Elves Books

Two women take a dangerous road through a forest, where people have been known to either be killed or disappear forever, when they are taken and discover the answer to the mystery. Under the forest is the extensive home of dark elves, creatures who cannot stand sunlight and who have been created as sex toys by a long-gone goddess. They have no other way to reproduce than to take human females. They are few, so they can't be discovered; they kill the males they can't use. The women who can be used are captives, taken forever.

One of the women, Gala, is quiet and pragmatic. Her friend, Diana, however, has a chip on her shoulder and is a fierce fighter and is determined never to submit... even if she can't help but want to.

Part 2, "Mastered," has a bit about the earlier characters, but mostly concerns a rare virgin captured by the dark elves. It introduces a bit more about the world, but these stories aren't about world-building, but coupling, (which is too bad, since it looks as if the culture could be very intriguing).

There is a lot of sex of "dubious consent" it says in some warning in reviews. Those who steer well-clear of rape fantasies should pass this up. On the other hand, it's clearly a fantasy all the way. The dark elves exist solely for sex and protection. They are irresistible to humans... and to each other, for that matter. Battles and Sex are central to their way of life. On the other hand, there is the Truemating--one partner for the rest of their long lives, which at least brings some romance to the sex scenes. That said, the sex is hot, and if you like it very edgy and dubious and otherwise, this should be a great read.

Dark Elves 1: Taken was surprisingly good. It wasn't at all what I expected and I really liked the main characters. It's about a race of dark elves that only produces males. They have to kidnap human women to procreate with. I thought they were perfect together and I felt that Salin (the hero) treated Diana in exactly the way she needed. I know she felt that she was forced and I could see that, but Salin really made it work for them. My only complaint is that I wish there was a little more focus on the world that the dark elves live in. What little that was given was interesting and I wanted to know more about it. I recommend it.
4.5 stars

Dark Elves 2: Mastered was good, but not as good as Taken. I didn't connect with the H/h as much in this book. The conflict was a little pointless since it was obvious that there was going to be an HEA. Now, you could say it was obvious in Taken, however the struggle with Salin and Diana was amongst themselves. In Mastered, the conflict was in the form of the King and I figured he wasn't going to get what he wanted. I did like the fact that we learned a little more about the world that the dark elves live in.
4 stars

One thing Mykles should be commended on is originality. This was a definite detour of what I am normally accustomed to. The time is set back in the horse and wagon era. There wasn't much emphasis was placed on the time period, but enough to get the feel of the setting. As with most erotica, the story center on sex and the love to blossom between the hero and heroine. What better way than with dark elves who were created for the sole purpose of pleasuring women.

With most erotica, I find that if you remove the sex scenes, there's very little substance. In books I & II of the Dark Elves series, the author has a carefully designed story, one that goes passed the sex. Don't get me wrong. There are plenty and I mean plenty of hot scenes, but there was more substance. Turmoil is brewing in the underground city of the dark elves. I am curious as to where books III & IV will lead.

Taken:

Friends, Diana and Gala, are tracking some robbers when the path leads them into the dark forest. They had heard tales of women going missing in these woods and men showing up dead at the forests edge but Diana was determined to get her money back. As they make their way through the shadowy forest a man appears. He is the perfect specimen of a lean, human male except for the fact that his skin is entirely black, with white tattoos, and long white hair with red pupiled eyes. Diana and Gala are immediately entranced and consumed by lust and begin a sexual encounter that ends with them both blacking out. When Diana comes to she finds herself in another sexual encounter, with Gala by her side, with the strange man. During the encounter a female version of the dark man enters the room and appears to punish the man with whips, which he likes. When the punishment is over the dark woman explains to Diana and Gala that they were under a spell and now could never leave the underground world they awoke to. Diana and Gala realize that the dark man who kidnapped them is part of an underground realm filled with these men, called raedjour. The raedjour were created by a goddess for her pleasure and then left to fend for themselves. Since they are all males they must kidnap women from above in order to procreate but the problem is that not just any woman may do. The only way for procreation to occur is the finding of a truemate, in order to do that Diana and Gala must be passed from man to man, for nine nights, and if they become pregnant at the end of that time then they will belong to that man. While Gala seems to accept her fate Diana is unwilling to take it lying down. When Commander Salin spots Diana in the fighting arena with one of her truemate trials he is entranced and is determined to have her so he makes sure he is next. When Salin and Diana meet sparks fly, but Salin refuses to consumate until Diana asks for it and he will do whatever he feels necessary to get her to ask, which includes some sexual torture. Will Diana give into the dark desire that she feels and ask Salin for what she really wants? Or will the nine days expire and the next man try his shot?

Mastered:

After her family dies Suzana is taken as a slave. When her caravan travels through the dark forest they are overtaken by the raedjour and Krael is a member of the warriors on this quest. When Suzana is spotted and they notice she has a chastity belt on they take special care of her, for a virgin is indeed special to the raedjour. With a virgin the warriors will gather and fight each other to see who will win the honor of being her first lover. When Krael realizes that the king of the raedjour wants Suzana he is determined to win the contest because no female ever comes back the same from the kings bed. When Krael wins and takes his prize he is more than pleased with Suzana but the king has demanded he be her next man and orders Krael to train her into submission with the whips, which happens to be Krael's specialty. Will Krael be able to train Suzana to meet his needs and then give her to the demented king?


