Shadows on the Stars Reviews
“The
sequel to Child of the Dark Prophecy (2004) continues the saga in a fine and
multilayered fashion…Once again, Barron infuses the story with humor as he
shares both the wonders of his lovingly created world and his appreciation of
nature…This dynamic fantasy adventure will leave readers wanting more.”
—Booklist
“In
the tradition of classic high fantasy, this is a lengthy novel of the battle
between good and evil. It has a fully
realized universe replete with a large cast of characters and is laced with
humor, gory battles, and many magical elements. Barron touches on many worthy themes: the power of one person to
make a difference; trusting in one’s abilities; the fragility of our
environment; the need to honor all forms of life.”
—School Library Journal
“The second book in the Avalon series picks up where the first left
off, and readers will be well rewarded for their wait...The suspense
builds as each character battles fantastic creatures and even more
fantastic odds in the strugge to save Avalon. Flowing underneath
all the action, Tamwyn and Elli struggle to understand their own, and
each other's, feelings. Baron crafts vivid scenes with original
and well-developed supporting characters, moving the plot at a
gobble-it-up pace. Readers are left, oncea again, eagerly waiting
for the adventure to continue.”
—KLIATT Review
“Aficionados of Arthuriana and T.A. Barron get a double treat in the
form of Shadows on the Stars, the second book in the Great Tree of
Avalon series. PW wrote of the first book, Child of the Dark
Prophecy, ‘Thickening plot and the three key charachters—Tamwyn, Scree
and Elli—as well as a captivating supporting cast of sprites, fairies
and assorted changelings will keep the pages turning.’ Here the
trio divides in order to conquer the warlord Rhita Gawr to save not
only Avalon but the Earth itself."
—Publishers Weekly
“In this second installment of his trilogy, T.A. Barron has masterfully put together a story that will have you on the edge of your seat begging for more. Tamwyn, Elli, and Scree each set out on different journeys to try and save Avalon. An exciting tale from a masterful storyteller.”
—Square Books
“In Barron’s second book of the trilogy, stories within stories abound
with adventure and mystery. To add to this riveting tale, he also includes
detailed maps of the sacred tree. In
Barron’s richly imagined world, he creates an intriguing plot that involves a
heroic quest to conquer the powers of Darkness that threaten the Great Tree’s
existence. With skillfully executed text, he develops strong, believable
characters with whom young readers can identify.”
—The Jackson Clarion-Ledger
“This book was amazing! Simply amazing. I loved every part of it. The strong characters were portrayed well, and I felt like I knew them like I had grown up listening to their tales. This book gave me so many different feelings, I was frustrated, sad, and happy, right along with the characters. This book is wonderful, and I’d recommend it to any reader, any age that could handle it. The best ages for this book would probably be 12 to until you lose your eyesight. There’s no sexuality or foul language. This book was excellent and I can’t wait for the third one in the trilogy to come out!”
—Sarah, age 14, California
“Middle
books in trilogies can be tricky. Not only must they sustain the story
introduced in the first installment, but also they must develop it sufficiently
to keep the reader turning pages before handing everything off to the last of
the trio. Good middle books do this; very good middle books leave the reader
impatient for the finale and keep him or her thinking about where the story is
likely to go for quite some time. I am happy to report that T. A. Barron has
done that and more with the second installment of The Great Tree of Avalon.
“T. A. Barron does an excellent job of weaving three story lines together so the reader doesn’t lose track of anything. By the end of book two, you are left with an appreciation for the gravity of the situation facing each of the major characters. You also have a sense of hope that somehow, some way, Tamwyn and Ellie will survive long enough to have a chance to enjoy the relationship that blossomed during their separate quests, even if they only saw each other in a magical sense. [And when it comes to the eagleman Scree,] T. A. Barron tosses some interesting surprises the reader’s way, ones that portray Scree in a different and far more mature light.
“Among the questions the reader may ponder while waiting for book three are what happened to Hennie the Hoolah and Battylad after they were separated from Tamwyn? Who will come to Ellie’s aid when she finally faces Kulwych? Will Scree’s new role allow him to come to his brother’s aid when crunch time comes?
“T. A. Barron has created a fine ride for readers. The events, descriptions, and maturation of the main characters are all skillfully drawn, leaving the reader with that delicious sense of reluctance when faced with having to put the book down and attend to more pressing matters. If you haven’t read the first book, now is a great time to do so. It will leave events fresh in your mind as you begin Book Two of this trilogy.”
—Wolf Moon Press Journal
