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Merle-Trilogie #1-3
Merle und die Fließende Königin
All three books in the thrilling and acclaimed Dark Reflections trilogy ( The Water Mirror, The Stone Light, and The Glass World ) are now available in one sleek volume.
In this fast-paced series, feisty fourteen-year-old Merle and her friends Junipa and Serafin live in enchanted Venice, which has been under siege by Egypt for over 30 years. The Venetians' only protection is the Flowing Queen. But when the Queen's very existence is threatened, Merle soon finds herself at the center of a struggle for Venice's survival. But the final battle is one that she and her friends never could have imagined--and the cost will be high indeed.
The author's imaginative use of history and mythology combine with fast-paced storytelling to create a page-turning series that is utterly compelling.
In this fast-paced series, feisty fourteen-year-old Merle and her friends Junipa and Serafin live in enchanted Venice, which has been under siege by Egypt for over 30 years. The Venetians' only protection is the Flowing Queen. But when the Queen's very existence is threatened, Merle soon finds herself at the center of a struggle for Venice's survival. But the final battle is one that she and her friends never could have imagined--and the cost will be high indeed.
The author's imaginative use of history and mythology combine with fast-paced storytelling to create a page-turning series that is utterly compelling.
920 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2003
24 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Kai Meyer
141 books1,446 followersWith millions of books sold worldwide, Kai Meyer is one of Germany's most successful authors. His novels have been translated into 27 languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Chinese.
Kai Meyer was born in 1969 in northern Germany. He began college at the University of Bochum, Germany, where he studied film, theatre, and philosophy. After a year, he dropped out to work for a newspaper as a trainee journalist, followed by two years as a staff journalist.
Kai wrote his first novel in his early 20s, and it was published when he was just 24 years old. He has been a full-time novelist since 1995. To date, Kai has written nearly 50 books – some for adults, some for teenagers. Kai’s books are mostly historical with strong fantastical overtones. There are over 1.5 million Kai Meyer books in print in Germany, and he is quickly gaining popularity in other countries as well: THE WATER MIRROR went into its third US printing before it was even delivered to bookstores, and his young adult dark fantasy series SIEBEN SIEGEL is a substantial hit in Japan. The British edition of THE FLOWING QUEEN / THE WATER MIRROR won the 2007 Marsh Award for Best Children´s Book in Translation.
In 2007 his historical novel DAS GELÜBDE (The Vow) was turned into a movie by celebrated German director Dominik Graf. SIEBEN SIEGEL is set to be filmed in 2008, other books are optioned.
Kai has also written screenplays, two of which have been made into TV movies. He is the author of a hardcover comic book, PANDORAMICUM, and is one of the creators of the fantasy role-playing game ENGEL (US edition by White Wolf).
Kai Meyer lives in Westphalia near the Rhine in Germany.
Kai Meyer was born in 1969 in northern Germany. He began college at the University of Bochum, Germany, where he studied film, theatre, and philosophy. After a year, he dropped out to work for a newspaper as a trainee journalist, followed by two years as a staff journalist.
Kai wrote his first novel in his early 20s, and it was published when he was just 24 years old. He has been a full-time novelist since 1995. To date, Kai has written nearly 50 books – some for adults, some for teenagers. Kai’s books are mostly historical with strong fantastical overtones. There are over 1.5 million Kai Meyer books in print in Germany, and he is quickly gaining popularity in other countries as well: THE WATER MIRROR went into its third US printing before it was even delivered to bookstores, and his young adult dark fantasy series SIEBEN SIEGEL is a substantial hit in Japan. The British edition of THE FLOWING QUEEN / THE WATER MIRROR won the 2007 Marsh Award for Best Children´s Book in Translation.
In 2007 his historical novel DAS GELÜBDE (The Vow) was turned into a movie by celebrated German director Dominik Graf. SIEBEN SIEGEL is set to be filmed in 2008, other books are optioned.
