Julia Golding (1)Rezensionen

Everything about this book was fantastic. I can imagine my middle school self, holing up in my bedroom for hours devouring its pages. It conjures up the best of books in similar genres, the museum is just as mysterious and vast as Hogwarts. The animal companions read like the daemons in The Golden Compass. However, this story lends a credible note as it doesn’t deal with magic, but is more of an alternate reality with a dystopian twist.

Each and every character, including the furry and feathered ones, are brought to life with vivid detail. Ree, spunky and independent female lead character in a male dominated world speaks to “girl power” without the disrespect that often accompanies that attitude. Henri, the perfect level-headed complement to Ree, is intelligent and thoughtful, a voice of reason in a world of pseudo-science. The menagerie of now extinct animals gives the entire tale a humorous element, Phil the Dodo my obvious favorite. I can just imagine his playful nips and smell the down as he ruffles his feathers.

The wide range of topics touched on by this story are made age appropriate and easy to understand, while remaining true to the message. Finding a harmonious balance between science and religion is something we’re made to face early on in life, and the author is successful in finding a middle ground that is neither blasphemous or offensive. Focusing on the respecting of other’s values, the equality of intellects and abilities between men and women, and the importance of every profession, whether menial or cerebral, artistic or everyday maintenance. All points are dealt with gracefully and playfully, without malice or contempt.

Kudos to this author for creating a masterpiece of humor and depth for the middle school set. It’s an intelligent addition to a market often saturated with twaddle.

I really enjoyed this. It might not be a masterpiece but it was good fun, with lots of action, and times when Cat and her friends have to use their ingenuity to get out of a bad situation. The characters were pretty well-drawn and likeable (the ones we're supposed to like) and overall I thought it was a very good story. I look forward to reading later instalments in the series.

For some reason, I find it condescending when an author puts "dear reader" at least once in every chapter. Aside from that HUGE annoyance, it was okay.

Good middle-reader book, set in the theatre district of 18th century London.
~Stephanie

I bought this book at a library book sale.

I really enjoyed this book a great deal. It took me on an adventurous ride with both adventure and intrigue. The characters grew and matured throughout the story. While the plot was somewhat predictable, that did not detract from the experience. I will be looking for more stories from this author, including any that might continue the story of these characters.

I give this book an A-.

I would recommend this book to my friends and say that it is exciting and a very well-expressed book. 4Q4P The cover art is awesome and I'd recommend this book to middle school students. I chose to read this book because I like books about myths and legends. LoganW

Wow Amazing story we all loved this amazing book and all the other book in the Cat Royal series they had us laughting & sad some times to but mostlywe giggled.

Young Reader Reaction: Golding excels in painting scenes with vivid details and skillful word choices that reveals tone, character, and imagery very precisely. The story rotates among a few characters, each of whose distinctive personality comes through. Readers get the impression that amid the action of the main plot, there are multiple individual stories unfolding, as well. Rami and Tashi's personal struggles enhanced the story and give readers a deeper understanding of the characters that give their actions more meaningful. The few flaws focus on a rushed scene or two. Dragonfly is categorized as a fantasy, but it also has qualities for realistic fiction, with historical and cultural content. Dragonfly is probably more suited for teens, but I highly recommend this book to anyone with a soft spot for adventures with romance.

Pros: Well developed characters and cultural themes create an intriguing, meaningful novel for teens and young adults.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.

I whole-heartedly enjoy this story, and the adventures and misadventures that Cat Royal gets herself into. This one takes her into Scotland, seeking her heritage and not only has her working a run-of-the-mill job, but also includes cattle theives, tresspassing and general mayhem. Another fast-paced, interesting adventure with a good touch of humour and a very appealing narrator.

I'm testing this out, this is my first review so it might not be very good:

I love this book!! I didn't really like the religious part of it but it was still good. It was a good mix of romance, religion, and adventure.

Figured I had to tick 'fantasy' even though there aren't any fantastical elements per se - it's got a map in the front, ferchrissakes, and it's set in a world not dissimilar from ours, but seemingly stuck in a mediaeval-style sword-and-feudalism society. Which can work very well but I must say I don't entirely know why she didn't set it in yer actual proper mediaeval times - probably so that she could make the lead female character into a strong character who grows into a leadership role and, yes, gets the guy.

