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The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme #4
The Tree of Water
The epic voyages continue in The Tree of Water , the fourth adventure in bestselling author Elizabeth Haydon's acclaimed fantasy series for young readers, The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme.
As Royal Reporter of the land of Serendair, it is the duty of young Charles Magnus "Ven" Polypheme to travel the world and seek out magic hiding in plain sight. But Ven needs to escape the clutches of the nefarious Thief Queen, ruler of the Gated City, whose minions are hunting for him. His friend, the merrow Amariel, has the perfect solution to his Ven and Char will join her to explore the world beneath the sea.
As they journey through the sea, Ven finds himself surrounded by wonders greater than he could have ever imagined. But the beauty of the ocean is more than matched by the dangers lurking within its depths, and Ven and his friends soon realize that in order to save thousands of innocent lives, they may have to sacrifice their own. For everything in the ocean needs to eat…
"A delightful epic fantasy that will attract a readership both older and younger than the target audience." ― Booklist (starred review) on The Floating Island
As Royal Reporter of the land of Serendair, it is the duty of young Charles Magnus "Ven" Polypheme to travel the world and seek out magic hiding in plain sight. But Ven needs to escape the clutches of the nefarious Thief Queen, ruler of the Gated City, whose minions are hunting for him. His friend, the merrow Amariel, has the perfect solution to his Ven and Char will join her to explore the world beneath the sea.
As they journey through the sea, Ven finds himself surrounded by wonders greater than he could have ever imagined. But the beauty of the ocean is more than matched by the dangers lurking within its depths, and Ven and his friends soon realize that in order to save thousands of innocent lives, they may have to sacrifice their own. For everything in the ocean needs to eat…
"A delightful epic fantasy that will attract a readership both older and younger than the target audience." ― Booklist (starred review) on The Floating Island
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2014
13 people are currently reading
727 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Haydon
50 books1,026 followersElizabeth Haydon (* 1965 in Michigan) is a fantasy author, whose 1999 debut, Rhapsody: Child of Blood, garnered comparisons with Goodkind, Jordan, and even Tolkien. She has written two fantasy series set within the same universe, The fantasy/romance/whodunit fusion called The Symphony of Ages and the young adult series The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme.
An herbalist, harpist, and madrigal singer, Elizabeth Haydon also enjoys anthropology and folklore. She lives on the East Coast of the United States.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabet...
An herbalist, harpist, and madrigal singer, Elizabeth Haydon also enjoys anthropology and folklore. She lives on the East Coast of the United States.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabet...
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 14, 2019
Finally, we get the story that Haydon has been leading up to since the first book! Ven goes underwater with his merrow friend, and Char comes along. I was very excited to read this and I’m sad that there aren’t any more Ven books that have been published–it seemed like the end of it was leading up to something else (maybe another book), but oh well. At the very least, this book concludes rather satisfactorily while leaving a bit open, so I guess we have to use our imaginations for now to fill in the rest.
As usual in these books, Ven is out of his element, but it’s heightened to a great degree in this one, since he and Char have procured a way to breathe underwater, so they join Amariel in her home–under the sea! Char annoyed me more than usual in this book because he was so grumpy about joining in the adventure, but insisted on not being left behind. But, other than that, I really enjoyed the characters, both returning and new.
I especially liked how things work in the ocean. You don’t talk (because water doesn’t carry sound very well), but there is a thrum to the ocean that can carry your thoughts to other people, so you have to be very careful about what you think and what you’re allowing to be carried by the water. I really liked this idea and it helped transform the ocean to almost be otherworld with how differently everything worked, like sleeping, moving about, talking, etc.
It’s hard to say much else without giving spoilers, but it’s a fun, adventurous fantasy. I’ve really liked all the previous books; weirdly, I don’t think you need to necessarily read this one in the order of the others, since it’s quite different and only has Char continuing the adventure from previous books, so you don’t need the foundation to understand what’s going on. It’s wonderful to read about random events happening and then have them woven together beautifully at the end; the main climax really is quite wonderful. I’m hopeful that maybe (eventually) future books will be published, but until then, I’m happy with this series overall.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
As usual in these books, Ven is out of his element, but it’s heightened to a great degree in this one, since he and Char have procured a way to breathe underwater, so they join Amariel in her home–under the sea! Char annoyed me more than usual in this book because he was so grumpy about joining in the adventure, but insisted on not being left behind. But, other than that, I really enjoyed the characters, both returning and new.
I especially liked how things work in the ocean. You don’t talk (because water doesn’t carry sound very well), but there is a thrum to the ocean that can carry your thoughts to other people, so you have to be very careful about what you think and what you’re allowing to be carried by the water. I really liked this idea and it helped transform the ocean to almost be otherworld with how differently everything worked, like sleeping, moving about, talking, etc.
It’s hard to say much else without giving spoilers, but it’s a fun, adventurous fantasy. I’ve really liked all the previous books; weirdly, I don’t think you need to necessarily read this one in the order of the others, since it’s quite different and only has Char continuing the adventure from previous books, so you don’t need the foundation to understand what’s going on. It’s wonderful to read about random events happening and then have them woven together beautifully at the end; the main climax really is quite wonderful. I’m hopeful that maybe (eventually) future books will be published, but until then, I’m happy with this series overall.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
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November 10, 2014Cute.
But this is definitely not a book that is meant for me. Perhaps if my little boy was a bit older we could have run reading it together (I certainly hope he wants his old man to read to him for a long time coming). Because the book reads as a high action version of Dora the Explorer; one mini-adventure after another with occasional learning moments dropped in (I learned the green sea slug eats algae then conducts photosynthesis within its own body). This is entirely intentional as the press sheet points out that there are teacher’s guides to this series to be found on Haydon’s website.
So despite reading the whole book this is NOT A REVIEW. Because I don’t know how to review it. I don’t think it is a book designed to appeal to older readership despite a Publisher’s Weekly’ quote to the contrary. It appears to be a book designed to be read middle graders or to be shared between a slightly younger crowd and their parents. Neither group are one I currently belong to (though I am holding out hope that I will start reverse aging at some point and maybe get back to my school days).
