Book 2), Queen of Sorcery (The Belgariad

The second book in The Belgariad series is one in which we learn a whole lot more about the characters. This is where the series really starts to take on a life of its own. The reader really gets a sense of this being a fully formed, realized world that Eddings had created. I can't wait to finish this series. Great for beginning fantasy readers.

I enjoyed reading this book. This series is wonderful. I have read all 10 books two times over the years, I love the way David Eddings has developed each character so fully . The humorous interactions between them make it easy to loose yourself in the story.

I bought these books many years ago when they were first released. I loved them then and I still do. I bought these e-books (The Belgariad 1-4) so I could have them in my e-book library and I will get around to reading them again soon.

I have now read this collection four times. Now starting my fifth.
The story is just as captivating to read again as it was the first time.

There aren't words to describe how much I enjoy these books.

I bought these books many years ago when they were first released. I loved them then and I still do. I bought these e-books (The Belgariad 1-4) so I could have them in my e-book library and I will get around to reading them again soon.

I have now read this collection four times. Now starting my fifth.
The story is just as captivating to read again as it was the first time.

There aren't words to describe how much I enjoy these books.

Queen Of Sorcery, is a great read, It carries the story of Belgarion and his companions quite well, not leaving any gaps in the story line to try and fill in later. I read this book in about 3 days, not being able to put it down.
I have the kindle version, download and transfer was easy, from purchase to reading it was about 1.5 minutes. A must have for an Eddings Fan.

Jinx Out.

David Eddings has done it again! I love the way he keeps you spellbound as his characters weave their spells. Once again he describes the intricacies of the interactions of different class of people working together to accomplish a goal. The battle of good vs evil continues.

I'd give the story 3 stars. Pawn of Prophecy was much better than this book, making it very clear that these were epic fantasies for minimalists (yes, Eddings leans on a lot of tropes but he also doesn't have to go on for twenty pages about the color of the bark of every tree like some fantasy authors do- he never forgets to keep the focus on the action).

The reason I marked it down is because of the voice acting on the audiobook. If I was just reviewing the voice acting I'd give it 1 star. Just the single worst audiobook I've ever heard (and remember- I liked the story). If you're going to give every single character an accent-- at least try to keep them straight. The reader often uses the wrong accent for a character, especially in scenes with heavy conversation. Then he'll realize what he's doing and sort of self-correct, but it almost sounds like the whole book was read in 1 take and they didn't bother to fix any mistakes (which admittedly are mostly around the reader's use of inflection & accent)

This is the type of book that can make you forget that you have a life other than reading. It will bring you into the story and will make you forget everthing else. A must to read and my favorite author.

If you enjoyed reading J.R. Tolkins books that you will love David Eddings, he has a great imagination and his book are a page turner, this is actually the second time I have read his Belgarath series.

Loved it so much the first time, I'm reading it again, and I'm enjoying it more! You have to read the whole series, of course, to get the full impact of the story. Love the book and love David Eddings!

I am very happy with this purchase. The book was in great condition and arrived on the day expected. It is a book that I couldn't find anywhere else and the other one I had was falling apart so it is great to be able to get replacement books for some of my favorite reading.

The quest to recover the Orb of Aldur continues. Garion, once a simple farm boy, finds himself thrust into the company of sorcerers, warriors, and conniving princes on a journey to save the world. As he struggles to find his place in the world, his true destiny begins rearing its head.

While traveling south through new lands, new members join Garion's party. From the resolute Mandrollan to the flighty princess Ce'Nedra, the company continues following the thief into the dangerous lands of the serpent queen.

Those who know Garion's destiny seek to seize him. He will have to grow into a man if he wishes to survive!

Queen of Sorcery picks up a few weeks after Pawn of Prophecy. Eddings skips us a farther south, not treading over familiar ground of Sendaria and setting us into a new country. His world building expands even more as he takes us into cultures new and varied from the solid lands Garion grew up in. Edding's sardonic humor can tread into the macabre from time to time, but the series continues to be fun and adventurous.

Garion continues growing up, on the verge of true adulthood on this book. He's in the last stages of that rebellious teenage phase as responsibilities of the world began to weigh on his shoulders. This series continues to be a fun romp and a great series for young boys to read as well as older fans. Eddings dialogue continues to be some of my favorite in Fantasy.

Quite a number of years ago one of my brothers gave me a complete set of both The Belgarid and the Malloreon; a total of eleven books...all a continuing story. These were quite ragged books and by appearance looks more like bottom of the bird cage fodder (He had purchased complete new sets from some seller her on the store) and did not have the shelf space for more of the same). Anyway, I placed these in a pile under one of my desk and there they sat for a year or more...my bad!

Finally I fished out the first book in the series (Pawn of Prophecy) and out of desperation one cold Saturday actually read the thing. I must say I was not only delighted but I was hooked! I have now read the entire series four times and am started on the fifth...this has nothing to do with my OCD – hey, I just like a good simple story that I can get lost in and enjoy without having to think all that much.

This work, The Queen of Sorcery take on right where the first book left off and Garion and his companions continue to chase the evil wizard who stole the Orb of Alder across the rather remarkable and detailed world that Eddings created.