***These 2 stories are highly erotic but with very minimal romance. With this book expect some bdsm, m/m and m/f/m interaction. Despite the lack of romance I would recomend this book to erotica fans and I will be checking out the next Dark Elves series.

*This review refers to the ebook versions of Dark Elves 1 & 2*
Since my teens, every few years I've tried a bit of erotica. Most books I'd end up throwing across the room after the first couple of pages in disgust. Can't I have character development and plot developement with my sex? (Yeah, I know, I'm one of those people who can't watch your average porn because it just "doesn't go anywhere". lol) Finally! Jet Mykles has created characters and a world that I absolutely lose myself in. I am a big fantasy/sci-fi fan, so the dark elves/alternate universe definitely fit my requirements. She does a fantastic job of giving each of the elves a very distinct personality - even the bit players! The world building is fantastic. I find myself wanting to write my own fiction about this world. And on top of being a great writer, Jet Mykles is also an accomplished 3-D artist and her art is included in the pages to further illustrate her story. I usually detest this form of art so for me to say I even *like* it is something. The only reason I didn't give these stories five stars is because I still feel her female-human character development needs work. I can understand that she really likes to put her effort behind her tall, sexy, black-skinned, white haired heros, but I have a bit of difficulty relating to any of the women. Diana, in Taken, really drove me to distraction. I often found myself wanting to slap her. But I understand what she meant to the story. If anything, at least I had a strong negative reaction to her rather than none at all. My favorite of the two stories was the second, Mastered. I didn't really relate to Suzana so much as sympathize with her. But Krael...all I can say is *damn*! He's my favorite elf so far.
I have read Part 3 but not Part 4 so I won't post my comments on that book yet. But all I can say is the rhaeja arc delivers like Dominos!

By Fortune's left hand this is by all means the slowest fantasy book I've ever read. And being a lover of the genre, know at times, even the best of stories can get slow. But this is I mean slow, with very little action. However the plot was intricately woven, and developed rather nicely over the hundred and seventy some-odd pages.

It is a fantasy tale of unique proportion. I thought Shadow was a goner a few times, but she managed to come out on top (no pun intended with her promisciousness and all.)

I have to read another of Logston's book, hopefully there is more action.

When I was a kid, about 14, I never looked towards books for entertainment. One of my friends did. He handed me this book because it's a small read and had a thief as the main character. Playing a thief in D&D made me give the book a chance, well the book captivated me. I read it in a few days. Years later I was reminded of this special little book and found it here on Amazon and have read it again. Just as good the second time. The plot isn't original but is well written. The main character is a free spirit and her wits/sense of humor keeps you smiling. Trust me for the price and the story you can't beat it. Give this book a chance. If you like this book Anne Longston has other shadow books (Shadow Hunt & Shadow Dance)

I first purchased this book in 1992 when I was in high school. It became an instant favorite and was passed around all of my friends. My copies are pretty tattered from use, and I am glad to see that they are being reprinted.

I love all of Anne Logston's stories, but the Shadow series are my favorites. They are quick reads; you can easily curl up for an hour or so and finish this book.

Anyone who loves fantasy will enjoy these novels!

I bought this book upon the thirteen five star (or so) recommendations. I really need to add this review to give any viewers of this product a second opinion.

First, this is a novel about a female elven thief who's the perfect most-awesome beautiful thief. She's stolen the wrong thing from the wrong person and now she's involved in a plot to stop the politics of the city from being changed for the worse.

I love fantasy adventures, but this book reads like one I would have enjoyed when I was fourteen. In fact, if you're fourteen and enjoy playing D&D, you might enjoy this now. It's certainly no worse than Piers Anthony. If you're older and you like character development or interesting cities or a well-plotted story, I'd recommend against this novel. It's a shallow book with a Mary Sue as a main character. It's like cotton candy for the mind, only not that good. I like some cotton candy books, if you know what I mean, and this is not one of the ones I enjoyed.

Please, think twice before buying this novel. If you really want to give it a try, buy it used.

Reviewed by Susan Pettrone for Reader Views (8/06)

Shadow, trouble in the form of an elf, a thief and a woman, returns to her homeland after being absent for a few centuries. But things are not as she left them. A human city has appeared nearby the woods and within the city, humans and elves struggle daily to co-exist. When Shadow returns, she immediately discovers there is more wrong with the city than first meets the eye.

Instead of a calm, average city, Allanmere is a strange place, filled with surprises and danger for this wily elf. Even the "token" she expected to purchase from the Guild is odd. Instead of one token which covers all, she discovers there are three separate tokens a thief can choose from - copper, silver and gold - and instead of the Guild protecting its members, it routinely turns its back on those who are in need. Being a master thief, Shadow purchases her gold token, but not after she has an encounter with Ganrom the local Guildmaster, an encounter she soon regrets.