Kai has also written screenplays, two of which have been made into TV movies. He is the author of a hardcover comic book, PANDORAMICUM, and is one of the creators of the fantasy role-playing game ENGEL (US edition by White Wolf).
Kai Meyer lives in Westphalia near the Rhine in Germany.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
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April 24, 2011I'm not going to rate this because I couldn't finish it. It's not that it wasn't bad, but I think a lot gets lost in translation (at least I think this was originally in another language, otherwise the writing was just amazingly awkward). Maybe I'll come back to it because it's really an interesting story, but as of now I'm done with this one.
July 26, 2011
An omnibus of three different books, it took me forever to read this, but it was very good. Lots of fantastical elements and a great show of the author's imagination. It's a poignant story that will stay with me for a while, like an ache inside that I can't message away. I recommend it to fantasy readers.
Reviewed for Bitten by Books. http://bittenbybooks.com.
Reviewed for Bitten by Books. http://bittenbybooks.com.
July 1, 2015
It took me forever to finish because the book is physically enormous and my carpal tunnel would act up whenever I started to hold it for too long. I'm not a huge fantasy fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was wildly imaginative. The only slight let down was that the big final battle happens off screen. But it was still a satisfying read.
September 6, 2011
I love this!
But why, why does this happen to the good characters? Damn it. But anyway, awesome book!
But why, why does this happen to the good characters? Damn it. But anyway, awesome book!
September 18, 2011
Für die 14-jährige Merle beginnt ein neues Leben. Sie wird aus dem Waisenhaus herausgeholt und darf bei dem berühmten Spiegelmacher Arcimboldo in die Lehre gehen. Dort lernt sie das blinde Mädchen Junipa kennen, mit der sie sich anfreundet.
Aber schnell stellt sich heraus, dass Merle kein gewöhnliches Mädchen ist. Sie besitzt einen Spiegel, der nicht das zu sein scheint, was er im ersten Augenblick ausstrahlt und sie erkennt sehr schnell, was es mit der Haushälterin Unke auf sich hat.
Aber das ist noch längst nicht alles, was Merles neues Leben für sie bereit hält. Völlig ahnungslos gelangt sie in eine Verschwörung, die die Zukunft der Stadt entscheiden kann. Dabei lernt sie die fließende Königin kennen. Zusammen mit ihr versucht sie, das Schlimmste aufzuhalten, aber kann es ihr gelingen?
Obwohl ich fast alle Buchreihen von Kai Meyer besitze, ist "Die fließende Königin" erst mein zweites Buch, dass ich auch gelesen habe. Aber dafür habe ich nun auch Blut geleckt und möchte recht zügig weitere Bücher dieses wunderbaren Autors lesen.
Der Schreibstil ist flüssig, Schauplätze und Charaktere wurden gut ausgewählt und ich habe mich direkt wohl gefühlt. Die Geschichte steckt voller Magie, stellenweise düsteren Szenen und Verfolgungsjagden. Die Fantasy-Elemente sind in der Geschichte gut verpackt, ohne das es zu überladen wirkt.
"Die fließende Königin" ist der Auftakt der Merle-Trilogie. Diese spielt in Venedig und kann aufregender nicht sein.
Vor allem die Darstellung der jeweiligen Wesen hat mir sehr gut gefallen, vor allem die der Meerjungfrauen. Normalerweise werden diese als wunderschön beschrieben, hier sind sie zwar auch recht hübsch, allerdings ist der Mund und besonders die Zähne eher mit einem Raubtisch vergleichbar.
Auch die Charaktere konnten mich überzeugen. Obwohl Merle gerade mal 14 Jahre alt ist, wirkt sie enorm erwachsen und reif für ihr Alter. Ihre Gedanken sind authentisch geschildert und ihre Taten sind mutig und alles andere als naiv. Vor allem ihre Gespräche mit der fließenden Königin haben mich überzeugt. Obwohl sie die Königin ist, behandelt Merle sie wie eine normale Person aus dem Volk, ohne jedoch den Respekt zu verlieren.
