Product Description

Customer Reviews (25)

Great series to follow!!!
if this is not the end of the series then when will the others be released???i belong to an EH fanclub and no one has been able to get a word about if they will continue! her website has not been updated in a long time - IF it is still available!if someone has other info please post it here!

i stumbled across "rhapsody" and was thrilled to find that it was a series of books! i LOVE LOVE LOVE them all!

TIA

Not the end of the series!
I thought this book was the rfinal in the series, I thought the series was two trilogies.

Just wanted to point that out in case anyone made the same mistake as me.

I don't understand however, why this series needs to be longer than six books. They could so very easily have been edited down and been made much better books. I can't help but skim over lots of the boring bits, something I almost never do in books.

The series feels drawn out and aimless, which is such a shame as the first book was so good. I hope the next book that comes out comes out soon, and gets to the point and ends the series well.

Amazing as usual!!!!
As usual Elizabeth Haydon has amazed and spell bound me. I absolutely love every book I have read by her and this is no exception. She truly makes me love her characters. This is very rare for me. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Disappointing book in a great series
I made the mistake of going back and reading all the previous books in the series in anticipation of this one coming out.When I finally started to read this book I couldn't even finish it.I was bored out of my mind of all the review of the books I'd just read over.I guess all that review material could be necessary after the long wait between books but for me it was just too much.

It's very rare for me not to finish a book, and I fully intent to finish this one at some point. I'll probably just wait until the series is over.I saw other reviews mention that this was a lot of set up for the sequels and decided not to force myself through this one until the sequels were done.

All that being said, I really love this series in general.The first three were by far my favorite, but I thought the 4th and 5th were good too.I really hope that the last books pick up again.I think I'll be waiting for reviews on future books to make sure it's worth it instead of pre-ordering which I typically do for the series I'm reading.

Worth the price of a paperback but glad I didn't pay more...
I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series and hoping that something will HAPPEN in that book.This one was worse than the worst of Jordan's as far as nothing happening and instead having the introduction of a billion new and (hopefully) extraneous characters and plotlines.I got to where I skipped over chapters because I just didn't care what was going on with yet another new group of characters and was hoping to find out something about our core group.I'm glad to have read the book because, well, I enjoy the series, but it seems to me this book was published too soon with not enough meat to the story. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (22)

The Calm Before the Storm...
Elegy for a Lost Star is, perhaps, one of the most gripping and breathe-taking book of the series. Once again, we have Achmed and Grunthor coming closer and closer to completing Ylorc, and Rhapsody being pregnant with Meridion. Ashe, Anborn, Gwydion and Llauron are there as well in all there glory. And Anwyn just won't die...
This book caused me to double-take on my favorite character, Achmed The Assassin King of Ylorc. He may seem like he does some pretty rotten things for selfish reasons (so what else is new?) but his intentions are good. And we are once again reminded that Achmed knows a heck-of-a-lot about the world and it's mysteries, which Rhapsody isn't as All-Knowing as we sometimes are lead to believe. His obsession to build the Lightcatcher threatens his friendship with Rhapsody, but like I said above, Rhapsody fools herself and makes everything worse.
Talquist is stirring evil and pain, molding holy living stone into a Titan-being of the former son of Micheal, The Waste of Death/Breathe, Faron. While I read more and more about Talquist, he held a surprising resemblance to the former Master of The Brother, Tsoltan the F'Dor, as odd as that might sound to some. But while Talquist is a former Merchant who has risen to power with the help of one of the scales of the Stolen Deck, Tsoltan had risen to power with the help of the spirit, hosting demons F'Dor. With this resemblence, and war coming on it's way, dejavu is likely as the Wrym Lands are threaten with war by Talquist as Serendair was with Tsoltan.
Anwyn is on a rampage, emerging from the Hintervoid, destryoing all in her path to hunt down the Lady Cymrian, Rhapsody. While Rhapsody goes through her pregnancy with the help of Achmed, Krinsel, Ashe and Elynsynos, Anwyn is ever-searching for the Lirin Namer. When Anwyn does catch-up with her, it will take Achmed, Elynsynos and Llauron to stop her, when both Achmed, Rhapsody and Meridion are trapped within an ended Wyrm...
Elegy for a Lost Star is a fantastic book. A nice installment to the World Wide Bestselling series The Symphony of Ages. While most series becomes dull and boring after a while (like Dragonlance by Weis and Hickman was for me), and lost there former shine, I believe EFALS carries on Mrs. Haydon's masterpiece quite nicely. The book still causes me to feel for the characters, laugh, smile and cry when other books can't make me beat an eyelash. So if you haven't read past Requiem for the Sun, pick-up Elegy for a Lost Star, one of the grandest fantasy books to be written to date. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

This series might have a future . . .
I really like Haydon's prose, but sometimes get annoyed with the angst, insecurity, and whiningof many of the characters.That being set I have stuck with the series for two or three characters that I love and cannot wait to read about.However, Elegy For A Lost Star reminded me of why I liked the original book in this series.I'm sure Haydon has some more great story in her and maybe one day they'll actually save the world.

disapointed
the whole book was people talking.Nothing really happend. I also dislike how Ashe is never there when everything goes wrong with Rhapsody.I also do not understand what the point of Anwyn was. She was like a page filler.

Dirge for a Rushed Tale
Fair warning: I will discuss some events in reasonable detail. If you dislike reviews that provide relative descriptive about events that take place in a book, please kindly scroll down.

Elegy for a Lost Star is the fifth book in Elizabeth Haydon's "Symphony of the Ages" series, which began with a core trilogy (Prophecy, Rhapsody and Destiny), then added on Requiem for the Sun, Elegy and forthcoming Assassin King (due in 2007, and that can't get here soon enough!). If you haven't previously read the first books, I cannot stress the importance of doing so. Some series you can jump into at any central point and pick up the thread; this is definitely not one of those. While Ms. Haydon goes over the basic sketch of history that brings the reader to the present through the chronicles of the three main characters, Rhapsody, Achmed and Grunthor, you owe it to yourself to immerse in the world.

I finished Elegy for a Lost Star after reading Requiem for a Lost Sun and revisiting the core trilogy the day or two before. Therefore, all the events sparkled fresh in my mind as I transitioned from one book to the next. While I found the core trilogy engrossing and impossible to put down, the speed slowed slightly through Requiem as I appreciated the detail more than anything else. However, the vagaries of Rhapsody being trapped in a sea cave became a bit wearing. Elegy's slim size, especially compared to the 800-plus pages of its predecessors, worried me a bit.

My initial judgment on Elegy is that it is a condensed novel, and while keeping the high standard of Ms. Haydon's writing skills, it lacks a certain sparkle. The plot wandered at points, picking up different story threads and weaving them in for a time, then discarding them again. Case in point: the hodgepodge use of Anwyn, the oracle of the past and now wholly a dragon, and Llauron, Rhapsody's father-in-law and also a dragon whose transformation completed three years earlier. From the cover, an informed reader clearly discerns Anwyn and Llauron looming over Rhapsody and her baby, Meridion. It should come as no surprise the dragon finally enter the limelight of the story. Unfortunately, they don't enjoy centerstage quite so fully as they should.

Anwyn's awakening jerks into the machinations of Talquisst, the highly unsavory regent for the troubled, divided nation of Sorbold (incidentally Ylorc and Tyrian's uneasy neighbour). The transition comes roughly and left me rather in the lurch, trying to figure out what happened with Anwyn's current struggles to regain her memory and exact her revenge on Rhapsody. Usually Ms. Haydon executes these different shifts in the storyline with a deft touch, but Elegy's movements lacked that particular elegance.

Another concern that dropped my initial rating from four stars to three lies in her treatment of the dragons. While we get background information through Elynsynos about how wyrmkin interact with their parents, and the sacrifice of the eldest dragon to seal the vault of Living Earth that keep the F'dor imprisoned in the heart of the earth, we lack more important details... Notably, Llauron's involvement with protecting Rhapsody, newborn Meridion, and her friends against his rampaging, furious mother. It feels as though Llauron suddenly manifests (no pun intended) in the story at some point, flits out of existence, then shows up when it matters most again. This form of deus ex machina disappoints me because Llauron's uneasy relationship with Rhapsody, Ashe, Anborn, and Achmed certainly changed after becoming a dragon and the first Cymrian Council meeting. The story covers very little of this in Elegy, beyond exchanging annoyed words with Ashe and Achmed's wry, superb brand of blunt-spoken displeasure.

