The Talisman

Daughters of the Moon #10

by Lynne Ewing

Maggie is running out of time on this earth. And before she can name her successor, she reflects on the incredible, age-old journey that brought her to where she is. As a girl in ancient Athens, her father was a great warrior and leader of men. However, it was Maggie, known then as Penelope, who chose to battle the greatest enemy of all-the Atrox. After seeing an innocent man succumb to the Atrox and his shadowy followers, she takes a vow to help cleanse the world of its evil. But in doing so, she may have to forego the love of the great soldier, Hector, and lose her sister to the dark side.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy, Fiction

278 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2003

About the author

Lynne Ewing is an American author and a screen writer.

She always had to move around a lot when she was growing up because her father was in the Marine Corps. She has two sisters. Lynne graduated from high school in Lima, Peru after attending seven other schools. While she was in Peru, she learned to speak Spanish. She attended the University of California at Santa Barbara. When she was 30 years old, she began writing for newspapers, documentaries, magazines, and did screen writing. She also counsels troubled teens. Her first books were Drive-By and Party Girl. Drive-By took six years to write, and Party Girl has been made into a movie called Living the Life. She has written the completed Daughters of the Moon and Sons of the Dark series. She lives in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.. Ms. Ewing has two children, Jonathan, a molecular biologist, and Amber, an international lawyer. She has also traveled to Japan, China, Russia, Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. She has begun a new series called Sisters of Isis.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Really

I have been working on cleaning out my TBR and that includes this series.

I both like and dislike this book. I really don't like when a series builds up nine books in an arc and then completely stops the arc and tells a back story. I find this frustrating as a reader. It upsets me greatly. I think I would have loved this to be the first book in the series it would be a a solid 3 star read for me. However, at book ten, it seems to be a "filler" book. As in 'I don't know where to go forward in the arc, so I'll add a backstory that has little to no impact on the arc itself.'

This book does haven some issues with continuity and pacing, but overall its a decent read. Unfortunately its about 9 books too late.

[Savanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave alot of back history about the charters set in the olden days I enjoy it

[HorrorBook HellHound · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but there were quite a few parts that felt really rushed. Overall, interesting plot and it was nice getting to know Maggie better.

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives insight into Maggie's life, before she dies. Not bad.

[Katie Rios · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maggie's story was interesting enough to keep me entertained, but it wasn't my favorite. I think I skimmed a good portion of the end, only reading the dialogue. I feel like I'm at a point where I just REALLY want to know what happens at the end of everything.

Now, this is where I quit reading this series 10 years ago, so the next 3 books for me will be brand new and never read, which is kind of exciting.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD...











I think Jimena is going to be the new Maggie. It really lead to that in this book, but I'm really confused about how Maggie is supposed to tell her since she became a mist there at the end. I guess maybe Chris? Also, side note, I really adore Chris. I'm glad he's become a bigger part of this story. Also, does anyone else find it weird that Vanessa AND Catty have both made out with someone Maggie did? Like, 2000 years before? I mean, honestly, it's kind of really weird. Just saying.

I'll miss Maggie, but I'm interested to see if Jimena is the girl that replaces her. I'm like, 99% on this for some reason. On to the next...another Catty book, which I'm OK with.

[Kristal J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Talisman" by Lynne Ewing delves into Maggie's past and her devotion to the goddess Selene, offering a new angle to the "Daughters of the Moon" series. However, I found this book unnecessary in the broader series context. The depth provided could have been condensed into a chapter or two within the seventh book, "Moon Demon," without diluting the overall narrative.

Despite this slow and dragging read, the final chapter and epilogue managed to infuse an unexpected twist, redeeming the reading experience and sparking curiosity about the future of the Daughters of the Moon.

Rating: 2/5 ⭐️

Songs:
- Seven Devils by Florence + The Machine
- Shatter Me by Lindsey Stirling ft. Lzzy Hale
- Bones by MS MR
- Goddess by Banks

[Belle]

Yeah, I remember not really loving this the first time I read it and I fear I should’ve trusted my gut. I would even argue that this book is 100% skippable, as it’s basically a Maggie backstory, which…is interesting, sure. If you’re into that that. But is it essential reading in relation to the series? Absolutely not. If anything, this just feels like it should’ve been treated as a separate prequel rather than part of the series, because to me, it’s basically just bonus content.

All that said, I just found this soooo boring and so pointless. I didn’t remotely enjoy any of this. I couldn’t bring myself to care. I know it’s Maggie, but I’m sorry, I just didn’t care. This is a book you can 100% skip and I think you’ll be fine.

