Above the Veil (The Seventh Tower, Book 4) (Paperback)

by Garth Nix (Author), Steve Rawlings (Illustrator) "The Chosen rarely entered the Underfolk levels of the Castle..." (more)
Key Phrases: heatway tunnels, molten crystal, forge country, Mother Crone, Ruin Ship, Crone Mother (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Gr 5-7-Nix picks his adventure up in midstride, sending renegade aristocrat Tal from the lowest depths of the immense, sunless Castle in which he has spent most of his young life to one of its highest peaks, and dispatching Tal's warrior companion, Milla, back to her ice-dwelling people with a warning that the Veil protecting the world from the deadly shadowrealm Aenir is weakening. As the author has created a very complex world in previous volumes, and the plot has gone too far to recapitulate easily, readers new to the series will flounder; still, the pace seldom lets up. Tal's affable but dim-witted "Spiritshadow" Adras makes a comic foil worthy of a Disney movie, and-sure sign of a Nix tale-the various uglies, from Waspwyrms and Dretch to archfiend Shadowmaster Sushin, are thoroughly bone-chilling. After plenty of narrow squeaks, exciting chase scenes, and stunning revelations (but no resolutions), fans will be eager for episode five: and voil…! It's already out.

John Peters, New York Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
As they grapple with their individual fates, Tal and Milla become entangled in a revolution being planned against the Chosen of the Castle. But nothing is as it seems, and the revolution may be the cover for something much more sinister . . .

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439176859
• ISBN-13: 978-0439176859
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #37,461 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #11 in

  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( N ) > Nix, Garth

• This is item 4 in The Seventh Tower Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Above the Veil - The Sevent Tower, March 22, 2001

By	David Wilson (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The fourth installment of the Seventh Tower series accelerates the reader to new levels of excitment as Tal and Milla go their own ways. Tal is forced to work with the rebel underfolk called Crow to try to find his lost father and save both the Castle and the Dark World from Susin and the evil plot he's hatching. Milla returns to the ice and must then lead an assualt on the Castle. Both Tal and Milla grow inside, but their worlds are coming down around them. As the plot thickens, Tal and Milla's situations become more desperate. The end of this book, like the last three, leaves the reader on the edge. But, this time the reader is even farther out that before. The fifth book isn't due out until August. I don't think I can wait.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gives you something to think about, April 3, 2001

By	R. Volzer "risenstardust" (Lima, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really like this book. The series certainly doesn't get boring and this book continues the epic very well. Above the Veil doesn't start off as slow as the other 3. This one starts off with Tal and Milla in the underfolk levels and from there they meet a rebelious underfolk group with less than 10 people in the "society". Not much later Milla heads home and Tal along with one of the rebellious underfolk head up the red tower to find and free the keeper so that Tal can free his father from the orange tower. Milla heads to the ice and finds herself with a surprise beyond everything she ever hoped for. I think that this book has set the stage for a lot of action for the following books ahead. I can't wait for the next ones.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Seventh Tower: Book Four: Above The Veil, March 17, 2001

By	"shayamorph" - See all my reviews

Garth Nix dazzles The Seventh Tower series yet again with the fourth heart stopping book in the series : Above The Veil. Tal and Milla's journey is harsh and dangerous. Darkness rages from Milla and hopelessness brews in Tal. As they desperately search for Ebbitt, Milla longs to return to the Ice, her original home. But their mission is now at a delay. Rebel Underfolk are beginning to appear in the Chosen's Castle, while a vast conspiracy lurks about in the Castle. Lead by Crow, Tal must seek his trust to reach above the Veil, while Milla's own fate is uncertain. Their adventure has turned from brutal to life threatening, and now they are in greater danger then ever before. And the battle has just grown fiercer. What began with the first intense adventure now continues with the epic fourth book in this wonderful, elaborately written series, with the most surprising and unexpected twists of all.