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153rd out of 169 books
—
74 voters
A Gathering of Gargoyles (Darkangel Trilogy #2)
Aeriel has broken the spell on the vampiric darkangel known as Irrylath and returned him to his human form, but the White Witch continues to haunt his dreams. To save her love and the world they live in, Aeriel sets off on a quest across the Sea-of-Dust, to solve a mysterious riddle and gather six magical steeds. Pursued by the White Witch and haunted by her six remaining...more
Paperback, 284 pages
Published
October 1st 2007
by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
(first published 1984)
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The first book is a trial, and the second book is a journey. What always strikes me about this installment is our heroine's transformation into...a prophet, a sorceress, a scientist, take your pick. All her seemingly magical feats are explained so easily to her (and to us) as "help from another" or "not my doing" or "not what I intended." It reminds me of becoming an adult woman--a string of events mostly outside of your control makes you become sought-after, hated, desirable, a prize to control...more
Jul 05, 2012
TheBookSmugglers
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
notable-reads-of-2012,
hidden-gems
Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers
After cutting out her own heart and giving it to the darkangel Irrylath, Aeriel has not only found a way to save her world from the clutches of the White Witch and her seven icari, but she has also found a way to save Irrylath's soul. After breaking the curse on her new bridegroom, Aeriel and Irrylath make their way to Isternes, the childhood home of Irrylath, before he was treacherously traded away to the White Witch by his nursemaid Dirna for life and p...more
After cutting out her own heart and giving it to the darkangel Irrylath, Aeriel has not only found a way to save her world from the clutches of the White Witch and her seven icari, but she has also found a way to save Irrylath's soul. After breaking the curse on her new bridegroom, Aeriel and Irrylath make their way to Isternes, the childhood home of Irrylath, before he was treacherously traded away to the White Witch by his nursemaid Dirna for life and p...more
This is the second book in the DarkAngel trilogy. If you liked the first book you will like this book. More happens in this book and it is just as creative as the first one. You definitely need to read the first book before reading this book though.
In this book Aeriel is living in the palace with her Prince, Irrylath and his family; the problem is Irrylath cannot stand to be around Aeriel because he is forced to be in love with the evil water witch. When the second part of the rime/prophecy is r...more
In this book Aeriel is living in the palace with her Prince, Irrylath and his family; the problem is Irrylath cannot stand to be around Aeriel because he is forced to be in love with the evil water witch. When the second part of the rime/prophecy is r...more
An excellent sequel to The Darkangel and a solid precursor to the third book of the trilogy. We learn some more history of Irrylath's enchantment, bring in a host of new characters, and awarded plenty of riveting plot twists along the way. We get a much broader picture of Aeriel's world in this installment, as she traverses half the nations and encounters different cultures and colorful people. I really enjoyed that aspect of it, and in some ways it had a "fuller" feel than the first book, as if...more
It seems to follow a rule: The second book in a trilogy is invariably the weakest link, usually there only to bridge the story between the first and third books. I can't say this was 100% true for A Gathering of Gargoyles but I will say, if not the story, then the characters were weaker, especially Aeriel. I don't know what happened, but somehow she became dumber during the book. Despite numerous hints, whether about something as trivial as the cloak she wore or about something as important as h...more
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Apr 06, 2008
Nicole
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
kristin, lisa
I found this book to be less interesting and enjoyable than the first and third of the trilogy, but still good. I was somewhat irked by how predictable several of the supposed "twists" were. Parts of the story lagged a bit too, and the book didn't have the same fairy tale feel as the first book. Certain parts were really neat though, like the dust shrimp and it's metamorphosis later in the story.
Continuing from the very surprising ending of the previous book, this one appears to go off in another direction entirely, but I highly recommend you stick with it. The feelings of love and loss and loneliness in this book are palpable, and the setting and plot continue their strange and mystical path. The emotions are complex, and very real, and the plot just gets more and more intriguing. This book does suffer a bit, I find the second entries in triologies to be rather difficult to read, just...more
Mar 17, 2013
Kevin Fairre
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adventure-plain-and-simple
Okay, so I really enjoyed this book. I'll admit that the first half of the book didn't really hook me. only when Aeriel crossed the Sea did it get interesting. I really liked Aerirel's character (though occasionally she would do things that didn't make sense, but I'll get to that later). It was very refreshing to have a female main character who wasn't dependent on a guy, like so many YA girls are these days. She saw the it wouldn't work out with Irrylath and later to go on her quest, though she...more
This was the 2nd in the series and my favourite. I've always enjoyed the quests against witches such as LOTR and Narnia as a kid. I still do in my early '30s. I would have loved this book dearly in my youth.
The middle of series usually are my favourite because the set-up was already done but the ride isn't over.
