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Glenraven 9780671878191 Books

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Glenraven 9780671878191 Books

While Glenraven will feel familiar to any fantasy fan, and many of the usual tropes are present, there are some interesting twists. JayJay and Sophie are two modern women who are each drawn to the title land for different reasons and who, despite their long-term friendship, are blind to each other's key problems. In becoming the heroes needed by the people of Glenraven, they learn how to cope with their own lives as well. Meanwhile they face the usual tropes: an undying tyrant using stolen magic to oppress her subjects, the sinister guide from whom they expect betrayal, the apparently chance-met stranger who--when they see him again--they are certain has betrayed them, the inhuman hunter who tracks them down, and the wizard in a hidden domain to whom they turn for aid. Yet all but one of those tropes gets turned on their heads in one way or another, while the plot wends its way to the expected conclusion: the tyrant is destroyed, broken hearts are made whole, and both of the heroic leading ladies end up with the loves of their lives (just not in the way they expected).


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Glenraven 9780671878191 Books Reviews

...What they got were Sophie, a woman who stopped living when her daughter died, and Jayjay, a woman who just left her third husband. The Machnan had poured all of their magic into creating an artifact that would call to someone who would be able to free them from Aidris Akalan, the evil Watchmistress who ate the magic of other people to stay eternally youthful and immortal. The artifact took the unlikely guise of a guidebook in a bookstore. When Jayjay picked it up, she thought it would be the perfect place to get away/hide until she could face the fact that she would be getting divorced for the third time by the time she was thirty-five years old. Sophie unexpectedly found herself wanting to go along too. But when they arrive at Glenraven, nothing is at it seems. Can they trust their tour guide or is he setting a trap so he can rob them? In trying to evade their "pursuers" they walk right into their enemies and stumble across a hidden revolution among the Alfkindir, the long-lived race that Aidris Akalan comes from. Matthiall is the leader of the revolution, but he is betrayed by one of the warrags, a wolf/dog hybrid that is unlike anything Jayjay and Sophie have seen before. As they flee Aidris' palace with Matthiall, they run into the other monsters, including the Watchers, the demons that Aidris Akalan has called forth out of the Rift to keep her immortal. When the ancient race of the Aregen get involved, things become even more complicated...
This is not really deep fantasy, but it is a very good light fantasy. The characters are well-drawn and the reader can empathize with them as they struggle to accomplish something that they didn't even know that they were supposed to accomplish. None of the creatures/people in the book are what they seem and this makes for some interesting plot twists as unexpected events are always happening. The idea of a Glenraven was quite fun as it is portrayed as another small European country that has gone overlooked for hundreds of years. Everything is still in a medieval setting and they are very insulated. This is just a fun, quick read that has a nice, happy ending. A great break from some of the heavier fantasy that is out there right now.
Glenraven (1996) is the first Fantasy novel in the Glenraven series. Jayjay is having trouble with her third marriage and Sophie is still grieving for her lost child. When Jayjay finds a Fodor guide to Glenraven, she decides to run away from her troubles and easily convinces Sophie to accompany her.

In this novel, Jay and Sophie ride their tour bikes up to a dilapidated building that looks abandoned. They are supposed to meet their tour guide here and they gingerly walk in to find him. Although not immediately apparent, the guide soon appears, changes their money, and stores their bikes in his car. They drive off through the Italian Peimonte.

Transferring to the bikes when they reach the intersection of the main highway and an ancient Roman road, Jayjay, Sophie and their guide ride through delightful mountain country. Their guide, however, does not provide a running description of the points of interest or the native plants and animals on the way. Jayjay and Sophie begin to suspect him of nefarious intentions.

After climbing an endless series of switchbacks, they reach the mouth of a tunnel through the mountain. The tunnel seems to go on forever, but they eventually reach a set of intersections and turn back and forth until reaching daylight. The guide convinces them to change into less conspicuous clothes and goes ahead to make further arrangements. Jayjay and Sophie never see him again.

This novel involves Jayjay and Sophie in a number of strange incidents. Gradually they come to realize that Glenraven has absolutely no modern conveniences. The life of the peasants is nasty, brutal and short. The nobles have indoor plumbing and central heating, but nothing more than the Romans had.

Although initially dealing with the Machnan -- ordinary looking people -- they quickly encounter the Alfkindir and the Aregen, who obviously differ from humankind. The Alfkindir also have made servants -- the kin-hera -- of various kinds. Ruling over all these peoples is Aidris Akadan, the Watchmistress; she is Kin, but preys on her own people to stay alive.

They also soon realize that magic is not a myth in Glenraven. All three of the peoples have magic of some kind, but the Machnan have been losing their magic for years. Only Yemus, First Wizard of Zearn, has any magic left. All else has been instilled into the magical guide to Glenraven.

This novel is about magic, love and fear. Too much magic is controlled by Aidris, but Glenraven has a bit more to fight the Watchmistress. Jayjay has a need to love, but is afraid to try once more. Aidris fears death, but Sophie is beginning to crave death and deny her loves. Jayjay and Sophie are the chosen heroes of Glenraven, but can only defeat Aidris by losing their fears and accepting their loves.

These authors are past mistresses of adventure and romance writing and this work is a splendid example of their skills. It might not be their best work, but it certainly maintains the reader's interest and suspense. It is well worth the time and expense.

Highly recommended for Bradley and Lisle fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of adventure, love and magic.

-Arthur W. Jordin
Have had this book in mass market print for quite a while now. Put it in my TBR pile(s), where it ended up buried while I read other books. Whole gathering more books to donate to our library I picked this one up, realized I'd never read it and that evening I sat and read. It was slow for me to get into, but I persevered...took me several evenings as I kept putting it down. There were a couple little surprises, though on the whole the story was an average fantasy read. I did like a few of the characters, but, again, some were never fully developed or most were like those you find in other stories. Don't think I want to invest in the other book in this series.
Loved it. Now I can finish the rest of my series. Happy to have found this gem.
While Glenraven will feel familiar to any fantasy fan, and many of the usual tropes are present, there are some interesting twists. JayJay and Sophie are two modern women who are each drawn to the title land for different reasons and who, despite their long-term friendship, are blind to each other's key problems. In becoming the heroes needed by the people of Glenraven, they learn how to cope with their own lives as well. Meanwhile they face the usual tropes an undying tyrant using stolen magic to oppress her subjects, the sinister guide from whom they expect betrayal, the apparently chance-met stranger who--when they see him again--they are certain has betrayed them, the inhuman hunter who tracks them down, and the wizard in a hidden domain to whom they turn for aid. Yet all but one of those tropes gets turned on their heads in one way or another, while the plot wends its way to the expected conclusion the tyrant is destroyed, broken hearts are made whole, and both of the heroic leading ladies end up with the loves of their lives (just not in the way they expected).