Customer Reviews

Oracle Betrayed (Oracle Prophecies)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Listen... I Will Trust You. There Is No One Else, And I WIll Be Dead Soon. The Speaker is Corrupt. The Oracle is Being Betrayed. Two Things You Must Do, Mirany. Find the New Archon, Stop Argelin. Second. In My Palace Is A Musician. Oblek. Talk To Him, He Knows. Do Not Be Afraid Of The God For He Has Chosen You. Burn This. Stay Alive.

The Oracle Betrayed is by far the best book I have ever read. Catherine Fisher creates a vivid landscape, close to something like Egypt or Greece, and writes of all sorts of characters, each with a unique, complex, but believable personality. The back ground point is Mirany is chosen to be the Bearer-of-the-God, the second highest ranking position in amongst nine priestessess. The first is the Speaker to the God, Hermia, who is corrupt and turns the god's word around to suit her's and Argelin's own purposes. But the God speaks to Mirany, tells her about it. And gives her a mission. Find Oblek before he is put to death with the other slaves of the old Archon (god-in-human-form (who dies at the start of the book)) The rest you have probably already read about in other reviews so i won't waste space telling you.

What I disliked about this book: Well, the starting is a bit confusing, but it's all explained later on. And you repeatedly read about the Jackal's long eyes staring at someone, or his fair hair, or about the characters licking dry lips. Well, it's better than just plain " Seth liked his lips." And that's all.

What I liked about this book: All the characters are so complex and even the main ones are still mortal and will give in if it means something for them will come out of it. No two are alike- like real people. And Catherine Fisher does such a good job describing how they're like- (not in long, boring paragraphs) but how they act in different situations throughout the book that it's almost like you know them like you do a friend. Admittedly, not all the characters are like that, most have deep histories that aren't apparent until Catherine Fisher tells you or until you put two and two together and figure it out for yourself. When I read this book for the third time I started to realize that, how Mirany was helping Oblek and Seth from the Garden of the Rain, and i only started to understand who the Rain Queen really was at the third book. And when you finnish one of her books, it's clear what happened, but you still have a feeling as if their was more to it, if you cared to understand, and there is, in short paragraphs or poem-like pages that you thought were insignificant before.

The Oracle Betrayed is fast paced, and doesn't take long to start up- the climax happened about 30 pages into the book, and never receded. Catherine Fisher really know's how to right suspense, and the words seem to just roll off the pages and into your mind. Suspense always leaves you hanging whenever the points of views between characters suddenly switch, and you never know what will happen next.

Over all, I highly reccomend this book to anyone who loves books about adventure/suspense/awesome writing/egypt/tomb thieves/plots/deciet/betrayal/and realistic characters that you could actually picture living in the real world.

Mirany is a girl who had a simple life in the arid desert tundra, until she got chosen that is. She was chosen to be the bearer of the God, their idol who decides when to bring the priceless rain and normally comes to them in the form of snakes, scorpions, and other scuttling creatures. This is a huge honor for someone as young and inexperienced as Mirany, although soon it is apparent that she is much more powerful than she thinks. Nine other girls serve the god. Just after receiving her new post, her life is constantly in danger.
The Archon is dead, the speaker is false, and the oracle is being betrayed. The speaker of the god Hermia tells the people what the god says through the oracle and delivers it to the people to appease the god so the rains come. The people don't know however that they are being deceived. Hermia is in league with general Argelin who has intense power over the land and its inhabitants. They are planning to betray the oracle by giving false information to the people and intend to dictate the choosing of the new ruler, who is supposed to have the presence of the god within him and is known as the Archon. This plot between the two most powerful people in the land has unearthed a disturbance and the god is not happy: there is no rain.
Mirany goes through an epic adventure trying desperately to bring the rightful candidate of the new Archon (named Alexos) to the temple to bring the life sustaining rains, and ensure the happiness of the people. She teams up with Seth, an ambitious scribe who really wants nothing to do with the whole affair, and has some dark secrets of his own; and Oblek, a drunken, pugnacious, middle aged man who used to be the best musician in the land, and was the old Archon's best friend, and may be the only man who can keep Alexos alive and deliver him safely to the temple to fulfill his duties. Will Mirany, Oblek, and Seth stop the malicious plot between Hermia and Argelin? What new powers will Mirany discover during her quest?
This book is an amazing science fiction novel for all ages. The Oracle Betrayed is extremely descriptive, and stirs your thoughts and imagination in the most unlikely ways. The characters are intense and convincing, you feel as though you are really there. Riveting to the last page. I recommend this book to all readers and hope you find it as enjoyable as I have.

I've started reading this series after having gone through the Edgewater series. "The Oracle Betrayed" already promises that this series will be much better and more satisfying. The characters are well rounded, the dialogue is believable, and while there is a lot of action, it all flows together as part of an overarching plot, rather than as individual episodes. This book will appeal to both girls and boys.