Instead, we wander along between Sorbold's decline spiced up with scenes with Constantin, the Patriarch (and a new appreciation for the Chain of Prayer), the ongoing despair of Faron after washing ashore and ending up with a carnival of monstrosities, a sort of fantasy horror show (bearded lady, duck-footed performers, and other misfits apply here!). Faron makes for an interesting enemy because you have to feel some sense of compassion for the offspring of a tortured ancient Seren and a F'dor host, a lost soul tormented from the very beginning. Against Anwyn, the foil provides an entertaining level of comparison but it doesn't reach its fullest flowering.

The scattered state of the story comes as a surprise given Elegy's overall short length. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I felt rushed in places and hopelessly without direction in others. Major milestones such as Meridion's birth came as an anticlimax and the distinct lack of Grunthor was a real shame. We at least see a good deal of Achmed, a truly excellent character in fantasy for the realism in his flawed person (versus Rhapsody's near divine perfection).

On the whole, this isn't up to the standard of Ms. Haydon's other books but I hope it will redeem itself by the segue into The Assassin King and a re-reading. The apparent shadow of doom and destruction layered over the continent by Anwyn's bloody campaign of vindiction and Talquisst's use of the deck of Sharra lacks the treatment it really deserved, but hopefully things will pan out well in the forthcoming sequel.

Getting more back in the swing!
Just a comment to P. Pollak: Definetly, definetly read the first books. And then you'd know immediately to what that 'Elegy for a Lost Star' is referenced. You'll understand SO much more. And the first three books are much, much more enjoyable.

This book was better than it's predecessor in the series. Haydon seems to get a slightly better grip on her character's personalities. It's definetly a book that's just moving you along in action until the next volume is available.Still interesting and with some surprising twists and turns. The child is born (though a few lines in that section were REALLY drama-queeny and plain annoying for a RPGer like me) and, horror of horrors, Anwyn is back. And MAD.

Again, how I lament Faron, the maligned! *poses dramatically* I am eager to see what happens to the poor... uh.. fish-living-stone-man-thing. ... Read more

Product Description
A FELLOWSHIP OF THREE

To stand against the F'dor-- an ancient, vile being intent on destroying the world-- a fellowship has been forged: Rhapsody, a Singer of great talent and beauty; Achmed, an assassin with unearthly talents; and Grunthor, a giant of jolly disposition and lethal skill with weapons.

Driven by prophetic visions, the three know that time is running short, know that they must find their elusive enemy before his darkness consumes them all. But after their final, brutal confrontation with the F'dor, their world crosses the threshold of disaster and faces utter oblivion. The action reaches a fevered pitch, achieving a crescendo of tragedy, love, and triumph of human spirit over world-shattering cataclysm.

With death at hand and the world crumbling at their feet, these three will finally discover their true ...

DESTINY
Amazon.com Review
In a book world awash in sword-slinging fantasy novels, each trying to out-Jordan the other, the arrival of yet another big new series on the scene is... no big deal. But much to the delight of readers bored to tears by doorstopper clones, Elizabeth Haydon's three-part tale is unique, thrilling, and utterly romantic from start to finish. The story of a magical singer of extraordinary power and her battle with a blood-soaked demon began in Rhapsody: Child of Blood and continued in Prophecy: Child of Earth. The trilogy's final volume, Destiny: Child of the Sky offers fantasy fans something they crave, but don't often see--a great ending.

When last we saw our lovely heroine Rhapsody and her two best friends Achmed and Grunthor, they had just rescued the Sleeping Child from the evil tendrils of the F'dor. But as they found out through the tragic loss of their young friend Jo, the three must follow the demon's trail of violence and blood, finding the children it has spawned across the land in order to track it down and destroy it once and for all. As in the previous two books, Rhapsody's love of her friends and desire to save children in danger drive her most reckless actions.

Elizabeth Haydon delivers us from the fantasy traps of never-ending plots, wooden characters, and yawn-inducing battles. She takes much of her style from romance and suspense novels, rather than historical fiction, giving her books real depth of emotion and humanity. It's true that there are spots of sentimentality that may leave some hardened adventure fans groaning, but that very thing may help explain why Haydon's books have succeeded with crossover romance readers so admirably. We can only hope she'll set her sights on another swoony adventure as soon as possible. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

I love these Books, I just cant Stand Ashe!
I really like these books alot I just stayed up all night to finish Destiny, it was a wonderful story for the most part. However I just have to say why does Rhapsody have to be in love with Ashe? He is one of the most grating asinine characters I have ever met. What did he do to deserve this paragon of perfection's love? Well the answer is based on an encounter that too place 1400 years ago when they were both teenagers he gave her a die and she gave him a button which they both carried with them until they met again, she lost her virginity to him and for the rest of her life she vows to love him and no other, this should be romantic but to me is flimsy and childish especially once I actually got to know Ashe, other than being her "Soulmate" he has done absolutely nothing to deserve her. Did he kill the Rashka? Nope. Did he kill the F'dor? Nope. Did he use her and manipulate her for the sake of his Father? Yes. It's just like Achmed said to him "You think of yourself as a Dragon, but what you are is GIANT LEECH". Amen Achmed thank god someone said it! I have just started Requiem for the Sun I don't know if the LEECH will ruin it for me or not. On a positive note I love Achmed and Anborn he is truly awesome. And Rhapsody is OK in my book too. Haydon negligent treatment of Anborn at the end made me want to never read her books again, I won't say what happens to him but it is despicable! Anyhoo it truly was a great trilogy and I hope that RFTS is just as good.

Great book
This is the completion to a good fantasy story, by Ms. Haydon.She holds the readers interest and I look forward to her future books that continue with these characters.

It is there Destiny...
The third novel of the Symphony of Ages series sweeps up into high-fly events like never before! We are transported back into Haydon's wonderful world, where Rhapsody, Achmed and Grunthor continue there quest and fulfill the Prophecy.
The time is drawing near to bring the Cymrians back together under a new leader and the destruction of the F'Dor. Rhapsody is faced with some difficult times while battling to forget Ashe so he can perhaps reclaim the leadership and glory of the Cymrians. Achmed is still as difficult to understand and deal with, and Grunthor is as jolly as ever.
The story brings us in to Achmed and Rhapsody, who set-off to capture the F'Dor spawn and ether assassinate them (as Achmed demands) or save them somehow. Rhapsody is faced with this dilemma when she decides to take them to the Rowands, ancient people that dwell in the spiritual world between life and death. Ylorc is slowly rising to it's former glory under the care of Achmed the snake and Grunthor the Sergeant Major, and things aren't looking too good.
The romance in Destiny is almost as suffocating as it was in Prophecy, but the three main characters are fleshed out well. Ashe is a key player in this book as in P, and Anwyn is becoming more and more dangerous.
Haydon doesn't leave that many questions unanswered, but Requiem for the Sun brings more into view. Achmed is still mysterious, but I think she ties up things quite nicely with Destiny's end. We learn more of Meridion, who comes into scene a couple of times. Anborn shows as well, and fulfills the mad seers Prophecy hinted at in Rhapsody.
What I liked most about Destiny was when the three faced-off against the F'Dor, one of the main points of the series. And the Cymrian council and declaration of the new Lord and Lady Cymrian. We start to see the changes that Meridion has made, and things had turned out a lot better than it did in the Old Timeline. While the Rhapsody Trilogy has come to a nice close, the series continues on to the next two, "the-between-books," of the series: Requiem for the Sun and Elegy for a Lost Star. There is one key-element that hadn't been seen through: War is coming, whether the people like it or not. As it was noted in earlier books, things were set in motion that could not be undone. Things are still uneasy among the nations, like Sorbold or Roland. The series isn't over yet, it has only begun. And while some argue that the series SHOULD had ended right there, it would be a bad ideal on Haydon's part. What many are missing is that one key-element, though the Lord and Lady Cymrian have brought the people back together, there are places that are still uneasy and itching to draw blood...

Trilogy Plus How Many More?
When I read the word, "Trilogy" it conjures up, well, THREE.In that the story is told and comes to a conclusion in Three books.Sure a story can be expounded upon after the Trilogy is done (especially if there is reader interest in the story and characters) But the Trilogy should be Done in Three books... Not the Third book ending with a blatant "To Be Continued" as this one does.That, to me, would be a Quadrupoly or a Quintupoly.And from what I'm looking at on-line, it looks like this story may end up being a Sextupoly or More.(As others have mentioned, I don't think I could stand that many books worth of the Rhapsody/Ashe romance.)
Having said That, I liked the overall story line just fine.I personally wanted to have more Achmed and Grunthor included in the second and third books.Instead their presence lessened with each subsequent book altho' they remained woven into important aspects of each story.
The romance between Rhapsody & Ashe became adolescent after a while so that aspect of the story lost my interest early in its inception.I was quite glad that they "road off in opposite directions" for the majority of this book.
I liked that it was the original three, Rhapsody, Achmed & Grunthor that took on the F'dor by themselves.
I thought that the unification of the Cymrian peoples was accomplished too easily and couldn't quite buy into it happening pretty much right off the bat.With all of the glorius detail that Ms. Hayden put into her books (and she does write with glorious detail!) I would have liked to see more detail as to Why Rhapsody was able to bring centuries of hostilities between people to an end in one day.
I go into reading books with the understanding that I might not like every aspect of a story so I do say that these books are well worth reading for fantasy fans.I May go on to read more but as of this moment I haven't ordered Book 4 (or 5) of this "Trilogy".

