Beyond The Valley Of Thorns (2005) - Plot & Excerpts
Summary: In this sequal to the first book in The Land of Elyon series, Alexa Daley find herself in the carridge with her father riding back to Bridewell for once again another summer. Since the events of the previous summer, Alexa finds herself eager for more adventure once again with Yipes, Murphy and a very special spot of light, in the most comfortable of chairs, in a worn library, where the adventures began. Things are now a little different, not meaning the jelly faced old friend that still repairs books, it is his life and he will remain there probably till he dies. When I say new things, I mean the fact that the surrounding walls that once seemed to enclose the adventures, now seemed protective in a way. Also, the rulers over the Land are all still the same with one less traitor, and of course, it could never be the same now that Warvold is dead. As ALexa Daley and her father enter into the boundaries of Bridewell, there of course is Pervis Kotcher, there to greet her with his watchful but sighing eyes. Because of last summer's events, there has also been a new set of rules set down by her father that she is likely to break. Before she knows it she will too be a ruler of the Land of Elyon along with Nicholas, it seems that her childhood is quickly being pulled out beneath her. Now she is fourteen years old, but still as daring as ever to listen in on converstaions she shouldn't be, spying and of course saving the Land of Elyon. It's interesting in this book though, because the rising of the action starts much faster than the last one. In fact, it starts so fast that she doesn't even get a chance to spend two dinners with her father before she is off again. She goes on a quest with Yipes through the dark hills, and much farther than she could have ever imagined. Of course though it was all through the power and will of Warvold. It's funny how even though he is dead, his spirit still lives on. As Alexa Daley finds herself doing the will of Warvold, things almost feel like old times again, when he was still here and the walls that once surrounded bridewell were never gone, before all the chaos of the previous summer, as it had never happened. As yipes and Alexa make thier way through the dark hills once again, they do come across some old friends. The previous summer Alexa had been taken mysteriously down to the secret pool by Yipes to revieve the precious stone, with the voice of elyon etched into it. But she has been out of the dark hills almost a year now, and her old pulsing green stone no longer works. So when Yipes and Alexa go down into the secret cave, they come across and old friend of Warvold who happens to be an Ex-convict. But he has a new stone for her and Alexa is overjoyed to finally be able to communicate with her talkative furry friends. This is only the second of many books. In it's pages lies the fate of Alexa Daley, Warvold's instructions, Yipes and maybe all of the Land of Elyon's fate. It is up to Alexa Daley once again to not only save Bridewell but the surrounding realms of the Land of Elyon as well. If I were to rate this book, I would rate it three stars, because the first book is still my favorite, but because this is the second book, the author couldn't give to much answers or adventures becuase it is a full series, but ultimatley it was a very descriptive book, and exciting at some times. I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, stories about talking animals and brave young girls who like to eaves drop, and spy, and anyone who thinks mysterious deaths aren't random.
Setahun setelah kejadian yang melibatkan para narapidana, Alexa dan ayahnya kembali ke Bridewell. Tak banyak yang berubah dari kota ini termasuk perpustakaan tempat yang paling disukainya. Bahkan kursi empuk, tempat ia menghabiskan waktu sampai masih berada di tempat yang sama. Tempat inilah yang ia kunjungi sehari setelah tiba di BridewellBuyi ketukan tiba-tiba terdengar ketika Alexa baru saja hendak menekuni buku yang dipilihnya dari rak. Bunyi ketukan berulang –ulang itu ternyata berasal dari belakang kursi, dari balik pintu rahasia.Alexa hanpir tak percaya ketika Yipes berdiri dihadapannya. Kedatangan kurcaci bukanlah kunjungan biasa. Pria kecil ini membawa surat untuk Alexa dari Warvold, pria pemimpin Bridewell yang meninggal tahun lalu. Surat itu menawarkan petualangan baru. Tentu saja bagi Alexa sungguh sayang untuk dilewatkan begitu saja, walau ia tahu petualangan ini jauh dari hal-hal yang menyenangkan. Setelah mempersiapkan segala yang diperlukan, Alexa pun meninggalkan Bridewell menuju bukit-bukit kelamPerjalanan