Das Ende ist natürlich ein böser Cliffhanger, der mich im ersten Moment kurz schockiert hat. Insgesamt ist die Spannung während der ganzen Geschichte recht hoch und ich wurde so manches Mal von der Entwicklung der Handlung überrascht.
Das Hörbuch wird von Katharina Thalbach und Nina Petri gesprochen. Die Geschichte wird flüssig erzählt und wird genau an den richtigen Stellen gut betont. Besonders die Dialoge zwischen der Königin und Merle sind ein tolles Zusammenspiel.
Insgesamt hat mich der erste Teil der Merle-Trilogie überrascht und schnell in seinen Bann gezogen. Hier steckt sehr viel Potential drin und ich kann es nur jedem Fantasy-Leser empfehlen. Ein Meisterwerk!
Mit einer Länge von knapp vier Stunden handelt es sich bei diesem Hörbuch um die gekürzte Hörbuchfassung.
Aber schnell stellt sich heraus, dass Merle kein gewöhnliches Mädchen ist. Sie besitzt einen Spiegel, der nicht das zu sein scheint, was er im ersten Augenblick ausstrahlt und sie erkennt sehr schnell, was es mit der Haushälterin Unke auf sich hat.
Aber das ist noch längst nicht alles, was Merles neues Leben für sie bereit hält. Völlig ahnungslos gelangt sie in eine Verschwörung, die die Zukunft der Stadt entscheiden kann. Dabei lernt sie die fließende Königin kennen. Zusammen mit ihr versucht sie, das Schlimmste aufzuhalten, aber kann es ihr gelingen?
Obwohl ich fast alle Buchreihen von Kai Meyer besitze, ist "Die fließende Königin" erst mein zweites Buch, dass ich auch gelesen habe. Aber dafür habe ich nun auch Blut geleckt und möchte recht zügig weitere Bücher dieses wunderbaren Autors lesen.
Der Schreibstil ist flüssig, Schauplätze und Charaktere wurden gut ausgewählt und ich habe mich direkt wohl gefühlt. Die Geschichte steckt voller Magie, stellenweise düsteren Szenen und Verfolgungsjagden. Die Fantasy-Elemente sind in der Geschichte gut verpackt, ohne das es zu überladen wirkt.
"Die fließende Königin" ist der Auftakt der Merle-Trilogie. Diese spielt in Venedig und kann aufregender nicht sein.
Vor allem die Darstellung der jeweiligen Wesen hat mir sehr gut gefallen, vor allem die der Meerjungfrauen. Normalerweise werden diese als wunderschön beschrieben, hier sind sie zwar auch recht hübsch, allerdings ist der Mund und besonders die Zähne eher mit einem Raubtisch vergleichbar.
Auch die Charaktere konnten mich überzeugen. Obwohl Merle gerade mal 14 Jahre alt ist, wirkt sie enorm erwachsen und reif für ihr Alter. Ihre Gedanken sind authentisch geschildert und ihre Taten sind mutig und alles andere als naiv. Vor allem ihre Gespräche mit der fließenden Königin haben mich überzeugt. Obwohl sie die Königin ist, behandelt Merle sie wie eine normale Person aus dem Volk, ohne jedoch den Respekt zu verlieren.
Das Ende ist natürlich ein böser Cliffhanger, der mich im ersten Moment kurz schockiert hat. Insgesamt ist die Spannung während der ganzen Geschichte recht hoch und ich wurde so manches Mal von der Entwicklung der Handlung überrascht.
Das Hörbuch wird von Katharina Thalbach und Nina Petri gesprochen. Die Geschichte wird flüssig erzählt und wird genau an den richtigen Stellen gut betont. Besonders die Dialoge zwischen der Königin und Merle sind ein tolles Zusammenspiel.
