Darkhenge [Hardcover]

Catherine Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 14, 2006

It's been three months since Rob's younger sister, Chloe, fell into a coma after a riding accident, and his life is in disarray. Rob's parents spend most of their time at his sister's bedside, and his best friend is afraid to talk to Rob about Chloe. To distract himself, Rob takes a job working at a secret archaeological site, where workers have uncovered a mystical ring of black timbers. At its center an ancient tree is buried upside down in the earth—a tree with the power to transport Rob to the Unworld, where Chloe lives in a forest of enchanting dreams, trapped between life and death.

Catherine Fisher has combined a fascinating exploration of myth with a modern quest for understanding. Where is the land of the imagination? And if we found our way there, would we ever want to come back?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10–Drawing from the ancient Celtic tale of Taliesin and Ceridwen, Fisher crafts a complex and frightening story of family love and jealousy. Rob, an artist of some considerable talent, sees his family disintegrating as his younger sister lies in a coma. Looking for an outlet for both his time and talent, he takes a job with a local archaeological dig near his home in Avebury, England, where a new and mysterious henge has been discovered. Having spent his life surrounded by the mythology of stone circles, Rob initially pays little attention to the bizarre events that surround the dig until he realizes that this new revelation and the mystifying people attracted to it are somehow related to his sister. The novel plays out in a terrifying race against time and primordial evil to free Chloe from the grip of a malevolent force of her own making. While steeped in early myth and fantasy, this is an exploration of the responsibility of families to speak honestly to one another. The venerable tale meshes with Rob and Chloes interactions, and readers unfamiliar with the old story will nevertheless be swept up in the mystery and dark magic. Changing perspectives make this a challenging read, but one that is ultimately very satisfying.–Sharon Grover, Arlington County Department of Libraries, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. British fantasist Fisher, who has captivated many genre readers withher continuing Oracle Prophecies trilogy, here offers a stand-alone novel entwining Celtic lore, fairy-tale archetypes, and family tragedy. While working at a top-secret archaeological dig, Rob learns that the site's buried henge may be a portal to reach his comatose sister's wandering spirit. When he enters the world of Anwyn, he discovers that Chloe's coma is a voluntary withdrawal, springing from years of pent-up grievances toward her brother. As in David Almond's Skellig (1999), Fisher conveys complex human emotions through fantasy; teen angst has rarely had such a visceral expression as in the boggy, unpredictable wilderness of Chloe's self-created prison. The sibling rivalry never quite succeeds as the plot's psychological linchpin, and some readers may tire of the numerous folklore elements, many elliptically referring to the somewhat obscure Taliesin legend. Others, though, especially teens who enjoyed the Celtic underpinnings and mystical backdrops of Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising novels, will thrill to the magical, atmospheric setting in a "landscape rayed with dreams and visions." Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Eos (March 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060785829
• ISBN-13: 978-0060785826
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,515,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Catherine Fisher is the New York Times best-selling author of Sapphique and Incarceron. She is "one of today's best fantasy writers," according to the London Independent. An acclaimed novelist and poet, she has written many fantasy books for young people, including The Oracle Prophecy series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous coming of age fantasy, March 17, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darkhenge (Hardcover)

In Avebury, England, following a riding mishap, Chloe is hospitalized in a comatose state. Her parents are distraught visiting her frequently and forcing her older brother Rob see her at least once a week. Rob cares for his sibling and prays for her recovery, but is uneasy with the visits and unhappy with his parents' demands. He needs to escape so using his art talent he obtains work with Dr Kavanagh at ahighly secretive archeological dig of a prehistoric wooden circle, the media blitz would be catastrophic.

Not long after starting his new job, Rob meets the shape-shifting Druid, Vetch who claims to have been alive when the wooden circle he calls DARKHENGE was created. He also tells the teen that his sister in incarcerated in another realm, the Unworld, where she also has a chance to become a queen. Vetch will provide Rob the key to enter and leave Unworld with his sister if the lad assists him with gaining entrance into the highly secured dig.

DARKHENGE is a fantastic young adult fantasy that older fans will fully appreciate as much as the Potter crowd will enjoy the tale. Though Chloe is the key character, Rob holds the exciting story line together as he must make some difficult decisions starting with whether he should trust Vetch by breaking his employment vow and never slowing down unto the final confrontation that will shock the audience. Catherine Fisher provides a fabulous coming of age fantasy starring a wonderful hero.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, April 9, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darkhenge (Paperback)

Rob's younger sister, Chloe, has been in a coma for three months. The prognosis is not good for her recovery. Rob is riddled with guilt over the fact that he has always come first in their parents' eyes. He also feels guilty that his thoughts turn to the wish that she would pass on to let everyone get on with their lives.

Then one evening he stumbles upon some New Ager-type people. They have entered a clearing outside his town and ask him for the secret word. He has no idea what they are talking about, and the only word that comes to mind is "Chloe." This is not the word they were seeking. Instead, another mysterious man enters the clearing and asks Rob for assistance. The group again seeks the magical word. This time, the mysterious man, Vetch, mutters "Darkhenge," the word that was requested.

With the entrance of Vetch, a journey begins for all involved. Vetch is from the Unworld and is trying to get back. Archeologists in Rob's town have uncovered the Darkhenge and are trying to destroy it. The unlikely group must band together to save the Darkhenge and return Vetch to his world. Vetch reveals to Rob that his sister, Chloe, is being held in the Unworld and he can help Rob return her to his world, if he helps Vetch return to Unworld.

But the quest is met with obstacles in our world and in Unworld. The quest will be challenging and dangerous in many ways. The most unexpected twist is that Chloe may not want to return to the world she knows.

DARKHENGE is an imaginative dark tale of magic and dual worlds. Each of the main characters has many demons they must face, both real and imagined. The story moves quickly to a satisfying ending. Ms. Fisher has a creative imagination that leaves the reader wanting to experience more of her work.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very touching, August 12, 2006

By 

Kelly Elise "Avid reader" (Austin, Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darkhenge (Hardcover)

Anyone who has a sibling can relate to this book. The plot is one of the oldest around; sibling rivalry. However it is so masterfully told and interwoven with shaman myths that it becomes a completely original work. It is wonderfully written. I found myself rereading several descriptions in the book and wondering how the author came up with it. (I read a lot of books and this is not normal for me.) Just a quick example exerpt...
"There was only a cold dread that had started to creep in, like the tendrils of fog that were rising in the chamber of trees, the damp clouds of his own breath."
Anyway, unlike some books, the characters aren't just skin deep. They are skillfully carved out and then brought to life. I highly recommend this book.