The action is almost non stop but I suppose the most enduring quality of these books is the banter and word play between the main characters. There is plenty of magic, swordplay, evil men (and women) and is a most typical quest type of book. I know I read Wheel of Time and made it through the first four volumes before I hurled the fifth against the wall and gave up...not so with this series. While the writing here is not as sophisticated (rolls eyes here) as Jordan’s, it is, in my opinion, much better.

It is interesting to note that quite a number of Middle School teachers, as well as High School teachers, have told me they have used these books throughout the years to lure reluctant readers into their libraries...I can see why.

All in all these books are simply fun to read. They are not what you would call literature by any means...they are simply well told stories that are fun to read.

Queen of Sorcery picks up where Pawn of Prophecy left off with the ever-growing group headed by Belgarath, along with his daughter Polgara and her charge Garion, chasing the stolen Orb of Aldur. The adventure continues, and small skirmishes and battles ensue as the group travels on theie quest. Intrigue is uncovered in far off cities. Whole new cultures are shown, very different from the ones we knew before. Plus new characters are introduced that promise to delight and vex us all.

The second book in the Belgariad promises to be very different from the one before because Garion is no longer just a young child as he was in the first book. Time has passed and little Garion is growing up. There are a lot more teen angst style growing pains in this book than the last as a result. Especially as he struggles with his Aunt's true identity, and his own.

Several new cultures are introduced as well and all of them provide their own complex controversies. The Dryads who look like children but are extremely sexually active. The starving and suffering of the serfs in Mimbre is juxtaposed with the "honorable" knights that rule them. And finally Nyissa - a country that highly values snakes and the concept of immortality, when they aren't taking drugs or poisoning one another - features another highly sexualized being in the form of their "queen" who has ruled Nyissa for generations, or has she?

In amongst all of this though there are some gems for feminists to appreciate, just a few though. The largest being Polgara herself. She sews for the enjoyment of it, loves to wear pretty dresses, and be told she is beautiful, but she is also a very powerful and very wise sorceress and when she says jump the kings of the world do so immediately. I like that this shows that you can embrace femininity and still be considered worthy of power and respect. Something not often shown in any fiction let alone an 80's high fantasy novel.

While the beginning of this novel seems to show a repeat of some of the same events of the last one (a plot is uncovered, Garion is in the middle of things again, new characters join the quest) there are a lot of new twists and turns as well. This is an enjoyable read that builds on the world of Pawn of Prophecy and promises more to come in the next book as the quest continues to reclaim the Orb of Aldur.

Surprise surprise, this is the second book of the Belgariad. Here is where the plot starts to get going, and we get a little extra back story on Polgara and Belgarath.
First things first, what really annoys me about this series is Garion's scepticism about magic and sorcery. Let's be serious, here...there are people today who believe in magic, and on Garion's world it really *does* exist. Who ever told him that it doesn't?
This book introduces the Arends in general, and Mandorallen and Lelldorin in particular. Lelldorin, I have to admit, annoys me. Okay, he's a likeable enough kid, but he doesn't stick around long enough for the relationship that apparently develops between him and Garion to grow. It's annoying to say the least. Madorallan is also annoying, but at least his actions are in keeping with his characterisation.
Moving on through Arendia, the Murgo plot is believable - just the sort of thing Arends would fall for. Then we come to Tolnedra, which is different, to say the least.
I have a little trouble believing two so radically different cultures could exist side by side for so long, but hey, it's Eddings' world, let's play it by his rules. The best part about Tolnedra is Ce'Nedra. She's a fun character, and the interaction between her and Garion. Makes you think those two might have a future together....
The burning of Chamdar in the wood of the Dryads is very effective, especially Garion's emotional reaction to the whole thing. It's very believable, and helps his character no end.
Then to Nyissa. This is....well...I've gotta be honest, I find most of Nyissa a waste of time. It seems to have been inserted into the story simply to visit all the races and countries in the world. Okay, I'm not sure how it should've been done, but that doesn't mean I like it.
A pretty good second part, but marred by the ending.

I found this second book to be far more enjoyable than the first, though of course it doesn't make a lot of sense to read this one without reading the first one (I don't think they'd stand alone all that well). In this one, Garion discovers during the flight to recover whatever that thing is his aunt and grandfather are chasing that he is, in fact, a powerful sorcerer. He tangles with a bunch of bad guys, including a fascinating snake-queen, and wreaks a little magical havoc on people.
Garion's a well-drawn character -- a realistic, pouty young man who would vastly prefer that his cup had gone to another. His aunt is a force of nature (the description of her pounding through the halls of one of the bad guys looking for him are not to be missed, or forgotten), and his grandfather is an affable enough mix between Talen and Gandalf. This book adds the temperamental Princess Ce'Nedra to the cast -- and she's fun to watch as well, a complex and mercurial personality. For my money, the best part of the book takes place in Nyissa -- it is a fascinating place, and Eddings lavishes the best of his art on it and its denizens. Overall, a good book.

Queen of Sorcery is the second book in the five book saga of The Belgariad by David Eddings. The first book is Pawn of Prophecy.

In my review of Pawn of Prophecy I was a little harsh in that nothing really happened in the book and it seemed like `light fluff' reading to me. I also said the book was riddled with clichés from the fantasy genre.

