Basilisk [Paperback]

N M Browne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2004

'She blends history, myth, archaeology and psychology like no writer I've read since Rosemary Sutcliff' Amanda Craig, Independent on Sunday Basilisk is a rich and evocative story of greed, power and deception which sweeps from the underground cave network of the Combers, living like spiders amongst the endless tunnels and ropes, to the beautiful city inhabited by Abovers. The two worlds should never meet, but when the body of a murdered Abover appears in the combs, their worlds begin to draw closer and the corrupt dictator Arkel sees that his power over both is threatened. This is a brilliantly imagined and original novel, which will draw you into a dark and disturbing world.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Young Rej wakes up Below, in his underground home, after dreaming of a dragon flying in a clear blue sky. Sixteen-year-old Donna wakes up Above in the town of Lunnzia, after dreaming the exact same thing--except she recognizes the dragon as Arché, the creator dragon whom God sent to seed the world, and who would one day destroy it as a basilisk. Clue by clue, we learn that the fates of these two young people are interconnected, and the suspenseful story unfolds as it alternates between their two perspectives--until, that is, they are united in Chapter 10.

Tall, long-limbed Rej is "a comber, survivor, debtor, occasional beloved of the Lady Luck." Beautiful Donna is a scribe, given up by her family when she was 12 to serve the current anti-aristocratic regime, ruled by the tyrannical Arkel and the Council of Ten. The two teenagers meet when Rej must go Above to see if his dream-dragons are real...and with a somewhat bloodier mission in mind. When he meets Donna, they discover that they share the same dreams, and soon begin to uncover a host of secrets about the plans of the Abovers to destroy the "combers" who live Below in the catacombs. At great personal risk to themselves, Rej and Donna investigate the dreaded Basilisk Contrivance, which, fueled by the mysterious "Basilisk's Breath," could literally scare Arkel's enemies to death.

In British author N.M. Browne's Basilisk, readers will find a colorful cast of characters, the hint of romance, a wallop of political intrigue, and a pointed societal commentary on a nation at war, where rich, corrupt leaders deny their joyless citizens freedom and individuality. To open the book is to enter a dark, velvety, poisonous, drug-hazed world, where no one can be trusted, and fear, greed, corruption, betrayal, and murder are a way of life. Still, glimmers of love, altruism, courage, and unshakeable loyalty shine through like cracks of sunshine into the underground. (Ages 13 and older) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up–Rej, a "comber" who lives in the caves beneath the city of Lunnzia, runs away and is placed in the care of beautiful "Abover" Donna, and they soon discover that they share identical, eerie dragon dreams. When they hear of an evil plot by the Arkel, the Above's totalitarian ruler, to attack the combers' subterranean realm, Donna and Rej realize they must work together to save both worlds from destruction. Browne's meandering fantasy takes several chapters to reach its major story line, and the novel itself seems littered with too many subplots to interest anyone except serious fantasy fans. Once hooked, however, patient readers will enjoy the spooky atmosphere, intriguing and often-untrustworthy characters, and the bizarre final duel in which the malevolent Arkel attempts to use Donna and Rej's dreams to wreak havoc in the underground world.–Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens Books (March 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747563268
• ISBN-13: 978-0747563266
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,181,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basilisk is a book filled with courage, hope, and LIGHT!!!!!, July 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Basilisk (Hardcover)

This book was described incredibly! The world of Rej and Donna felt real and was original. This is the first time I have ever seen a dragon portrayed as the symbol of good and, being the huge dragon lover that I am, that satisfies me very much. I enjoyed reading it sooooo much and if you begin to get bored because the very beginning is a little slow, don't be discouraged because by chapter ten you'll be walking around all day reading this book. Despite the sad ending, Basilisk is an amazing book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basilisk (actually 13, but this is faster), August 18, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Basilisk (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book immensely. The world it is set in is intriguing, if not completely realistic, and the characters are fairly good.

Rej lives underground in the Combes below the city of Lunnzia. The "combers" are forced to live underground by a fifteen-year treaty. He dreams of being a dragon, soaring above the city. One day, he finds an injured "Abover" in one of the burial chambers. He goes to find help, but when he returns, he finds the Abover murdered.

Donna is an Abover, the daughter of the Poison Lady and former Low Lady (before possessions were outlawed and Donna became an "oppidan" slave). She also dreams of the dragons. She is summoned to help the Doctor Esteemed Melagiar copy his treatise on dreams. The Doctor Esteemed's mute, half-crazy sister lives with him, and one day Donna sees a strange tattoo of the dragon she dreams of on the woman's chest.

A friend helps Rej escape the Combes to Lunnzia, pretending to be mute and "moon-witted" and is shown around by Donna. After the Doctor Esteemed Melagiar is murdered, he reveals to Donna that he is not crazy and can speak and that he has dreams of dragons.

They both discover a plot by the ruler of Lunnzia to scare the combers to death involving dragons, and must stop it.

I am surprised that this is not more popular. It is suspenseful and unique and I would be quick to recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Very Memorable, September 21, 2011

By 

Sir Furboy (Aberystwyth, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basilisk (Hardcover)

I have read this twice. But only because I found it in my attic and could not remember how it ended the first time. I thought I had not finished it, but when I finished it the second time I knew I had.

That should tell you something!

But its readable enough. A story of struggle against a tyrannical regime. It has some good ideas and interesting moments. Just not enough of them!