[.ca] Beyond the Valley of Thorns: The Land of Elyon Book 2 (ISBN 0439700949)

Fantasy goes Horror:
Alexa and her friends are back in this somewhat creepy sequel, and although this one has more action, the imagery is kinda gross in places. Returning to her favorite chair in the library approximately one year after the death of Warvold, Alexa reunites with an old friend and receives a letter that sends her back out into the lands beyond the wall, and into more danger. Again, she faces up to a long and perilous trek, living on dried meat, fruit and nuts, until she meets a stranger who is to guide her on her quest. Trouble is, he's got a big "C" branded on his forehead, meaning that he's been judged to be a criminal in the past. Armed with a magical stone that gives her the power to talk to the animals, the little group of unwashed and decidedly stinky humans, and the much cleaner animals and other friends travel beyond the Valley of Thorns, which is made up of deadly poisoned spikes, cross the City of Dogs with its packs of rabid canines, and sneak into the town of Castalia where stands the dreaded Dark Tower. There they face the latest in a line of evil rulers, who uses swarms of infectious bats and gross oozing ogres to do his foul bidding, but does not realize that Alexa and her friends have a plan to bring down his cruel empire. As the group of good guys gets bigger, the action steps up, and the book runs along to its "to be continued" conclusion. The religious undertones get much stronger in this one, but I liked it more than the first because of the gross-out content and constant action. Not for children who get creeped out by death and pestilence. Amanda Richards

Amazing Story:
This is book two in the Land of Elyon trilogy and the third book by Carman I have read set in Elyon. Carman creates an amazing, believable, alternate world. As I read more and more of Carman's writing the more I enjoy and appreciate his skills. Elyon is the Semetic for God or Most High. It has been used in fiction by Ted Dekker as a name for God allegorically, and for Carman it is the name of the world or land. As I progress through his books, the more similar I see that his writings are to Lewis's Narnia. As such, these are great stories for the whole family. This book takes place a year after The Dark Hills Divide. A year ago beloved leader Thomas Warvold passed away, the plan to capture Bridewell have been foiled and the walls connecting the towns of Bridewell, Ainsworth, Lathbury and Turlock have come down. Now a year later it appears Warvold had plans for Alexa Daley, and others. Alexa is delivered a letter and told she has a mission to perform and she cannot tell anyone she is leaving. She must leave another letter prepared for her father and be on her way to yet another adventure. Alexa joins forces again with Yipes the dwarf, Odessa the wolf, Squire the Hawk and Murphy the squirrel. They have been entrusted into the hands and guidance of John Christopher a former convict, who will guide them through the wild, and along the way they join forces with a Giant named Armon. They are charged with the task of sneaking into a well-guarded land, freeing a captive and overthrowing the Grindall. However, whenever great tasks are attempted, a price must be paid, and in this adventure the price will be very high. You must join Alexa and the team that has been gathered around her as she travels across the land of Elyon to fulfill the request of her beloved Warvold. But many challenges and surprises are in store for our small band of adventurers. Just a forewarning though - this book ends with a cliff-hanger, or should I say, we at the bottom of the cliff salivating for the next book! Other of Patrick Carman Books: The Dark Hills Divide - The Land of Elyon Book 1 Beyond the Valley of Thorns - The Land of Elyon Book 2 The Tenth City - The Land of Elyon Book 3 Into The Mist - The Land of Elyon Prequle Stargazer - The Land of Elyon (September 2008) The House of Power - Atherton Book 1 Rivers of Fire - Atherton, Book 2 Saving Mr Nibbles - Elliot's Park Book 1 Haunted Hike - Elliot's Park Book 1 (August 2008)