It is this encounter that sets the stage for more trouble than Shadow ever expected. And in fact, Shadow's travels throughout the city become even more interesting when she learns a silver bracelet she has acquired attracts more than its usual share of attention from many, including an assassin who seems determined to kill Shadow. Early on, Shadow is deeply embroiled not only in the day to day trials of a thief, but in a fight for her life as well. She finds a long lost friend in Donya, the High Lord's daughter with whom she has a previous history, as well as Cris and Aubry, two fellow thieves who prove to be more help than she ever imagined when the final encounter with Ganrom occurs.

"Shadow" was very different from the type of books I usually read and I was hesitant at first as to whether I'd find it to my liking. But by the second chapter, I was drawn into the mysterious Shadow and her lifestyle and by the end of the book I was so involved in Shadow's life, that I found myself wanting to know more about this magical elf.

"Shadow" is a fantastical adventure that is sure to mesmerize any young reader who is interested in fantasy and lore. It is filled with interesting characters, engaging dialogue and a storyline that keep the reader wanting more. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in a story that is "out of the norm" or simply "out of this world". For like its main character Shadow, this book promises, and delivers, a new adventure around every corner.

Ron Starbuck sets out for Bordertown to seek his brother
in this fantasy future where the fay land of Faerie
has returned, and magic lives at the edge of the human the world.
A runaway can find refuge in this urban jungle where the law governs little with the gang ruled streets. He is befriended by Mooner when is is thrown off the train for having no ticket.
His life seems upbeat until that one fateful day.
The slide downward is fast ( we learn his brother's fate) , but he is saved by a curse.
The writing here is pretty good,
but not enough for me to want badly to read the next one?

One of the best books I have ever read. I picked this up about 10 yrs ago, and couldn't put it down then either.The only book I've read twice in one sitting,simply amazing.A dose of reality of living on the streets with a flash of fantasy.Shetterly conveys every grand feeling through his writings.I wish I could do more than just prasie with simple text.If you haven't read this book, you've wasted your life.

Like the title says, I wouldn't read this book again, and probably won't read the second installment. While surrounded by "mythical" creatures, it still seems like they were just thrown in here to make it more interesting. It's more of a teen angst story than anything else, which is fine, but not really my kind of book. If these kind of stories don't irritate you, you might really like it. I decided to try it out and found it wasn't for me. Even though I didn't particularly like it, it was interesting enough that if i had to put it down for awhile, i was eager to get back to it. I don't like that Ron sides with Mooner for most of the story, cuz Mooner's an egotistic moron. But besides him, all the character's have their own distinct personality and they seem real enough. I think this book deserves 3 1/2 stars, actually. It might not've been my kinda book, but it was written very well.
Throughout the story, Ron is looking for his older brother, Tony. We learn little tid-bits about Tony throughout the book, until the end where we find out exactly what happened to Tony and why Ron thinks he's there. I suspected the outcome from the beginning, but even so it was interesting reading up to it. Although the main character is a guy (obviously:P), I didn't have trouble understanding the way he was talking/thinking (this is written in the first person from Ron's point of view), which was great, because i know a lot of books from a girl's point of view aren't really guy-friendly. Anyway, i would recommend this book to you if you like teen angst mixed with the mythical and some great characters thrown in.

...I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Maybe it's my enjoyment of teen angst that did it. Shatterly made a pretty cool kid here, tough big mouth, little body...I did occasionaly get the feeling that the whole angry teenager(grr) thing was a bit over the top but there wasn't much that stuck out sorely (besides -some- character interactions)

The end was little problematic. Be warned, the ending seems to have been written with the sequel Never Never in mind. I ended to book with the feeling that there was never a plot, just this place called the Bordertown and this kid called Ron who's learning about it as I am.

That was good enough for me though. The world and the people were fantastic enough that I ignored the disregard for linear tale. Overall, it's just a fun read.

I still remember seeing this book on the shelf of my high school library. I picked it out, read the back, checked it out of the library, and took it home. The very moment I opened this book I knew it would be great, and it was. After I took it back to the library I didn't see it till today. I feel like I have found and old friend. Definatly a good read for ANYONE who enjoys a good fantasy about elves, humans, magic, street life and how they all collide.

It seems kind of strange to buy something that's freely available online. I bought it as something of a souvenir. The production is nice. The bonus materials are nothing special.

I had Inverloch bookmarked for weeks before I finally decided to start from the beginning. My husband had been reading it for a while, and it finally drew me in as soon as I looked at the first page.

The artwork is top notch, which is something that can't be said of some comics when they're starting out. The story is evolving, but you can tell that Ellerton actually PLANNED the story, at least an outline, before she started. Too often webcomics seem like they have an idea, but no set plot to speak of. I'm very happy this isn't the case here, because it makes the storytelling so much tighter and more admirable.

I work at a bookstore, and literally the second this came out of the box with our shipment, I grabbed the stack to put one on hold for myself and the rest on a display as my staff pick. I can't say enough good things about it.

Aside from just the story: the print quality is great, the size is comfortable. It's just a really well-rounded publication.

Before I came across Inverloch online, I had regarded webcomics as being forgettable, dime-a-dozen newspaper strips without the paper (and a vast majority of them are just that). However, Sarah Ellerton's amazing accomplishment opened my eyes to the fantastic talent that the internet, as an artisitic medium, can showcase.