I was a little hesitant to read this next book being that I was rather critical of the first, but felt I wanted to know what happened to some of the characters. I must say I am pleasantly surprised by the degree of difference between this book and the first one.

The characters in this book are mainly the ones present in the first book with the exception of a few additional ones added in. I will still continue to say that Edding's characters are heavily clichéd. However, it seems, in this book anyway, that he is beginning to forge his own characters and not relying on clichés as much, they are still present for sure, but not as apparent as before.

The is a tremendous amount of character development in this book. In the review of the first book, I had said the main character Garion was very uninteresting to me. Well, that has changed in this book. The development of Garion in this book is fantastically done. Even though it is a cliché in how he develops, Eddings does it in a way so as to seem fresh and new. Another character Silk, seems capable of stealing any scene he is in. Silk is one of the most interesting and entertaining characters I have read in some time and am eagerly awaiting reading more about him. The characters of Pol and Mr. Wolf are still present, but there development seems to take a back seat to the development of the other characters, which is a good thing.

In the first book, virtually nothing happened plot wise, yet in this book - much like the character development- a lot happens. While observant readers will be able to see where the plot is leading and where the twists will happen, the casual reader will find this plot refreshing and endearing. This plot moves along at a good pace that doesn't seem to have many slow points. Unlike the first book, this one seems to have a purpose.

I think this is a much better book than the first one and feel rewarded for picking it up, considering how I felt about the first one. If you have read the first book and are even a little curious with continuing the series I think you will be pleasantly surprised with this second installment. It's a worthwhile read for those who enjoy the fantasy genre.

I had a rough time getting into this--didn't care overmuch about the characters, too many names introduced in too short a period to distinguish them, contradictions (though, to be fair, the contradiction that bothered me most--saying magic was too exhausting to use casually, and then proceeding to do just that--appears to have been deliberate).

The repeated ploy of the main character asking for clarification only to be told it was none of his business, or something he didn't need to know got very, very tedious. Which could also have been deliberate, to show how frustrated he was getting, but the only way you can do that without irritating the readers as well is to let the reader in on some of the secrets. Instead, it just looked like the author didn't know the answers either.

The last third of the book went a little faster, but I read this over 4 days. Unheard-of for me, particularly for a book that was only 300+ pages. It was just too easy to put down, and I was never really interested in picking it up again.

This of course is the second book in this continuing story. It is as good as the first installment of this series - "Pawn of Prophecy."This is a very fast story line with a lot of humor and excellent character development.

Garion and his companions continue their quest to recover the Orb. Their journey takes them to the land of the Snake People and Garion becomes more aware of his true destiny. Again, as with the first book, we have some very pleasing banter between the characters and new characters are introduced; some to be quickly forgotten, others to reappear throughout the entire two series.

This is a pleasant story, easy to follow and holds the reader's interest. You should be warned though, these books are difficult to follow if you do not read them in the proper sequence...one book pretty well picks up right where the last one left off. For a nice, mellow read, I highly recommend these books. If you like, or are partial to this particular genre, you will probably enjoy them. Enjoy!

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

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.

Queen of Sorcery, the second book of David Eddings' Belgariad series, picks up exactly where Pawn of Prophecy, the first of the series, leaves off. It's the same cast of characters - the sorceress Polgaria, her sorcerer father, Belgarath, and a young boy named Garion.
The three, along with their entourage of other exciting characters, continue their quest to stop the evil God Torak from getting hold of the Orb of Aldur, that will allow him to take over the world. So far, this plot is cliched, but there are many interesting mysteries and sub-plots Eddings introduces in this book. Torak, though the main villain, is never actually introduced in this book - only in the prologue. There are plenty of other bad guys, however, to keep a reader entertained.
Many mysteries from the last book ar resolved. What is Asharak up to? Who has the Orb? But new myseteries are introduced. What does the serpent queen want? What are Garion's new powers for?
Overall, this one's very satisfying and could stand on its own. It makes me eager to read the next installment too.

Well if you bought and read Pawn of Prophecy chances are you've already been hooked on the Belgariad, and you're going to buy this book anyway, but for those of you who are skeptical here we go.
"Queen of Sorcery" begins right where the last book left off, and is even more exciting as Garion and the rest of the party really begin to dig into their quest laid out before them before they were even born. In this book the story finally picks a faster more compelling pace that ensnares you immediately. Be warned though, the whole ensnaring of you attention thing continues throughout the series. More characters join the party in this book including little innocent Errand. This book takes you through more of the Western Continent, and into uniquely different lands of the Belgariad. If you liked "Pawn of Prophecy" you will definately like this book even more.