Insgesamt hat mich der erste Teil der Merle-Trilogie überrascht und schnell in seinen Bann gezogen. Hier steckt sehr viel Potential drin und ich kann es nur jedem Fantasy-Leser empfehlen. Ein Meisterwerk!
Mit einer Länge von knapp vier Stunden handelt es sich bei diesem Hörbuch um die gekürzte Hörbuchfassung.
January 2, 2015
3.5 stars
I've been waiting for at least 5 years to finish this trilogy off... the libraries just don't seem to have book 3 for some reason, so I finally bit the bullet and bought the omnibus.
I ended up re-reading the first two books since it's been so long, though I was surprised at some things that I actually remembered.
While it's relatively well-written, there were some places where the translation from German just didn't quite sit right. I didn't mind too much, as the story was quite compelling, so I just glossed over the odd sentence structure.
There's a lot that happens in the first book, but for some reason, the pace felt like it slowed down as it progressed into the second and third books.
I've been waiting for at least 5 years to finish this trilogy off... the libraries just don't seem to have book 3 for some reason, so I finally bit the bullet and bought the omnibus.
I ended up re-reading the first two books since it's been so long, though I was surprised at some things that I actually remembered.
While it's relatively well-written, there were some places where the translation from German just didn't quite sit right. I didn't mind too much, as the story was quite compelling, so I just glossed over the odd sentence structure.
There's a lot that happens in the first book, but for some reason, the pace felt like it slowed down as it progressed into the second and third books.
June 22, 2012
The cover on Kai Meyer book is beautiful to look at; I only wish the story had been just as wonderful to read. I vacationed in Venice a long time ago, it was for this very reason, I picked up the book. “Dark Reflections” promised an adventure with a Venice scenery. Instead, all I got was a dull fantasy. However, I will give the book two stars for creativity.
June 29, 2015
I tried really really hard to like this book, but I just. Couldn't do it. No disrespect to the author at all, but I think this book was way out of the range I normally read. I couldn't get into the story at all.
July 29, 2011
I have to honest. I didn't love this trilogy. I finished the first book and got half way through the second and couldn't finish. It's slow moving and in my opinion, not that great.
April 10, 2020
Wunderschöne Kindergeschichte. Auch für Erwachsene zu empfehlen!
November 2, 2010
”The Water Mirror”
Meyer's engaging fantasy portrays Venice as a city alive with wonder--stone lions pad with heavy paws on the canal banks and sometimes fly (as steeds for the Venetian Guard); the canals are full of mermaids with wide shark jaws, and the island city has been under siege by Egypt for 36 years. Only the power of The Flowing Queen, the mysterious spirit of the waters, has kept the city safe. But now the essence of the Queen has been stolen by traitors within the government, and the powers of Hell are offering a blood treaty.
Two orphan girls, Merle, 14, and blind Junipa, 13, have become apprentices at the workshop of Arcimboldo, the maker of magic mirrors. He treats them kindly and restores gentle Junipa's sight by replacing her eyes with two round silvery bits of mirror. Merle soon emerges as the more adventurous of the two, and experienced fantasy readers are not surprised when she is given a quest to save the doomed city. She finds herself at the center of the struggle for the survival of Venice in the face of the invading Egyptian army that is besieging it. The city has been kept safe thus far by the Flowing Queen, but now her spirit has been trapped in a glass vial. When Merle comes into possession of this vial, she is commanded by the Flowing Queen to drink the water in it, thus imbibing her spirit and voice. She then has to free Vermithrax, a flying lion of living stone long held prisoner by the Venetian authorities, as the first step in the process of ensuring the safety of the city.
A powerful mix of political intrigue, adventure, and magic, the novel is peopled with believable and likable human characters along with mermaids, both feared and enslaved by humans; lions of living stone; and a fearsome and horrifying representative of the Kingdom of Hell.
