Shop Ireland

The Belgariad (Vol 1): Volume One: Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit by: David Eddings

More Product Details...

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next »

Click here to add a review!

Average rating -

Rating: - I am still thankful that this series caught my eye...

This volume includes the first three books in David Eddings' well-known "The Belgariad" series. Those books are "Pawn of Prophecy", "Queen of Sorcery" and "Magician's Gambit", and I can sincerely said that they are excellent, so good that I still enjoy them even though I first read the series more than 12 years ago.

"The Belgariad" brings a strange world to the readers, a world where magic is a reality that is accepted, even if it isn't overly common. Eddings somehow managed to bring to life a whole world, with different countries and plenty of political intrigue, as well as deities that take a close interest in mundane affairs.

The main character is Garion, a very level-headed young orphan who will suddenly find himself in the midst of action when a magical stone, the Orb, is stolen. Strangely enough, our very common teenager will involuntarily become involved in a quest to retrieve it, along with his Aunt Pol, a storyteller and some very interesting characters from diverse parts of the world. The fact is, the retrieval of the Orb involves very ancient prophecies that must be fulfilled, and Garion and his companions are part of it all.

Garion will discover that his Aunt Pol is no other than Polgara the sorceress, and that the old man who from time to time drops by and tells him stories is both his grandfather and Belgarath the sorcerer. Garion will be eager to know more, specially what he is supposed to do in the grand scheme of things. Despite that, nobody tells him a thing, the excuse being that he will learn everything when it is time to do so.

All in all, I can tell you that I am still thankful that this series caught my eye many years ago. "The Belgariad" is pretty popular in USA, but that isn't the case in Argentina, and I could have overlooked it. Fortunately that wasn't the case, and due to that I am in the position to highly recommend "The Belgariad" to you, knowing very well what I am saying.

Please take into account that "The Belgariad, Vol. 1" only includes the first three books in the series, so you will do well to buy it at the same time than "The Belgariad, Vol. 2", that compiles the last two books. That is likely to save you time, because as soon as you finish the first volume you will be so full of curiosity regarding the rest of the story that you will probably run to a nearby bookstore to purchase the rest of the series, if you hadn't already done so. That having been said, happy reading :)

Belen Alcat

Rating: - Simply Great

I was suspicious about the books, but when I read the first one it took me about 3 weeks to finish the Belgarion and Mallorean sagas. All of the characters are well described, the story is humours with a unique humor, and it is simply great in every fiction readers eyes, because it isn't some cheap story, it has a lot of twists and it really can suprise almost every sentence. If you like fiction you have to read these books.

Rating: - The Belgariad, What a Read!!!

I first read the Belgariad series in the early eighties, I read them to my fiancee when we were house sitting for his mother. In a way we kind of grew up with the main character Garion.
Each book put us further onto the edge of our seats!
David (and his wife Leigh) have got to be two of the best fantasy writers that we have today. Not only do you become enthralled with the story, but you cannot help falling for each character on the quest. Like all good reads there are sad, funny, and scary moments, even unlikely love. I cannot recommend this series of books and the second series, The Mallorean, enough. It's perfect for the younger teenager, as it has magic, love, fighting and intrigue, lots to keep them reading. If you want to try to read some fantasy, then look no further!

Rating: - An enjoyable start to true fantasy

I read this book sometime last year (2004) after my dad mentioned he had read them as a young boy the same age as me, I plunged straight in and i was gripped by the books finishing the 1st in 2days and the 2nd in a week overall it took me about a mnth to read the whole 5books of this series and then when my dad brought out the second series (the mallorean) i was enthrolled and that took me a mounth too. Eddings really pulls you in a devolps the story and characters ok yes now ive read LOTR I notice some of the similarities of the story line but what great fantasy doesnt have some relation to LOTR all Fantasy is about some kind of quest. Yes there was some very obvious things such as Mr.Wolf being Belgarath and Aunt Pol being Polgara which even though i hadnt read the books still knew who they where due to they being my dads favourite chracters of Eddings after Garion!

Each character that Eddings has created in these series is lovable in there own way if they are good and the hated if they aint good, I still look at these books and think "shall i read them again" but i know if i do they wont be the same as the 1st time around it will always be diffrent thats why i recomed these to someone who is getting in to fantasy and not to read them again afterwards, thats why i give it 4 and not 5 stars if it was re-readable id give it 5

Rating: - interesting, yet missing the real point

David Eddings is an amazing creator. His characters have to be some of the best in the world of fantasy writing. Each character has his or her own personality, which is easy to remember becuase they are human. They live in their own communities, and have human relationships, and are easily loveable, despite the flaws that Eddings makes so obvious. This, in fact, is probably part of their charm.
Also, on the subject of amazing-ness, his story ideas are excellent. Or amazing. With a smidgen of Christian legends in there, and a lot of Lord of the Rings influence (let's not degrade Eddings for that, I don't think there're many fantasies which don't involve a quest and a naive questor anymore), his storyline and the general idea is great.
However, David Eddings cannot write. He is a creator. It may be safe to say that his wife, Leigh, is the writer. In his prequels, Polgara the Sorceress and Belgarath the Socerer, he adds his wife's name on the credits and admits that she was his co-writer. David Eddings, did you need your wife to write this book? Becuase yes, whilst your story ideas are genial, and your characters intense, the story lags in places, and the grammar drips with American slang just dying to be let out - as it is, in certain phrases such as 'lay down' and 'get gone.'
The story and the powerful characters deserve five stars. But two must be removed for the shoddy writing techniques. Maybe David Eddings should take up art. That way, he wouldn't have to worry about grammar.

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next »