Destiny - Second book in Rapsody trilogy
I enjoyed this book better than the first.It had more action and the characters were doing more. ... Read more

Product Description
In Rhapsody, a fellowship was forged-- three companions who, through great adversity, became a force to be reckoned with: Rhapsody the Singer; Achmed the assassin-king; and Grunthor, the giant Sergeant-Major. Prophecy continues their powerful epic. Driven by a prophetic vision, Rhapsody races to rescue a religious leader while Achmed and Grunthor seek the F'dor-- an ancient and powerful demon. These companions may be destined to fulfill The Prophecy of the Three, but their time is running short. They must find their elusive enemy before his darkness consumes them all.
Amazon.com Review
Three cheers for Elizabeth Haydon! One great book (Rhapsody: Child of Blood) might be a fluke. But its sequel, Prophecy: Child of Earth, keeps right on developing great characters in a believable fantasy world without sacrificing the momentum of a terrific story. Best of all, Haydon promises to bring the current adventure to a conclusion in the next book, so no need to fear TNS (the never-ending saga).

Prophecy continues the stories of Rhapsody, the Namer who uses song, herb-lore, and affinities with fire and starlight to heal and protect, and her adoptive family: Achmed the Snake, an obnoxious former assassin and King of the savage Firbolg race, and Grunthor, his huge, cheerfully cannibalistic sidekick. Rhapsody travels in the company of the mysterious Ashe, who becomes much less mysterious as the story progresses. She meets a dragon, trains with a Lirin swordmistress who once carried Rhapsody's fiery sword, Daystar Clarion, and races to prevent the assassination of the Patriarch of Sepulvarta. Meanwhile, Achmed and Grunthor discover secrets of their mountain stronghold and learn more of their own powers. Together they repel renewed attacks by the F'dor, a demon seeking apocalyptic destruction. But they have not yet identified the demon's host or disarmed all of its agents, and time is running out.

Fans of epic fantasy will find Haydon a worthy successor to Tolkien, ranking with Robin Hobb and Guy Gavriel Kay. Just don't start reading too late in the day--once you've begun, you won't want to stop. --Nona Vero ... Read more

Customer Reviews (118)

Fantasy for those who don't like Fantasy
Well ok I did love Rhapsody and to a certain extent loved Prophecy. I do see the point in making Rhapsody the most beautiful woman to ever exist. Her beauty is a character all by its self and it moves the plot along, so its forgivable, her constant sachrine sweetness not so much. Achmed as usual is a delight to read about he is the perfect anti-hero. He is Rhapsody's dark half, but really to call him her other half diminishes him which I hate to do but she is suppoused to be the main character. Grunthor is lovable but I do think its a little ridiculous that we have this huge Bolg/Bergen warrior who talks like something out of Oliver Twist, after awhile it just makes me cringe. I did love this book in some ways, I was glad that Jo got killed off she wasn't really doing much for the story, all though she was givenmore flesh than all of Rhapsody's other adopted kids, ultimately she just became an impediment to Rhapsody and Ashe happiness and therefor had to die (I don't agree with this Just Saying...). I don't know things just go to smoothly for Rhapsody all the time, the way the big dragon turned out to be just a big misunderstood teddy bear who automatically adored her, and then how Olendra immediatly loved her without almost any getting to know you harshness was ridiculous, god please write a challenge for Rhapsody Sue that you could call an actual challenge PLEASE! Oh and Im sick of constantly being told about the "orginal five races spheel, its like OK we get it! Overall a good read, if you don't want realism, I would recommend these books for Achmed alone really. I am reading "Destiny" now so I will be reviewing that as well.

What happened?
I barely got through this book. I flagged numerous passages, including 60 pages straight to skip if I ever re-read the series. For 700+ pages, I saw the same amount of plot advancement as a 200 page book.

I adore the heroine with strong male support character type books. But this one just (not the first book, I quite enjoyed that one) disgusted me. I find Rhapsody utterly unlikable, for every single reason that *Slight spoiler everyone sees coming* Ashe says he loves her, I find her extremely annoying and shallow. There is very little evidence of the intelligence she is supposed to have.

I would have liked to see more Gunthor and Achmed. Those characters actually have room for development, they are not already larger than life and 'perfect'. Each time someone in the book laughs or finds endearing the fact that Rhapsody won't believe that she is so exceptionally beautiful, I have to cross out the passage and put the book down for a bit. It's not a running joke, it's absolutely ridiculous.

A great read. Very unique and entertaining.
This is truly an amazing read! I admit that the first book "Rhapsody" diddrag a little, setting up the plot-lines for the next two books, but man, does "Prophecy" deliver!

OK! So the lead character is "perfect as Marry Poppins" but so what. That flaw is more than made up for in the intricacies of the rest of the story. I am not a fan of Romance novels, but Haydon adds just the right amount of sappy, sexual angst, and yes, romance, that it makes the characters emotionally concrete.

If you despise romance, but can stomache it, this is still an amazing trilogy. The third book in the series "Destiny" will have you shouting at the top of your lungs as you await the unfolding of the many plot-twists and resolutions. She is one of the best "Storry-tellers" out there. Read it!

I also read and love Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind.

The Prophecy takes hold...
Prophecy is the second installment in the New York Times and World Wide Bestselling series The Symphony of Ages. While Rhapsody was a decent start of the series, Prophecy picks up where Rhapsody left off with a few "dreamy," scenes that reveal more of our fellow characters.
Rhapsody sets off to return a dragon claw that was found in Ylorc, while Achmed and Grunthor travel down beyond Ylorc and discover a few hidden treasures.
Ashe is flushed out more during the beginning of Prophecy, and Rhapsody is still the beautiful oblivious woman she has become after walking through the core of the earth. The two Firbolg discover a secret place filled of unfinished, magical relics and an ancient Dhracian, a guardian of the dangerous Sleeping Child (a little girl-like figure made of living stone). While Rhapsody rushes off to save a Religious leader and try to help Ashe reclaim his soul from the Rakshas. Grunthor (who is claimed to be the "key-character," of this novel, rarely shows) but he does play a big part near the stories end. Achmed is just as repulsive yet charming as ever, playing the role of annoying everyone insight and doing as he pleases.But you feel the fellowship of the three grow stronger, the stitches between them drawing together, forming a tight bond of utter friendship and loyalty.
The story unfolds quite nicely, and it has a nice, fast pace with artistic/creative writing that is pleasing to read. Haydon is such a talented writer that you can totally get engrossed in her book. The characters seem so real, it feels as if you are in the same room with them.
While a lot claim that Prophecy has no plot, or Rhapsody is an annoying "Mary Sue," these things are not exactly true. Prophecy does set it's point as trying to kill the Rakshas and set-up for the next book to come (Destiny). Rhapsody is simply trying to make-up for what she lost, and is still trying to keep her innocence. Though something's I do disagree upon. But don't let this disappoint you or chase you away from this book. Prophecy is very well-written, and once again has me grabbing for my dictionary and thesaurus. This is a fantasy novel, and come with some of the trappings of such a genre (romance, adventure, suspense, friendship, duty, good-against-evil and nice battle scenes). But The Symphony of Ages is different from regular fantasy series. It contains such elegance, and makes you feel one with the character, feel what they are feeling, and care for them. Often times most characters in fantasy series are dull, and don't capture your attention like Rhapsody, Grunthor and Achmed do.
So as many people have said before, Haydon is one of the best fantasy writers out there. And you don't want to miss her Symphony of Ages series ether. So pick up Prophecy and try it. And if you enjoyed the Symphony of Ages, try The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme.