It was fast. It was fun at times but lacked any real depth. Despite being the forth book in the series there was no issue jumping right in. Ven, the protagonist whose ‘journal’ the narrator built the book from was just kind of there, carried along on his adventure more than taking part of it. His best friend Char was actually pretty annoying. His merrow (mermaid) friend was much better. The educational drops are vegetables hidden in a kid’s dessert; the story comes first with occasional factoids thrown in.
I am going to keep this book and hopefully someday read it with my little boy. At that point I will probably be able to talk about it better. And if you have a young reader around it may be worth your time to check it out.
Copy for review provided by publisher.
But this is definitely not a book that is meant for me. Perhaps if my little boy was a bit older we could have run reading it together (I certainly hope he wants his old man to read to him for a long time coming). Because the book reads as a high action version of Dora the Explorer; one mini-adventure after another with occasional learning moments dropped in (I learned the green sea slug eats algae then conducts photosynthesis within its own body). This is entirely intentional as the press sheet points out that there are teacher’s guides to this series to be found on Haydon’s website.
So despite reading the whole book this is NOT A REVIEW. Because I don’t know how to review it. I don’t think it is a book designed to appeal to older readership despite a Publisher’s Weekly’ quote to the contrary. It appears to be a book designed to be read middle graders or to be shared between a slightly younger crowd and their parents. Neither group are one I currently belong to (though I am holding out hope that I will start reverse aging at some point and maybe get back to my school days).
It was fast. It was fun at times but lacked any real depth. Despite being the forth book in the series there was no issue jumping right in. Ven, the protagonist whose ‘journal’ the narrator built the book from was just kind of there, carried along on his adventure more than taking part of it. His best friend Char was actually pretty annoying. His merrow (mermaid) friend was much better. The educational drops are vegetables hidden in a kid’s dessert; the story comes first with occasional factoids thrown in.
I am going to keep this book and hopefully someday read it with my little boy. At that point I will probably be able to talk about it better. And if you have a young reader around it may be worth your time to check it out.
Copy for review provided by publisher.
November 1, 2014
Find this review and many more over at Geekritique.
The Tree of Water, the fourth in The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme series by Elizabeth Haydon, is the first ever ARC I’ve received to review and was so graciously provided by Tor.com. That means the copy was an “Uncorrected Advance Reading Copy,” provided for an honest review of the content therein. My inner grammar nazi initially kept picking out typos here and there that nagged at me, but as I got into the ebb and flow of it all, I rarely even noticed.
Before I make mention of anything plotwise or other, I’ll stray from any strong spoilers ahead, just in case you wish to read the novel. This is, unfortunately for me, the fourth book in the series – a series I’ve never heard of, so I was wary of getting lost along the way. No such thing happened. Nothing that occurs within the course of the novel requires prior and/or greater knowledge of books past or the series as a whole. The events in previous installations are paraphrased and you never feel you’re lacking anything substantial while reading. It is a children’s novel meant for a middle-school audience, but is written at a level where older or younger readers need not feel excluded.
The idea behind the series as a whole is that the journals of an ancient explorer of all things magical, Ven Polypheme, (previously lost) are found and they contain untold truths from a past long forgotten. Elizabeth Haydon, the series’ author, refers to herself as the one who compiles the journals from mere scraps after much deliberation to unfurl and piece together the adventures held therein. Throughout the book we get snippets of the “actual journal” while the rest is written like your typical novel – so that all may enjoy the book, and still feel it lends true to the “source material.” I found this very creative writing.
But when we actually delve into the adventure, we’re not entirely clear on what the intended goal is – and neither is Ven Polypheme, a young Nain explorer, and his friends. Rather he is more in search of adventure than anything else, but his path becomes more and more clear as the story continues. In this adventure he wants to explore the sea after an invite from his merrow (mermaid) friend Amariel. And explore it he does with the aid of ancient magics and extra-natural/fantastical physics. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with adventure for the sake of adventure, having an end goal in mind from the get-go is certainly more appealing to the audience.
The biggest issue for me wasn’t the pacing, but the way our characters got from one chapter to the next. It was fine at first, and exciting, but when your characters are jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire and then back into the frying pan only to jump into a larger fire 20 chapters in a row, the gravitas lessens as the threats seemingly loom heavier. Where one chapter we have Ven and friends swimming away from three hungry sharks, and then the next they’re running away from a giant Megalodon shark, and the next chapter it’s a giant squid, and then a storm, or a dragon, etc. – the plot does get lost along the way at some point. And then there’s the issue that the characters are so unprepared for the dangers of the sea that they literally bring nothing to the table. There is no outsmarting they can do, or strengths they can call upon. Whatever happens, happens, and they’re just swept ever deeper into the sea.
Despite the structure of the plot, the underwater world that Haydon writes is very much a magical experience. She’s capable of bringing life to an unknowable world, changing physics to spice things in a way that I’ve never quite experienced in a book. Instead of talking, under the water everything thrums – sort of like humming a thought. This is both a wonderful tool, and a problematic one, as if you think or thrum too loud or too dire a thought it may come back to haunt you, you may disrupt sea life, and it could get dangerous.
Ven’s writing wasn’t my favorite for a main character, and I expect that has something to do with the unfamiliarity of his situation as a whole. But in conversations of importance he rarely finds useful information to contribute. Rather he has the annoying quality of only ever asking questions. And whenever he asks anything, he perpetually seems in a state of being stunned (or perhaps just some mild stammering). To give you some examples solely from ARC page 327, notice his side of the conversation:
“What — what do I have to do?”
“That’s — that’s it?”
“Can — can you fix it?
