The Shaktra

By Christopher Pike

Book Overview

Ali Warner is thirteen years old.She's already saved one world.Now she must try to save another. Ali recently discovered that she is not an ordinary teenager but actually Queen of the Fairies. Reclaiming some of her magical abilities, she has taken possession of a mystical talisman whose powers she has barely begun to understand. She has saved the Earth from an invasion by elves and other creatures from the elemental world that lies parallel to our own.Now Ali searches for her missing mother in the elemental world, accompanied by a troll, a leprechaun, and Ra, a mysterious African teen whom she met on the icy slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Ali feels a strange connection to the young man, but does not understand why. They grew up separated by half a world. Attacked by nightmarish creatures, a wounded Ali and her friends are rescued by Drash, a young dragon with an inferiority complex. From Drash, Ali learns that the elemental world is on the verge of destruction at the hands of a sinister being known only as the Shaktra.Meanwhile, on Earth, Ali's friends Steve and Cindy investigate the beautiful and bewitching Sheri Smith, who is somehow connected to the Shaktra. Too late, Steve and Cindy discover that she is not human at all . . . .In a secret ice cavern hidden on a massive island that floats through the elemental heavens, Ali discovers the true relationship between humanity and the elementals--and the hideous nature of the enemy she must face. Ali Warner's quest will not be complete until either she or the Shaktra is dead.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765349612
• ISBN13: 9780765349613
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 334 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

promising a wild ride

This is where the series pick up its pace. Very exhilirating read, this one.

The Shaktra

This book is great. The whole trylogy is fantastic. It is not only a fascinating story but if you read it carefully its a deep spiritual expierence. Harry Potter is nothing against it!!!

A Fantastic Epic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shaktra is a very quick and exciting read. A roller coaster ride with no slow parts. After reading Alosha, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and to start it. Happily for me, the novel Shaktra was even better than Alosha! The characters and story lines comfortably fit together (again) and one comes away with a great action story with story lines and emotions greatly deeper still. My kid also likes the story, and asks me every day to tell them "What happened next"? The development of the main character Ali and the supporting characters was a pleasure to follow and the many surprises in the story lines were just as plentiful as in Alosha. The symbolic dualism of the elemental world and the earth world unfolded with the characters and stories on each side of the realms. Obviously, I will be starting the Yanti soon. I hope this trilogy turns into a movie some day. It will be nice to have a fantasy action movie that actually has original story plots and life-like character developments. Hollywood, can you hear me? Big money here! All ages will love the story. This was not a comic book story at all. It was way more intriguing, complex, deep, mature, and polished. Do yourself a big favor and read it too. Just make sure the house chores are done before you start it.

Great Sequel

The Shaktra was a great sequel to Alosha. The first book took awhile to warm up to, but one Pike gets started, he's on fire. The book was hard to put down! Had to keep reading until I reached the end! Great twists and turns and interesting dual story lines. Was glad I had The Yanti to keep the reading going! Would definitely recommend to any Christopher Pike Fan. He develops his own mythology that only he can pull off.

Satisfying

Being a long time fan of the author, and not being hugely impressed with Alosha, I went into The Shaktra with mixed feelings but within the first chapter any hesitation or worry, was gone. This novel hooks the reader from the first couple pages and had me emmersed in the story for the next few days. To call this trilogy fantasy is belittling. The Shaktra merges familiar Pike themes murder, mystery, the supernatural, religion and brings in the new elements of fantasy which is something that creates a world unlike any this reader has experienced before. The ending, though quick, leaves you wanting more and I have no doubt that this novel will big a big seller. I would, however, not recommend it to young children as this particular novel, comparred to Alosha, is more violent and complex.