Customer Reviews

The Keeping Place: The Obernewtyn Chronicles 4

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have completely fallen IN LOVE with the Obernewtyn Chronicles- I can't wait for the 7th and 8th books to become available on Kindle. Other reviewers have given amazing synopses and so I won't bore you with that. I have given this book 5 stars because it deserves it...however, a note to kindle readers: Whoever transcribed this book made a lot of typos. A LOT! Maruman is called Mammari like 12 times, Sutrium is called Surriam, the word "th'" as spoken by the northerners is typed "tii" more than once, and there are hyphens where there shouldn't be (as in coerc-ivity?). These are just a few examples. It almost distracts from the story....which totally disappoints, because I fully expect to be spirited away to the snow dusted mountains that surround Obernewtyn whenever I turn on my Kindle. PLEASE KINDLE- GIVE US A REVISED VERSION!!!

I don't normally review books, but the state of the kindle version of this book has set my teeth on edge. I have been reading these books on the kindle since my hardcopies are packed up and I wanted to review the books before the new book comes out next month.

I love the story itself - and have been a fan of Isobelle Carmody since she published way back in the late 80s early 90s. This fourth book in the series is still as good as the earlier books, and I would recommend to everyone to read these books. They rock!

What doesn't rock is the state of what the kindle version has done to the book. Mistakes abound in this version of the book. Lots of times the name Maruman, has been replaced with the name "Mammari", tunnel becomes runnel, punctuation gets lost, sentences that clearly delineate who is speaking in turns get run together so you get completely lost as to who is talking until the story itself fixes it for you. Shame on whoever proofed this book for e-publishing - you did a shocking job and have done a disservice to the author.

Thank goodness the rest of this series was released in the US. I was looking at having to pay 35 dollars a book to get the 4th, 5th and 6th book in the series for my family from Australia. And I was considering it.

We are reading this series out loud to our 9 year old daughter and 12 year old son. They have never gotten ready for bed so fast as when we started these books (so as to have more time to read). They are spellbound. The books are complex, the characters well rounded and the plot imaginative. I myself like the fact that the main protagonist is a girl, and not a wimpy complaining, needed to be rescued love object type of female. Elspeth is determined, intelligent, spunky and interesting. My daughter admires her so much that I wonder if we may end up someday with a granddaughter named Elspeth.

The series has also prompted a lot of discussions in our family about "Misfits", being different, and struggling for what is right. I would call the series more fantasy than sci-fi but it has elements of both.

I love the Obernewtyn chronicles. They've enchanted me since halfway through the first book. Ashling is by far my favourite so far. When i read The Keeping Place, however, it was not as captivating and the second and the third books. At times, it got boring and very few things happened for 750 pages. Like all the other book, it was amazingly beautifully written, Isobelle Carmody writes with such descriptive language which creates such vivid imagery that it is impossible not to fall in love with her writings. with it accompanies an enthralling and engrossing storyline. the only thing that i think the keeping place lacks is action. more things need to be happening, and so i truly hope that the stone key has improved and will be unputdownable. i read the keeping place very slowly, but i just hope with all my heart that the stone key is like ashling, but better.

This is a hard to find title. Published in Australia with limited US publishing. The first three books are easily attainable at used bookstores but the later novels in the series are impossible! Thanks to the Kindle edition, I can read the whole lot!

This is a great book and addition to the series. It was a bit of a slow read.

The Keeping Place (2008) is the fourth SF novel in the Obernewtyn Chronicles, following Ashling. In the previous volume, the Misfits traveled to Sador to compete in the Battlegames. They found that they were not warriors. They had too much compassion and love to fight offensively.

Elspeth was shown the Kasanda carvings within the Earthtemple. She also discovered that she and Rushton loved each other. Miryum accepted a gift and was betrothed to a Sadorian.

In this novel, Elspeth Gordie is a Misfit who leads the Farseeker Guild. She has many talents and has been told that she is the Seeker who will find the weaponmachines of the Beforetimers.

Rushton Seraphim is the Master of Obernewtyn, leader of the Misfits. He has some latent Talent.

Domick is a Misfit spy in Sutrium. Since he has seen so much torture and other horrors, Domick has become strange and remote. He has severed himself from his bondmate Kella, a Healer ward.

Maruman is a mutant cat. He has been with Elspeth for many years. He is getting old and lazy, but he is also her contact with the oldOnes, the Agyllian birds.