I enjoyed the journey Aeriel took on her quest to reunite the lons to defeat the White Witch who still has her husband ensared. Irraylath is unable to love anyone until the witch is dead....more
The middle of series usually are my favourite because the set-up was already done but the ride isn't over.
I enjoyed the journey Aeriel took on her quest to reunite the lons to defeat the White Witch who still has her husband ensared. Irraylath is unable to love anyone until the witch is dead....more
I liked this book better than the first, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book, but it seems like I might be the only reader who doesn't particularly like Aeriel. She just seems so clueless sometimes and some of the things she does make absolutely no sense. It seems like she can barely figure out anything for herself and everyone else is always having to give her the answers. I think the world and story are really interesting, though, and I like the side characters. I'll definitely ke...more
Aeriel is on another quest. She and her "husband", Irrylath, have journed to another land to meet his mother. He was stolen from her at age six by the lorelei. They are also trying to restore the lon, who is a pegasus creature, to his mortal life. It's complicated, you would have to read the book to explain it.
Aeriel realizes when she is visited by the former "brides" of her husband, when he was becoming a vampire, that she needs to leave him, and find the other lost lons. The lons are protector...more
Aeriel realizes when she is visited by the former "brides" of her husband, when he was becoming a vampire, that she needs to leave him, and find the other lost lons. The lons are protector...more
I enjoyed the second volume more than the first. The plot is allowed to stretch out more, while still staying interconnected, with no unecessary rambling.
Poor Aeriel is still in love with her prince-husband, but he cannot love her back, even though she has literally given him her heart. She really grows into her destined role of hero, though, and by the end of the book she is no longer a timid slave, but a force to be reckoned with. I like that it's not a feeling of destiny that drives her, thou...more
Poor Aeriel is still in love with her prince-husband, but he cannot love her back, even though she has literally given him her heart. She really grows into her destined role of hero, though, and by the end of the book she is no longer a timid slave, but a force to be reckoned with. I like that it's not a feeling of destiny that drives her, thou...more
The second in the 'Darkangel' trilogy, this really is where things start to get interesting. The first intallment set the scene, where-as this one runs away with it. We follow Aerial once more as she discovers that her task is not yet complete, because apparantly, freeing a Darkangel's soul isn't enough anymore. She must now set out to find the lost Lons, so that they may help her defeat the White Witch and her vampyric sons, the Icari.This is a really surreal story, but so well imagined and lay...more
Add a dash of Robin McKinley and a dollop of Tolkein to C.S. Lewis's 'Til We Have Faces, and you wind up with a fair approximation of Pierce's Darkangel trilogy. It's a series more in keeping with classic quest literature than the teen vampire novels of today, and reads all the richer for that. (Though that probably means it bores the pants off the Twilighters.) Avoid this one if you read for romance, as these lovers remain largely star-crossed (and 3/4 of the attraction seems based in Stockhol...more
I really enjoyed this second book in the Darkangel series. As in the first book, the second contains a riveting plot, superb quality of writing, and a vivid, dream-like atmosphere/setting. The only thing I didn't care for was the way some minor characters were treated by the author. They seemed shallow. In particular, one girl's main characteristic seemed to be that she loved Aeriel. There should be more than that presented in a supporting character. That being said, I truly enjoyed this book. I...more
Book 2 of this trilogy follows book 1. You definitely need to read these books in succession so as to understand the full story.
Aeriel cured Irrylath and restored his humanity, but the White Witch has other ideas. This leads Aeriel to strike out on a mission through the Sea of Dust to find an oracle that can help her do away with the White Witch and the rest of the Darkangels for good.
This book has an entirely different feel from one. If you want a lot of Irrylath, you won't get it here. He an...more
Aeriel cured Irrylath and restored his humanity, but the White Witch has other ideas. This leads Aeriel to strike out on a mission through the Sea of Dust to find an oracle that can help her do away with the White Witch and the rest of the Darkangels for good.
This book has an entirely different feel from one. If you want a lot of Irrylath, you won't get it here. He an...more
The first 100 pages are bad fantasy. It is trite with silly names and words like apricok (apricock?) that make you wince a little every time you read them. Plus, Aeriel, the main character, is one of those 'special' heroines, in the sense that everyone is always saying, 'Oh, I have never seen anyone master that as well or as quickly as you' or 'Oh, she can tame the wild beasts that everyone else is so afraid of, she must be a sorceress' etc. etc. It's very annoying, especially when people start...more
I sort of figured that this was probably one of those series where the first book is really the only story and after that the narrative just kind of limps along so you get the satisfaction of knowing about the rest of the main character's lives. It's not though. You can actually tell that this is the next chapter in the story. There is more to know and experience and there are still questions that you didn't even know you had about the first story.
