Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
392 global ratings
5 star
52%
4 star
31%
3 star
14%
2 star
2%
1 star
1%
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Gern F. Nortner
5.0 out of 5 stars DANG IT! NOT AGAIN!
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2020
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Well Mr. Foster suckered me into another one of his yarns. Yanked me into his clutches from the very start and I couldn't put it down until the very end. GEEEEZ! Maybe I can catch up on my sleep before his next book comes out. It's a good thing I have most of his books on my Kindle. If they were actual books, they'd be falling apart by the time I finished reading and rereading them. The actual books I have ARE falling apart.
Madrenga is excellent and, much to my happiness and dismay, the dang story ISN'T over...yet...I HOPE. By the way, I want that dog. Every Bit of him.
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Disco Hat
3.0 out of 5 stars Solid Old-fashioned Magical Quest
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2020
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This was a decent read - it started out really well and if it had kept the energy of the first 20-30 pages I'd have rated it five stars. Unfortunately though it started to get less interesting and a little repetitive over time, since the Madrenga character was so invulnerable to any danger. That really sucked a lot of the tension out of the story for me. However, it was still well-written and a quick read - the riddle of Madrenga's abilities didn't really hold my interest since it was kind of foreshadowed a lot throughout the book, but the secondary character Maya was a neat twist and sets up well for a sequel at some point. This book seems to work a lot better as a YA-type story, since it's not as intricate or challenging as I'd prefer for an adult-level book, but it was a fun, light read that reminds me in tone a lot of the SF/fantasy paperbacks from the 50s, 60s and 70s where authors had a lot less complex worldviews and injected much less modern political BS into their stories. There are good points and bad points about that style, imo - like I said, not nearly as challenging or thought-provoking as I'd prefer, but it also avoids the preachiness and over-politicization that plagues a lot of today's fiction, and it definitely makes for a more simplistic and easy read that younger book lovers will probably appreciate.
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Alan R. Crews
5.0 out of 5 stars Flinx and Pip can't hold a candle to Madrenga, Bit, Orandia and Maya
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2020
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Read it in a day, rarely stopping for necessities of daily life. Happy ending with the possibilities of a sequel? One can only hope!
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Actionman2go
5.0 out of 5 stars Possessive "hero's journey" story compels page turning
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2020
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Alan Dean Foster has crafted a story containing an unlikely hero who - along with canine and colt companions - confronts swords and sorcery inside a truly enchanting narrative.
Long known as a masterful "world builder" for his novels, Foster's "Madrenga" seduces readers into yet another world worth visiting.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars It has been a few years
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2020
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Since I read Alan Dean Foster. What a delight it has been. His use of language is unparalleled. This is a fairy tale for the modern age and thoroughly enjoyable
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Beret
4.0 out of 5 stars A good ADF romp but it appears to be the first in a series
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2021
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I pretty much read everything I can find by ADF. In the past he has captured me with trilogies which I read when all of the works were available.
This book is pure fantasy. The hero is a young, unlikely, lad given a royal task of delivering a message. Along the way he develops physically into a young warrior.
I am reminded of the spell singer series.
But I am also reminded that Dean recently wrote the first entry of another series called "Oceanearth" and I am still waiting to see the next volume in that series.
So when I see more to this Madrenga series I may up the overall rating, if this is a solo work then I am disappointed.
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G. Waddell
5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting story with a unique twist
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2021
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As I read the story, I was reminded of Brin's Practice Effect, and then went down a path of thinking whether it was that type of story, or something different. It was different, and then I was reminded of JonTom from ADF's Spellsinger, but that didn't fit either. In the end, it was an enjoyable story that reminded of several other stories, by ADF and others, but did fit any. It was a new twist that kept me on the hook the entire time. Thank you ADF for yet again providing me with a unique, enjoyable story. You never disappoint!.
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Ken Kendall
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Twists And Turns
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2021
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I have long been an Alan Dean Foster fan. From Pip and Flinx to Quozl to Relic to name only a few. His breadth of knowledge and talent are incredible. In Madrenga, he pulls off some major twists and turns. It very much reminded me of Glory Road by Robert Heinliein another one of my favorite books. Keep it going Alan Dean Foster
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Top reviews from other countries

Llygodenfawrdur
5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 14, 2021
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Mr Foster is unfailingly imaginative. The adventures here of young Madrenga are full of wit and naïve confusion, making for a delightfully unknowing hero. The episodic nature of the story telling reminds me of the Mad Amos collection. Similarly the world building in both is to be admired. A fantastic read sorry to have it end.
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andy cox
5.0 out of 5 stars Just enjoyable story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2021
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I grew up with his stories and a lifetime love of Si. Fi.
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AARON
1.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't finish it.
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2021
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Some AD Foster books are iconic. This is not one of them.

It reminds me of one of his other novels where it also jumped to earth and back with no explanation, and really soured the whole story. The book was already plenty weird with a MC who obviously had suffered traumatic brain injury, his curiosity and ability to connect events was painfully impaired. To then throw another world into that? Please, just no.

An unenjoyable read.
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John Rohde
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Fantasy
Reviewed in Australia on December 2, 2020
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Madrenga’s name has an “old” meaning that is not revealed until near the end. That seems to explain why some things happened. Madrenga is tasked with delivering a message from one Queen to another. Many magical encounters are made along the way - more real (normal for fantasy) creatures than some of the weird and wonderful ones that appear in the author’s science fiction writing. Madrenga starts out as a youth, transforming magically into a man/hero as the journey progresses. His companions, a foal and puppy, are also transformed into powerful creatures. A great adventure that also drags a dying girl from our world into the heat of things. Loved the book. Enjoy!
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Charles Bellavance
5.0 out of 5 stars New for Foste
Reviewed in Canada on February 12, 2021
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Good read.
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