Queen of Sorcery, as well as Pawn of Prophecy, are two of the most surprising books I have read. I bought them expecting to just be stuck with a few more trashy fantasy books to read if i needed some light reading or something to critcize. Well, I was completely unprepared for what I found as I read these books. I found myself fully caught up in them. The plots of the books are just so great, I finished both of them in just a day or two each.
The plot really seems very simple: It's about a boy called Garion, who is travelling with his aunt Polgara, his grandfather Belgarath, and several other extremely interesting characters. They are on a quest to catch a thief who stole the Orb of Aldur, a very powerful magical artifact, before the thief can escape and use the Orb to awaken his god, Torak. Torak lies in sleep somewhere, and if he is awakened, he will bring war upon the peacful countries of the west.
That may not sound like anything special, but that is a completely simplified version, stripped down to the basics of the plot. The thing about it which really appeals to me is that this type of plot is exactly why I started reading fantasy books in the first place. It's simple when you get down to the basics, yet it still gets you wrapped up in it and captures your imagination.
I suppose that the plot really wouldn't make the book very good by itself. The writing was much better than in Pawn of Prophecy, and the characters were just as excellent as before. The witing of book one took away from the whole thing quite a bit, but it seems now that Eddings figured out how to write a bit better in this book. The characters are exactly what I expected: well thought out, realistic, and they develope very realisticly aswell. These two factors help hold the book together and add to the intrigue which kept me reading it for hours at a time.
This is certainly an exceptional book. I think that anybody would like it. It's easy and highly enjoyable, and overall a good read...

The second I finished reading the Pawn of Prophesy I went in search of this book. I just had to know what was going to happen next. What happened next, was that David Eddings characters drew me in even further and the adventure continued to wind its way across a strange and fascinating land.
Eddings Belgariad has been a part of my life for many years. About once a year I pick up the entire series and read it again. Adventure, wizardry, strange creatures, interesting places ... this series has it all. It also has a personality all it's own. Eddings descriptions of people, places and events are excellent. His grasp on human nature uncanny. His sense of humor shows through on every page.
Needless to say that the second I finished reading this book, I was in search of the next book in the series. I couldn't wait to find out what came next ...

In the second book of David Eddings brilliant and acclaimed fantasy epic, the group of travelers: Garion, Aunt Pol, Belgarath the sorceror, Silk, Durnik and Barak, continue their quest to find the Orb of Aldur. The Orb has been stolen by a priest of the mad god Torak and he intends to use it to wake that god from his unending sleep to dominate the world.

The group is also joined by several new members including Hettar who can speak to horses, Princess CeNedra, who flees from her home, and Mandorellan a powerful and chivalrous knight. Also in the book we begin to learn more about Garion and that he is also fated to be a powerful wizard like his Grandfather Belgarath and Aunt Polgara. And he must learn to start controlling his powers.

Once again Eddings' masterful character development set this apart from other fantasy writers. He creates unique characters with distinct abilities, mannerisms, and personalities and they never come off as cookie cutter or cliched. Eddings is at his best while describing the races of his world such as the plotting Murgos and Nyissians.

It's been well over 20 years since I read this book but I still recall them fondly and remember the anxious wait for the next one in the series to come out. Eddings was at the top of his game during this series.

Yes, I know most of us are sick of the puny runt who whines and complains yet contains a hidden and incredible power that will be needed to save the world from a vague dark evil. I hear you and agree with you, and that's exactly what the Belgariad does. So why the five stars?

Well, it's done so well and it's a fun read. The strength of Queen of Sorcery, book 2 of the Belgariad,is the characters. We're introduced to a few more and somehow David Eddings is able to give them unique personalities and convictions so they each bring something special to the table. It's nice for a change to skip the typical dwarf and elf theme as well.

Book 1, Pawn of Prophecy, was a slow and often repititous story. Queen of Sorcery certainly is not. It doesn't have the grit and hardcore reality that George R.R. Martin brings to his epic series, but it weaves an excellent story with witty dialogue. An excellent book for all ages.

'Queen of Sorcery' features the continued travels of Garion and his friends through several of the western kingdoms. They gain some new travel companions, and continue to follow in the tracks of the thief who stole the stone of Aldur. During the travels, Garion begins to realize that there is something which sets him apart from normal people, a fact which he has a hard time to accept.
This is the sequel to 'Pawn of Prophecy', and the second book in the amazing series of five books known as 'the Belgariad'. The series is later followed by another five in 'the Malloreon'. The story is the classic fight between the Evil which seeks to rule the world, and the Good which wants to save it, but what really makes the book so great is the characters. They are all very distinct from each other, with their own personality and desires. Eddings manages to keep them all separate, so that they are not mixed together in a faceless group. Instead they each have their part to play in the quest to save the world. If I had to pick a favorite among the five books of 'the Belgariad', this would be it.
I have read the entire series at least 20 times by now, and it remains my favorite fantasy. It is lighter than 'The Wheel of Time' series by Robert Jordan, which makes it suitable for younger readers as well, but it is great for anyone from around 12 to 112. I think many, like me, read this series as their first fantasy, and it is a great start to get intrested in the world of magic and swordfights. By now Harry Potter is probably a more common start, but this series is still required reading for fantasy lovers.

While readable, and a good continuation of the Pawn of Prophecy, the second book of the Belgariad series tends to drag a bit.
This book is still a darn good book. However, it does tend to be a book where a group of people travels, and that's it. They travel a road, find some enemies and either kill them or outwit them. Three hundred pages of this turns out to be monotonous at times.
The story is still overall very captivating. The innocent farm boy, Garion, starts to learn of his powers, his inner being, and his epic mission as he encounters new beings and goes through many different adventures. The description of the jungles of Nyissa alone near the end of the book is worth the price alone.
Without giving too much away, this book continues Edding's exciting series and I would highly recommend this book.

