The Crystal Chalice

By Sandra Brandenburg and Debora ElizaBeth Hill

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1929374445
• ISBN13: 9781929374441
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Firemountain Pr
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.6" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Oh, the Difference a Year Can Make...

The Lost Myths Saga is back with The Crystal Chalice, and things aren't all we'd hoped they'd be. Personal problems abound with Evan, Valaura, Marshall, and Lily. They return to The Land of Lost Myths through a clever scheme of Evan's in an attempt to solve their differences, but they find that much more than a year has passed in the kingdoms and that things aren't going too well there, either. The major conflict of The Crystal Chalice is much more internal than external. The characters are faced with each other rather than a common enemy. Interpersonal relationships take centre-stage here, and the issues of trust, commitment, and self-sacrifice are the main themes of this installment. However, that doesn't mean that this volume isn't without a real-world myth turned on its head: the enemy of The Land of the Chalice is the formidable Amazzones, and they make for a nice secondary plot. An appearance by The Anjeles near the end of the book also nicely rounds out the need for action and external conflict; but mostly this a personal story. Because this is the second story in the series, it has a distinct advantage over the first book: the pacing and flow of The Crystal Chalice is much better than The Land of the Wand. While much can be said for the authors perfecting their craft, the improvements are due almost entirely to the elimination of needing to familiarize the readers with a new world. With backstories out of the way, the plot can now be told without being dragged down and the the characters are free to grow without restraint. This makes the book even more engaging than the first. As with The Land of the Wand, this installment of the series carries deeper themes: -Thanks to The Amazzones, femanism abounds, giving Valaura and Lily a chance to shine while Evan and Marshall are entertainingly in need of a hero or two. -A sub-plot involving creatures called Frost Monsters raises the question of society's comfort through the suffering of others. There is very little that The Crystal Chalice can be faulted for. It's an excellent story that's told nearly flawlessly. Some might complain that not all issues are completely resolved by the book's end, but if they had been neatly wrapped up, we wouldn't be left with an exciting glimpse of the story to come. The Land of Lost Myths continues to reveal its secrets, and The Crystal Chalice will not disappoint.