Obernewtyn

I actually read the second book (Farseekers) before this one so it was nice to get the back story that i had missed.

A quick rundown: The plot never slowed down or got dull. Every page flowed into the next without stopping. Something significant to the story happened on nearly every page. I never felt like the dialogue was pointless or superficial. The characters were incredibly well developed. They never deviate from their personalities. The story is believable as well and just plain fun to read. What I like best about this book is that the story is food for thought. It makes you think. It opens a world of possibilities and invites you to asks questions. I could not put this book down! I am an adult who never grew out of reading young adult fantasy/fiction. This author is right up there with the best fantasy writers of our time. Why authors like S. Meyer are more widely known than I. Carmody is beyond me. My apologies to all the Twilight fans but the only thing that series has to offer is sex appeal. Unfortunately, sex sells better than talent. This opinion is based on how well I am able to willingly suspend disbelief. All great stories play like a movie in your head flawlessly. You don't stop and wonder if a certain twist in the plot really fits or if the characters are believable. You don't scratch your head and wonder if your reading fan fiction by mistake. This book is easy to read, beautifully and artistically written and deserves more accolades than it has received so far. What more can be said?

This is the first book in the Obernewtyn chronicles, a fantasy series about a group of Talented Misfits. The fantasy elements are new and imaginative and the story is excellent, but Carmody's real strengeth lies in evoking strong and visceral reactions from her readers, be it fear, lonliness, helplessness or joy. The main character, Elspeth Gordie, is a wonderful heroine: strong, talented, fierce, beatuiful, but also flawed. The cast of supporting characters are also well-drawn and realistic. Through her use of the fantastic, Carmody is able to convey gritty, realitsic emotions and tell stories which - depsite their imagined, other-worldly nature - feel real and true and grounded in experience.

Obernewtyn is fabulous. If you read it, you WILL go on and read Farseekers, Ashling and The Keeping Place. Isobelle has created the most beautiful characters, so moral and nice and interesting, very well defined, and not typical heroes - ie gods and godesses that can't be beaten. Everyone has faults, weaknessess. It is set in a post-apocalyptic place, simply called the Land. The novel centers on Elspeth Gordie, a 'Misfit' with extraordinary psychic abilities. She thinks that she is the only person in the Land that harbours powers, and hates her mutation for what it makes her in her brother's eyes (but likes being able to talk to Maruman, a wild cat). When the Mistress of Obernewtyn does a routine visit to her orphan home, Elspeth is sure that she is bound for the horrendous Obernewtyn, which is said to be a place where Misfits are tortured and studied. Many go into Obernewtyn, and none ever come out. But Obernewtyn and the never-present Doctor Seraphim, Matster of Obernewtyn, is not as bad as the tales make out...on the outside.

When I first picked up this book, I wasn't sure, for I'm more of a fantasy reader (David Eddings is the best! ) but when I started this book, it definately roused my interest. Isobelle has a nack of holding the reader inthralled! As a writer myself, I feel that her style of writing with hold the attention of young and old! Brilliant! Icant wait to read the rest of the series!