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QUEEN OF SORCERY (Eddings, David. , the Belgariad, Bk. 2.)
by David Eddings
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Del Rey (1982-10-12)
ISBN: 0345300793
EAN: 9780345300799
Dewey Decimal #: 813.54
Mass Market Paperback: 327 pages
Release Date: 1982-10-12
SKU: 2890
Condition: Good
Comments: Binding: Softcover. Condition: Good. Creased binding.
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
"BELGARIAD is exactly the kind of fantasy I like. It has magic, adventure, humor, mystery, and a certain delightful human insight."
PIERS ANTHONY
The master Sorcerer Belgarath and his daughter Polgara the arch-Sorceress were on the trail of the Orb, seeking to regain its saving power before the final disaster prophesized by the legends. And with them went Garion, a simple farm boy only months before, but now the focus of the struggle. He had never believed in sorcery and wanted no part of it. Yet with every league they traveled, the power grew in him, forcing him to acts of wizardry he could not accept.
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Customer Reviews
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Stereotyped and repetitive, but not that bad.
Rating  (3)
Date: 2008-11-04
This is the second book in the Belgariad (after Pawn of Prophecy, and before Magician's Gambit, Castle of Wizardry, and Enchanter's End Game).
Leaving Cherek after the council of Alorn kings, Belgarath, Polgaria, Garion and their companions set off in pursuit of Zedar the Apostate, who stole the Orb of Aldur to bring it to the evil god Torak.
Following the corrupt disciple's trail will bring them across Arendia, then Tolnedra and finally to Nyissa via the Wood of the Dryads. They will meet new companions along the way: Lelldorin the rash Arendish archer, Mandorallen the bold Arendish knight, and Ce' Nedra the spoilt red-haired Tolnedran princess.
All the while, various enemies such as Murgos, Grolim priests and assorted monsters make their best to hinder their progression, but thanks to Polgara's, Belgarath's, and eventually Garion's powers, those are usually quickly brushed aside with the flick of a hand.
After the exciting reunion with a world I had enjoyed 11 years ago, while reading this second volume I finally realized how annoyingly stereotyped some of the characters are and how repetitive the plot is: move to a new kingdom - meet new allies - encounter baddies - fight - win - move on to the next kingdom - ... while Garion wonders about his past and reluctantly discovers his abilities. However, these books manage to stay entertaining, thanks to some of the characters' traits intended for comic relief, such as Silk's knavery or Ce'Nedra's willfulness. All in all they're not that bad.
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Excellent fantasy series
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-09-10
I am enjoying this series a good deal. Yes, there are the common elements, the journey, the young farm boy headed towards maturity, the old wizzard. But they are done in a refreshingly different way.
The plotting and adventure of this book picked up quite a bit from the first, which was one of my main problems with it. My only real complaint here is that - for a time - it seemed like moving from one country, find a plot to over throw the government, solve it an move on. That bothered me a bit.
That aside, the action was good, the various peoples interesting, there was some character development which was nice and mostly logical, and Eddings' real strength is in his dialogue which was, and is particularly strong in my opinion.
I am still very much enjoying the series, and though not perfect, it is among the better fantasy series I have read. Hopefully the series keeps it up.
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Good Book, poor reading
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-06-13
I read these books as a kid so I will always love them. The guy who reads the books I tollerated because I really wanted to listen to the story, but he took some getting used to.
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Not Free SF Reader
Rating  (2)
Date: 2008-04-21
Orb chase.
A knight, an archer, a telepathic horse whisperer, a bratty princess, a couple of grumpy sorcerers, and, of course, the farm boy with super powers.
A-questing they will go. For many books to come, it seems.
Very light fantasy still.
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**YAWN**
Rating  (1)
Date: 2008-04-14
Once again, Eddings succeeds in boring the reader to tears. Yes, there are new characters, but sadly, they are once again predictable and one dimensional. Book 2 is again a monotonous drawn out journey with the same pompous conversation repeated at each stop. More whining and amazingly predictable perfect timing from the irritating and completely unlikable main character. Even if you had never read another fantasy book, or seen any Hollywood movies, I am sure you would still be able to predict everything in this book. Eddings has the remarkable ability to take small hints and turn them into large cement blocks that he repeatedly bashes you in the head with. Then he expects you to be surprised when he reveals whatever the hint was leading up to. Honestly, he insults the reader.
My only solace in forcing myself through these ghastly reads is that I did not buy the books.
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