Customer Reviews

The Farseekers: The Obernewtyn Chronicles 2

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Obernewtyn Chronicles: The Farseekers carries on the story of Elspeth, the Misfits and Obernewtyn several months (I have assumed this) after the end of book one. The inhabitants of Obernewtyn have won the immediate war with the Council and Rushton (the leader of the Misfits) is now the legal guardian of Obernewtyn; what was once a place of torture and slavery is now a place of safety for the Misfits (people with mental mutations ie telekinesis, empath (feelings), coercing etc).

Like I said, I have assumed that several months have passed and the gang have created a form of government amongst their own kind- where there is a representation/ leader from each group and where they diplomatically decide on the best outcome for any given situation. Madame Vega and Alexis (the former owners/not nice) perished in the fight for freedom, but Ariel escaped and it is widely assumed he perished during the Winter months. The machine that was once used to try and find the Beforetime Weapons has now been converted into a Misfit Locator, and it has found an incredibly powerful Misfit down in the lower mountains.

Some of the Misfits have been studying maps and think they have found a secret underground library (the Herder Faction-Religious order- burn all books from the Beforetime to establish control over the people). The Misfits are eager for any information that may assist them in their ultimate battle for freedom, and they would like to know more about the mythical Beforetimers (us) and the reasons that led to the Great White (pretty much us Beforetimers got a bit to big for our boots and in our efforts to know everything we instigated our own downfall). Rushton decides that a spy house needs to be set up in the Council regions of the land because in Obernewtyn they are too far away to know what is going on and the silence from the Council is an ominous sign). Luckily the library is close to the location of the misfit so it is decided that an expedition will set out to retrieve what can be salvaged, get the misfit and set up a spy house in Sutrium.

This expedition takes up most of the book, and needless to say it is brilliant. It is full of suspense and intrigue at every turn, and as they save what they can (misfit and library books) they lose some of their own forever. This book is so much better than the first. It is almost as if the two books should have been one. I feel that book one was an introduction to the characters and I truly feel that the real story starts during book 2. Elspeth is considered by the animals-and in human myth although not mentioned directly- to be the saviour of humanity and the protector of freedom. Her ultimate quest is to reach the Beforetime weapons before others do and destroy them before they are used by the bad guys in their quest for total power. She knows, as do the animals, that the Earth and humanity would not survive another apocolypse.

I absolutely love this series. I found the writing to be much improved and the story really starts to pick up pace. The characters are further developed and you start to get a better understanding of what they can each do (power wise) and Elspeth really starts to develop as a heroine that I feel I am now able to relate to. The author is really starting to stretch her wings in this book and you are starting to understand the full power of her imagination and just like with the Harry Potter series, you know that everything that happens is deliberately suppose to happen with the soul purpose of the reaching the magnificent ending. I enjoy that fact that I can read this knowing things that they dont about our time and I love reading what they get to read and hearing their thoughts on subjects (according to them mermaids really did exist as a sub-species of humans :P). The author has an awesome sense of humour which really comes out during the "history" parts of the book. Any actual fan of history will get a kick out of comparing the situation in Obernewtyn to times in history. For example, the Herder Faction and all that they stand for and do could be compared to the religious factions and events throughout our own history (1100s+). The Council could be compared to totalitarianism and communist governments throughout history etc. As a history buff myself these books appeal to me on more than one level.

A word of advice. Make sure that you pay close attention to the story. Certain characters and events are introduced in these first few books that may not be mentioned again for a while and the first time I read these books I did get a bit confused. Its not essential that you remember everything, but you will probably get more out of the story if you do pay as much attention as you can. So much happens in these books and they are so indepth and mentally exhausting once you finish them, but they are a brilliant series and a must read. Thankfully though, the author has put an index at the start of book 4 to make it easier for us. :)

5 stars.

The Farseekers is the second book in The Obernewtyn Chronicles and it is even better then first book. The story presumably takes place many months after the events of the first book and follows Elspeth Gordie and fellow Misfits who have created their own government in the once frightening Oprhanage Obernewtyn, that is now a safe haven for all Misfits. The Misfits are searching cities from the Beforetimes for clues to their creation and the worlds demise and discover a library that is a true treasure and this sends them on a great adventure that leads to new Misfits with incredible talents, new allies and enemies and death.

The writing in this book improved from the first book and I was never bored. I couldn't put it down! The characters were so real and interesting and their attitudes and struggles where real and awesome. The pace in this book is great and your learning new things on every page. Though it was a bit confusing with all the characters and new information that the author just gives the reader as if its something they should already know, the story was still really good. Its really fun to read how they learn about our time, while we learn about theirs at the same time.

The book was so good and has so many interesting things going on, that you will be on the edge of your seat waiting for the next story.

Story: 6/5

Pace: 4.5/5

Originality: 4/5

Characters: 4.5/5

Writing: 4/5

Ending: 4.5/5

With A Score of 4.6!

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The Farseekers was an amazing read. Everything about it was brilliant:

First of all, the writing.

The entire Obernewtyn series is written so beautifully and makes the book that much more special because it is more than just a story, more than just a good idea.

The story;

the story itself is brilliant! the plot changes often and there are unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader hungry for more. this makes it book that you can't put down!

it is so much better than the first book, everything about it is interesting. there is so much adventure and action, comedy. everything is unexpected and holds a tense atmosphere. it is such an enjoyable read :)

one of the best series i've read EVER!

if you're a fan of the Hunger Games, Maximum Ridem Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, etc; this series will be a winnere for you!

Wow! This is a great series so far.

What I said in my review of the first is also true for the second.

The plot never slowed down or got dull. Every page flowed into the next without stopping. Something significant to the story happened on nearly every page.

I never felt like the dialogue was pointless or superficial.

The characters were incredibly well developed. They never deviate from their personalities.

The story is believable as well and just plain fun to read.

What I like best about this book is that the story is food for thought. It makes you think. It opens a world of possibilities and invites you to asks questions.

My opinion is based on how well I am able to willingly suspend disbelief. All great stories play like a movie in your head flawlessly. You don't stop and wonder if a certain twist in the plot really fits or if the characters are believable. You don't scratch your head and wonder if your reading fan fiction by mistake.

The only problem I have with series books is the plot recap from the previous book. I understand why editors think each book should stand alone as an individual instead of part of a whole but the interruption of the recap takes away from the flow. Once the recap was out of the way I lost track of time while reading it and found myself sacrificing sleep time for story time. No regrets here though. Works of art are always worth it.