Prophecy:Romance, Magic and Adventure does it get any better??
Romance, Magic and Adventure, does it get any better??I think not.The suspence and mystery only improve the story and the visions created by this author are magical and action packed.I truly enjoyed this book. ... Read more

Product Description
A Tale of Treachery, Love, and War

Book Four of the Symphony of Ages

Three years have passed since Rhapsody, the Lady Cymrian, helped bring peace and prosperity to the land of Roland. However, when the death of the Dowager Empress of Sorbold leaves empty the line of succession, dark clouds of war threaten the fragile Cymrian Alliance. And an old and deadly foe of Rhapsody's-presumed dead for centuries-rises up to threaten her and all she holds dear.
Amazon.com Review
Requiem for the Sun is the standalone sequel to the USA Today-bestselling Rhapsody trilogy (Rhapsody, Prophecy, and Destiny). This novel will please fans of Elizabeth Haydon'shigh-fantasy series, but it may confuse newcomers because numerous characters from the trilogy return, and most are introduced in the book's early pages.

In the peace following the events of the trilogy, the singer Rhapsody believes she and her husband, the part-dragon Lord Cymrian, can at last start a family. Meanwhile, the assassin-king Achmed seeks to rebuild Canrif, his mountain capital. Then Lord Cymrian rejects Rhapsody's heart's desire; the giant Sergeant-Major Grunthor hears the earth itself screaming; the Dowager Empress of Sorbold, a realm of deep magic, dies under suspicious circumstances; and a powerful unknown enemy, as ancient and youthful as Rhapsody, seeks stealthily to steal her for himself. --Cynthia Ward ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

avid bokk reader
I have read so many great sci fi and fantasy books over the years that it has become hard to find good ones anymore. This is the first book by this author I have read and I found it slow at first, the more I read the more I got into it. By the time I was nearing the end I was totally engrossed. I am happy to find a new author to read. I recommend this to any who enjoy fantasy.

A New Evil Arises
Rhapsody, Achmed and Grunthor are back and better than ever! With the Cymrians back under rule of the Lord and Lady, everything seems at peace in the world till a strange new enemy comes to the Wyrm Lands to threaten everything they hold dear.
Rhapsody and Ashe are living peaceful lives as husband and wife. Achmed is still working on rebuilding Ylorc and Grunthor is training the Bolg of the mountain. Yet evil rises and takes many forms as the three find themselves pushed back into danger once more. Achmed discovers precious information on an ancient device used on Serendair known as: The Lightcatcher, which becomes his obsession to build. While this device might help protect the Firbolg and the Sleeping Child, it can also do harm and awaken a deadly, ancient, "worm-like," Sleeping Child that slumbers deep below the earth.
Rhapsody becomes pregnant with Ashe's baby (the long awaited birth of the powerful time-editor/seer Meridion. Though the pregnancy threatens to end Rhapsody's life. All the while the run-down city of Yarim is crumbling into oblivion, it's people drying underneath the hot, burning sun of Sorbold and the Dowager Empress and her son have been murdered. More worse, another F'Dor has arisen to threaten Rhapsody and her unborn child.
Achmed sets-of to attend the funeral of the Empress and her son with Ashe, all the while keeping an eye out for someone who could help him create the Lightcatcher. While an evil man known as Talquist tips the great scales in his favor and he is elected as the new Emperor of Sorbold, a very real and new dangerous threat to Achmed and his kingdom of Ylorc.
A woman named Esten also comes forth with revenge when she discovers who disrupted her digging of water in Yarim, and stealing her slaves from the tunnels of Yarim. The leader of the Raven's Guild goes off to discover who unjusted and stole from her, when she fines a powerful clue: one of Achmed's cwellen disc hidden within the Theive's Market of Yarim Paar.
This book, (as middle books between trilogy's sometimes aren't) stood rightly and kept me turning the pages. I say it is as good as the book before, Destiny. While this book sets-up for the next sequel, Elegy for a Lost Star, it has a lot of new plot twist, more questions and leads us into an entirely new direction in the Symphony of Ages. What I liked most about this book was that it focuses on Anborn, one of my favorite characters of the series.
So if you liked Rhapsody, Prophecy and Destiny, you should enjoy Requiem for the Sun.

Great Read!!
Loved this book!!Recommend reading if you enjoy fantasy books.Elizabeth Haydon is my favorite fantasy author ever!!!She has written several books and they are all great!

excellent series
My sister and I shared this series together, taking turns buying the newest edition, and staying up late discussing the twists and turns in the brilliant tale. We truely enjoyed its adventure, love, and humor.

Hoping her writing finesse shines again in next book
When I read the first three books of Elizabeth Haydon's series, I was overjoyed; here was an author whose written work was absolutely impeccable, whose voice totally resonated with me, and whose development/progression of characters, scene-setting, and story lines were all exceptionally considerate of her reader. I couldn't WAIT for Requiem to come on the book store's shelves.

I was stunned when I read it. It seemed as though the book was put through the paces in rather a hurry, with only cursory attention given to editing (typos are NOT Elizabeth Haydon's style), and some of the writing seemed....well, forced. Although it was still a better book than many I've read, I expected better from this author.

I am hoping she wins me back with the next book in the series.

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (9)

Ven is growing up
I loved the second book to the Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme.The tale of adventure and magical happenings and creatures continues but one thing remains constant Ven.Ven continues on his adventures of self discovery and finally seems to come to terms with his gift of curiosity.Ven also realizes and draws upon the wisdom of those around him.He remembers wisdom shared by his mom, his dad, his best friend Char and even some of his new friends that we meet. My favorite thing that Ven writes is that each person has the chance to be what life decides for him, or to make life what he decides it will be.Ven is growing up.He even begins to grow his beard.

My only disappointment with this book was knowing before beginning the book that Ven was in the company of the Queen of Thieves' daughter.I would have preferred not knowing that until it is revealed in the story line. The knowledge kept some of the mystery from developing about the characters that were introduced.

Inside the Gated City
The Thief Queen's Daughter (2007) is the second fantasy novel in The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme, following The Floating Island.In the previous volume, Ven dug up a Rover box and Ida repaired its lid.Then they reburied the box.Mr. Whiting got in trouble with the King for his actions and lies.

In this novel, Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme is a Nain, a species of humanoids who dwell underground.However, Ven comes from a family that lives above ground in the city of Vaarn.But now he lives on the island of Serendair in the Crossroads Inn outside Kingston.He has recently been appointed as Royal Reporter.

King Vandemere is the human King of Serendair.Naturally, he is not the only king on the island.Other species have their own kings.He has hired Ven to go out and continue the explorations that he had to forgo when he became king.

Char is a young human who had been the cook's mate on the Serelinda.His name comes from his tendency to burn the bread.Now Char lives with Ven in the Hare Warren at the Crossroads Inn.

Clemency is a young human, a curate-in-training, and the Steward of Mouse Lodge.Clem has the ability to communicate with the Spice Folk -- who are very small invisible flying sprites -- and is the assistant pastor to these creatures.

Saeli is a Gwadd, a very small humanoid who talks with animals and has mystic powers over plants.She lives in the Mouse Lodge with Clem.

Nick is a young human, the inhouse courier, and a resident of the Hare Warren.He delivers letters and other packets for Mrs. Snodgrass.

Ida is an orphan who resides in the Mouse Lodge when she is not in jail for theft.She is a very annoying person, but has done several favors for Ven.

In this story, Ven is summoned before the King and taken to the castle in the Royal Coach.The king is not available, so Ven is sent out to the gardens to wait.There he meets the king disguised as a gardener.

King Vandemere shows Ven a secret passage within the castle and teaches him how to open the entrance.Inside, the passage terminates in a large room that contains many treasures.The king gives Ven a shining stone and suggests that he go within the Gated City in Kingston to learn the origins and powers of the stone.

Then Ven is dismissed back into the castle.After awhile, he is admitted into the throne room and told that he is fired from the job of Royal Reporter.Yet the King still thinks of him as a friend and welcomes him to stop by and visit now and then.

Ven invites his friends to go with him into the Gated City.Once a week, the Main Gate is opened for people who are wearing a Market Day token.The king has furnished some garnets to exchange for the tokens.Any surplus funds can be used for walking-around money.

Ida doesn't want to go within the Gated City, but accompanies them to town.Ven, Char, Clem, Saeli, and Nick buy their tokens and go inside the Main Gate to the Market Square.They start looking around for anything that resembles the shining stone.

Ven is drawn to the shop labeled Arms of Coates.He is familiar with coats of arms, but what does the reverse mean?They enter the premises and are met by two dogs.Naturally, Saeli gets along well with the dogs.

The proprietor introduces himself as Mynah Coates, a weapon smith.He seems friendly and even gives them a gauntlet with several hidden features.But he repeatedly tells them not to trust anyone within the Gated City, including himself.

Still, Coates shows them spots on their backs that indicate their value to the thieves.He also sends them to Madame Sharra -- a fortune teller -- to learn something about the stone.He warns them that Madame Sharra may not be found if she doesn't want to meet them.