Catherine Fisher does a great job of making the world of this story come to life. The brutality of life in the ancient world is made evident. As she describes the crowded city streets, details such as rotting garbage and the odor of dead animals make it extremely vivid and realistic. And then this is contrasted with the sumptuous City of the Dead, where the high ranking inhabitants lack for nothing, even precious water while the poor are reeling from the effects of the long-lasting drought.

The two main characters, Mireny and Seth, are flawed which makes them more believable than they would have been if they had been gung-ho, able-to-do-everything types. Mireny is priestess but she doesn't believe the in the existence of her god, and by nature she is shy and uncomfortable around people. Over the course of the book her faith changes and she gains confidence. Seth begins as an arrogant scribe who gets drawn into the plot initially as a means of achieving his ambitions, but he too grows and his motives change.

A previous reviewer complained that the meaning of everything is not spelled out at the beginning. That's actually what makes for sophisticated storytelling, and makes this a book that will appeal to various ages. As you read on the various layers of the the mystery are revealed and the various threads of the plot come together.

For parents who are evaluating this book there are a couple of things to be aware of. Although this is listed as book for 9 yr olds, it probably is more appropriate starting at 11 to 12 year olds due to some more mature elements. There is a scene of ritual sacrifice, and while it is not graphic it might be disturbing to some kids. Also there is a brief scene that takes place in an opium den. Otherwise I highly recommend this book. It's enjoyable for anyone who enjoys a mix of mystery and fantasy.

This book's sooooo suspensful!! it has everything i like- suspence, adventure, action, humor! IT IS NOT DULL!!!!

Yeah, well it starts off kind of slow, with a confusing ritual. But don't give up on it! (that's what my sister did, but when she went back and read the whole thing she loved it!)

The characters are strong and well written; no two are alike. The book has everything, musijians, tomb thieves, priestesses, betrayal, deciet. It gets better throughout the story, and at the end it's so suspenceful that i finnished it that night.

So, just to help you through the first chapter, : (This little paragraph doesn't have any spoilers, just some explanations that you find out later, but i for one could hardly understand what was going on with the whole thing until i read the explanations.)

There are Nine chosen priestessess. The two gods are the Rain Queen and the other God who isn't named. the priestesses are called the Nine, and consist of the Speaker-to-the-God, the Bearer-of-the-God, Taster-of-the-god's-food, Embroiderer, ect. The two most important priestessess are Speaker-to-the-Gods, and the Bearer. Anyway, the old Bearer just died, and Mirany is chosen to be the new one. But first there's a test. She must carry a heavy bowl filled with scorpions along a path: If the scorpions kill her, The god does not wish her to be Bearer. But if she succeeds, the God DOES wish her to be Bearer. Also, at the same time, The old Archon, (who acts like a sacrifice for the people (he's the God-in-human-form,) must be sacrificed. the out come, the people hope, will be rain.)

All that happen's in the first chapter, and throughout the rest of the story, Mirany befriends Seth, (a scribe), and Oblek (a musijian,) in her attempt to restore the oracle. (the Speaker (Hermia) was twisting the God's wishes and saying instead what she herself wanted.)

Again, i would highly reccommend this fast-paced book to anyone who likes Adventure and suspence. Also if you like:

The Squire's Tales

Boston Jane*****

Eragon

and...... The Great Tree of Avalon.

P.S: I am a Christian!

Seriously, Cat Fisher is one of the best authors I have ever experienced. She beats JK Rowling! The main female character is a teen brunette called Mirany. She is a shy, timid little thing, who is easily intimidated by her fellow priestesses, especially ambitious Rhetia and ruthless Hermia, who has hooked up with obsessive general Argelin. Her only friend in the Nine is ditzy blonde Chryse. After being secretly contacted by the ancient Archon, God-on-Earth, Mirany teams up with handsome scribe Seth, who seems to have two conflicting personalities- one power-hungey and greedy, the other ... well, noble, really. Throughout the series, Seth and Mirany have much sexual tension between them, as they quickly fall for each other. Along with Oblex, a protective yet alcoholic musician, and Alexos, the quirky ten-year-old who is the god... these characters burn in your head for time to come.

Mirany, a young women, is elected to be the bearer of the Gods. She has to tell the Speaker (who tells the people what the God wants) if the God is in the people's presence. Mirany lives with the nine, who are some of the most respected people in her country. There are people in the nine like the taster-of-the-Gods who do important things for the Gods and the people. When Archon, the ruler of the land, dies he gives Mirany a note saying that the Oracle is betrayed, the Speaker can not hear the Gods, and the Speaker is making ideas up in her head and in the people's favor. Mirany has to find the new Archon, but the new Archon lives in a very poor place far away. The Speaker wants a weak boy to be the Archon so that she can control the Archon and maintain power. The rest of the book is about Mirany's attempt to find the new Archon and end the drought that has plagued the land for the past 6 months.

Opinion: I thought this book was very exciting, especially at the end. It also has a lot of myth in it and is a great book for those who love places like Egypt. The book was well detailed and the author had a lot of descriptions so you understood what things look like. The only problem with this book is that it is confusing. It gives you so much to read that you forget some important ideas and sometimes things just pop up out of nowhere and the author hasn't explained that part too well. Also the book got me questioning some things which were later answered but I also had some questions left. Nevertheless it all didn't matter because it was such an exciting story with amazing things happening. Please visit www.flamingnet.com for more reviews.

