The Naming: The First Book Of Pellinor (Pellinor Series) Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
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.
Lexile Measure: 870L (What's this?)
Series: Pellinor Series (Book 1)
Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press; Later Printing edition (March 14, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763631620
ISBN-13: 978-0763631628
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.3 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (141 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #433,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #106 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Performing Arts > Music #917 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Sword & Sorcery #1491 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Horror
Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Level: 7 and up
The scenario: An orphaned young protagonist is whisked away from a bleak existence by a mysteriously powerful stranger, introduced to a world of magic and intrigue in which she has by birthright a special place. In addition to her previously undiscovered, unpolished, and innumerable talents that stagger everyone with their power, she also happens to be the Fated One, named in a mysterious prophecy as the hero to bring down a terrible villain so evil he is Nameless.Sound familiar? It should, as it's impossible to skirt around the fact that The Naming is awash in clichés that evoke shades of every popular young adult fantasy series on the shelf today. But it would be a mistake to write this one off as just another would-be Tolkien-- despite the familiarity of the plot (and yes, a few settings ripped straight from Middle Earth), this particular attempt somehow manages to rise above the ranks of fellow imitators to become the real deal.Surprisingly well-written (despite an arsenal of adverbs that would make even J.K. Rowling blanch, she said bewilderedly), the narrative is compelling even though one has the distinct feeling they know exactly where this one is headed. It's the characters, however, that drive this one, and though they might not be terribly original, they are nuance, complex, and compelling. Maered is a genuinely fascinating heroine, plucky and sympathetic, troubled and strong. Young girls looking for an inspiring fictional role model need look no further-- this is a girl who could twist Harry Potter into a pretzel, and then make him blush while discussing her menstrual cramps. Girls age twelve and up will most likely enjoy this series immensely.
Alison Croggon is obviously a writer of great talent. I was sucked into her world and held riveted. Her language is lyrical and characterization is very strong. She's obviously put a lot of thought into her world.Unfortunately for me, some of this was overshadowed by what I felt were unfortunate influences by Tolkien. Of course everyone who writes fantasy is influenced in one way or another by Tolkien. The Hulls didn't bother me as they did another reviewer--they're very obviously human and not nearly as powerful as Ringwraiths. But Ardina's forest hold did smack strongly of Lothlorien, and Cadvan, though I loved his character deeply, was more than a little reminiscent of Aragorn. There are numerous examples of times when, in my opinion, Croggon probably wrote what felt right to her without realizing how similar it was to Tolkien.Does this mean the book isn't worth reading? By no means. I have read the Lord of the Rings so many times I can recite parts off by memory--there are doubtless many readers who aren't as obsessed with Tolkien as I am, and I am certain that those readers will be unhindered by these similarities. I enjoyed the books thoroughly, and will not hesitate to recommend them to several people I know who read fantasy.Admittedly, I dislike fantasy stories that purport to be about this world in a long-gone age--that's a personal bias of mine, and for that reason I chose not to read the introduction. I don't think it takes away any of the pleasure of the books. I think Alison Croggon is very talented, and obviously, as a poet, she has a strong command of language. I do wish that there were fewer similarities, but I will point out that the first book bears much more similarity to Tolkien than the second book.
I didn't expect what I would get out of this book when I first picked it up. When I started reading it, from start to finish, I was entranced in a world of fantasy. I will agree, there are some things about it that will turn some people away, which is understandible if you don't like how some books relate to others. For one, I immediately thought of the The Lord of the Rings. I don't think, however, that the characters or plot derived from the Lord of the Rings books. I honestly just think that it was written in a Tolkien fashion, as it was quoted by Tamora Pierce on the cover. But I think that some people will either like it or not like it because of that reason. Another thing that really drew me to this book was its very well written words and sentences. Because of its neatness and non-modern way of talking, the book had a very serious atmosphere. I wouldn't think that I would love reading about descriptions of landscapes in a book so much. I usually don't care too much for that. But in The Naming the author describes everything beautifully. If you don't exactly like detailed descriptions in fantasy books, I'd say give this one a try anyway. If you don't like it I understand. I was kind of surprised myself that I liked it so much. I felt like, by the end of the book, that I knew the characters that I had been journeying with throughout, which is a very good thing and sometimes for hard for authors to do. The central theme is, of course, good vs. evil. But I think that it goes a bit farther than even that. I think that, in the end, as it leaves it open for a second book, that Myraed will need to choose between that theme. I really don't have anything negative to say about this book. Myraed is very different from any other female heroine I've read about in books.
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