"Queen of Sorcery" is another fast-paced, well-written, and wonderfully detailed fantasy adventure story. Eddings' skill at handling the nuts-and-bolts issues of writing shows through even more than it did in "Pawn of Prophecy". He understands that he should never spend more than five pages on any particular scene, and he realizes that importance of injecting a good action scene every few chapters to break up the dialogue. But above all else, Eddings has the saving grace of not taking himself too seriously. For instance, consider a new character who comes on board at the start and spends the entire book talking in mock-Shakespearian, with lots of "thees" and "thous" and "forsooths". If the author was actually taking this seriously, it would be almost unendurable. But since he knows that it's all in good fun, we can laugh at it too. Overall, highly enjoyable, and I'm very much looking forward to reading the next installment.

The Queen of Sorcery picks up right where Pawn left off. Like the first book this one was pretty much very straight forward. The characters are given a little bit more depth than what was shown in the first book which adds to the overall story that is being told.
In the course of this book a couple new characters join our merry band of adventurers. A knight and a bratty princess. These two characters add another level of complexity to the story as their backgrounds sometimes sneaks up and causes problems. This is a recurring theme through out the series.

One of my favorite characters in this series is Silk, a prince from the nation of Drasnia. His antics, comments and overall cheerful characterization adds a bit of fun to a sometimes grim and dull story.

Overall, I am enjoying this series. As I stated in my review of Pawn of Prophecy, its a very simple and straight forward story, I don't see this changing in the next three books as well as the five book series that takes place afterwards. Its a nice adventure tale and one worth reading if you don't have anything else to read.

More of his ultimate destiny is revealed as Garion under the protection of his Aunt Pol begins to grapple with the extraordinary powers that are at his beck and call. Filled with action and political intrigue, Wolf and Pol struggle desperately to stop the Orb of Aldur from reaching the wrong hands and destroying the world. Sure at times some of the minor characters become interchangeable and a bit one dimensional, and Garion seems beyond naive and almost dumb sometimes with his wide eyed innocence. Still, the formula works, and in this book the plot has finally taken off with a shot.

This is the second book of the Belgariad. This is also the book where the story picks up speed. The plot is finally revealed to those who haven't figured it out yet and we finally begin the pursuit of Zedar in earnest.

Note: My spelling of names may be awful since I heard these stories rather than read them myself.

Along with the characters we know to this point we pick up a fair amount of new ones. Mandorallen, the Mimbrate knight, Hettar the Algarian horseman who can talk to horses and C'Nedra, princess of Tolnedra.

The familiar characters are also going through changes. Garion is becoming a teenager with a serious streak of rebellion and, at the same time, is in the midst of discovering that he has powers that can do terrible things. Barak continues to learn about his particular curse, and Silk.. well.. Silk never changes that much but he provides most of the comic relief in the story.

I read these books when I was a teenager and am now re-reading them again several years later. I still enjoy most of the characters as much as I did but I had forgotten how much the female characters in this series grind on my nerves. Let me explain.

There is something about male fantasy writers that make them write female characters so that they are extremely unlikable. Polgrara is a perfect example of this: by the age of 15 she has not even started to teach Garion to read, she punishes the asking of questions and basically does her best to keep him ignorant so he won't do anything that she can't control. Polgara is a vile character that fans seem to love. There is only one truly accurate female trait that is written into Polgara's character is the ability to suck any fun out of any room (Having lived with women for 31 years, I can vouch for this one).

Now, it sounds like I am devaluing Polgara's character here but the conflict between Polgara and Garion finally comes to a head and creates one of the most intense personal moments in the entire series when Garion and Polgara finally face off in a very brutal argument.

Meanwhile the other main female character in this book is C'Nedra who is a whiney, spoiled little brat who (like most females) is only happy when screaming or whining or attacking someone at their weakest moment. It is C'Nedra that has caused me to almost close the book and give up on the series more than once in this novel.

Now, It looks like I just said a lot of bad stuff about women so I want to be clear. This is the image of women that Eddings (And Jordan and many other fantasy writers) have created. I don't like it and I only put up with it because I happen to love fantasy and you have to take the good with the bad.

All in all, the book is funny and much wider in scope than the first one and less focused than the next one. Just be prepared to be annoyed in some places.

Yes, I know most of us are sick of the puny runt who whines and complains yet contains a hidden and incredible power that will be needed to save the world from a vague dark evil. I hear you and agree with you, and that's exactly what the Belgariad does. So why the five stars?

Well, it's done so well and it's a fun read. The strength of Queen of Sorcery, book 2 of the Belgariad,is the characters. We're introduced to a few more and somehow David Eddings is able to give them unique personalities and convictions so they each bring something special to the table. It's nice for a change to skip the typical dwarf and elf theme as well.

Book 1, Pawn of Prophecy, was a slow and often repititous story. Queen of Sorcery certainly is not. It doesn't have the grit and hardcore reality that George R.R. Martin brings to his epic series, but it weaves an excellent story with witty dialogue. An excellent book for all ages.

