Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Candlewick (2006), Edition: Second Edition, Hardcover, 512 pages
Description
The further translation of a manuscript from the lost civilization of Edil-Amarandah which chronicles the experiences of sixteen-year-old Maerad, a gifted Bard, as she seeks the answer to the Riddle of the Treesong and continues to battle the Dark forces.
User reviews
LibraryThing member connlibrary
The sixteen-year old Bard, Maerad of Pellinor continues her adventure in this sequel to The Naming, where after an audience with the First Bard of Annar, Maerad realizes that he was responsible for the destruction of her home. Now she finds that she, along with her mentor, Cadvan, is being hunted
This book, the second of a quartet in the Books of Pellinor, is enjoyable for both the high school student and the adult. While seeming to a little slower moving in the middle, both the beginning and end are full of interesting caricatures, exciting action, and emotional personal and reflective moments. Maps of Edil-Amaranoh and appendices add in the understanding of Croggon’s world. However, ignore the introduction as the author’s fictitious claim that the story is based on real ancient texts grates against the true enjoyment of the story itself.
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by both the Light and the Dark. They escape to the island of Thorold and begin their search for a way to defeat the Dark even as the followers of the Light brace for both a civil war and an invasion by the Nameless One. Maerad discovers that she must unravel the riddle of the Treesong by journeying to the far north. Before their quest even begins, Maerad and Cadvan are attacked the forces of the bewitching Winterking, the once ally of the Nameless One. After Cadvan is lost, Maerad must journey on alone to seek the help of the northern people and escape the reach of the Winterking, all while unraveling the riddle of the Treesong and the riddle of herself.This book, the second of a quartet in the Books of Pellinor, is enjoyable for both the high school student and the adult. While seeming to a little slower moving in the middle, both the beginning and end are full of interesting caricatures, exciting action, and emotional personal and reflective moments. Maps of Edil-Amaranoh and appendices add in the understanding of Croggon’s world. However, ignore the introduction as the author’s fictitious claim that the story is based on real ancient texts grates against the true enjoyment of the story itself.
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LibraryThing member magnuscanis
Perhaps a bit of a slow start compared to the first book, but it certainly developed into a gripping read. By the time I'd finished reading the previous book I found myself caring as much for Maerad and Cadvan as any fictional characters I can think of (which I take to be a sign of a good story)
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and hence I found some of the plot twists in this book to be quite moving. Show Less
LibraryThing member ed.pendragon
Christopher Booker’s ‘The Seven Basic Plots’ suggest that the more different archetypal narratives a novel includes the richer it becomes (Booker admires ‘The Lord of the Rings’ for this), and on this basis Croggon’s Pellinor series must be rich indeed. ‘The Riddle’ includes the
But novel writing is more than just a matter of narrative structure. First and foremost must come characterisation. Maerad, the young heroine of the tale, would, in a modern context, be just another petulant teenager, a trait which some reviewers have found annoying but is here absolutely right, not just for plot reasons but because that’s exactly what teenagers are normally about. While she is the Chosen One with innate mysterious powers (and you could argue that this is an annoying motif in itself), she still has to rely on her human resourcefulness, her stubbornness, her quick-wittedness and her physical strength. I liked also the roundedness of many of the other characters, even those who appear for such a short time, and even those who don’t support Maerad’s cause.
Other important elements in a story are a sense of place and time, and here Croggon has thought long and hard about the nature of her secondary world. The journey Maerad takes is one we take too, from cold to warmth, from mountains to plains and from habitation to habitation, because her descriptions give us exactly what we require to imagine and sensually feel ourselves there. There is also a clear sense of the passage of time, marked by key dates in the changing seasons (the book ends on midwinter’s day, for example) and Maerad’s monthly periods arriving at the time of the full moon.
Finally, Croggon’s theme is about words (as the title of the book hints). Poetry (real poetry, mind you, not doggerel verse) suffuses both prose and song in her text, recounted in English; and for the linguist too there is much delight in her creation of the languages of Pellinor: the names of peoples, of things, of places, of concepts. And let us not forget the crucial dialogues that Maerad has with key figures in the story; for those who like their fantasy dished up with lashings of action this may be a weakness, but for those who love words, the to-and-fro of conversations and the subsequent conflicts or resolutions that arise from them this must surely be a strength.