I was a bit weirded out by the way the Blue Crescent islands are clearly very strongly influenced by Shogunate Japan (elaborate courtesy and ritual in particular, plus the names) and yet Tashi is pale white with long flowing golden hair; beautiful in a classic English Rose way. Hmm. Either be more original in your world-building or acknowledge it without making it into a Mary-Sue-usage, please. (Contrast Tamora Pierce's classy job in this area in the Lady Knight series, where she uses Japanese culture as the strong influence on her Yamani country, but without making the Mary Sue type mistake.)

(I did enjoy reading it, though, and it's better than the mythological creatures series.)

First thing, which really does not matter at all, is that I cannot figure out why they changed the name of the book. The new name, Silver Sea, does not really have any correlation to the story. Yes, they spend a lot of time sailing on the waters, which are probably silver sometimes when the light shines off of them the right way, but there is actually a prophecy in the story referred to as 'Wolf Cry.' Pointless change is pointless.

Last year, I read my first book by Julia Golding: Dragonfly. Although the story was largely predictable, I loved it. The characters were engaging and felt like real people. (And the P&Pish nature of the romance held appeal too.) I expected this book to be much the same: predictable, but quite enjoyable and clever in spite of that.

Well, I was wrong. I totally thought I knew what was going to happen. But I was wrong. For one thing, I didn't get the super happy ending that I was expecting. Most books for teens end pretty happily, although I can name a good selection that don't, although most are somewhere in the middle of a series or a dystopia. In this instance, the sad ending does make for a more realistic story given the setting. Still, I was rooting for the characters and hoped all the good people would get to have everything they wanted and the bad people die.

Julia Golding writes strong women, although not necessarily physically strong. They are clever, resourceful and determined. Although I recommend Dragonfly more than Silver Sea, I will definitely be reading more Julia Golding and think she is a fantasy author well worth trying.½

The Glass Swallow is a companion novel to Dragonfly, which I read, and loved, a couple years ago. The main characters from Dragonfly do make a brief appearance, but are, for the most part, quite distant. Nonetheless, this was quite a satisfying companion to that fantastic book.

What makes these books, and probably the others of Julia Golding that I have yet to read, so fantastic is how strong her heroines are. Rain lacks physical strength pretty much entirely. She is diminutive, especially in this new country, and certainly would stand no chance in a fight with most anyone. However, she is still most definitely a force to be reckoned with. Her intellect, talent and stubbornness are what make her shine and make people respect her.

Also super adorable was the romance between Peri and Rain. I've always been a sucker for the romance plot line where the couple didn't like each other at first. I wonder why. (cough...Pride and Prejudice...cough.) Plus, I really liked their dynamic together, the fact that being in love doesn't mean that they don't bicker and even have serious fights. Despite this being a fantasy, the romance seems much more realistic than those in so many young adult realistic fiction novels.

Fans of Tamora Pierce and Kristin Cashore should really consider giving Julia Golding's novels a try. Her books are a bit less dramatic perhaps, but I think the core of them is similar.½

There are middle-grade books and there are middle-grade books. By which I mean the SECRET OF THE SIRENS is a book I would NOT suggest for adults to pick up as a read for themselves. It's simply not got a plot line nor characters that are going to engage our jaded 'been there, done that' tastes.

I know that I could certainly foretell what was apt to happen in the next few chapters. But then again I've been reading for decades and decades, and to a more nascent reader this fantasy is going to be just right.

That said, I wouldn't give this book more than 4-Stars as I found it slow to start. Generally written in an older style it's at a whopping AR 6.6 reading level (mid sixth-grade reading level) with 14.0 points.

And given that reading level and the fact that there is not a flow of constant action, that many readers are used to having, I'd say this book is going to appeal to younger readers who are patient and willing to let the story take it's time as it unfolds. This is a book where people stare out windows and wonder what the heck is going on.½

The book had mythical creatures bonding with humans, which was cool. I selected this book because it had to do with mythical creatures and seemed like a good book.

Sequel to 'The Diamond of Drury Lane', in which plucky orphan Cat Royal finds herself caught up in the fight against the slave trade, exiled from her home in the Theatre Royal, enrolled as a pupil at Westminster School, and, finally, forced into an uneasy alliance with her arch-enemy Billy Shepherd. A more or less rollicking adventure, although I found that, for me, the tone sat uncomfortably with the seriousness of the subject matter. Still, I doubt that would bother the target audience overmuch and, on the whole, I’d rather see children reading this series than certain other, more popular, ones.½

This book, Secret of the Sirens, is about a girl named Connie Lionheart who lives in a town called Hescombe. Connie has this special ability to communicate with animals. Connie soon finds out that she is not the only one who has a special ability. There are a few others just like her. And that group of people is part of a society that protects mythical creatures from being discovered. The only thing is that there is a powerful, evil force that is gathering creatures so they can take over the world. So it is up to Connie and the society to help the creatures so they are not exposed.