This tale leads Ven and his friends into all kinds of troubles.First, they lose Saeli.Then they lose Coates.Ven sends Nick out to get help.Then the Main Gate is closed with them trapped inside for a week until the next Market Day.

This tale shows Ven even more aspects of magic.The next volume is The Dragon's Lair.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Haydon fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of exotic magics, curious young Nains, and unusual friendships.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Elizabeth Hayden has done it again
Wow! This new series for young adult readers had most of the staff at my elementary school lining up to read before the kids got a chance. Excellent characters, exciting plot, you find yourself wanting to know these people. Thank you! I loved Rhapsody, and this is also terrific.

Enjoyable story
My 10 year old is a good reader, he is really enjoying the stories of Ven Polypheme.I read him a chapter at bedtime, then he reads on himself.I'm going to have to go back and read what I've missed, it's very interesting.

Very enjoyable to read, once you get into it. Mild spoiler warning.
As I said, the Thief Queen's Daughter took me a little bit of time to get into, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. The characterization is lovely for the most part, especially that of Ven himself, who can sound like a 12 year old or a 50 year old, whatever your age and however way you prefer.

(He's a self-proclaimed 12 year old, but his species, the Nain--who I assume are similar to dwarves--live five times as long as humans and therefore consider 20 years old to be 5 years old, for example.)

Ven loves his mother and speaks very highly of her, even while acknowledging her legendary strictness. He has a dry sense of humor. He also has an empathetic heart, as indicated by his reaction to the title character's relationship with her mother.
The other characters traveling with Ven are indeed their ages: Ven's own age. (Now I leave you to figure it out until you go and buy the book to relieve you of the torture of not knowing. Okay, maybe not.

Above all, the story is fun to read. It has good descriptiveness, making it easy for you to visually picture where Ven and the others are and what they are doing. Not a minute goes by without something happening.

The prose is easy to read. That combined with the colorful story leads me to particularly recommend this book to those of Ven's age. Oh, not that I think people of other ages aren't allowed to enjoy it. I'm five, myself.
...In Nain years, that is. ... Read more

Product Description
The brilliant new saga is born ...

Rhapsody is a woman, a Singer of some talent, who is swept up into events of world-shattering import. On the run from an old romantic interest who won't take no for an answer, Rhapsody literally bumps into a couple of shady characters: half-breeds who come to her rescue in the nick of time. Only the rescue turns into an abduction, and Rhapsody soon finds herself dragged along on an epic voyage, one that spans centuries and ranges across a wonder-filled fantasy world-- a world so real you can hear the sweet music of Rhapsody's aubade and smell the smoldering forges deep within the Cauldron.
Amazon.com Review
Rhapsody is high fantasy, descended from Tolkien'sLord of theRings through Eddings's Belgariad and Malloreon series,complete with an elf-like people, cannibalistic giants, fire-borndemons, and dragons. Inquiring fantasy readers will wonder whether itcan live up to such distinguished predecessors. The answer isyes. Haydon's first fantasy is a palpable hit. The three protagonistsare well-realized characters whose adventures are by turns hilarious,horrific, and breathtaking. Best of all, though elements are drawnfrom familiar sources ranging from Norse myth to Mozart's The Magic Flute,Haydon's magic worldbuilding is convincing, consistent, andinteresting.

Rhapsody, a young woman trained as a Namer, canattune herself to the vibrations of all things, tap the power of truenames, and rename people, changing their basic identities. Her magiclies in music: "Music is nothing more than the maps through thevibrations that make up all the world. If you have the right map, itwill take you wherever you want to go," she tells her adoptivebrothers. They are "the Brother," a professional assassin ableto sense and track the heartbeats of all natives of the doomed Islandof Seren, their homeland, and his giant sidekick Grunthor, agreen-skinned Sergeant Major who enjoys making jokes, using edgedweapons, and honing his cannibalistic palate. Inadvertently, Rhapsodyhas renamed the Brother Achmed the Snake, breaking his enslavement toTsoltan the F'dor (a fire-born demon). Tsoltan sends minions inpursuit to rebind Achmed. The three escape into the roots of a WorldTree, Sagia, emerging transformed into another country andcentury. But have they truly escaped the F'dor's evil? And how doesall this relate to the prologue's story of Gwydion and Emily, twoyoung lovers brought together across history and then separated by themysterious Meridion?

Like most first volumes, Rhapsodycontains a lot of background information and foreshadowing, thoughHaydon ties up numerous plot lines at the end. The dislocations intime can be confusing, and some readers may find that the very 1990sdialogue clashes with the epic storytelling of the descriptivepassages. Overall, however, Rhapsody is a smashing debut thatdelivers hours of great reading and will have you impatient to readthe rest of the series. --Nona Vero ... Read more

Customer Reviews (367)

Vivid World Falls Victim to Mary Sue
In this book, Ms. Haydon has created a vivid yet believable world full of bustling cities, intriguing people, and a satisfying history and back story. Unfortunately, the magic of the world she has created is dimmed by the main character, who follows in the footsteps of any fanfiction Mary Sue. With incomparable beauty, unrivaled power, absolute humility, and the charming flaw of having too big a heart, Rhapsody is frustratingly too good to be true. I often found myself irritated by her unrealistic personality. Her utter perfection, and the other characters' reactions to it, sometimes makes the book read like a silly romance novel. That being said, the other main characters of the book are much better developed and provide some needed depth and comic relief.
Overall, I would only recommend this book to someone who has time to kill and nothing else to read, or to a fan of simple romance novels. While the setting of this book is fantastic, the main character's bad case of Mary Sue-itis can make the book a dissatisfying read for anyone else.

Disorganized but potential
I stumbled onto this book and figured, since it won an award(s) it should be pretty good.The premise is interesting, and the author writes very well.

The problem for me, was the way the story was told. There are really good and interesting sections, but the author invariably veers off into some obscure info or history lesson, for pages and pages, and just when I'm ready to give up, it starts to get interesting again.I thought it was just a one time deal, well, no a two time deal, well no, it actually goes on and on, that pattern, where she sucks you in and then spits you out.It feels very discordant and unrelated and caused me to just barely stumble to the end.

The other problem is the characters and their development.Very poor, childlike development.Nothing much happens and they are all blandly polite to each other, as well as other people they meet on the road.There is no psychological depth to any of them (though she tried).Just the same interactions over and over.

The whole transformation scene in the bowels of the Earth was a bit much and silly. Rhapsody becomes supremely beautiful but is (of course), unaware of it, (tiresome and contrived), the others "suddenly" get new powers that are also very silly, shallow and not really thought out.More discordance. Made me grit my teeth.

It stinks when you read a great series and it ends, and then go looking for another one, and stumble on this type of a bummer read.Too bad.I don't know where she got her ideas for the changes and the insertion of the long history lessons, but it just doesn't pan out.If someone is advising her, they need to stop that.Too bad.Has lots of potential!

Breath of fresh air
Elizabeth Haydon's first book in the Symphony of Ages, Rhapsody, is amazing. With a new and interesting way of doing magic to the great cast of characters, this book will not dissapoint.

Kindle version not worth the money
Don't bother buying the kindle version of this book, I don't think an editor even glanced at it and the typos, errors, mistypes, punctuation, and other mistakes made some sections simply unreadable. Due to the very poor job done on the first book, I'm taking a pass on the others.

Made me grit my teeth.
I can't believe this book has gotten so many 5 star reviews!The characters, or actually just Rhapsody, made me grit my teeth throughout the whole book.Just really one thing in particular, too.In the beginning of the book she is so beautiful that men lusted after her like crazy - and that was all right. But then she undergoes a magical transformation that makes her even MORE beautiful.Everyone from young boys to old priests lust after her uncontrollably, and when she rides through a town, hundreds of people follow her out because she is just THAT pretty. And she doesn't have ANY character flaws! Every bad thing she has ever done has been done for good reason, because she was forced into it. She even adopts some needy children in one of the towns she rides through, and writes to them faithfully as she continues her journey. She is so flawless - in looks as well as personality - that she is completely and utterly unrelatable! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

A Merrow On Land
The Dragon's Lair (2008) is the third Fantasy novel in the Ven Polypheme series, following The Thief Queen's Daughter.In the previous volume, Ven and his friends escaped the Thief Queen and the Raven Guild by climbing down into a well.There the Rat King showed them an underground world and then a way out.

Ven and friends returned to the Crossroads Inn and were welcomed by Mrs. Snodgrass with food and chores.Then Ven reported to the High King and finally understood the tale of the light amidst the dark.He also found that he had grown another hair in this beard.