”The Stone Light”
Merle, with the Flowing Queen within her, is taken to Hell by the winged stone lion Vermithrax. As the Egyptian Pharaoh unleashes his army of mummies (unearthed dead bodies) on the city of Venice, Merle tries to find Lucifer, Lord Light, with whom she hopes to forge an alliance against Egypt, and her friend Serafin joins the rebels in a plot to assassinate the Pharaoh. With the appearance of the powerful sphinx woman Lalapeya, the plot twists and turns, so that readers, along with Serafin, do not know whom to trust.
Desperate to save the city from the grip of the Pharaoh, Merle's brave little party ventures to Hell to see if the Lord Light who reigns there will live up to his promise to aid the people of Venice. The world they find there is peopled with strange and fantastic creatures, and unexpected splendors run counter to all their preconceptions of the underworld.
Meanwhile, back in Venice, Merle's friend Serafin grows enthralled with a beautiful sphinx, a lion-woman of dazzling beauty who claims not to be in league with the Pharaoh, unlike many of her kind. She aids and abets Serafin in his plan to assassinate the Pharaoh--but can she be trusted? Junipa, too, is at the center of a power struggle. Her new mirror eyes give her the ability to see, but also provide her with a unique magical ability that has brought her to the attention of the Lord Light, who seeks to control her.
While the worlds and creatures portrayed are very imaginative, the translation seemed a little stilted and I missed the emotional connection that I had with the characters in the first book. There were also a few quirky translation issues where certain words or phrases were in error due to the translator not choosing the correct terminology appropriate for the sentence or content. The book ends in a cliffhanger on both stories, so I would recommend having the last book at hand.
”The Glass Word”
Just like its predecessors, ”The Glass Word”, the final installment in Meyer's ”Dark Reflections” trilogy, takes no time to get right into the action.
Merle (whose mind is advised by the spirit of the Flowing Queen), her friend Junipa, and Vermithrax, the winged lion, have emerged from a harrowing battle in Hell--and the various effects of the Stone Light--to find themselves on the side of one of the huge pyramids of Egypt, which has been buried in snow in a new Ice Age.
From the very beginning this book overflows with information, and there is no pause. You, as the reader, are almost as exhausted as the characters! There is no time for back history, so you might want to brush up on it before you start this book.
All the plot threads that Meyer set in motion earlier in the series come into play here, and all the characters, creatures and menacing enemies who populate this world (so like and yet unlike our own) are back for the final installment. Winter pursues Summer, mirrors create endless reflections that may or may not be trustworthy, and spies and mummies lurk on all sides. Sphinxes, pirates, sea witches and mermaids all have their part to play as the action moves toward the inevitable--but surprising--final battle, a battle in which Merle and her friends all have important and perhaps even tragic, roles to play.
Not surprisingly, given the title of the series, many of the scenes and individuals depicted in the ”Dark Reflections” trilogy are dark indeed. ”The Glass Word” is no exception, as characters must constantly shift their loyalties, evaluate their trust and even re-consider their faith in themselves.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title Dark Reflections Trilogy: The Water Mirror; The Stone Light; The Glass Word
Author Kai Meyer
Reviewed By Purplycookie
Meyer's engaging fantasy portrays Venice as a city alive with wonder--stone lions pad with heavy paws on the canal banks and sometimes fly (as steeds for the Venetian Guard); the canals are full of mermaids with wide shark jaws, and the island city has been under siege by Egypt for 36 years. Only the power of The Flowing Queen, the mysterious spirit of the waters, has kept the city safe. But now the essence of the Queen has been stolen by traitors within the government, and the powers of Hell are offering a blood treaty.
Two orphan girls, Merle, 14, and blind Junipa, 13, have become apprentices at the workshop of Arcimboldo, the maker of magic mirrors. He treats them kindly and restores gentle Junipa's sight by replacing her eyes with two round silvery bits of mirror. Merle soon emerges as the more adventurous of the two, and experienced fantasy readers are not surprised when she is given a quest to save the doomed city. She finds herself at the center of the struggle for the survival of Venice in the face of the invading Egyptian army that is besieging it. The city has been kept safe thus far by the Flowing Queen, but now her spirit has been trapped in a glass vial. When Merle comes into possession of this vial, she is commanded by the Flowing Queen to drink the water in it, thus imbibing her spirit and voice. She then has to free Vermithrax, a flying lion of living stone long held prisoner by the Venetian authorities, as the first step in the process of ensuring the safety of the city.
