In a dilapidated mansion overrun by rats, Indigo and Ravel Kesby have gone to war. Identical twins, their two selves have gradually entwined until they have become all but interchangeable: no one can tell them apart. But when one twin attempts to sever the ties to his brother, their insular world quickly disintegrates into madness, treachery, and violence. As the story sweeps toward a shocking and inexorable conclusion, identity becomes a malleable weapon that will ultimately differentiate brother from brother--and victor from victim. Sonya Hartnett infuses gothic horror with menace in this mesmerizing story of twins-turned-enemies. About her last novel, Robert Cormier said [She] has truly pushed the boundaries of YA literature to their outer edges and perhaps beyond.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
In a dazzling display of virtuosity, Australian writer Sonya Hartnett carries the idea of a double self to the extreme of madness in a gothic tale of twin brothers. Sardonic and mercurial Indigo was born "first and ferocious," and compliant but stubborn Ravel is "second and bewildered." The two relate to no one in the world but each other, now that their parents have disappeared under mysterious circumstances known only to Indigo. Secluded in a rambling mansion set in tangled gardens, watched by multitudes of rats inhabiting the decaying walls, they spend their days reading eccentric and gruesome stories to each other--stories that also serve as oblique comments on their own narrative. Indigo reacts with outrage when Ravel has a brief romance, interpreting his brother's restlessness as a desire for separation. Ravel falls ill and is confined to his room, where he soon realizes that the green peppermint milk his brother brings him is laced with rat poison. His suspenseful escape turns the double identity back on itself in a deliciously intricate mind game. Hartnett, who earned high praise for her sophisticated and terrifying novel Sleeping Dogs, follows that debut with this stunning, stylistic tour de force, which can be read both as a horror story and an allegory for the terrors of the shadow self. (Ages 14 and older) --Patty Campbell
From School Library Journal
Grade 10 UpAIndigo and Ravel are 21-year-old identical twins and have always been together. They live in a rundown mansion, and one has made a prisoner of the other. They revel in gruesome, horrific stories. When they begin to play mind games with one another, both descend into a world of insanity, twisted identity, and bizarre behavior. The brothers are so identical that as the story progresses, each mistakes himself for the other, leaving readers as confused as the young men. One-to-three page vignettes on a variety of topics that bear little relation to the plot add to the confusion. These side stories (not to be confused with subplots) are plopped into the story line and cause major problems with sequencing of events. Even if readers figure out what the plot and theme are all about, they probably won't care. The characters are so peculiar and weird as to be unbelievable. One of them kills their parents and begins to poison the other. It's all so horrific that there is little desire to understand, empathize, or care about either character. Hartnett's writing lacks clarity and consistency. Even the dark mood and tone lose their appeal because of the disjointed story line. Anne Rice, at her weirdest, is much better. In the end, it's unlikely that anyone will care about these "princes."AMolly S. Kinney, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dark and Delightful!,
By Angela Webb (Perth, Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Princes (Hardcover)
Sonya Hartnett has really struck the psychological nail on the head in this dark and twisted narrative. Twins Ravel and Indigo live in a haunted mansion overrun by rats, with only each other as company. Hartnett develops the characters with such precision, that it is undoubtedly a book that can't be put down. I hung on every word from the shocking start to the shocking end. It is an educated look at the psychology of isolation, the extremities of love, and the power one can hold over another. Don't be put off, however, in thinking that this book is a hard read. Hartnett's ability to flow with her words makes it understandable, but intriguing and exciting at the same time. For those who like a bit of the macabre, it is definitely a 'different' and unique story, which I loved and will always be one of my favourites of all times.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Princes,
This review is from: Princes (Hardcover)
I first read this book when I was in ninth grade and have longed to own it ever since. The story completely drew me in to the point that it influenced my own writings. The story of twin brothers, fully dependent on one another to the point of insanity. I was flipping through the pages like mad, eager to get to the conclusion, yet hesitant of the story being over. I highly recommend this book. You can trust me. I've spent years hunting it down.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dark and Delightful!,
By Angela Webb (Perth, Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Princes (Hardcover)
Sonya Hartnett has really struck the psychological nail on the head in this dark and twisted narrative. Twins Ravel and Indigo live in a haunted mansion overrun by rats, with only each other as company. Hartnett develops the characters with such precision, that it is undoubtedly a book that can't be put down. I hung on every word from the shocking start to the shocking end. It is an educated look at the psychology of isolation, the extremities of love, and the power one can hold over another. Don't be put off, however, in thinking that this book is a hard read. Hartnett's ability to flow with her words makes it understandable, but intriguing and exciting at the same time. For those who like a bit of the macabre, it is definitely a 'different' and unique story, which I loved and will always be one of my favourites of all times.
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