Simply put, Inverloch (both as a whole and in the form presented in Volume One) is a graphic novel that any American or Japanese comic company would be proud to publish. And yet, its not authored by a committee of experienced writters, illustrated by a master inkist, or funded by a major company. Instead, it is the work of a single, dedicated woman.

The most striking thing about the work is the sheer quality of the art on every page. Backgrounds are intricate and brilliantly textured. Characters, human, elf, and goat-dog da'kor alike, are sharp and detailed from every perspective. The mood of each chapter is expretly enhanced by pacing, lighting, and angle, be it the soft simplicity of a peaceful da'kor village, the uncertain dimness of a overgrown forest, or the dreary hostility of a distant human town.

Additionally, Inverloch's story, though relatively simple (or so it seems), captures and modifies well the fantasy style of Tolkien and other great authors, creating a believably unbelievable world that begs for further investigation. The plot is easy to follow without being overly simplistic, and is well supported by a full cast of characters, many of whom remain unintroduced by the conclusion of this first volume. As such, this book does feel somewhat imcomplete, but it is nonetheless worthy of purchase by anyone with even a passing interest in fantasy; after all, even the greatest of epics must be begun somewhere.

Well worth the money, it's great to have such a high quality book available for when I want to look back on the comic without going online.

I first read the comics online and fell in love with them in no time, after reading them for a few months I decided to check out the rest of the site coming across the order page and was more then happy to see that two volumes of this very awesome comic were available. I ordered both, they quickly came and were read even quicker.

A great read, deals with many different situations like predjudice and racism with that good ole fantasy twist.

Huge recommend to everyone!

How would you feel if your family shunned you and never wanted to see you anymore? Tom, the protagonist of Cold Tom, could create a sorrowful reply to this powerful question. In the story, he must wander off as an outcast because he has been perceived as a failure by his Elven brethren, the Tribe.

As he roams the land astray, not knowing where to go, Tom stumbles upon the city of "demons." And in that city, he does whatever he can do to avoid its inhabitants. He even attempts to use his natural Elven power of invisibility many times, by which he can use by "calling upon the stars." But even with his strong perseverance, Tom is discovered by the "demon" Anna, who he continuously declines help from. Later in the story, he is also discerned by Joe, Anna's half-brother, and Edie Mackintosh, their neighbor. These three secondary characters are important to the story because somewhere near the end, they all witness the event in which Tom's life changes forever.

Cold Tom, by Sally Prue, is a captivating fictional-adventure novel that can teach its reader to accept help when it is needed. When I read it, I felt emotions of both delight and sorrow, and I would recommend it for young adolescents with a clear understanding for an impulsive imagination. And though this is an adequate book to read, I think that the beginning of the story may need some improvement, but overall, Prue has formulated her debut novel as a tale with a heavily-troubled protagonist that matches an intricate plot.

-RT

I am a voracious reader, but have never been moved to write a review until this book, if only because I worry it will not get the attention it deserves.
I picked Cold Tom purely by accident at my local library, and the story so successfully gripped me that I finished it the same day. Not because it was easy, but because it was excellent! At the time I was in a sort of reading slump, and this so-called children's fantasy was like ice water in the desert. And let me tell you: if you're in the desert and you find water, it tastes amazing no matter what size the glass is! ;-)

Cold Tom is a tale based on the age-old subject of humans and fairies, but crafted with a unique and refreshing view of both (though I agree with reviewer Heather Scott that the fairies seem to actually be portrayed more authentically if judged by the standard of ancient myth).
The otherworldly point of view that this story is told from can be either confusing or mesmorizing. Tom's internal dialogue concerning 'aliens' at first had me ready to believe the book was set in an entirely different world containing extraterrestrial races. But it then slowly, smartly revealed itself to be an entirely different kind of story...

I would compare the book's tone or feel and use of point of view, as well as the story itself, to that of the revolutionary 'new classic' faery tales collected and chronicled by authors and editors Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling (Another book, or rather set of books, that I STRONGLY recommend. Incidently, they themselves have another intriguing anthology entitled "The Faery Reel" that is well worth a look). Indeed, to the more mature reader Cold Tom may seem more like a somewhat long short story, that would be much at home in a fantasy anthology.

If I believed in the perfectly written book, this may well have gotten 5 stars. As it stands, I, having read so very VERY many books and being prepared to read many many more :-), cannot give any book a perfect 5. But Cold Tom is one of those few books that just might deserve it.

My final plea: don't let the age recommendation deter you from the opportunity to read a wonderful fantasy book! Consider it a refreshing little detour, in which you enjoy a gourmet literary 'snack' before moving on to whatever 'adult' book has been chosen as your main corse. Your taste buds will not be disappointed!

the book that i am reading is called cold tom it is about a tribe of people that are elf-like creatures that have a normal temperature of below zero. The tribe lives on a place called the common it is mostly woods. The plot of the story is about tom one of the tribe who is left out all alone and is being hunted by his parents who want him dead because they think he is dangerous to the tribe . The conflict is that he is being held and protected at the same time and is getting sick at the and he relizes that not all humans are bad and becomes one himself

This book is a really good boook. Yes, it can get confusing but in the end you'll understand it.