I have to say I really enjoyed the way the book resolved itself. Usually when a book drags, even slightly as this one had, I don’t find much to praise about the ending. But it was solid, and it made me want to read on further. I expect, from the way the beginning and ending played out so enjoyably on land instead of sea, The Tree of Water may be the weakest of the series, but I have nothing to compare it to. From what I’ve read, I can’t say it’s incited me to go out and grab the first three novels, but I won’t mind picking up where this book left off in the eventual book 5.
The Tree of Water, the fourth in The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme series by Elizabeth Haydon, is the first ever ARC I’ve received to review and was so graciously provided by Tor.com. That means the copy was an “Uncorrected Advance Reading Copy,” provided for an honest review of the content therein. My inner grammar nazi initially kept picking out typos here and there that nagged at me, but as I got into the ebb and flow of it all, I rarely even noticed.
Before I make mention of anything plotwise or other, I’ll stray from any strong spoilers ahead, just in case you wish to read the novel. This is, unfortunately for me, the fourth book in the series – a series I’ve never heard of, so I was wary of getting lost along the way. No such thing happened. Nothing that occurs within the course of the novel requires prior and/or greater knowledge of books past or the series as a whole. The events in previous installations are paraphrased and you never feel you’re lacking anything substantial while reading. It is a children’s novel meant for a middle-school audience, but is written at a level where older or younger readers need not feel excluded.
The idea behind the series as a whole is that the journals of an ancient explorer of all things magical, Ven Polypheme, (previously lost) are found and they contain untold truths from a past long forgotten. Elizabeth Haydon, the series’ author, refers to herself as the one who compiles the journals from mere scraps after much deliberation to unfurl and piece together the adventures held therein. Throughout the book we get snippets of the “actual journal” while the rest is written like your typical novel – so that all may enjoy the book, and still feel it lends true to the “source material.” I found this very creative writing.
But when we actually delve into the adventure, we’re not entirely clear on what the intended goal is – and neither is Ven Polypheme, a young Nain explorer, and his friends. Rather he is more in search of adventure than anything else, but his path becomes more and more clear as the story continues. In this adventure he wants to explore the sea after an invite from his merrow (mermaid) friend Amariel. And explore it he does with the aid of ancient magics and extra-natural/fantastical physics. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with adventure for the sake of adventure, having an end goal in mind from the get-go is certainly more appealing to the audience.
The biggest issue for me wasn’t the pacing, but the way our characters got from one chapter to the next. It was fine at first, and exciting, but when your characters are jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire and then back into the frying pan only to jump into a larger fire 20 chapters in a row, the gravitas lessens as the threats seemingly loom heavier. Where one chapter we have Ven and friends swimming away from three hungry sharks, and then the next they’re running away from a giant Megalodon shark, and the next chapter it’s a giant squid, and then a storm, or a dragon, etc. – the plot does get lost along the way at some point. And then there’s the issue that the characters are so unprepared for the dangers of the sea that they literally bring nothing to the table. There is no outsmarting they can do, or strengths they can call upon. Whatever happens, happens, and they’re just swept ever deeper into the sea.
Despite the structure of the plot, the underwater world that Haydon writes is very much a magical experience. She’s capable of bringing life to an unknowable world, changing physics to spice things in a way that I’ve never quite experienced in a book. Instead of talking, under the water everything thrums – sort of like humming a thought. This is both a wonderful tool, and a problematic one, as if you think or thrum too loud or too dire a thought it may come back to haunt you, you may disrupt sea life, and it could get dangerous.
Ven’s writing wasn’t my favorite for a main character, and I expect that has something to do with the unfamiliarity of his situation as a whole. But in conversations of importance he rarely finds useful information to contribute. Rather he has the annoying quality of only ever asking questions. And whenever he asks anything, he perpetually seems in a state of being stunned (or perhaps just some mild stammering). To give you some examples solely from ARC page 327, notice his side of the conversation:
“What — what do I have to do?”
“That’s — that’s it?”
“Can — can you fix it?
I have to say I really enjoyed the way the book resolved itself. Usually when a book drags, even slightly as this one had, I don’t find much to praise about the ending. But it was solid, and it made me want to read on further. I expect, from the way the beginning and ending played out so enjoyably on land instead of sea, The Tree of Water may be the weakest of the series, but I have nothing to compare it to. From what I’ve read, I can’t say it’s incited me to go out and grab the first three novels, but I won’t mind picking up where this book left off in the eventual book 5.
November 17, 2014
“The Tree of Water” by Elizabeth Haydon is the fourth story in this charming and delightful fantasy series for young readers and those young at heart. The books follow the wonderful adventures of Charles Magnus “Ven” Polypeheme. His world is full of magical creatures, inventive and original variations of classic fairy tale and fantasy creatures, but in a unique and lovely blend. I came into the series late but had no problem connecting with the established set up of hobbits (Nain) fairies, kings and mermaids (merrows).
The book is written in two alternating narratives: One in the first person that provided small snippets from Nain himself, and then one in the third person from the all-seeing narrator. This is a technique that doesn’t often work but in this book it does and adds an extra charm and playfulness.
In this book of the series Ven’s journey takes him through the realms of the sea, together with some dear friends. The exciting adventures are sweetened by stunning sights and creatures that will appeal to those readers who like to explore new worlds and their wonders. Suspense and some humour are also included in good measures and make this an easy and hugely enjoyable read.
I also found the illustrations, the cover and the lay-out of the chapters much appealing.
The book is written in two alternating narratives: One in the first person that provided small snippets from Nain himself, and then one in the third person from the all-seeing narrator. This is a technique that doesn’t often work but in this book it does and adds an extra charm and playfulness.
In this book of the series Ven’s journey takes him through the realms of the sea, together with some dear friends. The exciting adventures are sweetened by stunning sights and creatures that will appeal to those readers who like to explore new worlds and their wonders. Suspense and some humour are also included in good measures and make this an easy and hugely enjoyable read.
I also found the illustrations, the cover and the lay-out of the chapters much appealing.
