From Publishers Weekly
Australian author Carmody's third but inconclusive book of her well-received series (after Obernewtyn and The Farseekers) adds to the claims of destiny burdening narrator Elspeth. An ashling is a message or "dream that calls" in the mental language of the beasts, "beastspeaking" being one of the talents Elspeth possesses. Among her companions are Maruman, a large cat, and Gahltha, a horse. She and the animals, who are considered equals, belong to the Obernewtyn community of Misfits, a mountain retreat developed from an ancient experimental laboratory. Recognizing that their mental talents set them apart, the Misfits, unable to obtain a Certificate of Normalcy, must flee the established religious powers. (The division between the religious Council and the Herder Faction is not explained here, but assumed from a previous book, as is the guild structure of Obernewtyn.) Since natural resistance to mental manipulation is growing in the general population, the Misfits are limited in their ability to control events. Much of the story concerns the Misfits' attempts to meet and ally with secular rebel groups, who may tolerate the paranormal talents as little as the religious forces. Clues collect, and further quests involve the Beforetimers, whose technology culminated in the Great White nuclear holocaust that set the scene of this isolated land. The author's ideas are nothing new, and the irksomely idiosyncratic language slows the pace. First-time readers would be well advised to start with volume one.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Review
Praise for the Obernewtyn Chronicles
“Through the breadth of her vision, the depth of her characters, and the strength of her language, Isobelle Carmody has created a world completely realized in all its details and completely persuasive. Multi-leveled, multi-dimensional, the Obernewtyn Chronicles promise to be a major work of fantastic imagination.”—Lloyd Alexander
“Carmody’s postapocalyptic tale of heroism and courage in the face of persecution blends graceful storytelling with appealing characters. Recommended.”—Library Journal on The Farseekers
“The non-stop encounters, escapes, deaths, and disasters keep things exciting as Carmody paints a clearer picture of this devastated world.”—Locus on The Farseekers
“This offering from down under is a very forceful and carefully constructed tale which keeps the reader engrossed. One will indeed look forward to the following volumes promised.”—Andre Norton on Obernewtyn
“With its plucky heroine, post-holocaust setting, and the fascinating puzzle of mental abilities enhanced by genetic mutation, Obernewtyn reminds me of the best of Andre Norton’s work. Carmody offers us a similar sense of mystery and wonder to Norton’s classic novels, but with an original voice and great heart—enough so that while I’m not particularly fond of series books, this is one I definitely look forward to following.”—Charles de Lint on Obernewtyn