A powerful mix of political intrigue, adventure, and magic, the novel is peopled with believable and likable human characters along with mermaids, both feared and enslaved by humans; lions of living stone; and a fearsome and horrifying representative of the Kingdom of Hell.
”The Stone Light”
Merle, with the Flowing Queen within her, is taken to Hell by the winged stone lion Vermithrax. As the Egyptian Pharaoh unleashes his army of mummies (unearthed dead bodies) on the city of Venice, Merle tries to find Lucifer, Lord Light, with whom she hopes to forge an alliance against Egypt, and her friend Serafin joins the rebels in a plot to assassinate the Pharaoh. With the appearance of the powerful sphinx woman Lalapeya, the plot twists and turns, so that readers, along with Serafin, do not know whom to trust.
Desperate to save the city from the grip of the Pharaoh, Merle's brave little party ventures to Hell to see if the Lord Light who reigns there will live up to his promise to aid the people of Venice. The world they find there is peopled with strange and fantastic creatures, and unexpected splendors run counter to all their preconceptions of the underworld.
Meanwhile, back in Venice, Merle's friend Serafin grows enthralled with a beautiful sphinx, a lion-woman of dazzling beauty who claims not to be in league with the Pharaoh, unlike many of her kind. She aids and abets Serafin in his plan to assassinate the Pharaoh--but can she be trusted? Junipa, too, is at the center of a power struggle. Her new mirror eyes give her the ability to see, but also provide her with a unique magical ability that has brought her to the attention of the Lord Light, who seeks to control her.
While the worlds and creatures portrayed are very imaginative, the translation seemed a little stilted and I missed the emotional connection that I had with the characters in the first book. There were also a few quirky translation issues where certain words or phrases were in error due to the translator not choosing the correct terminology appropriate for the sentence or content. The book ends in a cliffhanger on both stories, so I would recommend having the last book at hand.
”The Glass Word”
Just like its predecessors, ”The Glass Word”, the final installment in Meyer's ”Dark Reflections” trilogy, takes no time to get right into the action.
Merle (whose mind is advised by the spirit of the Flowing Queen), her friend Junipa, and Vermithrax, the winged lion, have emerged from a harrowing battle in Hell--and the various effects of the Stone Light--to find themselves on the side of one of the huge pyramids of Egypt, which has been buried in snow in a new Ice Age.
From the very beginning this book overflows with information, and there is no pause. You, as the reader, are almost as exhausted as the characters! There is no time for back history, so you might want to brush up on it before you start this book.
All the plot threads that Meyer set in motion earlier in the series come into play here, and all the characters, creatures and menacing enemies who populate this world (so like and yet unlike our own) are back for the final installment. Winter pursues Summer, mirrors create endless reflections that may or may not be trustworthy, and spies and mummies lurk on all sides. Sphinxes, pirates, sea witches and mermaids all have their part to play as the action moves toward the inevitable--but surprising--final battle, a battle in which Merle and her friends all have important and perhaps even tragic, roles to play.
Not surprisingly, given the title of the series, many of the scenes and individuals depicted in the ”Dark Reflections” trilogy are dark indeed. ”The Glass Word” is no exception, as characters must constantly shift their loyalties, evaluate their trust and even re-consider their faith in themselves.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title Dark Reflections Trilogy: The Water Mirror; The Stone Light; The Glass Word
Author Kai Meyer
Reviewed By Purplycookie
September 16, 2023
I feel like I've been reading this book forever but that's purely because it's the whole trilogy in one book 😂 I owned a copy of the first book when I was a teenager but never got further than the first few chapters. I'm glad I gave it another go years later, the story is full of interesting concepts and characters and, even if I didn't necessarily like the ending, I enjoyed reading this series 😊
January 7, 2025
they don't make YA like this anymore, huh? this was so fun.
