The Shaktra

By Christopher Pike

Book Overview

In Alosha , Ali Warner discovered that she was not an ordinary teenager but actually Queen of the Fairies. Through seven terrifying trials, Ali reclaimed her magical powers and managed to defeat an elemental army that was preparing to destroy the Earth. At the same time, she took possession of the Yanti, a mystical talisman whose powers she has barely begun to understand. Now Ali searches for her missing mother in the elemental world. Accompanied by an African youth she meets on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and by the troll and leprechaun who are her faithful companions, Ali faces new dangers at every turn. Attacked by nearly indestructible creatures born of a nightmare, a wounded Ali and her friends are rescued by a young dragon, Drash, who vows to accompany them to the mysterious Crystal Palace, the center of Fairy power. There Ali learns that the elemental world is on the verge of destruction at the hands of a sinister being known only as the Shaktra. Back on Earth, Ali's two closest friends, Steve and Cindy, investigate the beautiful and bewitching Sheri Smith, head of a video game company, who seems connected to the Shaktra. Too late, Steve and Cindy discover that she is not a woman at all... In the elemental world, Ali helps transform Drash into a mighty fire-breathing dragon. With his help, Ali is able to travel to a secret ice cavern hidden on a kloudar, a massive island that orbits through the elemental heavens. There Ali discovers the true relationship between humans and the elementals and the hideous nature of the enemy she must face. For Ali's quest will not be complete until either she or the Shaktra is dead.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765310996
• ISBN13: 9780765310996
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 334 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

promising a wild ride

This is where the series pick up its pace. Very exhilirating read, this one.

The Shaktra

This book is great. The whole trylogy is fantastic. It is not only a fascinating story but if you read it carefully its a deep spiritual expierence. Harry Potter is nothing against it!!!

A Fantastic Epic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shaktra is a very quick and exciting read. A roller coaster ride with no slow parts. After reading Alosha, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and to start it. Happily for me, the novel Shaktra was even better than Alosha! The characters and story lines comfortably fit together (again) and one comes away with a great action story with story lines and emotions greatly deeper still. My kid also likes the story, and asks me every day to tell them "What happened next"? The development of the main character Ali and the supporting characters was a pleasure to follow and the many surprises in the story lines were just as plentiful as in Alosha. The symbolic dualism of the elemental world and the earth world unfolded with the characters and stories on each side of the realms. Obviously, I will be starting the Yanti soon. I hope this trilogy turns into a movie some day. It will be nice to have a fantasy action movie that actually has original story plots and life-like character developments. Hollywood, can you hear me? Big money here! All ages will love the story. This was not a comic book story at all. It was way more intriguing, complex, deep, mature, and polished. Do yourself a big favor and read it too. Just make sure the house chores are done before you start it.

Great Sequel

The Shaktra was a great sequel to Alosha. The first book took awhile to warm up to, but one Pike gets started, he's on fire. The book was hard to put down! Had to keep reading until I reached the end! Great twists and turns and interesting dual story lines. Was glad I had The Yanti to keep the reading going! Would definitely recommend to any Christopher Pike Fan. He develops his own mythology that only he can pull off.

Satisfying

Being a long time fan of the author, and not being hugely impressed with Alosha, I went into The Shaktra with mixed feelings but within the first chapter any hesitation or worry, was gone. This novel hooks the reader from the first couple pages and had me emmersed in the story for the next few days. To call this trilogy fantasy is belittling. The Shaktra merges familiar Pike themes murder, mystery, the supernatural, religion and brings in the new elements of fantasy which is something that creates a world unlike any this reader has experienced before. The ending, though quick, leaves you wanting more and I have no doubt that this novel will big a big seller. I would, however, not recommend it to young children as this particular novel, comparred to Alosha, is more violent and complex.