[Sarah Dunmire · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was really good. I remember liking this one the least when I read it as a teen, but now I like it the best! It’s not at all in the same vein as the others but it’s the origin story of Maggie as she is preparing to pass on the Magna Mater role to another. We learn her history in ancient Greece, how she came to love Hector, how she became a servant of Selene, how she gained immortality, and how she met Chrysippus (aka Chris, the keeper of the scroll). Very exciting story and brings together a lot of pieces from previous books in the series.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been finishing up this series because I think I stopped reading the series at some point in my childhood. This book in the series is a backstory to a lot of plotlines in the other books in this series, so it filled questions I had earlier without giving away a detail I really can't wait to find out.

[Christi B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is the equivalent of a mythological music video. It has beautiful imagery, some substance (but definitely not too much), and a super simplistic writing style. But the nostalgia is so real and my 30s-year-old self loves it just as much as the 12 year old me that wanted desperately to be a badass goddess of the moon. It's absolutely terrible and I freaking love it so much.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very action packed book. I have to wonder who is taking Maggies place and what happened to her child, what role he or she played.
This one has none of the daughters in it, it is purely Maggie's story. Probably the best one so far.

[Rune · Rating 5 out of 5]

The daughters of the moon; Vanessa, Jimena, Serena, Tianna and Catty, their mentor Maggie is thrown back in time to when she lived in ancient Athens, Greece as a young lady. She must survive and lose her love Hector all over again in this tale of love sacrifice and nostalgia.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished in less than 8 hours. The pacing was kinda not the best and the last like 25 pages were unbelievably rushed. There was so much that need to happen when I had 6 pages left, so it was a bit stressful. I’m ok with it for now cause eeeee pretty cover, fun story, and backgroundddd!

[Heather Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this whole series in elementary school (around 25 years ago 🤣). I loved everything about this series and it's the series that got me into reading fantasy.

One of the best escapes I had in my childhood.

[Jourdyn Glaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt like I was reading an episode of Xena warrior princess, it was pretty great.

[Jazz Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow Maggie you truly are the SUPREME mother!

[Valerie Crump · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best one I've read so far.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay, glad to see Maggie's back story however it did feel like a filler book and I am frustrated with how it ended.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

great!

[Canned Bread · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably one of the most forgettable books, bored me to death to the point didn't pick it up again until 2 and a half months later

[Lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aw man Maggie died

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was largely in the past and that was cool.

[MaKayla Ledenyi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book overall, however, there were portions that felt quite rushed

[Sarah Grossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every minute of this book it took me on a rollercoaster of emtions i felt from the charcters. Must read sereies

[Jade Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a nostalgic read from my younger days. I was absolutely obsessed with this series and would love to re-read it one day.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

LoveLoveLove this one. I'm a classical world fanatic and this book is narrated by Maggie aka Penelope and is set during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. Her name was Penelope during those times and she was a young noble woman living with her family in Athens. Her father was none other than Alcibiades, a general in the Athenian Navy, who after being sentenced to death ran away and sold out Athens to the Spartans. I really loved Ewing's incorporation of actual people, places, and situations in this book. I couldn't believe how cruel Penelope's sister Taemestra was to her. I know people like that did and o exist but I can't imagine why should would go to such murderous lengths to get revenge on something that wasn't even hers to begin with. It wasn't Penelope's fault that Taemestra had a higher opinion of herself than Hector did. I also have no clue as to why Hector would believe that he defeat the Atrox all on his own. I think it is amazing how long Maggie has been alive and all of the things that she has seen, done, and experienced makes me EXTREMELY jealous. That is the historian in me of course. The one thing about this book that is really frustrating, to me at least, is that some much is left unsaid. For example, who is supposed to take Maggie's place. This supposed goddess come to Earth in human form. Also who is Maggie and Hector's child!!! I read that and I'm like HUH? I really have no clue as to who it is? I knew that Penelope's Spartan friend Chrysippus was Catty's Chris and I am about 75% sure that Jimena is the goddess sent to guide the Daughters but I haven't any idea who Maggie and Hector's child is? I feel so bad for Hector and Maggie because I think they really did love each other but their relationship was pretty much doomed from the beginning just for the simple fact that Maggie had a vindictive sister. Also pretty cool that Maggie's father is Zeus I mean Taemestra had every reason to be jealous her sister was a demi-god and she was just a mere human. It was also good to find out that their mother was imprisoned by Hera and hadn't actually left them. No matter what a Taemestra said about the matter. I am not sure why Maggie's elixir of age regression ran out because the deal that she made was to live to see the Atrox destroyed and she dies in this book and there are three more after this one so her death shouldn't have happened yet. That is one big inconsistency in the story that the author didn't really elaborate on. Guess we'll see how it all fits together in the next three books.