March 15, 2018
Personally this is my least favorite of the series mostly because Amariel is my least favorite character and he is in most of the book. Also I really do not like the kind of cliche idea of the underwater denizens either hating or feeling superior to the people on the surface. But the last third of the book is really cool because for one Amariel is not in most of it and their are some really cool world building and the ending is making me excited for the next book.
December 20, 2021
This is the fourth adventure in The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme series. Ven is still working on journaling magic for King Vandermere. This adventure takes place in the sea where Ven follows his friend Amariel into her home. The main friends, Ven, Amariel, and Char are together in this adventure but also have a new friend join their quest. There are new dragons to be found, legends to be pondered and great danger involved in this tale sure to satisfy any fan of Elizabeth Haydons' books.
February 8, 2018
It's okay to read these books out of order. I did! I've started with #4 and want to find the others.
March 15, 2020
So good! I did miss Clem and Saeli and Nick and Ida but otherwise I really liked exploring the deep with Char and Ven and Amariel! Can’t wait for more because there are still answers I need!
April 7, 2020
Awesome book, I hope she writes more in this series!
August 1, 2021
I enjoyed this!
November 21, 2014
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...
The Tree of Water by Elizabeth Haydon is the fourth book in the young adult series “The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme.” Even though the book is later in the series, it works as a standalone because Haydon frames this book as one of many lost journals that tell tales of Ven’s adventures. She presents the story as if she’s the compiler of the journal fragments, giving herself the role of a historian looking back on Ven’s life. The story is connected to previous books, but there’s enough exposition that readers won’t feel lost if they jump right in.
Ven Polypheme is a Nain, a humanoid creature that reminds me a bit of a Hobbit. Most Nain are hardworking and not particularly adventurous, but Ven is different. He’s a curious soul, and because of his previous adventures, he’s been given a mission from the king to find the magic that’s hidden in plain sight. He travels the world because the king can’t and brings back stories so the king can make better decisions and be more informed about his kingdom.
In a previous book (presumably, as I haven’t read any of the earlier installments of the series), Ven befriended a mermaid named Amariel. He promised her that since she grew legs to visit his world for a while that he’d go visit hers. He and his friend Char are also charged with a mission from an enigmatic sorceress to find the legendary Tree of Water and to solve the mystery of a runed dragon scale. Of course, the sea is a dangerous place, and it takes everything the adventurers have just to stay alive.
One of the things that I loved about this book was Haydon’s descriptions of the sea itself. The story is written for young adults (although a smart middle grader could love the series as well; there’s nothing in it that’s particularly adult or controversial), and it uses the story of Ven’s travels to provide an ecological background of undersea life and how every creature is food for something else. This has practical implications for the story, ie. needing to run away from sharks or octopi or giant jellyfish, but is also a really fun way to learn about the food chain. There are scenes where undersea creatures get eaten by bigger creatures. Everything is part of the greater cycle of life, and Amariel frequently makes fun of Ven and Char’s squeamishness about it. For her, it’s just a fact of life.
The characters themselves seem a bit flat, but not in such a way that they aren’t still engaging. Char is a loveable coward. Ven is too brave for his own good, and it frequently gets him into trouble. Amariel is a sensible balance between the two, as her curious nature is tempered by her survival instinct. All of them are set on doing the right thing, although as they travel they realize that sometimes what is good for one person might not be good for someone else. And of course, the heroes win in the end. It’s a bit more simplistic than most of the fantasy that I’ve been reading as of late, but the worldbuilding more than makes up for it.
Overall, The Tree of Water was an excellent read, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. I found myself enchanted by Haydon’s descriptions of aquatic life and the exquisite undersea worlds that she creates. If it seems like the sort of book you might be interested in, then use the Rafflecopter on my blog to enter the giveaway, courtesy of the blog tour (US/Canada only, please!).
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...
The Tree of Water by Elizabeth Haydon is the fourth book in the young adult series “The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme.” Even though the book is later in the series, it works as a standalone because Haydon frames this book as one of many lost journals that tell tales of Ven’s adventures. She presents the story as if she’s the compiler of the journal fragments, giving herself the role of a historian looking back on Ven’s life. The story is connected to previous books, but there’s enough exposition that readers won’t feel lost if they jump right in.
Ven Polypheme is a Nain, a humanoid creature that reminds me a bit of a Hobbit. Most Nain are hardworking and not particularly adventurous, but Ven is different. He’s a curious soul, and because of his previous adventures, he’s been given a mission from the king to find the magic that’s hidden in plain sight. He travels the world because the king can’t and brings back stories so the king can make better decisions and be more informed about his kingdom.
In a previous book (presumably, as I haven’t read any of the earlier installments of the series), Ven befriended a mermaid named Amariel. He promised her that since she grew legs to visit his world for a while that he’d go visit hers. He and his friend Char are also charged with a mission from an enigmatic sorceress to find the legendary Tree of Water and to solve the mystery of a runed dragon scale. Of course, the sea is a dangerous place, and it takes everything the adventurers have just to stay alive.
One of the things that I loved about this book was Haydon’s descriptions of the sea itself. The story is written for young adults (although a smart middle grader could love the series as well; there’s nothing in it that’s particularly adult or controversial), and it uses the story of Ven’s travels to provide an ecological background of undersea life and how every creature is food for something else. This has practical implications for the story, ie. needing to run away from sharks or octopi or giant jellyfish, but is also a really fun way to learn about the food chain. There are scenes where undersea creatures get eaten by bigger creatures. Everything is part of the greater cycle of life, and Amariel frequently makes fun of Ven and Char’s squeamishness about it. For her, it’s just a fact of life.
The characters themselves seem a bit flat, but not in such a way that they aren’t still engaging. Char is a loveable coward. Ven is too brave for his own good, and it frequently gets him into trouble. Amariel is a sensible balance between the two, as her curious nature is tempered by her survival instinct. All of them are set on doing the right thing, although as they travel they realize that sometimes what is good for one person might not be good for someone else. And of course, the heroes win in the end. It’s a bit more simplistic than most of the fantasy that I’ve been reading as of late, but the worldbuilding more than makes up for it.