A word about Cadvan: as a wizard figure he here has resonances with both Gandalf and Dumbledore, though it is clear that we are to think of him, despite the discrepancy between the aging of Bards and ordinary mortals, as a relatively young man. Like those other two wizards of modern writing he too disappears, and like them his dramatic loss through violence must be felt deeply by the reader, but it is for the reader to find out whether the loss is temporary, as with Gandalf, or permanent, as with Dumbledore.
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themes of the Quest, Overcoming the Monster, Tragedy and Voyage and Return, while it is only a matter of time and two more novels before we must surely encounter Rags to Riches, Comedy (in the classical sense) and Rebirth. On this understanding alone ‘The Riddle’ is very satisfying, even as a middle volume in a sequence.But novel writing is more than just a matter of narrative structure. First and foremost must come characterisation. Maerad, the young heroine of the tale, would, in a modern context, be just another petulant teenager, a trait which some reviewers have found annoying but is here absolutely right, not just for plot reasons but because that’s exactly what teenagers are normally about. While she is the Chosen One with innate mysterious powers (and you could argue that this is an annoying motif in itself), she still has to rely on her human resourcefulness, her stubbornness, her quick-wittedness and her physical strength. I liked also the roundedness of many of the other characters, even those who appear for such a short time, and even those who don’t support Maerad’s cause.
Other important elements in a story are a sense of place and time, and here Croggon has thought long and hard about the nature of her secondary world. The journey Maerad takes is one we take too, from cold to warmth, from mountains to plains and from habitation to habitation, because her descriptions give us exactly what we require to imagine and sensually feel ourselves there. There is also a clear sense of the passage of time, marked by key dates in the changing seasons (the book ends on midwinter’s day, for example) and Maerad’s monthly periods arriving at the time of the full moon.
Finally, Croggon’s theme is about words (as the title of the book hints). Poetry (real poetry, mind you, not doggerel verse) suffuses both prose and song in her text, recounted in English; and for the linguist too there is much delight in her creation of the languages of Pellinor: the names of peoples, of things, of places, of concepts. And let us not forget the crucial dialogues that Maerad has with key figures in the story; for those who like their fantasy dished up with lashings of action this may be a weakness, but for those who love words, the to-and-fro of conversations and the subsequent conflicts or resolutions that arise from them this must surely be a strength.
A word about Cadvan: as a wizard figure he here has resonances with both Gandalf and Dumbledore, though it is clear that we are to think of him, despite the discrepancy between the aging of Bards and ordinary mortals, as a relatively young man. Like those other two wizards of modern writing he too disappears, and like them his dramatic loss through violence must be felt deeply by the reader, but it is for the reader to find out whether the loss is temporary, as with Gandalf, or permanent, as with Dumbledore.
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LibraryThing member deliriumslibrarian
Maerad continued, through a land (and a self) rich and strange. Halfway through the book, I had to stop reading - devastated in the way that only brilliant writing and characters who suffuse your dreams can make you. But then I continued, and I await The Crow with starry-eyed eagerness to read
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through the night... Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
The second book in the series and honestly it didn't grab me like the first one.