[Koorihime-sama · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

APART OF THE GOODREADS 2011 READING CHALLENGE.

2ND REVIEW. 1ST REVIEW IS HERE.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5

Maggie is running out of time. She has to pass her title of mentor to the Daughters of the Moon to the new successor. However, will the Atrox stop her before she can even tell the new heir?

I decided to do a better review of the Daughters of the Moon series by Lynne Ewing since my first ones weren’t done very well. This book is really a fast read, but since I really didn’t like this one, it took longer than the other two books.

This book is unlike the other books in the series, but it is like the one about Stanton. It gives information about Maggie, instead of telling you a mythology story. Though this book is another one of my favorites because it does something different from the other books, which makes it even more special.

Anyways, in this book, we continue to learn more about the Daughters of the Moon, Atrox, and what’s more, we get to learn more about Maggie’s past. For me, the plot was way more interesting than the other books because it takes place during ancient Greece (I think it was Greece) and you learn more about a side character. Also, it gives you more information on her role as the mentor of the Daughters of the Moon, Hector, and Chris. I loved the parts where it gave more information on them. :P

Anyways, the tone and dialogue still reminds me a lot of my teenage years and my high school, so the author did a really good job at writing the book in teenage words and their world. The descriptions are still very well done, and both of these things made the book go a little bit faster than most other young adult books. So, I really like this book from these points. Another thing I liked about this book is the mythology and history that is incorporated in it. Also, the character growth and their personalities are believable (for a supernatural book). As the books/series goes on, you get more information about the Daughters of the Moon and the Atrox, which is good because it won’t overload you with information with just one book.

This series is pretty good. Also, I loved this book because of the history and romance that it has, so go ahead and read this one. ;)

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment of the book series was Maggie's (the mentor of the Daughters of the Mooon) flashback on her life in 431 B.C in Athens, Greece. She was a teenager reliving her destiny envolving the Atrox and how she became the gaurdian mother to the many of the Daughters of the Moon. It takes you through the incident envolving her romance with Hector that was mentioned in the book the Moon Demon number 8 in the series, and it showed you her struggles in fulfilling her destiny.


Likes:

1. The problems the character (Penelope aka Maggie) had to face were not as small and little kidish in comparison to some of the other books in the series.

2. I loved how this book was a flashback of an important character in the Daughters of the Moon series. (Maggie)

3. This book helped give you more insight on the romance of Hector and Maggie.

4. It gave you more history on the Atrox and gave a more understanding of every aspect of the story.

5. I liked how Maggie was willing to sacrifice herself for those she loved and to set things back to the way they were ment to be.

6. I loved Maggie as a person in this story. She was loving and wasn't selfish at all. She thought before she acted and tried to fix her mistakes. She was never whining about how hard her life was and I admired how she never gave up even when it seemed the easier thing to do. She excepted her destiny and made the most of it.

7. The book throws a surprising twist at the end that makes you want to know more and continue on with the series to find out.


Dislikes:

1. I didn't like how there wasn't a lot of romance in this book as their could of been. I feel like there was a potential for it to have more.

2. This book was very fast paced and it didn't seem like there was any time to relax. It was action after action after action.

Overall this was a very enjoyable book and it didn't take long to get through becasuse the author did a pretty good job and sucking you in and keeping your reading. I hardly set the book down.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes place in the past and shows the history of Maggie and how she became the guardian of the Daughters of the moon. Maggie is running out of time on this earth, she is getting older and she ran out of youth potions, but She still needs to name her successor. Maggie isa girl in ancient Athens, her father was a great warrior and leader of men. Maggie, known then as Penelope back then, chose to battle the the Atrox after seeing an innocent man succumb to the Atrox and his shadowy followers. She takes a vow to help rid the world of its evil, but she had to give up the love of the great soldier, Hector, who she cannot marry because of her vow. In addition, her choice caused Hector to fall into the Atrox hands and her sister to turn to the drak side.

[Britney (BookDrunkSloth) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this book had many of the same flaws as its predecessors. Conversations and interactions would go way too fast. Characters' moods change dramatically and often. I would keep thinking to myself, "Well, that escalated quickly..."

What I did really enjoy about this book is what really sets it apart from the rest in the series. The book was about Maggie's life back in long ago Athens. So it's great to have the change in scenery and it's exciting to learn a little more about Maggie.

I love Greek Mythology and that's the reason I was first drawn to this series as a young adult. This book really got into it. It was pretty good.

I am excited to finish this series. I'm so close to the end that I'm beginning to get impatient.