April 15, 2013
I really liked this book and I am very glad that i found this version where i could just continuously read the trilogy in one book!
initially, i didn't expect it to be so interesting but i could not help to compare it against the likes of philip pullman.
the adventure started from venice to egypt. the story has a mixture of science, magic and ancient myths. we were introduced to mermaids, flying stone lions, demons from 'hell', mummies, the pharaoh and sphinxes. the author has done a great job in blending all these elements into this story. this is my first time reading a german author book (not counting the brothers grimm) and it has not been a disappointment at all! looking forward to read more of his books!
initially, i didn't expect it to be so interesting but i could not help to compare it against the likes of philip pullman.
the adventure started from venice to egypt. the story has a mixture of science, magic and ancient myths. we were introduced to mermaids, flying stone lions, demons from 'hell', mummies, the pharaoh and sphinxes. the author has done a great job in blending all these elements into this story. this is my first time reading a german author book (not counting the brothers grimm) and it has not been a disappointment at all! looking forward to read more of his books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2016
I think it was a great idea to put all of the three books into one book. When I read the last few pages of the book, I was so sad that the story was going to end, but I knew that there was going to be a new beginning like in all stories. The last book was very sad for me especially because of the death of one of my favorite characters; I never thought it was going to end that way. I loved how throughout the book though you could see how much the character has changed and grew since the first book. I loved each of these series and and each of the characters. Kai Meyer is a spectacular writer and I recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2011
Kai Meyer...you have such a great artistic, fantastic mind!!!!! I love the way she developed the story and how it all came together. I want to live inside this book!!!
The Venice that she creates and the world wherein Venice exist...whhhoooo! I like her concept of Hell and how she managed to incorporate Egyptian lore with mermaids...sea witches and mummies! It's a maze of prose...it's exciting...thrilling...it's magic...
Okay, enough gushing.
It's different. It's imagination at its finest.
The Venice that she creates and the world wherein Venice exist...whhhoooo! I like her concept of Hell and how she managed to incorporate Egyptian lore with mermaids...sea witches and mummies! It's a maze of prose...it's exciting...thrilling...it's magic...
Okay, enough gushing.
It's different. It's imagination at its finest.
November 29, 2019
Ich liebe diese Trilogie und habe sie schon oft gelesen.
Dieses Mal habe ich beim Autofahren versucht das Hörbuch zu hören. Katharina Thalbach als Stimme der fließenden Königin ist grandios und wirklich ein Genuss.
Leider kann ich das selbe nicht über Nina Petry sagen. Bei s-Lauten zischt sie dermaßen, dass die Lautsprecher übersteuern und man fast Ohrenschmerzen bekommt.
Ich empfehle diese Reihe wirklich sehr gern weiter, aber ich würde sagen, dass man sie besser liest als hört.
Die Geschichte bekommt 5 Sterne, 1 Stern Abzug wegen des schlechten Hörerlebnisses.
Dieses Mal habe ich beim Autofahren versucht das Hörbuch zu hören. Katharina Thalbach als Stimme der fließenden Königin ist grandios und wirklich ein Genuss.
Leider kann ich das selbe nicht über Nina Petry sagen. Bei s-Lauten zischt sie dermaßen, dass die Lautsprecher übersteuern und man fast Ohrenschmerzen bekommt.
Ich empfehle diese Reihe wirklich sehr gern weiter, aber ich würde sagen, dass man sie besser liest als hört.
Die Geschichte bekommt 5 Sterne, 1 Stern Abzug wegen des schlechten Hörerlebnisses.
