The Islands of the Blessed

By: Nancy Farmer

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

“Jack, Thorgil, and the Bard are off on a new quest in this immensely satisfying conclusion of the trilogy that began with The Sea of Trolls and continued in The Land of the Silver Apples” in this “beautifully written tale” (Kirkus Reviews).

It begins with a vicious tornado. (Odin on a Wild Hunt, as the young berserker Thorgil sees it.) The fields of Jack’s home village are devastated, the winter ahead looks bleak, and a monster—a draugr—has invaded the forest outside of town.

Soon, Jack, Thorgil, and the Bard are off to right the wrong of a death caused by Father Severus. Their destination is Notland, realm of the fin folk, though they will face plenty of challenges and enemies before get they get there. Impeccably researched and blending the lore of Christian, Pagan, and Norse traditions, this expertly woven tale is beguilingly suspenseful and, ultimately, a testament to love.

The concluding volume of the heroic Sea of Trolls trilogy from National Book Award winner Nancy Farmer finds Jack and his companions on a journey that may end up righting old wrongs—if they survive.©2009 Nancy Farmer; (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

The story

Easily one of the absolute best historical fantasy novels of all time. Impeccable story and characters. Amazing for all ages.

The Islands of the Blessed

I enjoyed the adventures that all the characters have to overcome and finally succeed at the end.

Rich with mythology and vivid descriptions!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Islands of the Blessed to be better than the print version?

Haven't read print version but I love Gerard Doyle's voice in his reading of the book. So many different characters he finds a new voice for each!

What other book might you compare The Islands of the Blessed to and why?

The Ranger's Apprentice series. Both are geared toward youth or young adult, I'm 50 and really enjoy them. Characters have intellegence, bravery and values.

Have you listened to any of Gerard Doyle’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Just in this one series. (3 books) I love his narration.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, just couldn't wait to get back to it and very sa it was over in the end.

Any additional comments?

From the books I've listened to, the narrator makes such a impact on the story. The ability to change voices for different characters is amazing!

My all time favorite series!

I've both read and listened to this series many times. I never get tired of it, and I always discover either a forgotten or missed tid bit here and there. The humor in each character has me smiling and laughing out loud throughout the whole series, which is truly a delight. I find myself craving the company of Jack and Thorgil while doing chores or driving in the car, which is why I listen to this series several times a year, lol. One mystery I've not solved after all this time.....the REAL meaning of the very end of the 3rd book. I won't spoil it.....go find out for yourself, and let me know your thoughts! ([e-mail])

Addicted!

I read the first two books as a child, I am pleased to now have finished the whole series in a just a few days, I loved every bit of it. The characters really came alive through such masterfully crafted words.