Avra is a pregnant mare. Her bondmate is Gahltha, who usually provides rides for Elspeth.

Alad is the beastspeaking guildmaster. He is responsible for the Obernewtyn farms.

Freya is a beast empath and enhancer of other's Talents.

Ceirwan is a guilden in the Farseeker Guild. He is Elspeth's second in command and personal secretary.

Garth is the Teknoguildmaster. He supervises digs in the ruins of the Oldtimers. He passionately desires knowledge of the Beforetime.

In this story, Elspeth is left in charge while Rushton meets with Domick in Sutrium. She is reading a pinpricked massage from Dameon, who had stayed in Sador. She misses the blind empath, but he has an important role among the Sadorians. He is teaching them about the speaking beasts and requests that someone be sent to teach the Sadorians how to use the beastspeaking fingertalk.

Elspeth attends the Beastmerge that evening. Avra welcomes Alad, Freya and Elspeth to the meeting and introduces Smoke, the newly arrived dog who has led other beasts to Obernewtyn. She asks the dog if she wishes to lead the Beastguild. Smoke rejects the offer, but accepts the beast name of Rasial, the white shield.

The animals discuss the truce among beasts within the walls of Obernewtyn and the crowding that may lead to turning beasts away. A little goat says that Innle will lead them to a freerunning barud where no funaga -- humans -- dwell. Then all the beast look at Elspeth, whom they believe to be that hero foretold in beastlegend.

Then they discuss the animals held captive by the funaga. Elspeth offers assistance by the Farseekers. The beasts don't want help from humans, but Elspeth points out that the beasts have already helped the Misfits, so it is only fair to reciprocate.

During the beastmerge, Elspeth falls asleep and dreams of seeing the sunrise from above the Blacklands. She sees a red flyer rise over the horizon. Maruman appears in the dream and tells her that it is not a bird, but a mad dragon that will try to hurt her. He also tells her that she is not really dreaming, but has been walking the dreamtrails.

After the beastmerge, Elspeth walks to the house with Freya. Then she climbs up to her tower room and goes back to sleep. She is awakened by Ceirwan after what seems to have been only minutes of sleep. She splashes water on her face and discusses the agenda for the Farseeker merge that evening.

This tale leads Elspeth into more encounters with her nemesis Ariel upon the dreamtrails and more attacks by the dragon. She learns more about the Kasanda of the Sadorians and dreams of the Oldtimers. Garth and the Teknoguild discover more about the Beforetimers.

This novel has little combat, but many more dreams. Elspeth learns how to walk the dreamtrails, but also finds that she needs protection from the dragon. She seldom walks the dreamtrails without Maruman, but sometimes Gahltha accompanies her.

The story binds the Misfits closer to the Rebels. The next volume -- Wavesong -- is even more concerned with the Rebels. Read and enjoy.

Highly recommended for Carmody fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of psionic talents, political intrigue and betrayal. For anyone who not yet read this series, the initial volume is Obernewtyn.

-Arthur W. Jordin

The Keeping Place is the fourth book of the Obernewtyn Chronicles that revolve around the hardships of Misfits and Rebels as they try to get rid of an oppressive regime. Misfits are children born with unique mental powers- some are empathic, some can talk to beasts whilst some can farseek and talk telepathically to others.

This book follows Elspeth and her decision to participate in the rebellion against the Council. There is not alot of fighting or suspense in this book as in previous books, but that does not take away from the magnificence that is the Obernewtyn Chronicles. Elspeth mostly spends her time trying to figure out what the signs are that Kasanda the Seer left for her in order for her to complete her quest. Dragon is still in a coma, Maruman is getting crazier by the minute and Galtha and the other beasts are becoming more certain that Elspeth's time for action is near. Questions are beginning to be answered in this book, and many things are starting to make more sense.

A reviewer of one of the earlier novels commented about the language- I personally don't have an issue with it- some words are changed but their meaning is self explanatory. This book is not my favourite of the series, but is neccessary to understand the overall plot lines and the stories to come. Elspeth is a strong, well rounded character (as are all of them) and the world Isobelle Carmody has created is brought vividly to life through the evocative language and in depth plotlines.

Do not let the size of this book stop you from buying it, trust me, you will hardly notice. A stunning series, this book surpasses my love of the Harry Potter series by a long shot.

10 stars.