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Overview
One magical sword. Two rivals.
Wind-voice the half-dove, formerly enslaved, is now free, and Maldeor, the one-winged archaeopteryx, hungers for supreme power. The adversaries will both embark on their own epic quest to find the sword that will determine the future of birdkind. An exciting prequel to the New York Times bestseller Swordbird.
Synopsis
One magical sword. Two rivals.
Wind-voice the half-dove, formerly enslaved, is now free, and Maldeor, the one-winged archaeopteryx, hungers for supreme power. The adversaries will both embark on their own epic quest to find the sword that will determine the future of birdkind. An exciting prequel to the New York Times bestseller Swordbird.
VOYA
Long ago, the Great Spirit of the birds, saddened because of incessant war and strife, cried tears that transformed into gemstones when they fell from the heavens. In the land below, an avian blacksmith fashioned a sword with a sacred gemstone at its hilt. The communities that received the jewels guarded them as treasure until the power-hungry archaeopteryxes began to steal them. In a shadowy realm, an exiled bird forged a bond with a ghostly menace in exchange for a chance to regain his glory and ruin his opponents. Now prophecies abound that on Hero's Day, a messianic bird will appear to wield the sword and save them all. Wind-voice the slave bands together with his friends to find the remaining stones. In an epic struggle for the treasure, friends become enemies, enemies forge alliances, and every bird stands for himself. Sadly this sequel to Fan's avian saga Swordbird (HarperCollins, 2007/VOYA April 2007) will not ensnare new aficionados to the talking-animal genre. The book has similar elements that made its predecessor successful-a dictatorial overlord and a humble hero accompanied by wacky, intrepid friends. Yet the book combines the overabundance of winsome characters with an overwrought narrative and flimsy allegory. It verges on hagiography to the extent that Wind-voice is tiresomely good, noble, and boring. Dastardly opponent Maldeor, while not victorious, is at least interesting. Short chapters and copious illustrations make this one a speedy, although uncompelling, read. Save some money unless fans request this one. Reviewer: Angelica Delgado
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
This high-flying prequel to Swordbird unfolds the story of how Wind-voice found his magical sword. Sword Quest features numerous characters, both new and familiar.Children's Literature -
Birds form the unusual topic of this quest novel, which begins with a prophecy that foretells the coming of a great hero. The archaeopteryxes' dark empire is growing, and they have turned even the strongest species of birds, such as the crows, into slaves. 013-Unidentified, a strange white bird, is held in their captivity at the start of the book. As he struggles to free a fellow prisoner, he suddenly recalls the name his mother gave him, Wind-Voice. He escapes and grows strong again, reclaiming his true identity as Wind-Voice. Throughout the novel, he journeys across the land to stop the evil Maldeor from reaching the Hero's Sword. This is a novel about recognizing the hero within and understanding what is truly important in life—such as family, friends, and peace, rather than power or treasure. Yi Fan's writing is outstanding given her young age. I also loved Rioux's exceptional pencil-drawn illustrations, which bring charming life to the characters. Together, they make this book an entertaining flight of the imagination. Reviewer: Laura RuttigVOYA -
Long ago, the Great Spirit of the birds, saddened because of incessant war and strife, cried tears that transformed into gemstones when they fell from the heavens. In the land below, an avian blacksmith fashioned a sword with a sacred gemstone at its hilt. The communities that received the jewels guarded them as treasure until the power-hungry archaeopteryxes began to steal them. In a shadowy realm, an exiled bird forged a bond with a ghostly menace in exchange for a chance to regain his glory and ruin his opponents. Now prophecies abound that on Hero's Day, a messianic bird will appear to wield the sword and save them all. Wind-voice the slave bands together with his friends to find the remaining stones. In an epic struggle for the treasure, friends become enemies, enemies forge alliances, and every bird stands for himself. Sadly this sequel to Fan's avian saga Swordbird (HarperCollins, 2007/VOYA April 2007) will not ensnare new aficionados to the talking-animal genre. The book has similar elements that made its predecessor successful-a dictatorial overlord and a humble hero accompanied by wacky, intrepid friends. Yet the book combines the overabundance of winsome characters with an overwrought narrative and flimsy allegory. It verges on hagiography to the extent that Wind-voice is tiresomely good, noble, and boring. Dastardly opponent Maldeor, while not victorious, is at least interesting. Short chapters and copious illustrations make this one a speedy, although uncompelling, read. Save some money unless fans request this one. Reviewer: Angelica DelgadoSchool Library Journal
Gr 3-7
In this prequel (HarperCollins, 2008) to Swordbird (HarperCollins, 2007), Nancy Yi Fan reveals the origin of the legendary bird that serves as savior to the world of birds. Although the moral values imbedded in the story are sometimes handled in a heavy-handed and didactic style, Yi Fan manages to weave a fascinating story about four birds on a quest to locate a magical sword. On their journey, they gain insight into their own strengths and frailties. While the novel is fascinating, the audio version is a disappointment. Janellen Steininger, the narrator, does not have the vocal range to adequately portray the multitude of characters in the story. Except for Maldeor, the evil one-winged archaeopteryx, all the voices sound essentially the same. As a result, the text sounds stilted and juvenile. There is the additional problem of the lack of background music for the songs of the birds. For libraries where the first book is popular, purchase the print version only.-Connie M. Pierce, Falling Water Elementary School, Chattanooga, TN