Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody
Genres: sci-fi, fantasy, teenage
Books in the series: Obernewtyn, The Farseekers, Ashling, The Keeping Place, The Stone Key (in the US divided into Wavesong and The Stone Key), The Sending (forthcoming 2010; in the US will be The Sending and The Red Queen)
Synopsis: The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world, in which "misfits" (people with deformaties caused by the pollution) are persecuted or killed, and the Land is controlled by a ruthless Council and an even worse religious order, the Herders. A new kind of "misfit" is emerging, though - people with mental powers like telepathy, healing, foreseeing, talking to animals, etc. Elspeth is an orphan with very strong powers, and she has a destiny - to find and destroy the machines which destroyed the earth.
Audiobook: At least the first 4 books have been recorded, but I don't have a clue where you can buy them. Possibly only in Australia?
Review:
I read a lot, and my bookshelves are crammed with excellent novels and book series, but I can honestly and without hesitation say that the Obernewtyn Chronicles are my all-time favourite books. I first discovered the series probably around a decade ago, and since then I've re-read them at least once, sometimes multiple times each year, and becoming an adult has by no means affected my enjoyment of the series, especially as the books themselves (together with the main character) have also matured over that period.
The novels are superbly written, most especially the later books in the series (while I have no actual problems with the writing in the earlier books, I do get the impression that the author was quite young when she wrote them, and the later books do definitely show the benefits of her increase in experience). The stories are utterly gripping, with compelling characters who grow and change over time, and also fabulous world-building. It's the kind of series that truly grips you with its mysteries - the most important one being, who is the "Destroyer" who's destined to find the machines that caused the holocaust, and could use them again for even greater devastation? I've seen people come up with all kinds of interesting theories online for the different questions we all have about the novels.
The books have greatly expanded in length over time; while the first book is just 246 pages, the latest was 1000 (in the Australian edition; the US publishers have chosen to split the novel into two separate books, which they are also going to do with the next, and final, book which will be out next year, so make sure that if you buy the series, you buy the right versions). Carmody is apparently reasonably famous in Australia and New Zealand, and has won awards there; strangely, though, she's little known elsewhere. I generally have to import her books from Australia or the US, but it's completely worth it, I assure you. Highly recommended.
Books in the series: Obernewtyn, The Farseekers, Ashling, The Keeping Place, The Stone Key (in the US divided into Wavesong and The Stone Key), The Sending (forthcoming 2010; in the US will be The Sending and The Red Queen)
Synopsis: The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world, in which "misfits" (people with deformaties caused by the pollution) are persecuted or killed, and the Land is controlled by a ruthless Council and an even worse religious order, the Herders. A new kind of "misfit" is emerging, though - people with mental powers like telepathy, healing, foreseeing, talking to animals, etc. Elspeth is an orphan with very strong powers, and she has a destiny - to find and destroy the machines which destroyed the earth.
Audiobook: At least the first 4 books have been recorded, but I don't have a clue where you can buy them. Possibly only in Australia?
Review:
I read a lot, and my bookshelves are crammed with excellent novels and book series, but I can honestly and without hesitation say that the Obernewtyn Chronicles are my all-time favourite books. I first discovered the series probably around a decade ago, and since then I've re-read them at least once, sometimes multiple times each year, and becoming an adult has by no means affected my enjoyment of the series, especially as the books themselves (together with the main character) have also matured over that period.
The novels are superbly written, most especially the later books in the series (while I have no actual problems with the writing in the earlier books, I do get the impression that the author was quite young when she wrote them, and the later books do definitely show the benefits of her increase in experience). The stories are utterly gripping, with compelling characters who grow and change over time, and also fabulous world-building. It's the kind of series that truly grips you with its mysteries - the most important one being, who is the "Destroyer" who's destined to find the machines that caused the holocaust, and could use them again for even greater devastation? I've seen people come up with all kinds of interesting theories online for the different questions we all have about the novels.
The books have greatly expanded in length over time; while the first book is just 246 pages, the latest was 1000 (in the Australian edition; the US publishers have chosen to split the novel into two separate books, which they are also going to do with the next, and final, book which will be out next year, so make sure that if you buy the series, you buy the right versions). Carmody is apparently reasonably famous in Australia and New Zealand, and has won awards there; strangely, though, she's little known elsewhere. I generally have to import her books from Australia or the US, but it's completely worth it, I assure you. Highly recommended.