'Queen of Sorcery' features the continued travels of Garion and his friends through several of the western kingdoms. They gain some new travel companions, and continue to follow in the tracks of the thief who stole the stone of Aldur. During the travels, Garion begins to realize that there is something which sets him apart from normal people, a fact which he has a hard time to accept.
This is the sequel to 'Pawn of Prophecy', and the second book in the amazing series of five books known as 'the Belgariad'. The series is later followed by another five in 'the Malloreon'. The story is the classic fight between the Evil which seeks to rule the world, and the Good which wants to save it, but what really makes the book so great is the characters. They are all very distinct from each other, with their own personality and desires. Eddings manages to keep them all separate, so that they are not mixed together in a faceless group. Instead they each have their part to play in the quest to save the world. If I had to pick a favorite among the five books of 'the Belgariad', this would be it.
I have read the entire series at least 20 times by now, and it remains my favorite fantasy. It is lighter than 'The Wheel of Time' series by Robert Jordan, which makes it suitable for younger readers as well, but it is great for anyone from around 12 to 112. I think many, like me, read this series as their first fantasy, and it is a great start to get intrested in the world of magic and swordfights. By now Harry Potter is probably a more common start, but this series is still required reading for fantasy lovers.

While readable, and a good continuation of the Pawn of Prophecy, the second book of the Belgariad series tends to drag a bit.
This book is still a darn good book. However, it does tend to be a book where a group of people travels, and that's it. They travel a road, find some enemies and either kill them or outwit them. Three hundred pages of this turns out to be monotonous at times.
The story is still overall very captivating. The innocent farm boy, Garion, starts to learn of his powers, his inner being, and his epic mission as he encounters new beings and goes through many different adventures. The description of the jungles of Nyissa alone near the end of the book is worth the price alone.
Without giving too much away, this book continues Edding's exciting series and I would highly recommend this book.

"Queen of Sorcery" is another fast-paced, well-written, and wonderfully detailed fantasy adventure story. Eddings' skill at handling the nuts-and-bolts issues of writing shows through even more than it did in "Pawn of Prophecy". He understands that he should never spend more than five pages on any particular scene, and he realizes that importance of injecting a good action scene every few chapters to break up the dialogue. But above all else, Eddings has the saving grace of not taking himself too seriously. For instance, consider a new character who comes on board at the start and spends the entire book talking in mock-Shakespearian, with lots of "thees" and "thous" and "forsooths". If the author was actually taking this seriously, it would be almost unendurable. But since he knows that it's all in good fun, we can laugh at it too. Overall, highly enjoyable, and I'm very much looking forward to reading the next installment.

The Queen of Sorcery picks up right where Pawn left off. Like the first book this one was pretty much very straight forward. The characters are given a little bit more depth than what was shown in the first book which adds to the overall story that is being told.
In the course of this book a couple new characters join our merry band of adventurers. A knight and a bratty princess. These two characters add another level of complexity to the story as their backgrounds sometimes sneaks up and causes problems. This is a recurring theme through out the series.

One of my favorite characters in this series is Silk, a prince from the nation of Drasnia. His antics, comments and overall cheerful characterization adds a bit of fun to a sometimes grim and dull story.

Overall, I am enjoying this series. As I stated in my review of Pawn of Prophecy, its a very simple and straight forward story, I don't see this changing in the next three books as well as the five book series that takes place afterwards. Its a nice adventure tale and one worth reading if you don't have anything else to read.

More of his ultimate destiny is revealed as Garion under the protection of his Aunt Pol begins to grapple with the extraordinary powers that are at his beck and call. Filled with action and political intrigue, Wolf and Pol struggle desperately to stop the Orb of Aldur from reaching the wrong hands and destroying the world. Sure at times some of the minor characters become interchangeable and a bit one dimensional, and Garion seems beyond naive and almost dumb sometimes with his wide eyed innocence. Still, the formula works, and in this book the plot has finally taken off with a shot.

This is the second book of the Belgariad. This is also the book where the story picks up speed. The plot is finally revealed to those who haven't figured it out yet and we finally begin the pursuit of Zedar in earnest.

Note: My spelling of names may be awful since I heard these stories rather than read them myself.

Along with the characters we know to this point we pick up a fair amount of new ones. Mandorallen, the Mimbrate knight, Hettar the Algarian horseman who can talk to horses and C'Nedra, princess of Tolnedra.

The familiar characters are also going through changes. Garion is becoming a teenager with a serious streak of rebellion and, at the same time, is in the midst of discovering that he has powers that can do terrible things. Barak continues to learn about his particular curse, and Silk.. well.. Silk never changes that much but he provides most of the comic relief in the story.

I read these books when I was a teenager and am now re-reading them again several years later. I still enjoy most of the characters as much as I did but I had forgotten how much the female characters in this series grind on my nerves. Let me explain.

There is something about male fantasy writers that make them write female characters so that they are extremely unlikable. Polgrara is a perfect example of this: by the age of 15 she has not even started to teach Garion to read, she punishes the asking of questions and basically does her best to keep him ignorant so he won't do anything that she can't control. Polgara is a vile character that fans seem to love. There is only one truly accurate female trait that is written into Polgara's character is the ability to suck any fun out of any room (Having lived with women for 31 years, I can vouch for this one).