In this novel, Ven Polypheme is a Nain, a short person with hairy feet.His family has been living on the surface for three generations, but every other Nain lives underground.All Nain grow slowly and live much longer than humans.

Vandemere is a human and is the High King of Serendair.Naturally, he is not the only king on the island.Other species have their own kings.He has appointed Ven as his herald to continue the explorations that he had to forgo when he became king.

Char is a young human and Ven's best friend.He was a cook's mate on the Serelinda -- where he got his name -- but now he lives in the Hare Warren at the Crossroads Inn with Ven.

Clemency is a young human, a curate-in-training, and the Steward of Mouse Lodge.Clem has the ability to communicate with the Spice Folk -- who are very small invisible flying sprites -- and is the assistant pastor to these creatures.

Saeli is a Gwadd, a very small humanoid who talks with animals and has mystic powers over plants.She lives in the Mouse Lodge with Clem.

Ida is the Thief Queen's daughter.She resides in the Mouse Lodge when she is not in jail for theft.She is a very annoying person, but has done many favors for Ven.

Tuck is a Lirin and the King's chief forester.He was responsible for planting the topiary hedges on the castle grounds.

Amariel is a merrow, who saved Ven from the shipwreck.She followed him to Serendair and they talk from time to time.

In this story, the High King comes to visit the Crossroad Inn to tell Ven and his friends to leave very soon.The Thief Queen is trying to break out of the Gated City to find them.Moreover, the High King also has an errand for Ven.

Ven goes to town with Tuck to talk Amariel into changing into her land form and coming with them.She removes her lacy red cap and hands it to Ven.Then she begins to change.

Then they walk back to town and look for Tuck.Ven is distracted by Madame Sharra and Amariel wanders off.Madame Sharra gives Ven an oval stone to take with him and then he learns that Amariel is gone.

Van finally finds Amariel and takes her to the wagon.As Tuck drives out of town, the scale explodes with color from the rising sun.Tuck looks at the stone and says that it is Black Ivory.Then Ven examines it and discovers a dragon scale contained within.

On the way to the Crossroads Inn, Amariel asks questions about things that she sees on the way.She had been born in the sea and had never before been on the land, so everything is new and different.

At the Inn, Char is outside waiting for Ven to return.Ven introduces him to Amariel, but he doesn't tell Char that she is a merrow.He does the same for Saeli, Ida, and Clem.That secret is not his to divulge, but it causes many problems with his friends.

As they are leaving the Inn, twenty raven appear and start attacking Ven and his friends.They grab Saeli and try to carry her away, but Ven and Clem catch her hands.Another slashes Char across the head.

Tuck shoots most of them with his crossbow, but one raven gets away.The albatross chases it and herds it back to the wagon.Tuck shoots it and then they flee eastward toward the Great River.

This tale takes Ven and his friends across into strange territory, where they meet new and unusual people.Ven even finds other Nain and ventures into their caverns.Then they find the dragon.

This story leads them into more adventures.The next volume in this series is Tree of Water.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Haydon fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high adventure, fantastic creatures, and strained friendship.If anyone has not previously read this series, the initial volume is The Floating Island.

-Arthur W. Jordin

The Dragon's Lair ( The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme )
I truly loved this series, it is well written. The characters are well developed, you really get to know them and feel for them through story. Ven and his gangs journey together is fun and exciting. They get into quite a predicament as they try to solve the mysteries the King sends them on. It gets very intense ,couldn't stop reading. Haydon's story telling is wonderful ,I can't wait to read the next.

Wonderful book by a wonderful author
I have been a fan of Elizabeth Haydon since her first publication of the Rhapsody series and jumped on the young adult book when my daughter was 7 and son 5. This is the third book in the Ven Polypheme series and is wonderful! My children love all of the characters even after 2 years and still beg me to read these to them as often as they trade them back and forth across the hall! Also, these are AR books for those who have students in those programs. Haydon also provides thought provoking questions at the end of all 3 novels and questions on comprehension. I know that there is a website with a curriculum for the first novel The Floating Island that we have exhausted endlessly. WONDERFUL and we are looking forward to the next installment Tree of Water.

Fun for Young Adults (and oldies as well!)
I loved the first two, but this one is even better!

I have been a fan of EH since I read the Symphony of the Ages books, and thought I would try 'The Floating Island' on a whim to read to my 9 year old.We did and he loved it and so did I.Ven's struggles with events, with his friends, and with his enemies make for great dinner table (or School Room) discussions.She even has suggested topics for discussion in the back of all three.

These are fun, fast moving books.They can be read individually, but it is wonderful to read together - many events are inter-related and build on each other.Fun to read aloud and very entertaining.

I love these books, I love this author
One of the greatest YA and adult fantasy writers out there today is Elizabeth Haydon. I fell in love with her Symphony of Ages series years ago, mostly because of the beautiful crispness of her writing and the amazing characters she portrays, with humor showing up in many unexpected places. I found these books last year and have read them with my kids. They are now a favorite family discussion.

This most recent book is a jewel, although I don't think I will ever be as fond of a book as I am of The Floating Island. In thise book we begin to see that each of these tales is like a piece of the puzzle that King Vandermeer uses to help him figure out the ways of the world. While every book's story is self contained, when strugn together they seem to be forming another tale, a riddle within a riddle. We can't wait to see what this turns out to be.

This, by the way, contains my favorite dragon character ever. I used to wonder why there were dragons on the covers of the first two books, but none in the stories. Now I get it. Highly recommended ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

The Calm Before the Storm...
Elegy for a Lost Star is, perhaps, one of the most gripping and breathe-taking book of the series. Once again, we have Achmed and Grunthor coming closer and closer to completing Ylorc, and Rhapsody being pregnant with Meridion. Ashe, Anborn, Gwydion and Llauron are there as well in all there glory. And Anwyn just won't die...
This book caused me to double-take on my favorite character, Achmed The Assassin King of Ylorc. He may seem like he does some pretty rotten things for selfish reasons (so what else is new?) but his intentions are good. And we are once again reminded that Achmed knows a heck-of-a-lot about the world and it's mysteries, which Rhapsody isn't as All-Knowing as we sometimes are lead to believe. His obsession to build the Lightcatcher threatens his friendship with Rhapsody, but like I said above, Rhapsody fools herself and makes everything worse.
Talquist is stirring evil and pain, molding holy living stone into a Titan-being of the former son of Micheal, The Waste of Death/Breathe, Faron. While I read more and more about Talquist, he held a surprising resemblance to the former Master of The Brother, Tsoltan the F'Dor, as odd as that might sound to some. But while Talquist is a former Merchant who has risen to power with the help of one of the scales of the Stolen Deck, Tsoltan had risen to power with the help of the spirit, hosting demons F'Dor. With this resemblence, and war coming on it's way, dejavu is likely as the Wrym Lands are threaten with war by Talquist as Serendair was with Tsoltan.
Anwyn is on a rampage, emerging from the Hintervoid, destryoing all in her path to hunt down the Lady Cymrian, Rhapsody. While Rhapsody goes through her pregnancy with the help of Achmed, Krinsel, Ashe and Elynsynos, Anwyn is ever-searching for the Lirin Namer. When Anwyn does catch-up with her, it will take Achmed, Elynsynos and Llauron to stop her, when both Achmed, Rhapsody and Meridion are trapped within an ended Wyrm...
Elegy for a Lost Star is a fantastic book. A nice installment to the World Wide Bestselling series The Symphony of Ages. While most series becomes dull and boring after a while (like Dragonlance by Weis and Hickman was for me), and lost there former shine, I believe EFALS carries on Mrs. Haydon's masterpiece quite nicely. The book still causes me to feel for the characters, laugh, smile and cry when other books can't make me beat an eyelash. So if you haven't read past Requiem for the Sun, pick-up Elegy for a Lost Star, one of the grandest fantasy books to be written to date. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

This series might have a future . . .
I really like Haydon's prose, but sometimes get annoyed with the angst, insecurity, and whiningof many of the characters.That being set I have stuck with the series for two or three characters that I love and cannot wait to read about.However, Elegy For A Lost Star reminded me of why I liked the original book in this series.I'm sure Haydon has some more great story in her and maybe one day they'll actually save the world.

disapointed
the whole book was people talking.Nothing really happend. I also dislike how Ashe is never there when everything goes wrong with Rhapsody.I also do not understand what the point of Anwyn was. She was like a page filler.

Dirge for a Rushed Tale
Fair warning: I will discuss some events in reasonable detail. If you dislike reviews that provide relative descriptive about events that take place in a book, please kindly scroll down.

