Customer Reviews
Exciting tale! 
2007-12-14
I love books that show how ancient peoples were caught between their old gods and Christianity. In the book, THE LAND OF THE SILVER APPLES by Nancy Farmer, she shows one young boy's life during 790 AD Britain.
Thirteen-year-old Jack misses his old adventures. He's finding life back in his village, as a bard-in-training is boring.
Then at the need-fire ceremony, his sister wears a necklace of metal that is forbidden. Things go from bad to worse. After Jack's father tries to buy Pega, a slave girl- Jack is upset. Doesn't his father remember how he was sold into slavery? Jack ends up buying Pega and frees her. Instead of being thanked, Jack's father kicks him out of his home. And Pega follows him around.
Later Jack is asked to come back and finds his sister is delusional about being a princess. He goes on a pilgrimage were an exorcism on Lucy goes terribly wrong. Jack is angered at how corrupt the monks are with those who come for help. He slams his ash wood staff down and causes a major earthquake. But this also releases the Lady of the lake who kidnaps his sister.
Jack finds out his sister is one of the Fair Folk and his real sister was kidnapped by hobgoblins.
Jack goes on a quest to find his real sister and rescue Lucy from the Lady of the lake. Along the way he meets will-o'-the-wisps, hobgoblins, elves--who are fallen angels--Picts, and magical trees that produce honey cakes.
Though I didn't read the first book, THE SEA OF TROLLS, I totally was engaged with this tale. I loved how the author showed how both worlds lived together. Jack is being trained in the ways of his ancestors. His mother and others have embraced the new religion Christianity while retaining some of their old ways. Pega is one character I felt sympathetic for. Shunned by those around her because of her deformity, imagine her shock when a hobgolin sees the beauty within her.
One example of how well the author shows both worlds is how the abbots reverence for the simple facts of God's world were not that different than the Bard's reverence for the life force.
This book has it all--adventure, fairies, old world gods, and an ancient world that is caught between belief in the Old Gods and Christianity. I highly recommend this book. For sure I'll be checking out book one to find out how Jack meet Thorgil and his other adventures.
the land of the silver apples kcs 
2007-12-09
The lady held out her arms, and Lucy ran. Jack tried to catch her and so did Father, but he was too injured to stand. The elf lady swept Lucy up and, with a triumphant cry, leaped into the waters. The last of the stream slithered over the edge like the tail of a snake and disappeared.
Jack is a 13 year old boy, who is getting trained by the Bard. He has done miraculous things in his young life, and has been on great adventures. When Jack performs an earthquake out of rage, Lucy who is Jack's sister gets taken by the Lady of the Lake. Lucy is stolen from Jack for the second time in his life. Jack once again has a mission to save his little sister and to get water back to King Yffi's kingdom. The blame was on Jack when all the water has been taken by the Lady of the Lake, and King Yffi sent Jack down the trail to Elfland, to somehow get the water back from her. He never knew that he would encounter many more adventures involving elves, hobgoblins, kelpies and more. Will Jack save his sister, even with the surprising information he received about her? And will he be able to restore the water to King Yffi's Kingdom?
The title is another name for Elfland, which is where Jack is for a while in this book. He also is in the Hobgoblin's home and King Yffi's kingdom. Jack is always on the move or trying to escape in this book, so he's in a lot of places traveling to fulfill his missions. The time was a while ago, in about 790 AD. It is written in a debate about Christianity. Jack's family is all Christian, but the Bard doesn't believe in it. Jack is still trying to figure out where he lays as far as religion. The pacing is at a steady pace throughout the book.
Nancy Farmer is a great author. I loved all of her books, and think that she has great writing technique. She's good at details of how people look, and how people feel. I wasn't sure if the sequel to The Sea of Trolls would be as good as the original book, but I was surprised. She wrote a great book, and I would recommend this book to people who like Nancy Farmer's writing and to people who have read The Sea of Trolls.
Totally Captivating 2007-11-22
Nancy Farmer is my favorite author. I usually read non fiction but I make an exception for Farmer. She is a master craftsperson, weaving an incredible tale. While reading her books, time stands still for me. I really become totally involved in the adventure. This is one of my favorites.