Maerad does grow in the book from a pouty teenager to an adult, accepting her responsibilities while growing in power. Her quest is more about finding about herself than finding the answer to the riddle and I'm sure
Maerad does grow in the book from a pouty teenager to an adult, accepting her responsibilities while growing in power. Her quest is more about finding about herself than finding the answer to the riddle and I'm sure
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the next book will elicit the answers to that one. It is a very obvious middle of sequence book and I did nearly abandon it half-way through but it did merit finishing. Show Less
LibraryThing member misserin
LOVE this series! I can't wait to read The Crow and then I'll be counting down till The Singer comes out. This is the female version of Lord of the Rings, and while it's not Tolkien, it's certainly so much better than anything else that makes that claim! The writing, the allegory, the magical world
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of the Bards and the quest the heroine faces... all hook you in. Show Less
LibraryThing member lwobbe
This second book in the Pellinor Series started out rather slow, recapping so much of the first book. It seemed like a lot of wasted type. However, when Maerad and Cadvan travel toward the far north, the Winterking's actions to thwart them provide plenty of adrenaline-pumping moments. When Maerad
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finds herself utterly alone, her ability to procede is assisted by many she doesn't realize are there to help her, including the family of her father, and Ardina. Her threefold nature - Annaren, Pilanel, Elidhu, gives her the ability to confound her enemies and gives her insight into the foibles of both the Light and the Dark. The answer given by Inka-Reb is a puzzle, but so is Maerad. When she finally finds herself in the Ice King's palace - or is it just a mountain cave - the attraction of what she feels must be her enemy generates much confusion. But our hero learns what she can at each step, and continues with her quest to right the wrongs of the past. What she must become to escape the Winterking provides insight into yet another group willing to help. Worth the time and better than most. Show Less
LibraryThing member jm4816
very nice 2nd book to the series.
Everyone should read this :)
Everyone should read this :)
LibraryThing member psychobabble4u
The beginning of this book was so slow and Maerad's narcissim and petulance were such a switch from the first book, that I almost put this one down. the plodding pace and consant self absorbed rants caused me no end of distraction. Fortunately the ending was much better as the pace picked up and
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Maerad overcame her pity party. Show Less
LibraryThing member hailelib
A continuation of The Naming. Good enough that I will continue when I can get a copy of Book Three. Maerad had further adventures in the frozen Northern lands and also grew up a bit as well as learning more about her powers and the mysterious riddle of the Treesong.
LibraryThing member platsdevil
This book is was absolutly amazing! I can barely put it down and in my opinion it is a perfect sequel to The Naming. Maerad and Cadvan are characters that you come to love. I definatly recommend it.
LibraryThing member lafon
While better in some ways than the first book, there were definitely parts that irritated the... well something out of me anyway. First was the concept of "love" in this novel. Do you seriously expect me to believe that this undefined emotion is really love? I mean what looks like desire (see However Cadvan's death and subsequent return was way too obvious. I was simply wondering when he would return. Never did it occur to me that he had really died. Also Dharin's death was incredibly easy to predict. Still and all I enjoyed the book.
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Maerad's stay with the Winterking) was called "love", the "love" between her and Cadvan was so overstated and thrust down my throat (okay, eyes/brain) until it I was sure that the were going to get married (then divorced, because they argue way too much without reason). Now personally it doesn't matter if if books have this concept or not, but it's a double-edged sword. It could be a good thing, but like all things moderation is key. This novel doesn't show any restraint at all. In terms of plot however the book delivers. Show Less
LibraryThing member devilish2
Probably more enjoyable that Book 1 ('The Naming' or 'The Gift'). Good shifts in the plot, good new characters and good new fantasy elements.
LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the second book in the Books of Pellinor series. This is a very classic feeling adventure fantasy series. While I really loved the first book, I ended up stopping this book about 70% of the way through. The story just moved way too slow.
I listened to this on audiobook and between the
In this volume Maerad and Cadvan must hunt down the Treesong before the Dark can fully fracture the kingdom. Unfortunately, the journey will be a long and arduous one and Maerad will be tested every step of the way.
Although this did still have a classic adventure fantasy feel to it, I felt like this book was much much slower than the first one. I knew it was time to stop reading it when I started dreading getting in the car to listen to it. I think this is a book that might be better to physically read, so I may pick it up again in the future in paperback form.
I did continue to enjoy the Light vs Dark theme to the story. I also enjoyed watching Maerad grow into her magical powers. However, things just happen way too slowly and it took way too long to get back to the adventuring part. By the time things started to get interesting again I found I just didn’t care.