bersama Yipes membawanya pada seorang pria mantan narapidana bernama John Christopher, Odessa sang Serigala, Murphy si tupai dan tentu saja elang yang bernama Squire. Surat lain dari Warvold membuat semuanya semakin jelas. Kerajaan kecil bernama Castalia menjadi tujuan mereka. Tak hanya letaknya yangs sangat jauh yang menjadi rintangan, namun raksasa buruk rupa, gerombolan pencuci otak, segerombolan anjing liar yang sangat ganas dan kelaparan harus mereka hadapi. Dan tentu saja yang utama adalah menghadapi abaddon sang iblis pengendali pikiran.Petualangan yang benar benar menegangkan. Bahkan menimbulkan teror berlebihan bagi Alexa. Kejutan demi kejutan datang silih berganti. Semua itu membuatnya sadar bahwa kelompok mereka harus bergerak lebih cepat sebelum pihak musuh berhasil dengan niatnya menghancurkan Negeri Elyon.Tidak seperti buku pertama, buku ini menyisakan misteri yang membuat semua pembaca harus membaca buku ke tiga, Kota Kesepuluh. Sayangnya sampai review ini saya posting, belum ada kabar tentang penerbitan buku ini. padahal buku pertama dan kedua terbit dua tahun lalu. Semoga saja penerbit tidak seperti Alexa yang menghadapi ribuan makhluk mengerikan sehingga menghalangi mereka menerbitkan buku yang satu ini. Saya sebagai pembaca benar benar berharap pada buku ketiga ini. Petualangan Alexa benar benar harus diselesaikan.
What do You think about Beyond The Valley Of Thorns (2005)?
From School Library Journal:Grade 4-6–Mystery and adventure entwine in this second book in the series. Alexa and her odd companions (two men, one of whom is two feet tall; a squirrel; a wolf; a hawk; and a giant) share suspenseful and horrific experiences, such as escaping the Black Swarm (hundreds of deadly bats) and running from zombielike ogres on flame-covered hills with only jagged rocks and the Lonely Sea below. Dangerous scenes such as these lend excitement and fear as the group attempts to defeat Abaddon, an evil ogre who asserts his murderous will through lesser ogres and bats while chained in a great pit at the edge of the Tenth City. Carman provides enough background information for those who have not read the first installment. The text is poetic, full of childlike wonder, and well written, but the occasional lapse in action may make this novel unsuitable for some reluctant readers. These adventures seem daunting at times to mischievous Alexa, but fantasy fans will eagerly join in her quest.–Jessi Platt
—Jessi
So, after loving the first book in THE LAND OF ELYON series, I was really excited to read Beyond the Valley of Thorns.In the second installment, it's been about a year since Alexa Daley discovered the secret stone, animals, and sinister plots. She's back where she was before ... awaiting another adventure. And one comes indeed. But this new escapade is far more darker and dangerous than the last.... And you're probably wondering about my three-star rating. Well, it means I liked this book. I enjoyed it. I'm excited to continue this series! But it just wasn't everything that the first book was. Some parts dragged a little for me, personally. It was missing the charm, intricate-ness, and thrilling nature of The Dark Hills Divide. I don't know. It wasn't horrible; I still liked it!! But it was just different. Maybe it needed a bigger ending, which means I just need to go read the next (last) two books! :DWe see the Christian allegory coming to surface in this book. Which is exciting! ^_^ Some parts I wasn't exactly sure where the author was going ... but overall, it's good. (view spoiler)[I love hearing the voice of Elyon as He speaks to Alexa!! <3 (hide spoiler)]
—Shantelle
Second in a series - Alexa thought her troubles were over when she defeated the man who had threatened to bring down Bridewell from within ("The Dark Hills Divide"). But now that the walls around her land have fallen, a new, unexpected threat has risen from outside. Suddenly, Alexa, as the "chosen" one to help good defeat evil, must venture beyond the Valley of the Thorns with her new friends, confronting giants, bats, ravenous dogs, and a particularly ghoulish mastermind in order to bring back peace. The first book could have been a stand alone, but then I had to read the second. It lost some of the appeal and excitement of the first and is more series-oriented, leaving the ending hanging with the bad guy escaping with a friend in jeopardy. I loved the collection of characters who help her defeat the spreading evil, but am debating whether to continue on to book three - there are at least four. (Carman is a series-writer.) I can see why some of my library kids don't usually get to books 3 and 4.
—Cathy