The rare, wonderful middle book. 2007-10-01
I love this woman. I love every single thing she's written, albeit some more than others, so I am admittedly very biased when it comes to her works.
The book takes place after The Sea of Trolls when, among other things, Jack's sister Lucy is taken by elves and he has to travel underground to their lands to get her back.
The Land of the Silver Apples is such a good middle book. The story moves along at a great pace, and not once did I want to put it down. She has a delicate touch with the religious issues inherent in writing in this time period (Christian vs. Druidic vs. Nordic), and writes each in such a way that none of them are put down. It's quite lovely to not have to put up with an author hammering their beliefs down my throat.
I also adored her take on elves. I've never seen anything like it. Very refreshing and original, things quite lacking in the general portrayal of elves.
All her vivid, distinct characters are what really what give this book it's umph, though. Jack has matured, though he still has a lot of growing up to do, and seeing the great variety of characters through is alternately wise, sympathetic, jealous, and juvenile-ly hateful perspectives is just wonderful. A great amount of the cast from the Sea of Trolls returns, and the new additions to the cast are fully-fleshed and original.
The only disappointment I had was that there wasn't a greater role for the Picts. Or, rather, the Pictish Beast. ...it just seemed odd that one of the chapter headers was a Pictish Beast, it's mentioned once in a chapter, it's in the glossary, but... there's nothing else on it. Well, I guess it's such an indistinct beastie that I can say I wouldn't have wanted to tackle it myself.
All in all, another amazing book from an amazing author. I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for the next book!
A wonderful sequel to a great book. 2007-09-03
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end. The characters were very lifelike and had me thinking about them long after I put the book down. I did not like this quite as much as The Sea of Trolls but that is because of the wonderful Vikings. I loved the Vikings and the honesty with which they were written.
I am an adult and I read these books at the recommendation of my 12 year old son. I think girls would enjoy it too with the strong female characters.
Great literature with an unusual message 2008-05-18
A beautifully written novel with a unique combination of high adventure, 8th century history, and fantasy that children will love. Note that it carries an unusual message for a children's book, embedded in its plot and summarized on page 476: "Christianity is only one leaf" among "many branches on the Great Tree" of life.
A Childs View of The Land of the Silver Apples 2008-01-19
This book is a very descriptive book with memorable characters and places. The story line twists and turns with big suprises in almost every chapter. I think that this is a "non-put-down-able" for anyone (kids OR young adults) who likes books with magic, mystery, myths, and medival times.
A Childs View of The Land of the Silver Apples 2008-01-19
This book is a very descriptive book with memorable characters and places. The story line twists and turns with big suprises in almost every chapter. I think that this is a "non-put-down-able" for anyone (kids OR young adults) who likes books with magic, mystery, myths, and medival times.
Jake's Review 2008-01-10
"And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon,
And the golden apples of the sun."
Nancy Farmer writes this poem on the first page of her book entitled The Land of the Silver Apples. This poem quickly sets the tone of the book and gives clues as to what this story is truly about.
The Land of the Silver Apples is a third-person fantasy book that shares with the reader the adventures of Jack, an apprentice bard from a Saxon village. Throughout the story, Jack and his companions encounter monsters, travel to unknown lands, and make new friends with the most unlikely of creatures. Jack and another character, the Bard, developed a strong friendship during the first book of the series, The Sea of Trolls, when Jack was chosen as the Bard's apprentice. This friendship is pushed to its limits when Jack accidentally causes a massive earthquake using magic, which is just one of many challenging predicaments they face in this exciting tale.
Overall, this is a very engaging mythological book that emphasizes the importance of comradery and the devastation of betrayal. I liked this book because of the very fast-paced style of Nancy Farmer, and I would recommend this book to teens ages 12-16 who like to read imaginative fiction. The Land of the Silver Apples is a great read for any fantasy enthusiast!
Short review but a very enjoyable book 2007-12-17
As both an author and reader of fiction I was impressed with (The Land of the Silver Apples." The characters seemed real and the story line was a good one. I guess I have always enjoyed books that could hold my attention and make me think at the same time. I recommend this book.
Tommy Taylor
Author - The Second Virgin Birth
