2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Into the Heart of the Enemy, October 4, 2009
Ashling (1995) is the third SF novel in the Obernewtyn series, following
The Farseekers. In the previous volume, Elspeth was healed by the Agyllians. Gahltha found her on the plateau and took her back to Obernewtyn. There she saw the ruins left by a firestorm.
In this novel, Elspeth Gordie is a Misfit who leads the Farseeker Guild. She has many talents and has been told that she is the Seeker who will find the weaponmachines of the Beforetimers.
Allthis is the leader of the oldOnes, the Agyllian birds. He has Talents and some resources that Elspeth does not comprehend.
Maruman is a mutant cat. He has been with Elspeth for many years. He is getting old and lazy, but he is also her contact with Allthis.
Rushton Seraphim is the Master of Obernewtyn, leader of the Misfits. He has some latent Talent.
Maryon is the Futuretell guildmistress. She foresees futures, but what she sees is not necessaily foreordained.
Garth is the Teknoguildmaster. He supervises digs in the ruins of the Oldtimers. He passionately desires knowledge of the Beforetime.
Gahltha is a large black stallion. He often provides rides for Elspeth.
Domick is a Misfit spy in Sutrium. His bondmate is Kella, a Healer ward. Domick has recently become strange and remote.
Brydda Llewllyn is a Rebel leader in Sutrium. He has parents among the Misfits.
In this story, Elspeth rescues a gypsy woman from burning on a stake. Another gypsy helps by shooting down the Herder who had ordered the burning, another man who interfered with the rescue and a couple of soldier-guards. As Elspeth is starting to ride away with the victim, a Herder novice throws a knife at her and knocks her unconscious.
When she awakes, Elspeth is in the Obernewtyn infirmary. Matthew had brought her and the gypsy woman back home. The Healers treat Elspeth and the gypsy, but the gypsy is slowly dying.
When the gypsy woman awakes, Elspeth tells her that she has been rescued and asks directions to her kin folks. The woman suspects that the whole affair has been a trick. The Misfits learn that the Herders had tortured her mate to get her talk and she is still refusing to give any information.
Elspeth and the Misfits learn more about the woman through their talents, but she has a natural mind shield that deprives them of any detailed information. Maryon has visions about the gypsy woman. She must be returned to Sutrium within a sevenday and Elspeth must accompany her to the town.
Elspeth is surprised, but willing to go. She has other reasons to travel to Sutrium, including learning more about "swallow" and meeting with Brydda and Domick. So Elspeth, Matthew, Maruman and Gahltha take the unconscious gypsy woman to Sutrium.
This tale has Elspeth dreaming about Ariel and other topics. Garth shows Rushton and Elspeth some findings in the city under the Tor. And Maruman passes on some more directions from Atthis.
This novel extends the story, but obviously does not conclude it. The next volume is
The Keeping Place. Read amd enjoy!
Highly recommended for Carmody fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of psionic talents, postapocalyptic societies, and unwilling love. For anyone who not yet read this series, the initial volume is
Obernewtyn.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favourite book so far!!!, February 14, 2009
Packed full of adventure and suspense book 3 in the Obernewtyn Chronicles is definately my favourite in the series. Back from their quest to find the library and rescue the powerful misfit, Elspeth is getting restless in anticipation of her own separate quest. The novel starts with Elspeth rescuing a gypsy who is about to be publicly burned to death by the Council. She barely escapes with her life (a mysterious stranger helps her to escape Council clutches) and along with her friends she travels the long road back to Obernewtyn with the comatose Gypsy in tow.
Once back in the safety of Obernewtyn, it is known that the Council are starting to ask unsettling questions in regards to the great home and its occupants and as they have had no word from their friends in the safe house in Sutrium, they decide to set off and discover what is happening and what it means for Obernewtyn. Maryon, the seer, gives Elspeth a separate quest to complete- return the gypsy to her people within seven days or Obernewtyn, and Elspeth, will fall. With the help of her friends Elspeth sets off on her quests, not sure of the outcome and not sure if she will survive.
Mysterious rumours abound on their arrival in Sutrium, and more questions are raised than answered. An unknown person who works for the Council is trying to raise an army to attack Obernewtyn after the Winter, but who is this man and why is he so intent on the Misfits destruction? Upon arriving at the Safe House, it soon becomes obvious that things are not as they seem. Odd behaviour and secrets surround the house- is there a spy in their midst? On top of all this, Elspeth meets the leader of the rebellion against the Council Brydda Llewellyn, who has his own agenda in befriending the Misfits, and the closer to the seven day deadline that she gets, the harder it becomes to find the gypsys family, and the more that happens, the closer they come to losing some of their own.
Much happens in this book. We get to see our favourite characters expand and mature into young adults and watch as their powers grow with them. We watch them make mistakes and decisions that will impact them further on in the series, and we watch events unfold that will have a profound effect on their own lives and those at Obernewtyn. We get to see the community at large, and watch as they try to understand the world around them. Being "Beforetimers" we are able to see the events from another perspective entirely; anyone with a basic knowledge of history will be able to see what will happen next (politically, socially etc).
I have found this review quite difficult to write. I cant mention alot of information without it impacting on the outcome of the rest of the books plot lines, so I apologise if you find this review to be vague in places. I cant mention one character without spoiling another. So you will just have to trust me. This series is fantastic. The more books Isobelle Carmody writes, the better she becomes. With each book she releases, the further you fall into the series. With each book released, the more hooked you become. Each book has more and more within its pages, the suspense and adventure and tension increase with every page you turn. The sheer cleverness of the stories will leave you breathless with anticipation as you eagerly await the following titles. The more that I read, the less I want to stop.
I hope this review helps you in your decision. Give it a go. It could be the best series you read in your life :)
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Best in the series so far!!!, January 29, 2012
I think that Carmody gets better and better in her Obernewtyn series. Ashling is the best so far. it has an edge-of-the-seat plot, strongly characterised protagonists and is written very beautifully. It is extremely hard to put down, and it keeps you reading till way past midnight. i used to read other books till i fell asleep. When i read Ashling, i couldn't fall asleep. Every page makes you want to turn to the next.
The characters seem so real, and every thing about them is strongly detailed. there is comedy and a little bit of romance :)
The entire Obernewtyn series so far is written very beautifully, as i said before, and has a special quality to it that sets the books apart from most others. A must read for fans of fantasy, great adventure and action. Oh, and absolutely everything else! (except vampires;thank God) ;)
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