La maga delle tempeste

The Crowthistle Chronicles #3

by Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Gianluigi Zuddas (Translator)

Sono passati nove anni da quando Astariel è rimasta sola: dopo l’agguato che ha fatto sprofondare la madre in un sonno eterno, il padre Arran ha infatti abbandonato il proprio dominio alla ricerca di un antidoto per svegliare l’amata moglie Jewel. Nel frattempo Astariel è diventata un’avvenente fanciulla e ha raggiunto l’età in cui l’invulnerabilità ereditata dal nonno e l’immortalità trasmessale dal padre le permettono di impugnare Lamafulva, la leggendaria spada d’oro che, in un lontano passato, era servita per annientare le orde dei goblin. Il suo potere potrebbe essere così devastante che persino Uabhar, il crudele e spietato Re di Slievmordhu, è pronto a evocare le forze più malvagie per neutralizzare la giovane...
Intanto, sulle colline nebbiose delle regioni occidentali, cinque principi sono impegnati in una battuta di caccia, a dimostrazione di quanto siano saldi i legami d’amicizia tra i regni confinanti. Ma quei giovani non sanno di essere semplici pedine di un gioco molto pericoloso, perché qualcuno trama nell’ombra per gettare Slievmordhu nel caos. A nord, invece, un individuo misterioso sta scavando un labirinto di caverne sotterranee, spinto dalla sete di vendetta…

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Novels, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy

435 pages, Hardcover

First published November 14, 2006

About the author

Join Cecilia's blog: https://ceciliadartthornton.substack....

Cecilia Dart-Thornton became a full-time writer in 2000 after her work was 'discovered' on the Internet and published by Time Warner (New York).

She is a lifetime member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and has been a judge of the World Fantasy Awards.

Her books are published around the world and have been translated into several languages.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

THE BITTERBYNDE TRILOGY
'This series follows the journey of a mute, amnesiac foundling through a world of beauty and peril, teeming with faerie creatures.'
The Ill-Made Mute (2001)
The Lady of the Sorrows (2002)
The Battle of Evernight (2003)

THE CROWTHISTLE CHRONICLES
'A four-part epic fantasy describing the adventures that befall a cursed and gifted family.'
The Iron Tree (2004)
The Well of Tears (2005)
Weatherwitch (2006)
Fallowblade (2007)

SHORT STORIES
Long the Clouds are Over me Tonight (Published in the anthology Emerald Magic: Great Tales of Irish Fantasy; Tor Books, 2004)
The Stolen Swanmaiden (Published in Australian Women's Weekly September 2005)
The Lanes of Camberwell (Published by Harper Collins in the anthology DREAMING AGAIN, 2008)
The Enchanted (Published by Harper Collins in the anthology LEGENDS OF AUSTRALIAN FANTASY, 2010)

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than the previous 2. I feel it got more to the point so I didn't lose interest. Cecilia's descriptions are very detailed, and I find they take up more of her other books than they actual plot. This book was a better balance between plot and imagery. I did get a bit sick of the vegan speeches that seem to come up in most chapters. It feels a bit like an agenda as it goes beyond just descriptions of the character. But overall good!

[_fukurumi_ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ormai siamo a livello di autolesionismo. Ora mi spiego perché la Nord si è rifiutata di comprare i diritti e tradurre l'ultimo libro. Giustificatissimi.
Per le prime 170 pagine circa (sì, ne ho tenuto traccia) non succede NULLA. N U L L A. Tutto ciò che leggiamo non serve a niente. Niente. Voi non potete capire la frustrazione di continuare a leggere aspettando che succeda qualcosa che porti avanti la trama. Per non parlare della svolta animal/vegana che prende la protagonista. O il fatto che continui a lamentarsi di una creatura di faerie ma ogni volta che torna da lei ne è felice. Bipolarismo puro. O alcune descrizioni che vorrebbero richiamare una specie di visione cinematografica della scena e in un caso particolare finiscono per mandare a puttane la consecutio temporum. Sembra di avere davanti un novellino al suo primo romanzo.
Sorvolo sul tentato Gioco dei Troni perché è veramente ridicolo.
Daje. Il prossimo è l'ultimo. Almeno questo.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The great thing about the Crowthistle Chronicles is that each book ends on a high that makes you eager to read the next book.

The frustrating this about these books is that they are often slow and repetitive in the middle of the narrative.

However on the whole, they are enjoyable and pleasant enough!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love ridiculous amounts of detail like I do, a strong female protagonist, pagan stuff and a good plot line, this is for you.

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than the first and second but not by much.
In truth, I couldn't bring myself to finish this book and perhaps I will go back to it and change this review someday but I don't see that as likely.
The main issue I found with this novel is that I could not care less about the characters, I had no care what they did, if they lived and what their goals were.
It was difficult to get into this series to begin with as each novel has a unique set of main characters and goals with (so far) no overarching storyline other than that the characters were related. This meant that starting each book was like starting a standalone novel but without any of the thrill.
Also, I found (particularly in book two) the subtle hints of sexism extremely irritating and the characters' choices ridiculously stupid most of the time.
Perhaps these books just were not my sort of stories.

[BAGNULO MARCELLO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bel romanzo fantasy, assolutamente originale nell'ambientazione. Mi è piaciuto molto, ma mi sono reso conto che il libro in mio possesso, acquistato quasi per caso, è il terzo episodio di una saga fantasy molto apprezzata per i suoi riferimenti alla tradizione celtica. Ho cercato i primi due romanzi, ma sono riuscito a trovare solo il secondo (Il pozzo delle lacrime), non ho trovato invece il primo (L'albero di ferro). A questo punto credo di avere solo la parte centrale della saga, senza avere l'inizio e la fine. Cercherò ancora con costanza perché la vicenda è troppo appassionate per non conoscerla in maniera completa.

[Elisa M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot wasn't bad,but the protagonist was one of the most insufferable Mary Sues I've ever read. I wanted to slap her with a dead fish.

[Charmaine Ohl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as keen in this set of characters compared to Jewels story. But the ending did start to pick up again. Still wordy descriptions which bore me alot so I skim them and pick up important bits.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the imaginary, the details fully described and the pagan witchyness but the vegan message all the time really detracts from the story, rips you right out.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read this book and I still absolutley love it! Cecilia does have a way with words, yes - she does like lengthy descriptions but she has such an in depth knowledge of flora, fauna, weather systems, earth and folklore. The amount of research and the skill to apply it to her story is amazing. Also the way that she tied the families through the four books was a very cool way of doing things. Who could not be attracted to this book with two wonderful, beautiful, powerful and emotional characters at the forefront! Once again, loved this book!

[Talitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little darker than the previous two, and it didn't have as good of a plot. But it is a great setup for the next and last book...

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay Asrathiel!

[Haffina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Mary Elliott]

might not finish the series!

[Timmy Naces · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aww this was the very first book my dad bought for me. A very complicated book to read.. But I like it though :)