Overall this just was not for me, it just moved too slow. I did enjoy the classic adventure fantasy feel, but the slow pace ended up making me just not care about what was going on here. This was disappointing to me because I really loved the first book in this series. I may go back and revisit this book in paper format at some point but for now I am done with this series.
I listened to this on audiobook and between the
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soothing narrator and the slow pace of the story it kept putting me to sleep. Since I normally listen to audiobooks while driving, I decided to return it to audible...didn't want to fall asleep while driving. So, while there wasn’t anything horribly wrong with the narration. it was just a bit too soothing sounding for me most of the time, I also still found the heroine’s voice to be too pinched sounding.In this volume Maerad and Cadvan must hunt down the Treesong before the Dark can fully fracture the kingdom. Unfortunately, the journey will be a long and arduous one and Maerad will be tested every step of the way.
Although this did still have a classic adventure fantasy feel to it, I felt like this book was much much slower than the first one. I knew it was time to stop reading it when I started dreading getting in the car to listen to it. I think this is a book that might be better to physically read, so I may pick it up again in the future in paperback form.
I did continue to enjoy the Light vs Dark theme to the story. I also enjoyed watching Maerad grow into her magical powers. However, things just happen way too slowly and it took way too long to get back to the adventuring part. By the time things started to get interesting again I found I just didn’t care.
Overall this just was not for me, it just moved too slow. I did enjoy the classic adventure fantasy feel, but the slow pace ended up making me just not care about what was going on here. This was disappointing to me because I really loved the first book in this series. I may go back and revisit this book in paper format at some point but for now I am done with this series.
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LibraryThing member funstm
The Books of Pellinor are a high fantasy series that is a more accessible version of Tolkein's Lord of the Rings with the same richness of imagery and world building but with straightforward names and a less complicated history. That said it could also be that The Books of Pellinor are less
The Books of Pellinor are set in the land of Edil-Amarandh - a land which has been on the precipe of danger for years - ever since Sharma, the Nameless One stole the Treesong from the Elementals (Elidhu) and broke the song. Cadvan of Lirigon is working against the dark but there's only so much he can do - until while on a mission he runs into Maerad - a slave girl who can see through his invisibility. Soon they're travelling together and finding that all is not right in the land. Then Maerad leads Cadvan to a boy named Hem and nothing is the same. Maerad and Hem have an instant connection and it's not long before Cadvan realises nothing happens without a reason and that only by working together can the light prevail.
The second book, The Riddle, picks up where the first book left off two days later. Maerad and Cadvan have fled Norloch and are on their way north to find the Treesong.
I found this one a bit slow to start with, but it picks up the pace as they progress. I enjoyed the town of Busk. The Thoroldian's were so full of life and humour and energy. It was funny how Maerad was initially shy but learnt to relax and take part in their joy. I liked Elenxi and Ankil. The scenes with Cadvan teaching Maerad to control her Elidhu powers were hilarious.“By the Light!” Cadvan jumped up and moved cautiously backward, his hands outstretched before him. “Ilader, andhaseä,” he said soothingly, and the red light dimmed in the lion’s eyes, and it yawned. “Ilader. Ilader.” The beast gradually drooped, as it was overborne with a great weariness, and then quite suddenly curled itself up like a domestic cat, nose to tail, and went to sleep. Maerad was sitting with her mouth open. “Well, that proved something, I suppose,” said Cadvan, glancing at Maerad and running his hands through his hair. “Though why I suggested a lion I’ll never know. Next time, make a rabbit. I think you had better turn it back into a rock.” “I don’t know how,” said Maerad. “What do you mean? You just turned a rock into a lion; you must be able to turn it back.”