It was one night when Tom was supposed to be watching out for the demons and they must have slipt past him because they almost found the tribe. So Sia told Larn thatTom was a danger to them so they tried to kill him but couldn't catch him. Then once he stays with a demon, the next thing you know he's just one of em.

I think that if you like mystery or stories that keep you guessing on something then you'll really like this book. So I recomend this book to any of those kind of readers. So I recomend this book to kids who are the age of 12 and up.

Very well written! I didn't terribly like the story, but it was so well written that you just skim through it (it's pretty short, so that gives it an advantage).

It's about Tom, one of the Tribe. The Tribe are a sort of Fair Folk, who live in a wood. They are malicious, cold creatures, who spend their time hunting and eating, and escaping Demons - humans.
It's all told in the perspective of one Tom, who suddenly finds himself being hunted by his tribe because his senses are lessening. He finds safety in a village of Demons, where he learns some new things about his enemies, and even finds himself liking them against his will.

Rather a haunting kind of story, this is very good for a one-time read.

I do like these covers. The rich, sometimes earthy tones aptly reflect the individual themes of the books, in my opinion. Plus the style of artwork keeps the characters sort of dreamy and vague and I am therefore free to go on picturing them however I please and that is always a good thing. IN THE COILS OF THE SNAKE continues the story of the goblin court and its longtime enemies the "we're one step ahead of extinction" elves. This third and final volume in the Hollow Kingdom trilogy takes place thirty years after Close Kin: Book II -- The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy and begins with the unthinkable.

Marak is dead. *sob*

And as if that isn't enough, we find out that all these years he has been secretly grooming a young human girl to be his son Catspaw's bride when he passes the crown to him. The girl, Miranda, is now living in the hollow hill with them and is utterly bereft now that her one friend (and father-figure) is gone and she is expected to take up the mantle of queen to a young and inexperienced king. Her fragmented life becomes further complicated when, on the eve of their wedding, Catspaw puts her aside in favor of a young elf of impeccable pedigree. The move is without malice, as Catspaw faces a stalemate with the elf lord Nir. Nir offers the young Arianna as part of a peace treaty between his people and the goblins. When Miranda finds out her entire purpose in life no longer exists, she refuses Catspaw's offer of sanctuary and runs away. Right into the clutches of the elf lord, who finds her a very useful sort of hostage indeed.

This book held everything I hoped for the conclusion of the trilogy. The story splits its time between Miranda and the elves and Catspaw's difficulties wrangling his elf bride and his attempts to subvert Nir's plans. I wasn't as attached to Catspaw as I was his father (Marak was The Top), so I was not as invested in his story. But Miranda was a lovely, sympathetic character and it was a pleasure to watch her find a place where she felt at home at last. I was also glad to finally find a truly noble elf in Nir, after the painfully vicious and unhappy band in Close Kin: Book II -- The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy. And I had to smile at how frivolous the goblins thought the elves and with what disgust and horror the elves, in turn, viewed the goblins. In the Coils of the Snake also, rather notably, has a proper ending, perfect for the book itself and for the trilogy as a whole.

I forgot how much I liked the first book until I read the third book in this series. Miranda is the main character in this book. She lives with her mother who is abusive to her. She does not have any friends, either. The only person that she feels a connection to is Marak, the goblin king. The goblin king told her that she will be the next goblin kings wife, and he grooms her to be a goblin queen.

Once Marak dies and his son Catspaw becomes king, Catspaw has 300 days to marry. Miranda moves from her abusive home into the lavish elf queen quarters. Meanwhile, Catspaw looks forward to marrying Miranda, but he meets an elf woman with extraordiary magical abilities. Catspaws duty is to get the best queen for his people. Miranda has no idea that there is another female that could take the role of goblin queen.

The characters were well developed and the plot was good. From my description, it sounds something like "Days of Our Goblin Lives" or some soap opera. However, I am a picky reader, and I liked this book. Unlike other readers, I didn't notice any anti-feminist issues, nor did it offend me in any way, and I am female.

I can't think of a better way to end a trilogy than this. I loved the first book of "The Hollow Kingdom", was reasonably pleased with the second, and now must say that the quality and magic of this third installment compares to the original. Similar emotions of love and despair and choice are brought forth in an imaginative and gratifying way that still has its originality--while the first book dealt with the choice between a human world and that of the fantastic, this deals with people utterly unsure of where they belong, desperate for a real choice.

Dunkle's writing is still as lush, simple, and poetic and always, still conjuring up a rather Victorian aura that nods to all the old myths and legends of "the little people". And yet this particular story has grown to something more akin to what Tolkien would have written for young girls had he ever taken such a genre. Call me crazy, but I relish the clear problems of elf society (too many authors have praised it beyond the ridiculous.) But it is nice to see a few good elves that give plausibility to the story of war and prejudice.

The feminists, however, will not be pleased. I hate to say it, but part of me loves the idea of being kidnapped by a roguish goblin to his underground kingdom, and indeed these are books about women who are pretty much at the mercy of the males. And yet... they all strike me as powerful, remarkable girls who always truly have a choice of their fates.

Wonderul storytelling to a truly romantic tale. Thank-you!

I LOVE THIS SERIES! THe third book has a huge surprise right at the beginning and it is a tear jerker. The book goes on and is a great ending to the series. I love Merek!

As an avid and insatiable reader with a tendency towards fantasy, I have hit my fair share of male-dominated literature. Heroes, not heroines, are prevalent. I understand and accept this, but it is nice to have female role-models in my preferred reading. So I was overjoyed at the prospect of reading a new series which focus on women! I have happy memories of Tamora Pierce's novels and young adult fantasy tales. Perhaps this would add to my collection of books to share with my daughter eventually! Sadly, the further I read into this series, the more depressed I became. I rate the entire series as a whole with three stars because the writing is very solid, the characters are personable, and my own personal quirk; the story is NOT the traditional 'hero - quest - action - happy ending.' I am very taken with the writing, and the style of the tale. However, anyone with strong feminist tendencies will NOT enjoy this series, as the main theme is that of weak women, either through nature; portrayed by elven women, or through environment; displayed with shocking forthrightness by the 'human' sisters and eventual girl-children showcased in the story). These women, time and again, are captured, kidnapped, stolen from their family/culture/preferred reality in order to be forcibly (in yet another brutal and shocking scene from the story - the wedding itself is a horrid travesty) wed to creatures dependent on outside blood to "strenghten" their genetic line. Despite this brutal introduction to the men of the tale, hardly any time passes before the women (perhaps weak in emotional control and mental powers as well? It's certainly suggested in the storyline) fall helplessly in love with their husbands, and proceed to aid their brutal adopted culture in inflicting the same fate on other helpless women.

In a way, I was almost anguished at the quality of this series. It BEGS you to like it, with lyrical prose and a gifted ability to show feeling as well as sense of place. To use such skills to portray a tale so deeply against everything modern women STILL fight to gain... it was saddening. The final straw was the author's website, where she commented that the tales were meant for her own teen and college aged daughters!

Read and enjoy, but THINK about what the author presents for you to accept.

Do you know that kind of book that you can't put down and as soon as you finish it, you want to start over again?! That is the kind of book that Crossover is!
It is a thrilling, fantastical adventure, combining many mythical creatures and different languages that meld into a wonderful read!

I recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy!

Carolyn S., 12 years old, California

Be prepared for a lengthy adventure if you open these pages, for if you choose to read this book you will not want to put it down, and even after you have done with it you may find it difficult to let it go from your mind.
Crossover is the tale of a pod of sprytes as they venture forth to earn their wings. Through the nine rites--a series of ordeals meant to strengthen and educate the young would-be Feyree--the wingless young learn a lot about their kind and their place in the realm and it isn't all fairy dust and dragonfly wings (though there are those). The author does a tremendous job of thrusting the reader immediately into the midst of the rites and there is nary a dull-moment from cover to cover.
The principal of the action centers around Danai, a silver-sheened spryte with her feet well-planted on terra firma. She is the girl that real girls identify with--smart, capable, caring, and far more important than she realizes. Mostly told from Danai's perspective the sprytes bob and weave from rite to rite, meeting strange folk along the way and learning more about themselves in the process than they could have thought possible. As the rites progress it becomes clear that they are becoming more and more dangerous, but to what end? Desperate to earn their wings the sprytes continue at any cost, some to their own peril, some to the possible peril of all.
Time moves in Crossover, so much so that when you are done with the book you may feel you have actually come back from some other place. You will know the sound of a Magpie and have a sensory memory of the smell and heat of an ice-dragon's breath. You may even walk around for days thinking you saw a blue, fiery flickering along the tree-line just outside your peripheral vision (but if you actually do see a blue, fiery flickering, use your better senses and don't talk to it!). The pacing of the action, the attention to the details, the vivid and poetic descriptions of the creatures and places all add up to a truly first-rate read. This is not a tale full of flowery descriptions so that the author may show off her vocabulary. This is a tightly woven novel full of energy, excitement, beauty and a great feeling of what-comes-next, which happens to be written in a beautiful way.
As the title suggests this is the first in a series about the Féyree with a second book coming in 2009. The ending of the first tale is intentionally untidy, wispy loose ends float about, so this reader is greatly looking forward to the next title. In the meantime I may re-read this one in an effort to recapture the feeling that accompanied my first read-through, for it is a fiercely entertaining journey of a book.
(original review appeared in Faerie Magazine, autumn 2008)

I took Crossover on my summer vacation to Portugal with the intent of relaxing with a good book. All I have to say is that it completely ruined my trip! :)
From the time I picked it up, I could NOT put this book down the entire time I was in Europe--
All I have to say is BUY THIS BOOK, READ and wait patiently for the next, if you can!
Claudia, HURRY!

I can't wait for the next book. I was so upset that it had to end. The author really pulls you into this new world. I liked the picture she painted of the characters and their world. They were captivating and I'm looking forward to what's coming.

Reviewed by Deb Shunamon for Reader Views (1/08)

I give a resounding "Wow!" for Claudia Newcorn's new book, "Crossover: Krisálys Chronicles of Féyree: Scroll 1," a light fantasy with substance. This intelligently written adventure story involving old grudges, ambition, love, and other dimensions of existence, also speaks to the difficulties of growing up and making independent, responsible choices.

The story follows the personal growth of Danai and her possible importance to the future of her people. Danai and the other young sprytes undergo the rituals of Krisálys in order to obtain their féyree wings. However, it quickly becomes apparent that each of the rites involved is going to be far more dangerous than the sprytes realize, as not everyone wants them to succeed, or notice that a dark time in féyree history is about to return. I have to admit that the abundant descriptions, invented vocabulary, and the thee/ye speech on the first few pages made me wonder if I would have the patience to finish the book, but by mid-chapter I was hooked. The tightly written characters and adventures in this volume were engrossing, and although the story can easily be continued in future books, Scroll 1 is complete and satisfying on its own.

Even though I am not a féyree kingdom enthusiast, the terrific storytelling in this book has certainly made me a fan of its author. "Crossover: Krisálys Chronicles of Féyree: Scroll 1," by Claudia Newcorn, will appeal to a variety of ages, and is a good choice for those who think, as I did, that féyree -world stories are generally too fluffy. Interesting and unique, this is simply a wonderfully written, action-filled, thoughtful fantasy book.

I was blown away by the art work in this graphic novel. I loved the books and now the comics have helped to put faces to names.

This second volume in the graphic novel adaptations of the Legend of Drizzt series is every bit as excellent as the first. Spectacular, dramatic art brings this favorite story to life as never before (it should not, however, be viewed as a substitution for the original novel). In Exile, the story of Drizzt takes up with him having lived ten years in the Underdark, where he survived by becoming an instinctual hunter. He travels to a city of deep gnomes where he befriends Belwar Dissengulp and regains his sense of humanity. Drizzt's mother, Matron Malice seeks to find and kill Drizzt in the hopes to regaining the favor of Lloth. To do this she enacts a reanimation spell on the body of Zaknafein, Drizzt's father, so that it may seek out and destroy Drizzt. Drizzt and Guenhyevar (forgive spelling) encounter many perils and mysteries in their travels through the Underdark, and this story (more than any other) allows the reader to really get to know Drizzt's character.

This graphic novel faithfully retains the essence of the original novel, and actually adds to the story with the vivid and spectacular art. The only real complaint I had with this volume was the truncated-feel of the scene where house Do'Urden falls. This scene is of central importance to the future of Drizzt's tale and more effort should have been made on its telling.

Much like the first book, this one is excellent and should be a must-have for any fan of Salvatore's Drizzt novels.

I really liked the story line. But it should be explained that it is written in comic book form. Not exactly adult reading material.

Normally I find comics to be short, lacking in emotional detail, and mostly just action sceen after action sceen. This interpretation however is very well done, doing a very fine job at portraying the main characters mental sturggles while also delivering extremely rich detail in the fight scenes. Some trivial parts from the novel is left out but not enough for story to lose much of its impact.

If you have already read the books and are looking to add more Drizzt products to your collection then this a must, otherwise its a good comic novel to pick up if your less inclined to reading full novels.

this book ( or graphic novel--i should say) rocks!! the plot is very well portrayed through Tim Seeley's artwork. Anyone a fan of Drizzt and Salvatore should definetly get this!

A delightful book. Speaks to the ways and means of connecting with little people. Good Read, Good Reference. A perfect New Years gifts. St. Patricks day 2009 is going to be very special as I focus on the Seeing and Sensing Gnomes followup.

Every morning on my walk to the transit I stop at Starbucks, 2 actually along the route. I get a chance to check out the new job listings. In an almost unnatural way I had been noticing person after person sitting at Starbucks reading the same book every morning. This one, "If You Could Only See ... A Gnome's Story." It's kind of breezy here, so reading outdoors isn't the main thing to do. I looked up the authors, Valentine and von Lähr. Psychics, one a clairvoyant medium even. They're the public kind you see on the HiDef doing national tours and putting on exhibitions. It's hard to believe anyone can really do that stuff. I guessed people must know them for their work, nonetheless, but what were the great predictions they had made that were fascinating people, or was it the recent 2012 Mayan Calendar thing? Does that cutesy kid on the cover see the future, or something? Not their main focus. It was Gnomes.

Gnomes! Little people they say and real at that. Something going on there with actual angels, too. I heard about them in Hawaii once, and have seen the Travelocity Gnomes, but hadn't even considered they might be real, as these guys state. They seem a little stiff to me.