Elegy for a Lost Star is the fifth book in Elizabeth Haydon's "Symphony of the Ages" series, which began with a core trilogy (Prophecy, Rhapsody and Destiny), then added on Requiem for the Sun, Elegy and forthcoming Assassin King (due in 2007, and that can't get here soon enough!). If you haven't previously read the first books, I cannot stress the importance of doing so. Some series you can jump into at any central point and pick up the thread; this is definitely not one of those. While Ms. Haydon goes over the basic sketch of history that brings the reader to the present through the chronicles of the three main characters, Rhapsody, Achmed and Grunthor, you owe it to yourself to immerse in the world.

I finished Elegy for a Lost Star after reading Requiem for a Lost Sun and revisiting the core trilogy the day or two before. Therefore, all the events sparkled fresh in my mind as I transitioned from one book to the next. While I found the core trilogy engrossing and impossible to put down, the speed slowed slightly through Requiem as I appreciated the detail more than anything else. However, the vagaries of Rhapsody being trapped in a sea cave became a bit wearing. Elegy's slim size, especially compared to the 800-plus pages of its predecessors, worried me a bit.

My initial judgment on Elegy is that it is a condensed novel, and while keeping the high standard of Ms. Haydon's writing skills, it lacks a certain sparkle. The plot wandered at points, picking up different story threads and weaving them in for a time, then discarding them again. Case in point: the hodgepodge use of Anwyn, the oracle of the past and now wholly a dragon, and Llauron, Rhapsody's father-in-law and also a dragon whose transformation completed three years earlier. From the cover, an informed reader clearly discerns Anwyn and Llauron looming over Rhapsody and her baby, Meridion. It should come as no surprise the dragon finally enter the limelight of the story. Unfortunately, they don't enjoy centerstage quite so fully as they should.

Anwyn's awakening jerks into the machinations of Talquisst, the highly unsavory regent for the troubled, divided nation of Sorbold (incidentally Ylorc and Tyrian's uneasy neighbour). The transition comes roughly and left me rather in the lurch, trying to figure out what happened with Anwyn's current struggles to regain her memory and exact her revenge on Rhapsody. Usually Ms. Haydon executes these different shifts in the storyline with a deft touch, but Elegy's movements lacked that particular elegance.

Another concern that dropped my initial rating from four stars to three lies in her treatment of the dragons. While we get background information through Elynsynos about how wyrmkin interact with their parents, and the sacrifice of the eldest dragon to seal the vault of Living Earth that keep the F'dor imprisoned in the heart of the earth, we lack more important details... Notably, Llauron's involvement with protecting Rhapsody, newborn Meridion, and her friends against his rampaging, furious mother. It feels as though Llauron suddenly manifests (no pun intended) in the story at some point, flits out of existence, then shows up when it matters most again. This form of deus ex machina disappoints me because Llauron's uneasy relationship with Rhapsody, Ashe, Anborn, and Achmed certainly changed after becoming a dragon and the first Cymrian Council meeting. The story covers very little of this in Elegy, beyond exchanging annoyed words with Ashe and Achmed's wry, superb brand of blunt-spoken displeasure.

Instead, we wander along between Sorbold's decline spiced up with scenes with Constantin, the Patriarch (and a new appreciation for the Chain of Prayer), the ongoing despair of Faron after washing ashore and ending up with a carnival of monstrosities, a sort of fantasy horror show (bearded lady, duck-footed performers, and other misfits apply here!). Faron makes for an interesting enemy because you have to feel some sense of compassion for the offspring of a tortured ancient Seren and a F'dor host, a lost soul tormented from the very beginning. Against Anwyn, the foil provides an entertaining level of comparison but it doesn't reach its fullest flowering.

The scattered state of the story comes as a surprise given Elegy's overall short length. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I felt rushed in places and hopelessly without direction in others. Major milestones such as Meridion's birth came as an anticlimax and the distinct lack of Grunthor was a real shame. We at least see a good deal of Achmed, a truly excellent character in fantasy for the realism in his flawed person (versus Rhapsody's near divine perfection).

On the whole, this isn't up to the standard of Ms. Haydon's other books but I hope it will redeem itself by the segue into The Assassin King and a re-reading. The apparent shadow of doom and destruction layered over the continent by Anwyn's bloody campaign of vindiction and Talquisst's use of the deck of Sharra lacks the treatment it really deserved, but hopefully things will pan out well in the forthcoming sequel.

Getting more back in the swing!
Just a comment to P. Pollak: Definetly, definetly read the first books. And then you'd know immediately to what that 'Elegy for a Lost Star' is referenced. You'll understand SO much more. And the first three books are much, much more enjoyable.

This book was better than it's predecessor in the series. Haydon seems to get a slightly better grip on her character's personalities. It's definetly a book that's just moving you along in action until the next volume is available.Still interesting and with some surprising twists and turns. The child is born (though a few lines in that section were REALLY drama-queeny and plain annoying for a RPGer like me) and, horror of horrors, Anwyn is back. And MAD.

Again, how I lament Faron, the maligned! *poses dramatically* I am eager to see what happens to the poor... uh.. fish-living-stone-man-thing. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (17)

Just the beginning of a great tale
My sons, age 9, and I chose this book as one of the three books that we are reading with their friends in a summer book club.I have been pre-reading the books that were chosen so I can help lead the discussions and I was well pleased with this book.

We chose this book as the last book for our summer reading group because I wanted to find a book that was a part of a series that may entice the kids to continue to read even when our book club was no longer meeting.I believe that this book will capture their attention and leave them wanting more.I know that it captured me.I read the second book as soon as I finished the first.

I have read other reviews posted here and I would encourage everyone to remember that this book is the first book in a trilogy.I loved the way the book begins slowly introducing the main character Ven to us and then allows us to see him grow and change.We are given the experience of really joining him as he gains his life experience through his adventures.Ven heeds the advice of his father to "remember his lessons" and learns many new ones.

This book is the beginning of self-discovery for Ven.I believe that as the kids in our summer reading group read that they will realize that it is okay not to know who you are. That life is a journey, an adventure, that you just need to keep in mind the lessons that you have learned so far as you venture into the unknown.The lessons may be words of wisdom from a parent, as it is for Ven, or it could be lessons learned in school, or life lessons learned from experience.Each person's adventure in life is different. I would love to hear these same stories from the point of view of the merrow.

I will begin the third book today and I am looking forward to seeing how all of the lines connect through to the final book.Yes, all of the books have a dragon on the cover.I am sure we will eventually meet it.I believe that we are introduced to the dragon in the second book without realizing we are meeting it.

The second book is:The Thief Queen's Daughter (The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme)

The third book is: The Dragon's Lair (The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme)

I also wanted to mention that both this book and the second have a great reader's guide that includes information, activities and discussion questions.There is even a link for free curriculum that can be adjusted to the level of student that you may be working with.

The Floating Island
This novel started out good with pirates, mermaids, and an adventurous main character, but didn't get much more fantastic than that. I expected dragons, danger and drama, the main character is in jail after all, but I got a haunted orphan house. Most of the novel is set in an inn that houses orphans, and it wasn't very enjoyable to me. I would love to continue the series to see Ven travel around the world seeing wonderful things, but I honestly expected that in this novel and didn't get it. The Floating Island is enjoyable and fun, but it could have been even more enjoyable, fun, and fantastic. A good start to a series which can only get better.

The King's Reporter
The Floating Island (2006) is the first fantasy novel in the Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme series.It is set in a world where various sapient species intermingle with each other.The Nain stay mainly in their underground caverns, but some live on the surface.

In this novel, Ven Polypheme is a Nain whose family lives above ground in the city of Vaarn. He is the youngest child and has just turned fifty, which is still young for a Nain.While larger than his brothers -- but smaller than most humans -- he doesn't yet have a beard.

Amariel is a merrow.Actually, she is a cross between an merrow and a selkie.She points out to Ven that she is definitely not a mermaid.

Captain Oliver commands the sailing ship Serelinda.He is a fair man and has earned the respect of his crew.However, they are all afraid of his wife.

Char is the cook's mate on the Serelinda.He is named for his tendency to burn the bread.

Mrs. Snodgrass is the proprietor of the Crossroads Inn.She is awarmand friendly person, but she doesn't tolerate any wrong doing.

In this story, Ven is now an adult and gets to attend the launching of a new ship constructed by his family.On his way to the dock, Ven is hit on the head by a large feather falling from an albatross.He puts it in his hat and walks down the dock to his brothers.The albatross continues to circle widely around him.

Ven now gets to draw straws to conduct the Inspection and draws the short straw.His task is to sail out with a minimum crew while each part is examined.The drawing was rigged by his brothers;since none know how to swim, they prefer to stay on dry land.Unlike his brothers, Ven knows how to swim, so he is secretly pleased at the chance.But he acts disgruntled to fool them.