Overall, The Tree of Water was an excellent read, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. I found myself enchanted by Haydon’s descriptions of aquatic life and the exquisite undersea worlds that she creates. If it seems like the sort of book you might be interested in, then use the Rafflecopter on my blog to enter the giveaway, courtesy of the blog tour (US/Canada only, please!).
October 27, 2014
In the fourth book of The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme, the young Nain explorer continues his journeys to find out all the magic in the world and report it to a good young king. He has already explored the thieves' quarter of the city of Kingston, stopped a war between the dwarflike Nain and the elflike Lirin, and survived an encounter with Scarnag the dragon who represents earth-magic. He just missed the opportunity to visit one of the five world trees because his merrow (mermaid) friend Amariel needed to get back to the sea before she lost her fins forever. Now his chance has finally come to visit Amariel's world under the sea.
Ven has been told that a traveler sometimes doesn't know the reason for his journey until he reaches the end. There are certainly any number of possible reasons for this one. First, he still needs to steer clear of the Thief Queen, who has a grudge against him. Also, he has promised Amariel that he will travel with her below the waves. And then there's the reason a mysterious seer gives him, another dragon scale to be returned to its rightful owner at the bottom of the ocean. But above all, his curiosity and his job as the king's reporter pull him onward in search of the Tree of Water fabled to live somewhere out at sea.
Ven and his human friend Char are lucky enough to find a way to breathe underwater without having to let a scary old fisherman carve gills in their necks. The magical stones they carry provide not only air but also light in the dim depths. But solving the oxygen problem is only the first obstacle they must pass. After that comes the teeming ocean full of things that eat other things without regret or apology. Sharks, jellyfish, and giant devouring creatures of the sunlit realm are only the first and least of the dangers they face. After that come sea elves armed for war against the people on land, and a senselessly deadly waterspout, and a merciless sea dragon who breathes caustic acid instead of fire. Finally all Ven's reasons for visitng the sea combine with a spooky prophecy and a race to save Amariel's life to lure him and his friends into the deepest, darkest, deadliest place of all.
The way Ven and his companions travel to the deepest of deeps is truly ingenious. It is also full of gloomy dread and suspense. Along the way, they witness many marvelous and awful things, wonders of the underwater world that mankind has only begun to explore. The magic is impressive, but equally impressive is the window this book opens on a vast part of the natural world. And just when it seemed Ven's journals might be at an end, the storyline takes off in a new direction with even bigger possibilities than before.
This book arrives on October 28, 2014, carrying the promise of still more sequels. I am thankful to the staff at Starscape Books for giving me an early peek at it. I am glad to be able to say, in all sincerity, that I thought this book was even more entertaining than the three before it. Their titles, by the way, are The Floating Island, The Thief Queen's Daughter, and The Dragon's Lair. The series takes place in the same fantasy world as the author's other major series of novels, Symphony of Ages, of which an eighth book is expected in 2015.
Ven has been told that a traveler sometimes doesn't know the reason for his journey until he reaches the end. There are certainly any number of possible reasons for this one. First, he still needs to steer clear of the Thief Queen, who has a grudge against him. Also, he has promised Amariel that he will travel with her below the waves. And then there's the reason a mysterious seer gives him, another dragon scale to be returned to its rightful owner at the bottom of the ocean. But above all, his curiosity and his job as the king's reporter pull him onward in search of the Tree of Water fabled to live somewhere out at sea.
Ven and his human friend Char are lucky enough to find a way to breathe underwater without having to let a scary old fisherman carve gills in their necks. The magical stones they carry provide not only air but also light in the dim depths. But solving the oxygen problem is only the first obstacle they must pass. After that comes the teeming ocean full of things that eat other things without regret or apology. Sharks, jellyfish, and giant devouring creatures of the sunlit realm are only the first and least of the dangers they face. After that come sea elves armed for war against the people on land, and a senselessly deadly waterspout, and a merciless sea dragon who breathes caustic acid instead of fire. Finally all Ven's reasons for visitng the sea combine with a spooky prophecy and a race to save Amariel's life to lure him and his friends into the deepest, darkest, deadliest place of all.
The way Ven and his companions travel to the deepest of deeps is truly ingenious. It is also full of gloomy dread and suspense. Along the way, they witness many marvelous and awful things, wonders of the underwater world that mankind has only begun to explore. The magic is impressive, but equally impressive is the window this book opens on a vast part of the natural world. And just when it seemed Ven's journals might be at an end, the storyline takes off in a new direction with even bigger possibilities than before.
This book arrives on October 28, 2014, carrying the promise of still more sequels. I am thankful to the staff at Starscape Books for giving me an early peek at it. I am glad to be able to say, in all sincerity, that I thought this book was even more entertaining than the three before it. Their titles, by the way, are The Floating Island, The Thief Queen's Daughter, and The Dragon's Lair. The series takes place in the same fantasy world as the author's other major series of novels, Symphony of Ages, of which an eighth book is expected in 2015.
November 7, 2014
About the Book:
The epic voyages continue in The Tree of Water, the fourth adventure in bestselling author Elizabeth Haydon’s acclaimed fantasy series for young readers, The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme.
As Royal Reporter of the land of Serendair, it is the duty of young Charles Magnus "Ven" Polypheme to travel the world and seek out magic hiding in plain sight. But Ven needs to escape the clutches of the nefarious Thief Queen, ruler of the Gated City, whose minions are hunting for him. His friend, the merrow Amariel, has the perfect solution to his dilemma: Ven and Char will join her to explore the world beneath the sea.