Now, it sounds like I am devaluing Polgara's character here but the conflict between Polgara and Garion finally comes to a head and creates one of the most intense personal moments in the entire series when Garion and Polgara finally face off in a very brutal argument.

Meanwhile the other main female character in this book is C'Nedra who is a whiney, spoiled little brat who (like most females) is only happy when screaming or whining or attacking someone at their weakest moment. It is C'Nedra that has caused me to almost close the book and give up on the series more than once in this novel.

Now, It looks like I just said a lot of bad stuff about women so I want to be clear. This is the image of women that Eddings (And Jordan and many other fantasy writers) have created. I don't like it and I only put up with it because I happen to love fantasy and you have to take the good with the bad.

All in all, the book is funny and much wider in scope than the first one and less focused than the next one. Just be prepared to be annoyed in some places.

The other reviews here have it right:

- Eddings' style is straightforward and focused on storytelling
- The story he's telling is absolutely fantastic
- When it's "slow," it's because he's outlining elements of the world that are important to support the story
- The mantra continues to be "Characters, characters, characters..."

If you read Pawn of Prophecy and thought it was three stars or better, then you need to read this next. It's the ramp up to awesome.

The second book of the Belgariad continues the story of Garion as he continues to struggle internally with his new powers that he doesn't want or think he needs. He continues on his journey with Polgara and Belgarath on their quest for the Orb of Aldur, which was stolen by a priest of the evil God Torak. Garion must learn to control his power or it may end up destroying him and others. I'm definitely enjoying this series. The characters in the book are interesting, and the plot believable. The book could easily be read by young adults as well as adults.

"The Belgariad" began it all for me. Before this, I was rather put off by fantasy books, and I never felt the desire to start reading any. But to my delight, I found this to be an immensely interesting experience. Eddings's prose flows smoothly, and the adventures of Garion and friends have helped me spend many otherwise sluggish evenings. On the whole, this is a highly readable series. If you are not looking for the kind of intricately detailed writing by authors like Tolkein or Jordan, this is your best bet! Enjoy.

Queen of Sorcery is much better than it's prequel. It has a lot more fantasy and magic. It also has more unique characters and a better storyline. I still think it was too predictable because even though I haven't read the 3-5 yet, I'm still pretty sure that Garion is the heir to the thrown of Riva and that Ce'Nedra is his future wife.

Besides that the book also was more exciting. Their were no particularly boring parts and it kept me entertained the whole time. This book is definetly worth reading.

This was my friend Amy's favorite one in The Belgariad (We read it all together - I read Pawn of Prophecy Sunday, passed it on to her Monday while I read this one, passed this one on to her Tuesday and picked up Magician's Gambit and so on) Salmissra freaked both of us out. It was so sad when Polgera had to tell Issus "Your beloved preistess died long ago." I didn't expect to like Ce'Nedra much when I first met her, but she turned out great. This book clearifies a lot. I love it. Breathe deep seek peace, Tin

his is the second book in the Belgariad series, written by David Eddings. Belgarath, Polgara, Garion and their companions are continuing their chase of the Orb of Aldur and it's thief. During the course of their search, they add members to their group: Ce'Nedra (the Tolnedran Imperial Princess), Mandorallen (a Mimbrate Asturian) and the Asturian archer, Lelldorin. The group begins by going through Arendia and then through Tolnedra. Eventually, the group winds up in Nyissa, a swamp like kingdom known for its snakes and its poisons. The troupe experiences setbacks and adventures that are expected in a novel such as this and Garion very nearly becomes a "man" very much before he or his Aunt Polgara intended him to.

The characterization in this novel is wonderful. David Eddings has obviously put a lot of thought into who is characters are and how he wants to portray them to his readers. The dialog is wonderful and makes it move quickly, even though the plot is somewhat predictable. The novels aren't bogged down in overly descriptive prose.

Generally a pretty good read.

I strongly dislike audible books. I got three when I first got my Kindle Fire - three of my all-time favorite books yet! - and I was hardly able to make it through the first chapter of one of them. I would much rather do my own reading. I got the first Belgariad book when the ebook was still available (another of my all-time favorite series), but when I was ready to get the next one, they had all been pulled off the Kindle market. It's just my opinion, of course, but I will NOT buy any more audible books. Don't get me wrong - the Belgariad books are wonderful! I would love to have the series for my Kindle! I just don't like audible books.

This is Eddings' first crack at fantasy, so it's not surprising to find a heavily cliched series of books here. The characters are wonderful, and managed to keep me reading the first time through. I couldn't manage a second reading, however. Way too cliche. Might be a good intro for non-fantasy readers

It is such a great book. Continues the adventures of Garion, Polgara, Belgarath, and the rest of the company, with the additions of the slow minded but wonderful Arends, Lelldorin and Mandorallan. Also the prissy Tolnedran princess Ce'Nedra, who is being forced to travel to Riva on her 16th birthday to marry the Rivan king. Garion battles with his foe Asharak the Murgo, and comes to grips with his powers of sorcery. A must read for Eddings fans.