While the ship is out of the harbor, fire pirates attack and destroy the sails.There are a hundred or more pirates and only five crewmen besides Ven.Still Ven manages to destroy both ships to prevent the pirates from capturing the new craft.

After the explosion, Ven awakes on a piece of the hull.He is being attended by Amariel, who strongly warns him against moving around.She keeps him awake and above water by telling him stories.After many hours, the Serelinda rescues him from the sea.

The Serelinda was attracted by the albatross circling his position.Since an albatross is good luck, the ship has veered in his direction.Amariel submerges so that the crew cannot see her.Then he is spotted and taken aboard.

Ven is welcomed aboard by Captain Oliver.After he climbs the ratlines to the crow's nest and back down, the crew accepts him as a novice sailor.Ven sleeps with Char and works with the deck crew, scrubbing and keeping the ship tidy.He earns every meal, although Ven wishes that Char would earn his nickname less often.

On the way to Kingston on Serendair -- the ship's home port -- they pass the Floating Island.Captain Oliver takes some crewmen and a passenger across to the island.Another passenger is very angry that Ven gets to go and he does not.The group ascends the mount against blowing winds and then descends into a cave leading down to a cavern.Ven gets to speak a message to his father that is conveyed away by the wind.

There is a spring within the open space, where Captain Oliver pours out some blue fluid from a crystalline flask and refills it with the spring water.Later Ven learns that the spring is full of Living Water, which has magical powers.When they return to the vessel, the angry passenger gives Ven a poisonous glare.

This tale takes Ven and Char to the Crossroads Inn, where they meet Mrs. Snodgrass.They are offered a room in the Hare Warren -- the male dormitory -- and meet the residents.Very few guests are staying in the inn due to the evil happenings near the intersection.Ven hears that something evil is buried at the crossroads.

The angry passenger turns out to be the owner of the White Fern Inn, just up the road from the Crossroads Inn.Ven has several encounters with the man and his dogs, none of which are pleasant.Indeed, one puts him in fear of his life.

This work is fairly linear, although it starts in the middle and then goes back to the beginning.It is also framed by comments from the person who translated the ancient manuscripts.The story itself is interleaved with fragments from the journals.

This first adventure is full of action and mystery.It starts with Ven being imprisoned in a dungeon and worried about losing his head.The sequel -- The Thief Queen's Daughter -- should be just as exciting.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Haydon fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of various magics, weird incidents, and curious youngsters.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Revived My Love for Fantasy
The Floating Island by Elizebeth Haydon is one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long, long time. My true love in books has been fantasy since I grew up reading the epics like Harry Potter, LOTR, Narnia, etc. Upon completing those series, I tried to find others like them... but all the fantasy novels I found were just stereotypical and unoriginal. Since I became a teen all the novels for my age group are a little too "angsty" for my taste. I often found myself slipping into the children's section to enjoy more of the types of books I did when I was younger. But there have been few fantasy novels so far that have come close to the expectations Harry Potter and Narnia set like The Floating Island. The characters were original (I especially loved Amariel the merrow. When she first showed up in the novel I expected her to start singing like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, but Amariel can't be compared to Ariel, despite their similarity in name), the plot intriguing, and the general flow of the story was very good.

Many people I talked to complained of how until the last fourth of the book there was no "direct purpose" to it, and in a way that's true, but the story Elizebeth Haydon told, from the first sighting of the Floating Island to the Haunted Crossroads, was intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages, "direct purpose" or no.

A Quite Pleasing Adventure
This book captures the magic and history that most books fail to. From the first page to the last, the suspense was compelling. I could not put the book down; it was so captivating. Elizabeth Hayden does a wonderful job of describing the characters in an appropriate manner. By the end of the book, it felt as if I knew the characters as if I had known them my whole life. This book is a fantastic adventure, and I suggest it to all ages. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (17)

Great Series
Elizabeth Haydon managed to capture my attention with these characters.I laughed out loud, cried openly and was thoroughly convinced that I was with each of these characters in every event of their lives.I recommend these books to every one and am passing them on the my 15 year old granddaughter.

Symphony of the Ages Box Set by Elizabeth Hayden
for the most part i really liked this series. i will however admit it has a tendancy to get a bit deep in the romance.overall though a good story.

The Best Fantasy Series since The Lord of the Rings!
Nothing has captivated me since I picked-up Elizabeth Haydon's Prophecy in the bookstore many, many years ago. The front cover caught my attention right away, so I flipped it over, read the back and decided to give Haydon a try. It turned out that I got the wrong book, so I immediately went out and bought Rhapsody along with Destiny to finish the Rhapsody trilogy (AKA: The Symphony of Ages) and started reading Rhapsody on Christmas Eve.
The books turned out to be really good, and after reading them, falling head-over-heels with the three main characters, Rhapsody, Achmed and Grunthor I picked up other series, but have been coming back to this one ever since.
I know that a lot of people find this series a let-down, others are disgusted with this series because of its heroin, or Haydon's writing style, plus the element of romance mixed in. But don't let that fool you. I have read a LOT of fantasy series, and just about all of them have the typical trappings and plastic stables of the genre. The majority of the characters just bore me to death (such a the Shannara trilogy by Terry Brooks, which is a rip-off of J.R.R.Tolkiens Lord of the Rings) and the plots were too familiar for me to be able to continue reading.
But Elizabeth Haydon brings fresh air into a staled room. Her heroic trio are unlike anything I have ever read before and are very original. Rhapsody, a Lirin Namer who is sworn to tell the truth. Achmed, the Snake, who is the legendary Assassin from Serendair once known as The Brother. And his old companion, Grunthor, the Sergeant Major who loves singing marching cadences, "eating," Lirin and collecting weapons. The relationship between all of them is funny at times and yet very touching, and I' am so touched by how their moods can effect my own. This is a book where you "feel," for the characters, as I have explained in other reviews of this series.
But if you don't like romance, or fantasy for that matter, than don't bother with this series. But if you don't mind, than try picking up The Symphony of Ages, which is a Bestseller around the world and cherished by millions. And if you like or even love the trilogy, try picking up also the two "abridge, stand-alone," novels after the trilogy (Requiem for the Sun and Elegy for a Lost Star) as well as the final books The Assassin King (the first book of the War of the Known World trilogy), and the last two unknown titles.

Love these books!Haydon is brilliant!
I love these books.I have already read the first five and I am re-reading them now before I get the Assassin King.I have bought them for many of my friends which says a lot about how good they are.I love the characters and ideas behind them, as well as the plot development.Haydon has an incredible imagination and a beautiful way with words.These books are a wonderful way to take your mind off your life and work before bed, during study breaks or even just when you have some extra time.The further into them you get the harder they are to put down.

Symphony of Ages
This is a fantastic trilogy.It has the complexity of Lord of the Rings with the humor of Star Wars.I greatly enjoyed it. ... Read more

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The third part of the Rhapsody trilogy that introduced three of the strongest and best loved characters in fantasy of recent years. Haydon's books are also notable for her unusually strong plotting, world building and myth making. This is fantasy of the highest order and will appeal particularly to the strong female readership of such authors as Robin Hobb. ... Read more

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Although Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Benjamin Robert Haydon never met, their lively and topical conversation, initiated in 1842, continued unabated until 1845, about a year before the painter's suicide. It was a somewhat lopsided correspondence in which ninety–four letters written by Haydon, most of which have not been published before, received fewer replies from Miss Barrett, twenty–eight of which are included in this book. Judging from the contents of the letters, the epistolary friendship was truly meaningful to both. To Miss Barrett, Haydon was “my dear kind friend”; he was far more effusive, addressing her as “you Ingenious little darling invisible” and “my dearest dream & invisible intellectuality.”

In spite of Haydon's frequent pleas for a meeting, Miss Barrett never agreed to receive him. However, as the correspondence progressed, they exchanged more and more confidences and each recognized the other as a responsive and sympathetic listener. With complete candor Haydon admitted at one point that egotism was the basis of his pleasure in the correspondence; “I never ask what you are doing,” he wrote, “but take it for granted what! am doing must be delightful to you.”

Evincing warmth and poignancy, the letters range over a variety of colorful subjects covering art, literature, current events, and gossip. The Elgin Marbles and Queen Victoria are discussed, and the correspondents air opposing views on mesmerism and Napoleon versus Wellington. After a thoughtful introduction which provides background information on Miss Barrett and Haydon, Willard Pope presents the letters—carefully annotated with identifying information on people, places, and current events—in chronological order.

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This digital document, covering the life and work of Elizabeth Haydon, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 1964 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author