More of the world opens up and we get to see ju...more
More of the world opens up and we get to see ju...more
Having rescued Irrylath and escaped to his mother's kingdom (his birth mother, not the witch who told him she was his mother), Aeriel is now stuck with a husband who won't even let her touch him and a reluctance to tell anyone the truth about where (or who) Irrylath has been for twenty-four years. When she receives the second part of Ravenna's rhyme, she sets out alone to solve it by finding and restoring the lost guardians ("lons") of the six other realms. The part that I still think is really...more
This review is for A Gathering of Gargoyles and The Pearl of the Soul of the World…
Some might think that the Darkangel Trilogy is in the paranormal genre because of the vampires, but it isn’t. It is mostly fantasy and even a little sci-fi. Pierce creates worlds, new species, and terminology.
The cover quote describes the books as Heart-warming and Heart-breaking and it truly is. Aeriel is a good heroine who follows the path of self discovery. She learns that to do great things it requires sacrif...more
Some might think that the Darkangel Trilogy is in the paranormal genre because of the vampires, but it isn’t. It is mostly fantasy and even a little sci-fi. Pierce creates worlds, new species, and terminology.
The cover quote describes the books as Heart-warming and Heart-breaking and it truly is. Aeriel is a good heroine who follows the path of self discovery. She learns that to do great things it requires sacrif...more
I loved this book. While I do wonder if I would love it as much if I read it now - as opposed to 20 odd years ago - I remember being caught up in the magic and the dreamy world created. I was not even half way through before I thought to myself- "I love this book". I will leave plot descriptions to others who are better at it but suffice to say I am a sucker for an unlikely hero achieving impossible tasks. This is a fairytale on the moon, an impossible love story and a fantabulous adventure.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is the second book in the Darkangel trilogy. Aeriel has freed her Darkangel from his curse, but the White Witch is far from defeated. Aeriel must now leave Irrylath and continue her quest to overcome the witch and the other darkangels. She has been given another riddle to solve and finds friends and enemies along the way. This is a fascinating trilogy and quite an enjoyable read. It is darker than Twilight, but without any problematic content.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
“A Gathering of Gargoyles” is the second book in the Dark Angel Trilogy. In this book Aeriel’s continues her journey to defeat the White Witch. She has met some new characters along the way and has learned more of her past.
I liked the first book more that this one but I felt that everything that happened in this book did move the story forward and sets up the story in the third book for the eventual showdown with the White Witch.
I liked the first book more that this one but I felt that everything that happened in this book did move the story forward and sets up the story in the third book for the eventual showdown with the White Witch.
It just gets better and better. Yes, sometimes you wonder why Aeriel doesn't see things that are right under her nose - but on the other hand it's kind of freeing that she can be a bit blind somtimes. Shes not perfect and that's awesome!
Plus: this is a saga. A fairytale. It's not supposed to be all happy happy joy joy, all the time.
I love it. More than I can say. I just love it so much!
Plus: this is a saga. A fairytale. It's not supposed to be all happy happy joy joy, all the time.
I love it. More than I can say. I just love it so much!
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
since now i know the terrafarming business on the moon, the time and space makes alot of sense! thus this book is much better than its predecessor! also, it has more than 5 characters and more than 2 in one scene usually so thats cheerful too! other than that, the story is a bit of a fun. the journey is interesting! all in all a pretty decent book!
This is a 4.5 -- have found myself loving these books often. I think if maybe Aeriel were a wee less dense at times (though I suppose she hasn't read any fantasy novels herself) it might be a 5 star. But I really really like it and am very glad to be reading this series. Has been a long time since I read any of her novels. Very cool original fantasy.
3½ stars.
The second book has more adventure stuff than the first one. The second half of the book is more enjoyable than the first. I like Irrylath better as a darkangel. He has more personality then. On the good side, we learn more about Aeriel's past as her journey continues to complete a new mission.
One more book to go and I'll be done with the series!
The second book has more adventure stuff than the first one. The second half of the book is more enjoyable than the first. I like Irrylath better as a darkangel. He has more personality then. On the good side, we learn more about Aeriel's past as her journey continues to complete a new mission.
One more book to go and I'll be done with the series!
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: YA fantasy/adventure - girl sails across sea of sand [s] | 10 | 61 | 07. Juni, 14:37 Uhr |
Meredith Ann Pierce is a fantasy writer and librarian. Her books deal in fantasy worlds with mythic settings and yet overturn standard expectations, frequently featuring young women who first wish only to love and be loved, yet who must face hazard and danger to save their way of life, their world, and so on, usually without being respected for their efforts until the end of the story.
More about Meredith Ann Pierce...
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“Aeriel gazed at Irrylath: husband to her, but only in name. She dared touch him only when he slept.”
—
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