Mirany is chosen to be a Bearer of the God in the society where 9 priestesses serve to the God's different needs. It's a great honor to become one of the priestesses. With the respect and adoration of average people, the title gives each of the 9 the status and the power to control the life of the society they live in. The only reason for Mirany being chosen is that she seems to be easily controllable. Imagine the surprise, when under the timid and shy appearance, a very resourceful and thoughtful individual emerge as the story progresses.

Mirany's character grows as the story goes on; she starts out questioning God's existence (quietly in her own thoughts, terrified that someone could find out) then confronted with the fact that God might be real after all (reincarnated in the young boy Alexos), she still doesn't stop questioning God's work - the society she lives in, its inequality and cruelty. On one hand she believes that Alexos is the new Archon, but on the other she still sees everything that is wrong with people and society around her and doesn't understand how and why the God would allow things to be that way. Seth, the practical and ambitious scribe (another character from the book) seems to shear Mirany's dual attitude towards the God, but with somewhat more practical attitude - ok, God's great, but we mortals here have to fend for ourselves and help ourselves, because no one else will. Oblek, the old bad tempered musician, loves the "Old Man" (the Archon), but more like an old friend than someone to worship. These three very different people with different motivations have the common purpose - to make sure that Alexos will be chosen as the new Archon. And all three of them discover different parts of themselves during their quest.

I definitely recommend the book to anyone 10 and up. It has the adventure, intrigue and "edge of the seat" suspense for the younger audience, while bringing up questions that people can spend their whole life trying to answer.

Catherine Fisher doesn't use all the promise that "The Oracle Betrayed" has, although the book improves as it goes on. Her writing is lackluster and the setting is sketchy, but the intricate plotline has promise, if she can learn to use it sufficiently.

The Archon, a vessel for an unnamed god, is sacrificed so that the drought will end and it will finally rain. But young priestess Mirany finds out something far more sinister when she goes to clean out the Archon's quarters -- he has left a note for her, warning her that the Speaker is not speaking for the god. Instead, she and her power-hungry lover are planning to set up a new, fake Archon to be their puppet.

Mirany ends up befriending Oblek, a sozzled old musician, and Seth, a boy who has a deep, dark secret that he can never tell Mirany. When the god speaks directly to Mirany, she sends Seth and Oblek to find the new Archon in an impoverished village. But Mirany may have gone too far in her investigations -- and she may be the next one murdered.

"The Oracle Betrayed" starts off on a shaky note. The setting is a random mishmash of ancient Greece and Egypt, and Fisher doesn't really explain the civilization or religious system at the beginning of the book. What are the Nine? What's up with that scorpion? Why's the old man dying? You'll find out eventually, but it's rather frustrating to have to take such things on faith.

Fortunately, Fisher's plot steadies itself as she progresses through the book. By the time we meet Oblek, things are going at a pretty good pace. Her writing also starts off very start and dull, but blossoms by the middle of the book. Fisher seems to become more eloquent once she gets into the flow of the plotline.

Mirany is the weakest character in the book; she seems rather petulant and meek. But Seth and Oblek are excellent characters. One is a boy who has made a Faustian pact with a tomb-robber, so that his little sister can have some valuable water. And the other is a drunken musician who is a lot sharper than he seems.

Catherine Fisher's "The Oracle Betrayed" starts off on shaky ground, but gets better footing as the plot proceeds. A promising and enticing fantasy book, if somewhat flawed.

This was very different and interesting. Fisher is a great descriptive writer! I could almost feel the heat poring out of this book!(The weather was hot) I wasn't sure if I would like it after the first chapter it started out odd but if defiantly took off and I will be reading the next and checking out this author for other books.

I decided to read this after I read Incarceron. I enjoyed this book more, but I have to admit that it has some of the same problems that Incarceron had. First, the setting. I do not usually like long winded, overly descriptive novels that tell you what city is north of what body of water, but the setting seemed almost nonexistent in The Oracle Betrayed. From what I understood it is an ancient Egyptian or ancient Greek type of setting. It is certainly set in a desert environment, but I would have liked to have more information on the society as a whole instead of just the palace area. My second issue was the characters. The Oracle Betrayed is full of action, and there always seemed to be something going on. That doesn't leave time for character building and lots of introspection. Neither of those issues ruined the novel for me though. The reincarnation of the Archon was an interesting idea, and the plot is what redeemed this book. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next at every turn. Each chapter it seemed like the plan might be blown, or that something bad might happen. When bad things happened, I was biting my nails hoping everything would be ok. I think the storytelling is well done and it certainly kept my attention. It is obvious that everything will not be sunshine and rainbows in the next book, though some of the characters don't seem to realize it at all, and that makes me thankful that I picked up the entire series at once. A quick, easy, exciting read that is worth giving a try. I'm glad I read it and plan to continue the series.