September 15, 2020
The Water Mirror, The Stone Light, and The Glass Word in one volume albeit with wonderful stylized covers of originals. In these mystical stories, award winning German author Kai Meyer introduces Serafin, a master thief, apprenticed to a magic cloth maker and Merle, apprenticed to a magic mirror maker. Merle creates a water mirror in a world in which mermaids swim the canals and stone lions patrol the streets. The German fairy tale tradition is alive in these stories with a mystical, enchanted feeling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2012
I'm reading this trilogy with this book and it's really and advantage. I get to read the three books consecutively. I won't be looking for the book one by one.
The story line was great. And I LOVE serafin. He's so darn cute. LOL. anyway, I like the plot, settings and the characters. I also like how Kai put the mermaids, venice, egypt, hell, and some of Egyptian myths together. There are flaws but the niceness of the story covers it all.
All in all, it was worth reading for.
The story line was great. And I LOVE serafin. He's so darn cute. LOL. anyway, I like the plot, settings and the characters. I also like how Kai put the mermaids, venice, egypt, hell, and some of Egyptian myths together. There are flaws but the niceness of the story covers it all.
All in all, it was worth reading for.
January 14, 2013
okayy. all in all, a fantastic read. however.
I don't hate Merle. I just find it hard to believe that Serafin would actually do that. I mean they were only in each others' presence for like, 1/5 of the book and he was ready to That came off to me as kind of unbelievable.
Or was i missing something? Someone, please tell me I was missing something? Anything?
I don't hate Merle. I just find it hard to believe that Serafin would actually do that. I mean they were only in each others' presence for like, 1/5 of the book and he was ready to That came off to me as kind of unbelievable.
Or was i missing something? Someone, please tell me I was missing something? Anything?
March 15, 2011
Really good books, although IMO I think The Water Mirror was the better of the 3. I hated the ending of the last book though! i desperately wanted Serafin and Merle to end up together. I think I would have been happier with Junipa being the one to die. Otherwise I couldn't put this book down through the first 500 or so pages. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2011
NOOOOOOO! I just finished... when Serafin died, I died. WHY DO MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS ALWAYS HAVE TO DIE! I'm crying. 3
Anyways, it was a good series though it got a little boring and confusing at times. Let me just say the cover is phenomenal. One of the best Ive seen in a while!
Anyways, it was a good series though it got a little boring and confusing at times. Let me just say the cover is phenomenal. One of the best Ive seen in a while!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2023
This was an ultimately epic and extremely imaginative tale that is absolutely thrilling! I loved every second of it and don't let its size daunt you because I still am left with images from the books, images of powerful scenes and a creative imagination! A great read!
February 17, 2016
3.5 stars
A satisfying read with lots of mythical elements and creatures. It isn't the fastest paced book out there but I really enjoyed the setting and mythical elements. I think some of the story was lost in translation but overall a good read.
A satisfying read with lots of mythical elements and creatures. It isn't the fastest paced book out there but I really enjoyed the setting and mythical elements. I think some of the story was lost in translation but overall a good read.
April 17, 2022
I really enjoyed the first part of this trilogy, The Water Mirror. But after that it all went down hill for me. I had a hard time re-engaging with the storyline and found no interest in the plot. I wanted to love this more, but it just wasn’t for me.
November 25, 2022
Re read for the 3rd time and love it every time. The picture painted from each scene that happens with the more to detail each time I read it from the mirror to the characters to the ending. It's a never ending thro each time I grab the book.
October 6, 2011
Finished book one... i'll have to order 2 & 3 as the library does not have them in stock. A good and engaging tale so far!
August 26, 2011
Reminds me kind of of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. Truly imaginative and unique. One of the best books I've read. I can't recall when a book made me feel so light and magical. Amazingness!
April 24, 2015
Okay, so this book started out a bit boring at first but I actually found myself enjoying it. This book is sweet and sad at the same time and I almost cried when Serafin has to die in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2013
One of my favorite books. Its the best out of all the fantasy fic books ive read.
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