This is probably the third time I've read through this series since I first stumbled across it in my teenage years and this time, it just doesn't seem as good as I remember it.
Don't get me wrong, Eddings has created an interesting world and as always, his characters are very likeable and good humoured but the plotting itself seems very clumsy; little more than an excuse to move the characters from one part of the world to another. I understand that the hero's journey is very much a tradition in the fanasy novel but when you've seen it a thousand times before, it gets much harder to ignore the feeling of every movement being contrived to show off the author's world.
Thankfully, Edding's characters are never tiresome. Dialogue is especially his strong point with all of his protagonists throwing witty banter back and forth throughout their travels. All are well developed and contain a surprising depth which reveals itself more and more as the series progresses. Particularly touching in this book is the scene where Polgara stops Barak's attempt at suicide.
I would reccomend this book to young adults or just anyone who's after a light-hearted and easy going fantasy.

Don't look to David Eddings for literature. This is commercial pulp fantasy to the core. It rips off Tolkien and a slew of other authors, and the long, drawn out series often resembles a soap opera. You could skip a book and not miss out on too much, if you know what I mean. The earlier books are better, because by the end, Eddings seems to be running low on ideas and the mysteries of the world he creates have largely been explained. This will satisfy fantasy fans desire for another hit after reading The Lord of the Rings, but it's ultimately a pale imitation.
So, quality schlock it is.

Many people think David Eddings is overly formulaic which he is a bit but since I enjoy the tale he tells I do not mind reading it over again. His characters always have great humor at their core and you can't beat a good epic tale for entertainment value. This particular book is one of my favorites by him.

For people who enjoy reading for the purpose of getting into the story. The books written by David Eddings' are for people who get attached to characters and love to immerse themselves in reading. To me his books are like coming home for a visit.

If you want to read simply to get to the finish line---Eddings is not for you.

I have read this book 9 times. I liked the first book, but found the second book much better. I enjoyed how the personalities of the party have started really developing. Eddings has done a brilliant job creating this world. I have given away a number of copies of this book.

Eddings seems to make this book a little longer. If I remember correctly it was around 350 pages compared to the 247 of the first book. In this book Garion begins to discover the people in his everyday life are the protectors of foundation of the very world he lives in. He starts to understand what happen to his family and why it did happen. Eddings continues his draw on his series by making each book better and better.

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.

I love this series and was excited to see it on audio form, but the guy who narrates the book (Cameron Beierle) is ghastly. His male characters all sound pretty much the same and he's made up an accent that at times sounds faintly German and at others faintly British. C'Nedra amazingly enough is either Italian or Spanish and is almost painful to listen to. If he narrates the entire saga, I'm not going to listen to it.

Queen of Sorcery is the Eddings at the top of his game. The one-liners fly left and right, Garion gets into trouble, Aunt Pol stands around looking at everybody with her eyebrows raised, Belgarath is grumpy, Silk is making some witticism or another, Barak is flexing his muscles, Durnik acts like a naive, earnest bumpkin... Well, you know, typical Eddings, but highly readable and the best fun you can have in fantasy.

Well, David Edding does it again!! His characters become so real to the reader that you feel like slapping Ce'Nedra, you feel like telling Silk that if he pulls any more stunts you're going to turn him into a radish and you feel like giving Garion a big hug and telling him that of course his Aunt Pol still loves him! I just wish David Eddings was as immortal as Belgarath so that he keeps turning out more sagas like the Belgariad and the Mallorean! These books are my talismans and in my opinion every household should have a set.

Eddings is a fantastic author in the sense that he can create a realisitc fantasy world. I personally look for two things when reading a book: the system of economies and politics in the countries and the system of magic. Eddings created realistic economies varying from the manorial system of Arendia to the imperial power of Tolnedra. I thought the system of magic lacked some. The Will and the Word is a very creative idea, however I feel it gives the sorcerors(esses) too much power to be able to anything. But otherwise Eddings is a great read!

Though "Pawn of Prophecy" had its good points, "Queen" picks up the pace, with our heroes finally having a chance to start their quest. Although the series can be somewhat predictable, it remains an enjoyable read and one of my favorite fantasies. Eddings has a knack for producing interesting characters who have complex interpersonal relationships.

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.

The second in the Belgariad series, the Queen of Sorcery is well done! I have the cd and a long drive to work, but not long enough. David Eddings has an extra-ordinary ability to place the reader into the story. Before you know it, you are laughing at Silk, in awe of Polgara and worried about Garion.

I began reading these books as a teenager. I loved them then and I love them still. Now my kids read them and they are a foundation stone in our literature homeschool curriculum. The Belgariad is a timeless classic.

David Eddings is an amazing author. Some of the things in his books are so moving I find myself close to tears. Great concept great series. Try Belgarath the Sorcerer after the Belgariad and the Mallorean, or before if you wish considering its a prequel. Five stars!

In this compelling book, Garion discovers his roots when he travels to Arendia, Tolnedra, and Nyissa. He also learns more about his Aunt Polgara and his Grandfather whom he calls Mr. Wolf. As they travel across their world, they are confronted by friend and foe alike. Garion must decide whether to use sorcery or not.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. I had read the book (and the series) years ago. I commute 3 hours round trip daily, so audiobooks are my saving grace. This was well done, with an excellent reader.

The book really amazed me with how many name it had. despite all the names i thought it was very fun to read, i couldn't put it down. the names wern't bad at all, im just not good with names, but even i got the whole thing in my head.