This book has so much potential. It also has mythical creatures and I think that it would really catch the children’s attention. This book has a very nice story line. This book just has so much to offer. It is just an amazing book.

Arranged marriage to seal alliances may not be the way things have traditionally been done in the Blue Crescent Islands, but if they want to stay independent, that's going to change. For Fourth Crown Princess Taoshira (Tashi), meeting the people of her bride to be is traumatic enough. But just as she's come to the bitter conclusion that her intended is a fatuous ass and the alliance will have to be made some other way, she and her husband to be are kidnapped, thrown in a tiger cage and smuggled out of the kingdom. If they're to escape and reach safety Tashi and Crown Prince Ramil of Gerfal will have to work together - and they may both just learn a few things.

This would have been a fantastic adventure story if the telling of it was a bit less wooden. I kept remembering I was reading.½

Set in 1790 London, this is narrated by young Catherine (Cat) Royal, a foundling taken in by Sheridan and reared as the errand-girl of the Drury Lane Theatre. Her already eventful life becomes more exciting still with the addition to the company of Johnny, the mysterious new Prompt; Pedro, the young African violinist; and rumours of a diamond hidden somewhere in the theatre. Outside the theatre she is mixed up in (or mixes herself up in) boxing matches, street brawls, an ill-fated love, and risky political satire. Hair's-breadth escapes, sneering villains both high and low, balloon ascents, and more.

This book is really good if you like magical creatures and surprises. ( You should read the first three books before reading this one.) Teenage Connie is still a part of the Society. The Society has two new members and they are both very unique. A fire imp companion and a chimera companion. A new member is going to come to Aunt Evelyn's family!
I really like this book because I like reading about magical animals and I also liked the first books. You really should read this!½

In this book Connie's aunt takes her to her house to live with her. she is misreble there because her aunt dosen't let her have anything to do with the Society. She also dosen't let Connie go to school or see many of her friends, she is strict and evil. Also during this the oil refinery wants to cut down the wood, which would make many creatures homeless. When Kullvero captures Col Connie sneaks out to go see his new friend Rat to see if he knows anything. When he dosen't she goes to find him and falls into a trap set by Kullvero. When Connie is captired Col escapes and goes to get help. Later Connie uses powers from a Gorgon to defeat Kullvero, but not kill him. while she did this she was up in Merlins oak which is in the woods. that gets the woods enough publicity to save it.
This book was as good as the first. I also highly recomend it and would read it over and over. I wish that I owend this book. it was my type of book, mabey not for some people but deffinitly for me. I enjoy all the mythical creatures and how they are so creatively described and written about. It is the second book in the compainions quartet. I am also going to read the last two. You would have to be an idiot not to reaad these books. READ THEM!!!!!

Secret of the sirens is the first in the compainions quartet. In the book a girl named connie comes to live with her aunt who is a little bit odd. Her aunt and many others including her friend Col are in some thing called the Society which people are told is an group for perserving the enviorment, but is actual the secrt society for compainions to mythical creatures. Connie the Society soon relizes is the Universial. A universial is compainon to all creatures were normal compaions only have one. Soon they relize that Kullvero and evil shapeshifter has persuded the sirens to help him in his quest to destroy humanity. The sirens start killing the people that work at the oil refinery because it will destroy their home, but Connie gets them to stop then is able to get the refinery to leave the Stacks(the sirens home)alone, and stop Kullvero, temporarly.
I loved this book. I was sad when it ended I wanted it to keep going good thing that there are three more books. This book was almost addicting it was hard to put down. I am so glad that I decided to read it or I would have missed out. I highly recomend it. everything is so wonderfuly written. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

Rain has an amazing ability to design stain glass. This is not allowed for a women to do so must be kept a secret. She finds herself alone in a new country Magharna where there is much unrest. Peri saves her from the bandits and together they try to bring the country back to peace.

This book is perfect. Funny and sweet and adventurous and romantic. Golding writes realistic characters and situations. Tashi and Ramil really grow up during the book. Also, Golding created 5 different nations with different beliefs, customs, and dress. I was in awe of her skill. Wonderful! This is a book I will probably buy because I already want to reread it. A nice thing about the book is that it isn't a series! There is a second one coming out (I don't know when) but it's about different characters, just set in the same world.

The journey and adventure in Dragonfly reminded me of On Fortune's Wheel by Cynthia Voigt and The Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith.