Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exhilerating fantasy story, that all ages will enjoy., 24 Oct 2001
By A Customer
Ok the title may not suggest anything particulary magical or exciting, but once you start reading it grips you. Some books try to be like this, merging characters and plot with unnerving skill, and fail. It follows the adventures of Tilja, Tahl and their grandmother and grandfather respectively. They have to save their homes from destruction (as per standard fantasy book) but it is shown as saving a way of life and relationships between people, not just the vague idea of "the world". It gets off to a slow start but after the first few chapters it is hard to put down, and by the middle it is impossible to. There are no elves, goblins or dwarves in this book but a lot of magic. Exciting magic at that, the book is full of it.
Some of the major themes of the book are growing up, being rejected and feeling the responsiblilities of power. And of course the baddies get the beating they deserve.
Similar in style to William Nicholson in "The Wind Singer", it is a childrens book yet I can see adults hiding this book in Nick Hornby covers, it is so good. A exhilerating fantasy story that people of all ages will enjoy, no matter what genre they like.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A thrilling tale in a world filled with magic and danger, 5 Mar 2003
This book has to be one of my ultimate favourites. It is set around the life of a girl called Tilja who grows up in a Valley secluded from the Empire that controls most of the outer world. In the Valley there is no magic except from the mysterious sickness that prevents men from entering the forest - through which the only access to the Empire outside can be obtained. However this sickness is failing and Tilja, her grouchy grandma and two other companions whose destiny is woven together with hers throught the magic protections on the Valley, must set off on a quest to find the one person who can restore the magic in the Old Forest.
This story keeps you literally spellbound throughout and the world is created so cleverly you believe and wish it to be real. In the Empire magic is banned and there are terrible punishments for those who break these rules, including the terrible but powerful magicians who guard the major cities. All these dangers must be overcome by our heroine who discovers a powerful secret about herself which was never apparent in the magic-less Valley.
Peter Dickinson uses clever twists and a gripping story-line to make the tale flow as easiyl as if it were real and throughout you grow to understand Tilja and the other characters.
This is truly a marvellous work of fiction, although the only regrets I have about it is the lack of depth into the Empire and the shortness of the book. BEWARE - you will be bitterly disappointed that there is no sequel! It is still definately worth the read however
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting idea - but not Mr. Dickinson's best., 4 Oct 2002
Imagine a medieval world where magic is so common, it has to be tightly controlled; a valley which is kept secluded from the attentions of the outside world by the devotion of two families keeping tradition alive through multiple generations - which is all about to come to an end as their magical barrier is decaying.
Four people set out on the quest to restore the magic to the barrier in forest and mountains and prevent their Valley from being overrun by the Empire.This is a convoluted tale in which the unlikeliest person becomes pivotal to the plot and ends up being the most powerful of all, by virtue of possessing no magic at all. However, the plot seems to stumble its way along, with an end in sight, but no real itinerary, as thogh it was being made up on the fly; convenient opportunities appear and solutions to problems are intuitively provided - how? it seems by magic - or is it destiny?... But that is what the book is all about anyway, so we accept it. What is harder to accept is the lack of flow to the story; I found myself re-reading passages, just to fix the plot in my head, which detracted from the enjoyment. This is aimed at th young adult market, who I suspect will not be prepared to put up with the lack of readability. However, persevere and you will be rewarded with what is ultimately a novel, heart-warming fantasy, which reminded me somewhat of William Nicholson's 'The Wind of Fire' series.***
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