Croggon, Alison. The Riddle: The Second Book of Pellinor (Pellinor Series 2) (p. 100). Candlewick Press. Kindle Edition. He really should've thought it through. It was a toss up between the lion and the rabbit She focused fiercely on the figure of the Hull and shut her eyes. Now. She heard a clatter of stones as Cadvan fell over, slashing wide with his sword against blank air, and she opened her eyes again. Her first thought was overwhelming relief; the pain in her belly was gone. She looked up. Cadvan had rolled as he fell, twisting like a snake to avoid any sword thrust aimed his way, and had scrambled to his feet, his sword upraised. There he had halted, his face a mask of astonishment, looking this way and that. His opponent was nowhere to be seen. Then something small hit his boots, making him step backward, and he looked down. On the ground was a furious, mangy brown rabbit with black ears. It hopped forward and sank its teeth into the ankle of his boot and tried to slash the toe with its back claws. It seemed that the Hull hadn’t quite realized that it had become a rabbit, and it still attacked with single-minded ferocity. Cadvan sheathed his sword and bent down, grabbing the struggling rabbit by its ears. He held it up and looked sardonically at Maerad, who was stumbling toward him, and then back at the rabbit. Maerad started to giggle.
Croggon, Alison. The Riddle: The Second Book of Pellinor (Pellinor Series 2) (pp. 121-122). Candlewick Press. Kindle Edition. as to which was my favourite.
Mostly though, I felt so sorry for Maerad in this one. She's had a tough life and it only seems to get tougher as she goes. Although by the end, things are looking up, her life is bleak for a long, long time.
Cadvan drove me mad at points. The whole lead up to Gwalhain Pass, I wanted to shake him. I mean honestly, she's a sixteen (maybe seventeen by now?) year old girl, who has lived her whole life as a slave. Did he really expect to understand her feelings? Or not to ever stuff up? I mean her killing the Bard was a complete accident and he acts like she murdered the Bard purposefully. Cadvan was supposed to be the freaking adult and it drove me mad he just abandons her to her fate - regardless of him trying to think things through or whatever his excuse was.
I liked Mirka and the Pilanel people and I liked that Maerad got to meet some family. Although poor (cousin) Dharin. The Winterking was fearsome. But did Maerad have to lose her fingers getting there? I mean jeez, hasn't she suffered enough?
I was sad not to see Hem in this one but I can't wait to pick up his journey in the next book. This one though is a well written, strong addition to the series, 5 stars.
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intimidating because they're not as famous or as widely read as Tolkein. The Books of Pellinor are set in the land of Edil-Amarandh - a land which has been on the precipe of danger for years - ever since Sharma, the Nameless One stole the Treesong from the Elementals (Elidhu) and broke the song. Cadvan of Lirigon is working against the dark but there's only so much he can do - until while on a mission he runs into Maerad - a slave girl who can see through his invisibility. Soon they're travelling together and finding that all is not right in the land. Then Maerad leads Cadvan to a boy named Hem and nothing is the same. Maerad and Hem have an instant connection and it's not long before Cadvan realises nothing happens without a reason and that only by working together can the light prevail.
The second book, The Riddle, picks up where the first book left off two days later. Maerad and Cadvan have fled Norloch and are on their way north to find the Treesong.
I found this one a bit slow to start with, but it picks up the pace as they progress. I enjoyed the town of Busk. The Thoroldian's were so full of life and humour and energy. It was funny how Maerad was initially shy but learnt to relax and take part in their joy. I liked Elenxi and Ankil. The scenes with Cadvan teaching Maerad to control her Elidhu powers were hilarious.
Croggon, Alison. The Riddle: The Second Book of Pellinor (Pellinor Series 2) (p. 100). Candlewick Press. Kindle Edition.
Croggon, Alison. The Riddle: The Second Book of Pellinor (Pellinor Series 2) (pp. 121-122). Candlewick Press. Kindle Edition.
Mostly though, I felt so sorry for Maerad in this one. She's had a tough life and it only seems to get tougher as she goes. Although by the end, things are looking up, her life is bleak for a long, long time.
Cadvan drove me mad at points. The whole lead up to Gwalhain Pass, I wanted to shake him.
I liked Mirka and the Pilanel people and I liked that Maerad got to meet some family.
I was sad not to see Hem in this one but I can't wait to pick up his journey in the next book. This one though is a well written, strong addition to the series, 5 stars.
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Subjects
Original publication date
2004
Physical description
512 p.; 5.93 inches
ISBN
0763630152 / 9780763630157
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