The Firehills [Hardcover]

Steve Alton (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

It’s been a year since Sam defeated the Malifex, and ever since that day, Sam has felt different—alone. When he gets the chance to visit his Wiccan friend Charly and the wizard Amergin, Sam goes, never suspecting that he is stepping back into the ancient and dangerous world of magic. This time, the Sidhe, Fairy Folk, kidnap Amergin and are plotting to release the Malifex back into the world. Will Sam be able to draw upon the powers of the Green Man to save the world yet again, or will the evil power of the Malifex be freed to cover the earth once more?

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–This sequel to The Malifex (Carolrhoda, 2002) continues the adventures of Charly, a Wicca teen; her mother, Megan; her friend Sam; and a wizard/bard named Amergin who, having been brought out of a deep sleep, spends his time watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on TV and marveling at modern technology. A brief prologue sets the stage for those who haven't read the first book. Megan and Charly are packing to go to a Green Man festival. Sam joins them there and almost immediately they are threatened by evil faeries, or, in Gaelic, the Sidhe. When Amergin is abducted, Charly and Sam have to rescue him from the Hollow Hills. During their quest, they encounter the evil Malifex once again, and Sam is led to an unexpected destiny. The Sidhe, like all reliable fantasy villains, are bent on world domination and plan to use the Jack-in-the-Green, the green man built at the festival, to achieve their goal. The fantasy elements here were put to much better use by Susan Cooper in Greenwitch (1985) and The Grey King (1975, both S & S). Ultimately, The Firehills is a somewhat bizarre combination of traditional fantasy with Wiccan belief and ritual. Still, kids will probably respond to the action. Purchase where the first book is popular.–Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. This sequel to The Malifex (2002) finds Sam, Charley, and Amergin dealing with the aftereffects of their battle against evil. Sam struggles to accept his disturbing new powers, while Charley embraces hers with her initiation into the Craft; wizard Amergin, meanwhile, has become a television-obsessed couch potato. The three meet for the Jack-in-the-Green festival, when the Green Man is symbolically sacrificed to end winter, but their reunion is interrupted by the Sidhe, malevolent Faeries who intend to absorb the Green Man's powers. Sam and Charley are attacked, and Amergin is kidnapped. Determined to rescue him and save the world, Sam and Charley confront the Sidhe, first in the Faerie underworld and then during the festival. British folklore adds an interesting backdrop to the swiftly moving story, which is standard fantasy fare, with magic, mayhem, and menace aplenty. Sam and Charley's romance and Amergin's newly adopted modernity provide warmth and humor, and Sam's fear of his true nature comes across as both real and poignant. A quickly wrapped-up ending notwithstanding, this won't disappoint fans of the first book. Krista Hutley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (September 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575057980
• ISBN-13: 978-1575057989
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,854,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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