As they journey through the sea, Ven finds himself surrounded by wonders greater than he could have ever imagined. But the beauty of the ocean is more than matched by the dangers lurking within its depths, and Ven and his friends soon realize that in order to save thousands of innocent lives, they may have to sacrifice their own. For everything in the ocean needs to eat…
About the Author:
ELIZABETH HAYDON is the author of the bestselling Symphony of Ages fantasy series, which began with Rhapsody. The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme, set in the same enchanted world, is her first series for young readers. She lives on the East Coast with her husband and children.
My Review:
Ven once again finds himself on an adventure, this time under the sea. With his friends Amariel, a merrow and char, and a human they adventure deep into the sea, exploring the depths of a coral reef. Going under the sea proves to be harder than he once thought. Especially since the Thief Queen is searching for Ven. Then when Madame Sharra visits before they go back into the ocean, he realizes that there maybe more added to his already full plate.
Madame Sharra leaves him with a dragon scale, possibly belonging to a sea dragon. While on this wild adventure under the sea, they now have to accomplish two things---one, finding the sea dragon and two, finding the amazon Tree of Water in the hopes that they will save thousands of lives.
The Tree of Water, is a fantasy book filled with crushing defeat yet intense optimism. The group must really rely on their own inner strength to battle the unknown.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge from the publisher for my honest review.
The epic voyages continue in The Tree of Water, the fourth adventure in bestselling author Elizabeth Haydon’s acclaimed fantasy series for young readers, The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme.
As Royal Reporter of the land of Serendair, it is the duty of young Charles Magnus "Ven" Polypheme to travel the world and seek out magic hiding in plain sight. But Ven needs to escape the clutches of the nefarious Thief Queen, ruler of the Gated City, whose minions are hunting for him. His friend, the merrow Amariel, has the perfect solution to his dilemma: Ven and Char will join her to explore the world beneath the sea.
As they journey through the sea, Ven finds himself surrounded by wonders greater than he could have ever imagined. But the beauty of the ocean is more than matched by the dangers lurking within its depths, and Ven and his friends soon realize that in order to save thousands of innocent lives, they may have to sacrifice their own. For everything in the ocean needs to eat…
About the Author:
ELIZABETH HAYDON is the author of the bestselling Symphony of Ages fantasy series, which began with Rhapsody. The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme, set in the same enchanted world, is her first series for young readers. She lives on the East Coast with her husband and children.
My Review:
Ven once again finds himself on an adventure, this time under the sea. With his friends Amariel, a merrow and char, and a human they adventure deep into the sea, exploring the depths of a coral reef. Going under the sea proves to be harder than he once thought. Especially since the Thief Queen is searching for Ven. Then when Madame Sharra visits before they go back into the ocean, he realizes that there maybe more added to his already full plate.
Madame Sharra leaves him with a dragon scale, possibly belonging to a sea dragon. While on this wild adventure under the sea, they now have to accomplish two things---one, finding the sea dragon and two, finding the amazon Tree of Water in the hopes that they will save thousands of lives.
The Tree of Water, is a fantasy book filled with crushing defeat yet intense optimism. The group must really rely on their own inner strength to battle the unknown.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge from the publisher for my honest review.
November 16, 2014
The preface hooked me. When the author named a place” Ketchup-upon-Hamburg, South Germany” and talked about “attending a yak milking seminar in the high peaks of Katmandont” I was hooked. I interrupted my husband to reread the lines to him. I knew then I would enjoy this book because of the word play.
The author wrote the story in first person through Ven’s journals and then third person throughout the rest. Ven tells us he is from the race of people known as Nain. They live with humans in Vaarn. Here is how he describes them. “…Nain are somewhat shorter than humans, and grumpier. They live almost four times as long as humans, and tend to be much less curious, and much less adventurous. They hate to travel, don’t swim, and generally do not like other people. Especially those who are not Nain. I clearly am not a good example of my race.” The minute I read that last line I was sucked into this wonderful world. He described himself as tall for a Nain. He used sixty-eight Knuckles high as the measurement. I knew I had found an author with such a creative and imaginative mind that it left no doubt I would love this book.
The adventure begins with Ven and his best friend trying to find a fisherman to cut gill slits in their neck. Before the slits can be cut, Madam Sharra shows up and gives him another dragon scale. He must evade the Thief Queen, who is the ruler of the Gated City. Ven must travel with his friend Char and merrow friend Aariel to the bottom of the sea to find the Tree of Water. Finally, he mustreturn the dragon scale to its proper owner, the dragon it came from. He must also avoid getting them all killed by the predators of the sea.
I loved the Reader’s guide in the back of the book. It is aligned to the Common Core Standards. There are discussion Questions as well as Writing and Research Activities. This is the fourth book in this series. It read as a stand alone book. However, I feel I missed some great adventures by not reading the first three books; The Floating Island, The Thief Queen’s Daughter and The Dragon’s lair. I will be purchasing them for my shelves and reading them. Great fantasy lover. This is one I am not going to be able to keep on my shelves and one I may need to purchase as a giveaway prize for my students.
I received a copy to help facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
The author wrote the story in first person through Ven’s journals and then third person throughout the rest. Ven tells us he is from the race of people known as Nain. They live with humans in Vaarn. Here is how he describes them. “…Nain are somewhat shorter than humans, and grumpier. They live almost four times as long as humans, and tend to be much less curious, and much less adventurous. They hate to travel, don’t swim, and generally do not like other people. Especially those who are not Nain. I clearly am not a good example of my race.” The minute I read that last line I was sucked into this wonderful world. He described himself as tall for a Nain. He used sixty-eight Knuckles high as the measurement. I knew I had found an author with such a creative and imaginative mind that it left no doubt I would love this book.
The adventure begins with Ven and his best friend trying to find a fisherman to cut gill slits in their neck. Before the slits can be cut, Madam Sharra shows up and gives him another dragon scale. He must evade the Thief Queen, who is the ruler of the Gated City. Ven must travel with his friend Char and merrow friend Aariel to the bottom of the sea to find the Tree of Water. Finally, he mustreturn the dragon scale to its proper owner, the dragon it came from. He must also avoid getting them all killed by the predators of the sea.