When I talked to a young office worker while ordering my regular double Laté the next morning, I asked her about the copy she had under her arm. She was kind of cute. She gushed, "People are starting to see them now. They're everywhere! These gnome guys are only famous, you wouldn't know them, but they are teaching everyone, and people can see them." "I've already started too," she claimed after she paused and sipped her own coffee. She wasn't running away, anyway, that was a good change for me. "We resist it, you know," her eyes very sincere? Big eyes. I kept listening. She was cute so I listened on in spite of my own inner voice, "Get the coffee sleeve on and go." "But this can be overcome with the techniques, or style or method things they have worked out and write about in their books," she told me. I felt an impulse to wipe a little foam off of her lips, she slurs a little when she's excited. "They help you find happiness and success, you know, the little nature people do." She paused for some kind of answer from me; I just like shook my head a bit and widened my eyes. "We can find our perfect partners, and get the right job for a change. We laugh at work - when was the last time you did that?" I just waved my free hand a bit, not knowing what to say. "They've got three books out, so it's a big deal here in town." I just started nodding at everything now; it seemed to be keeping her here. "You know, you can start with this first one because it goes slower. Everyone from truck drivers to policemen are reporting that they are seeing them. A lot of people used to see them as kids."

I didn't want to believe her, not really. But what she just said hit me. Hard. I used to see something when I was really small. I always thought it was because my left eye floats a little. I always kept it a secret, too, so people wouldn't think I was, you know, goofy.

I got it. I read it. I'm now a goofy person who reads bright colored books in windy downtown Chicago, sitting at the local Starbucks. My left pant leg is constantly wrinkled now, because I drag along that little people gnome that belonged to that early vision along the sidewalks of Chicago; they are rather wet this time of year. I'm teaching him to walk with real shoes. Oh, I have an interview this afternoon. The girl I met at the coffee shop set it up. She had the same eyes. Go figure.

All is great. Books works. Luv ur Coast to Coast holiday talk show. Best recommend. Best instructon to see them. Canada luvs your books.

It's true. I'm on my third copy now and I have to stop leaving it around ... visitors have a way of walking off with it. There's the best of reasons too, it's fantastic. Never have I ran across a book in my public library that goes to this level to get both the words and meaning directly from the little people. This is cutting edge stuff. Someone has found out HOW to make real nature people viewing possible. No one shares these great secrets but Christopher Valentine does because he wants to share their spirit. He brings in Master Medium Dr. von Lahr to channel the inner secrets from the world of Nature Sprits, all kinds, all types. He's the nationally respected clairvoyant who sees them and starts a channel, that's what goes into the books. How come nobody ever thought of this before? They have a message to say, and I am still slowly getting how compound it is. But what is clear, they want us to see and hear them, and that's what my life is about right now. I get results now. Enjoyed their over-generous Coast 2 Coast radio special, the gold standard for sharing emerging metaphysical wisdom; they struck more gold with these authors and their insights from four books on communicating with Elves and Leprechauns and the whole nature people world. I had to come back for my replacement copy, but you should not wait to start your new adventure into the real world of Gnomes and Fairies now. Then join your friends and share the experience together. It's not a secret anymore, we can all experience them. This is the requisite guide book, though. It can't get better than the source itself.

This is channeled material... I did not like it nor the content. I had the impression of having a talk with someone at zellers.

I just finished the final book to the trilogy and I have to say what a great adventure for the mind and soul ! I am so glad I read them..........it almost felt like my spirit smiled-

If you have any doubts, or are waffling about this purchase - just buy the book and read it. You will not regret it.

Neil Gaiman is a wannabe, this is the real deal.

Forrest does a wonderful job of retelling a tried and true story without just repeating what's been done before or (sometimes worse) adding story elements of her own that spoil the spirit of the original tale. In this version, Tomas is a Norse bard (or skald) travelling to Britain as a reluctant part of a viking raiding party. This begins the delightful blending of mythologies that makes the story so unique. Not only does he travel to Elfland to meet the Faery Queen (and receive her "gift" of only being able to tell the truth), he also travels to the fabled Asgard, world of the gods of the Norse pantheon--most notably Loki, who is portrayed with a malice and madness that are faithful to the archetype of the trickster.

Tomas is a real and believable hero, as well as a real and believable person, and the denizens of Faery are eerie and otherwordly. Altogether, an excellent first novel. I look forward to reading the sequel.

Jodie Forrest's historical fantasy 'The Rhymer and the Ravens' is a story every bit as rich and unpredictable as the real world. Tomas the Rhymer is half-Welsh, half-Norse-a man with no true home or people. When Tomas accepts the gift of prophecy from a mysterious woman, he discovers that his new ability is twined with the curse of honesty. Tomas cannot lie. He soon finds himself trapped in a world of competing gods, none of whom he can adequately serve. To reclaim his fate from those who would manipulate him, Tomas is forced to join the god of deception. As twisted machinations unfold about Tomas, the worlds of gods and humans are irrevocably changed.

I would not have even listed "historical fantasy" as a genre I enjoyed before reading this book. But once I began reading "The Rhymer and the Ravens", it went everywhere with me. Any chance I got, I hoped to get a page or two in, even if it was while waiting for the light to change! This rich story of a hero, Tomas the Rhymer, on a difficult quest while searching for the meaning of life, love, and service to others is full of finely drawn charcters. I found myself truly caring for and "knowing" characters such as the wise old woman Aud, the beautiful Elf queen Moira, the magical Pooka Aubrey, and the story's hero. This book has been loved by each person to whom I have given it as a gift, several of whom had seen the TV special "Merlin" and found themselves wanting more such adventure. Each has had the same reaction: "I can't put it down!" The only reason I could stand to finish it at all was because I knew there was a sequel!