flees with his protector, Saliman, and an orphan girl named Zelika to join the Light’s resistance forces. It is there that Hem has a vision and learns that he, too, has a part to play in Maerad’s quest to solve the Riddle of the Treesong. As THE CROW continues the epic tale begun with THE NAMING and THE RIDDLE, Alison Croggon creates a world of astounding beauty overshadowed by a terrifying darkness, a world where Maerad and Hem must prepare to wage their final battle for the Light.

Why did I read this book? I read and loved the two previous books in the series, The Naming (review) and The Riddle (review).

Source: Bought

My Review
This book follows The Riddle) in the Pellinor series. However, this book doesn't follow chronologically; the story is parallel to that of the Riddle. Where in The Riddle Maerad's story is told, in The Crow Hem's story unfolds. This is a good and a not-so-good thing.

I really looked forward to and enjoyed the chance to experience Hem's story. We travel to a new city and are exposed to other cultures of Edil-Amarandh and get to learn about Hem himself. We also meet a new character, Irc the white crow (as seen on the cover) who is enorminously endearing. Being an animal lover I always appreciate our non-human characters in fantasies.

I found it mildly annoying that we had to go back in time to see Hem's story which coincides with Maerad's. We made big leaps in plot during The Riddle and I felt that there wasn't much that was new or unexpected in The Crow. I could feel the strings of the author pushing and pulling the plot to set everything up for when everything converges in The Singing (the fourth and final book).

Rating: 9
That being said, The Crow really stands out from the previous two books. This installment is much darker. There are heavy themes and also many gruesome images. It really gives you the sense that things are starting to get very serious. I liked that; it made everything seem that much more real. I highly recommend this series!

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Review: The Riddle by Alison Croggon

Title: The Riddle
Author: Alison Croggon
Series: Book Two of the Pellinor Quartet
Format: Paperback
Pages: 490
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication Date: September 11th, 2007
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Rating: 9.5

Summary:
From Goodreads: Maerad is a girl with a tragic past, but her powers grow stronger by the day. Now she and her mentor, Cadvan, hunted by both the Light and the Dark, must unravel the Riddle of the Treesong before their kingdom erupts in chaos. The quest leads Maerad over terrifying seas and glacial wilderness, until she is trapped in the icy realm of the seductive Winterking. There, Maerad must confront what she has suspected all along: that she is the greatest riddle of all.

Why did I read this book? Read and loved the first book, The Naming.

Source: Bought

My Review
So this book continues where The Naming left off. Maerad and Cadvan are trying to figure out the Riddle of the Treesong and also trying to stay alive as they are pursued by evil forces. Maerad comes into the hands of the Winterking and must try to solve the riddle and also escape his grasp.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Compared to The Naming, it definitely progresses the main plot more fully and some revelations are made. The book is very well written, perhaps even more so plot-wise than The Naming but in general I enjoyed the Naming more. First, not all the same characters are in this book which focuses more on Maerad than anything else and also because some of the new characters didn't stand out to me as much as the ones in the Naming did. Don't get me wrong, I still believe this is one of the best YA fantasies I ever read and I am eager to finish the series.

Rating: 9.5
I really liked the beginning of The Riddle, there are some pretty awesome battles of magic and I also liked the scenes with the Winter King. These books really give off an air of sophistication and detail that I don't always find in YA fantasy.

Anyways, bottom line is if you haven't read The Naming or The Riddle yet, do so. They are YA fantasy must reads.

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Review: The Naming by Alison Croggon

Title: The Naming
Author: Alison Croggon
Series: Book one of the Pellinor Quartet
Format: Paperback
Pages: 492
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication Date: March 14th, 2006
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Rating: 10

Summary:
From Goodreads: In the classic spirit of epic fantasy comes this glittering saga of a young girl who learns she possesses an uncanny gift - and is destined to use it to save her world from a terrifying evil.

Maerad is a slave in a desperate and unforgiving settlement, taken there as a child when her family is destroyed in war. She doesn't yet know she has inherited a powerful gift, one that marks her as a member of the noble School of Pellinor and enables her to see the world as no other can. It is only when she is discovered by Cadvan, one of the great Bards of Lirigon, that her true identity and extraordinary destiny unfold. Now, she and her mysterious teacher must embark on a treacherous, uncertain journey through a time and place where the forces of darkness wield an otherworldly terror.

The first book in a projected quartet, Alison Croggon's epic about Maerad and her remarkable yet dangerous gift is a beautiful, unforgettable tale. Presented as a new translation of an ancient text, THE NAMING evokes the rich and complex landscape of Annar, a legendary world just waiting to be discovered.

Source: Bought

My Review
Okay I'm going to come right out and say I loved this book. I'm not sure where to start so I guess I'll start with the actual story and characters. The first book is all about journeying from one place to another and is a beginning to quite an epic tale. The main character, Maerad, is a teenager who finds out she may be the Fated One, the one who will save everyone from Darkness. I really loved her. She is realistically 16 years old, yet throughout the book she grows and faces her many responsibilities. Her mentor, Cadvan, is another character I fell in love with. Their relationship is something you don't see often; it's an intimate friendship between a man and a young woman who have decided to do their best to combat the coming darkness.

There is magic in this book which can be described as a type of magery by people who are called Bards. Yes, they are musical and they sing, but it's more than that also. It's unique but traditional at the same time. I found it fascinating and refreshing.

A major part of the success of this book is Croggon's writing. She is a poet and it really shows in her writing. There's a flow to her prose and the characters are so intricately drawn that you really feel like you know them. Their interactions are so precise and real that I think they are some of the best I've read. There were many emotional moments that were written quite beautifully. The Pellinor series is long, each of the four books around 500 pages, which might be daunting for some young adults. But I hope that many young readers read this series because I wish I had read something like this when I was a teenager: a story with strong, likable female lead, relationships that just aren't about obsession and infatuation, and a real quest that is sure to intrigue.

Rating: 10
There are some criticisms about this series being a little too much like Lord of the Rings, but I think it is only in some basic archetypes. Then again, what epic fantasy doesn't owe something to Tolkien? Anyways, I want to say that this book is a lot more than that and is definitely worth checking out. I warn you though: once you start you might not be able to stop. This story continues in The Riddle, The Crow and finally The Singing.

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