I loved the Reader’s guide in the back of the book. It is aligned to the Common Core Standards. There are discussion Questions as well as Writing and Research Activities. This is the fourth book in this series. It read as a stand alone book. However, I feel I missed some great adventures by not reading the first three books; The Floating Island, The Thief Queen’s Daughter and The Dragon’s lair. I will be purchasing them for my shelves and reading them. Great fantasy lover. This is one I am not going to be able to keep on my shelves and one I may need to purchase as a giveaway prize for my students.
I received a copy to help facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
November 17, 2014
TREE OF WATER BY ELIZABETH HAYDON
What a wonderful book this is! I was lost in a marvelous new world with so many new experiences to discover. This is the fourth book in the fantasy series created by the author Dr Haydon but the first one I have read, this not being my normal genre. However I will definitely read more.
We have Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme who is known as Ven who is of the race Nain. Nains are shorter than humans and grumpier and live 4 times as long. In human terms Ven would be 50. He is also tall for a Nain.
Ven’s best friend is Char who is a human.
Then we have Amarial who is a merrow (mermaid).
These three friends embark on an adventure under the sea and meet so many wonderful things and creatures. The action is fast and furious and even realistic.
This book is full of wisdom and humour as well as adventure.
There are many interesting and fascinating characters that the trio meet along the way to find the Tree of Water, which legend says grows on top of a tall mountain in the depths of the sea. Among them is the Thief Queen of the Gated City who is looking for Ven, Madam Sharra the fortune teller who gives Ven and Char stones like marbles to enable them to breathe under water, Megaloden the large shark and so many others.
Will the three young adventurers outwit the predators they come across? Will they find the missing pieces of the puzzle? Will they find the Tree of Water?
I leave it to the reader to discover the answers for themselves.
This is a very well written book which is attractive to young and old alike and I certainly recommend it. I enjoyed it very much. It is worthy of five stars.
What a wonderful book this is! I was lost in a marvelous new world with so many new experiences to discover. This is the fourth book in the fantasy series created by the author Dr Haydon but the first one I have read, this not being my normal genre. However I will definitely read more.
We have Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme who is known as Ven who is of the race Nain. Nains are shorter than humans and grumpier and live 4 times as long. In human terms Ven would be 50. He is also tall for a Nain.
Ven’s best friend is Char who is a human.
Then we have Amarial who is a merrow (mermaid).
These three friends embark on an adventure under the sea and meet so many wonderful things and creatures. The action is fast and furious and even realistic.
This book is full of wisdom and humour as well as adventure.
There are many interesting and fascinating characters that the trio meet along the way to find the Tree of Water, which legend says grows on top of a tall mountain in the depths of the sea. Among them is the Thief Queen of the Gated City who is looking for Ven, Madam Sharra the fortune teller who gives Ven and Char stones like marbles to enable them to breathe under water, Megaloden the large shark and so many others.
Will the three young adventurers outwit the predators they come across? Will they find the missing pieces of the puzzle? Will they find the Tree of Water?
I leave it to the reader to discover the answers for themselves.
This is a very well written book which is attractive to young and old alike and I certainly recommend it. I enjoyed it very much. It is worthy of five stars.
November 10, 2014
A Magical Adventure Reminiscent of The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings
Ven Polypheme and his friend Char are off on another adventure with their mermaid friend, Amariel. Ven is adventurous for a Nain. Most Nains prefer to remain at home, but Ven is hungry for adventure. In this fourth book, he and Char travel to the bottom of the sea, a place usually shunned by Nair. He is searching for the Tree of Water that is supposed to exist somewhere in the sea.
Their first obstacle is to be able to breath under water. They are about to let an old fisherman cut gills in their necks when Madame Sharra shows up. She gives them stones to allow them to breathe under water and another dragon's scale. These devices will prove important on their journey.
The book is a magical fantasy that will delight young readers, and perhaps some not-so-young readers who are reading it with their children. The book is filled with hair-breath escapes from fantastical creatures and beautiful descriptions of undersea life.
The series is based on Ven's journals. He is traveling the world recording the natural wonders, human knowledge, and all things magical. Since this is the fourth book, readers may want to go back and read the first three. However, it's not imperative. The author presents information that allows the reader to catch up with the story and the adventure is basically standalone.
I recommend this book for young adults and for anyone who enjoys a good fantasy with lots of action and magical scenes.
I reviewed this book for PR by the Book. #TheTreeofWaterTour
Ven Polypheme and his friend Char are off on another adventure with their mermaid friend, Amariel. Ven is adventurous for a Nain. Most Nains prefer to remain at home, but Ven is hungry for adventure. In this fourth book, he and Char travel to the bottom of the sea, a place usually shunned by Nair. He is searching for the Tree of Water that is supposed to exist somewhere in the sea.
Their first obstacle is to be able to breath under water. They are about to let an old fisherman cut gills in their necks when Madame Sharra shows up. She gives them stones to allow them to breathe under water and another dragon's scale. These devices will prove important on their journey.
The book is a magical fantasy that will delight young readers, and perhaps some not-so-young readers who are reading it with their children. The book is filled with hair-breath escapes from fantastical creatures and beautiful descriptions of undersea life.
The series is based on Ven's journals. He is traveling the world recording the natural wonders, human knowledge, and all things magical. Since this is the fourth book, readers may want to go back and read the first three. However, it's not imperative. The author presents information that allows the reader to catch up with the story and the adventure is basically standalone.
I recommend this book for young adults and for anyone who enjoys a good fantasy with lots of action and magical scenes.
I reviewed this book for PR by the Book. #TheTreeofWaterTour
July 26, 2015
First order of business: THANK YOU ELIZABETH HAYDON FOR WRITING A FOURTH NOVEL!!!! You have made this 16-year-old very happy!
