Beguilers [Paperback]

Kate Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2002

There is a dire warning never to peep out at them. There are stories of people who succumbed to their voices and walked out into the night, never to be seen again. But Rilka, frustrated by the culture of her people, is determined to catch a Beguiler and solve the mystery of their existence and so she embarks on an adventure that will change her life, and the lives of those around her, for ever. This novel confirms Kate Thompson's position as a writer of rare imagination and power.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Thompson (the Switchers trilogy) creates a convincing fantasy world built on a promising premise. Narrator Rilka is a misfit in an otherwise cooperative, if somewhat passionless, village. She's allergic to chuffies, the mythical beings that absorb emotional pain, and when she announces her first Great Intention (an act that indicates "the beginning of adulthood"), she declares that she will "seek out and catch a beguiler," one of the beautiful, ethereal creatures that haunt the village at night. Legend has it that they enchant victims who are never seen again. Her adventures alone in the mountain spark some wonderful suspenseful moments, such as when she realizes the beguilers have the eyes of chuffies, or when she discovers the mountain she's climbing is not made up of snow, but of bones. At times, Rilka's exposition as she learns valuable insights intrudes upon the pacing of the narrative, and readers may find themselves wondering throughout most of the book what Rilka intends to do with the beguiler once she captures it. The conclusion reads like a somewhat rushed attempt to tie up loose ends, but her pursuit of the beguilers and some standout supporting characters such as old Hemmy and blind Marik will keep the pages turning. Ages 12-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

This novel is one-of-a-kind. -- VOYA --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Random House Childs Paperbacks (October 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099411490
• ISBN-13: 978-0099411499
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,186,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining story, good characterization, January 14, 2005

By 

Esther Schindler (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Beguilers (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an entertaining (and relatively short) story about a young woman coming-of-age, learning about personal responsibility and commitment to one's dreams. The universe that the author created is interesting, the characters are largely believeable, and the tale kept my interest. It was a fine book to read on an airline flight... not a story to change one's life, but better-than-usual mind candy.

Some of the society's features were rather appealing, such as a monthly tradition among the townspeople to state your Intentions (i.e. your current short-term goals) and report how you'd done on the last one. Other story elements are a little simplistic, but not in an annoying way.

Adults shouldn't think this is a story only for kids; I didn't realize this book was classified as Young Adult until I looked at the Amazon listing. The writing isn't "childish" in any way, though there's nothing offensive to younger readers.

4.0 out of 5 stars Short and Sweet, September 8, 2007

By 

Bloody Crumpet (Philly) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beguilers (Mass Market Paperback)

Most people know Kate Thompson from her Switchers Series. I didn't know she had any other books till I found this one in a used bookstore.

Let me start off by saying that The Beguilers is very underrated. It's a lovely coming-of-age book about a girl who is different and discovers what her path is in life (okay, I know that every YA book is like this, but somehow, Thompson's writing makes it work).

In Rilka's village, nobody is allowed to go out after dark because of beguilers, which are mysterious, luminous ghosts that "lure you to your death." Kate Thompson writes without being overly ridiculous of "jubjub" fruits and the chuffies (which are very friendly, emotion-sensing dogs) that Rilka is allergic to. Being allergic to these lovable pets makes her fit in even less and she often dreams about life outside the village. So for her Great Intention in life Rilka decides to capture a beguiler.

She sets out on her journey as an awkward, outcast of a girl. After listening to the advice of an eccentric, elderly woman, setting off expecting to die, foraging her way through the wild and befriending a handsome young blind boy, she discovers the beguilers' secret. When this happens, the reader will understand what the beguiler stands for and why Rilka makes the choice that she does. The secret isn't even that important, but Rilka's journey is.

Readers will rejoice at her triumphs and be proud of the wise woman she becomes.

4.0 out of 5 stars An great book, June 13, 2006

By 

Charusheela Andaz - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Beguilers (Hardcover)

an exellent book, a bit short and rushed, but great nontheless. some parts i didn't understand, but that may just be me