I've been reading this series since 2007, and had fallen in love with it after the very first chapter of The Floating Island. So you could imagine my panic when (even though the final page of The Dragon's Lair had confirmed that the Tree of Water was in the works) five years after The Dragon's Lair's release and with no more notice on the fourth book, I began to believe that this book was never going to come out. BUT IT DID!!!
And now, the real review: This book was definitely the darkest of the series, and the only one that made me feel absolutely terrified for the characters (normally I just feel a little nervous). *(Slight spoiler)* I thought the part with the diving bells and the lost souls wandering the depths of the sea was very haunting and interesting.
I love it when authors bring back in characters and information that at first you don't really think have much of a purpose, but then turn out to be more important than you had thought (Eg: Megalodon and Mr. Coates), which was another reason why I loved this book (although I know a lot of people who don't like it when an author does this because they don't like having to remember all of the information).
All in all, this was a fabulous book, and I cannot wait for the next two installments (although I really hope there will be more than just two!!!)
I've been reading this series since 2007, and had fallen in love with it after the very first chapter of The Floating Island. So you could imagine my panic when (even though the final page of The Dragon's Lair had confirmed that the Tree of Water was in the works) five years after The Dragon's Lair's release and with no more notice on the fourth book, I began to believe that this book was never going to come out. BUT IT DID!!!
And now, the real review: This book was definitely the darkest of the series, and the only one that made me feel absolutely terrified for the characters (normally I just feel a little nervous). *(Slight spoiler)* I thought the part with the diving bells and the lost souls wandering the depths of the sea was very haunting and interesting.
I love it when authors bring back in characters and information that at first you don't really think have much of a purpose, but then turn out to be more important than you had thought (Eg: Megalodon and Mr. Coates), which was another reason why I loved this book (although I know a lot of people who don't like it when an author does this because they don't like having to remember all of the information).
All in all, this was a fabulous book, and I cannot wait for the next two installments (although I really hope there will be more than just two!!!)
November 11, 2014
This story is based on the lost journals of Ven Polypheme, a royal reporter that is to travel the world and find magic. Ven is trying to escape the Thief Queen. His merrow friend Amariel suggests exploring underwater and search for The Tree of Water. But this is not his only task. Just before they leave, Madame Sharra gives them a sea dragon scale and tells them to find the dragon too.
This is the fourth book in The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme, which I was concerned with since I have never heard of this series. Don’t let that stop you from reading it. There is no down time trying to figure out what is going on. You jump straight into the action. There are numerous dangers to encounter from sharks to jelly fish to sea elves and a dragon. It seems Ven’s group is always in one form of danger or another.
I really liked this story. There was great action and a good plot. It reminds me of the Hobbit for middle grade kids. But if you like middle grade stories, you will like The Tree of Water also. I’m excited to see how this series began and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This is the fourth book in The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme, which I was concerned with since I have never heard of this series. Don’t let that stop you from reading it. There is no down time trying to figure out what is going on. You jump straight into the action. There are numerous dangers to encounter from sharks to jelly fish to sea elves and a dragon. It seems Ven’s group is always in one form of danger or another.
I really liked this story. There was great action and a good plot. It reminds me of the Hobbit for middle grade kids. But if you like middle grade stories, you will like The Tree of Water also. I’m excited to see how this series began and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2015
This book is great for kids and adults will have fun reading it too. I loved all the puns and how the author knew when to put them in the story. This story is so creative and the action is very fast moving. I liked that the author had Ven making mistakes and other characters apologizing. Even though this was make believe there was a strong sense of responsibility. There are sea kings, and sea creatures, and so many more members of this world. It is hard not to take a mental voyage with the characters as they take a ship's voyage. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.
November 17, 2014
I have to say I enjoy the book for the most part. It was a really good tale of magic and fantasy. even though i was slightly lost as this was the third or fourth book in the series the story was enjoyable. i have to say I most likely would have enjoyed it more had I read the earlier books in this series. That said if you enjoy a good tale of magic this is your book but please think about reading the first books in the series so you don't' get lost like I did.
Disclaimer: I receive a free copy of this book exchange for my honest review.
Disclaimer: I receive a free copy of this book exchange for my honest review.
August 29, 2016
DNF 40%..... such a disappointment. I absolutely loved the first three books and have recommended them many times. It was really hard to get through this story until I finally had to just give up. The tale was getting ridiculous and hard to believe. The sharing of thoughts underwater and speaking everything you think was over the top. I also could not like his merrow friend and thought that she was a spoiled brat. She was okay and interesting in the previous books unlike her character in this one. All in all a total let down.
October 29, 2014
This is the best of the journals yet. My kids and I have waited forever for this book, but it was well worth it. Children's hero Ven Polypheme goes under the sea with best friend Char, led by the merrow Amariel, through an incredible journey of great beauty and terrible danger. This series is destined to be a classic. The wonders of the sea are so clearly described, whether or not they exist in the real world, that it's like watching it on Discovery Channel.
December 1, 2014
I thought it moved really slow. SPOILERS: when Venn and the others got to the tree that was also too fast. the others stuff moved too slow. I loved the book. It is my second favorite out off the four. My first had to be the theifs queen daughter. I wonder what the next will be like..... curiosity is very itching.
August 15, 2022
Not nearly as compelling as the original set of 3, but I’m so pleased to have finally found the 4th book. Perhaps my views are altered since I read the original 3 many times as a child (and greatly desired the 4th to be written and published), but read the 4th as an adult. I have such fondness for the depth and delight of the first 3.
December 11, 2015
The Tree of Water is a beautiful tale of friendship, bravery, and good ole curiosity. I highly recommend this series to any fantasy lover with a fondness (or at least tolerance) of children's (i.e. 7-13 year-old's) novels.
July 8, 2016
The Tree of Water is an underwater fantasy that skillfully draws the reader into a world that seems real. Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger situation for the believable characters. This highly engaging book will entertain readers fourth grade and up.
January 28, 2015
It was one of the best ending to a series ever. I loved that Ven named the ship after Amerial and I love how nicely the characters developed. It was an amazing book.
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