The Sphere of Secrets: Book Two of The Oracle Prophecies [Paperback]

Catherine Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 23, 2006 | Age Level: 10 and up | Series: The Oracle Prophecies (Book 2)

The fate of his world rests in his hands

Young Alexos is now officially the Archon. But political corruption and a deadly drought still tear at the heart of the Two Lands. Together with his friends Mirany, Seth, and Oblek, Alexos sets out to save his people. He realizes that the key lies at the Well of Songs -- a place from which no one has ever returned. With only an ancient map written on a silver sphere to guide him, Alexos must embark on his perilous journey to right an ancient wrong, before it is too late.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up–This second book in the series has the same power, adventure, and amazement as The Oracle Betrayed (HarperCollins, 2004). Sphere continues the story of 10-year-old Alexos, in whom an ancient god resides, and his friends: Mirany, one of the nine young women who cares for the Oracle; Seth, an ambitious scribe; and Oblek, a drunken musician. Although Alexos has been recognized as the god by his people and has been able to help them by bringing some rain, the land continues to suffer from a drought. He decides to travel through the desert to the Well of Songs, where in a previous life he caused trouble by stealing three golden apples, hoping to once again make the rivers flow. He takes Seth and Oblek with him as well as a pair of tomb thieves who seek riches in the region. As the companions face danger during their quest, Mirany is caught in a web of political intrigue and must find a way to remain true to the Oracle and follow the god's wishes. The plot includes religion, amazing beings, fallen stars that can be held in one's hand, and corruption that tears at the very heart of the entire civilization. Fisher has created an incredible, detailed, and believable setting, and the characterizations are vivid and complex. This compelling novel makes a satisfying sequel but can also stand on its own and may encourage readers to become immersed in the series.–Tasha Saecker, Caestecker Public Library, Green Lake, WI --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. The middle book in the Oracle Prophecies Trilogy, this novel continues a story set within a culture reminiscent of ancient Greece and Egypt. The god, reborn as the boy Alexos, makes a perilous journey to the Well of Songs, accompanied by four companions who struggle with their weaknesses along the way. Meanwhile, back at the Oracle, Mirany longs to hear the voice of the god guiding her as she struggles against the machinations of the evil power-seeker Argelin as well as treachery among the Nine who serve the god. Readers who enjoy quests and adventures will find plenty of excitement here. Vividly described in the first book, The Oracle Betrayed (2004), the world of the Two Lands becomes increasingly well realized in this novel. Careful plotting helps readers retain focus despite the distraction of having two sets of characters hurtling toward the same climactic moment. Like Oracle, this features a striking jacket illustration that will appeal to many fantasy fans. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Eos (May 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060571608
• ISBN-13: 978-0060571603
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #785,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Catherine Fisher is the New York Times best-selling author of Sapphique and Incarceron. She is "one of today's best fantasy writers," according to the London Independent. An acclaimed novelist and poet, she has written many fantasy books for young people, including The Oracle Prophecy series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Birds, stars and diamonds, November 3, 2005

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Sphere of Secrets: Book Two of The Oracle Prophecies (Hardcover)

Catherine Fisher continues the tales of incarnate gods, desert kingdoms and plots that would shame Machievelli. "Sphere of Secrets" suffers from some awkward, rushed storylines and an unfortunate heroine, but it does have a spellbinding quest story wrapped up in it.

The Archon, a peasant boy named Alexos, has been found, but things haven't improved. The drought continues, General Argelin is still plotting to seize power, and Mirany is still enmeshed in the lies and schemes of the Nine priestesses. So Alexos tells the people that he will bring back prosperity by making a journey to the mystical Well of Songs, to atone for stealing three stars. But he doesn't know that Argelin is blackmailing his pal Seth to kill him.

Meanwhile Mirany is trying to deal with the Oracle's corruption, and the fact that one priestess is secretly in league with Argelin's enemies. Plots are exposed and Mirany finds herself made into a puppet Speaker. Her only hope is that Alexos survives the journey to the Well of Songs...

In concept, there's very little wrong with a story like this. Fisher piles on the wonder and beautiful prose, including everything from a ragged bird-worshiping civilization to a mountain made of diamond. At the same time, she also exposes the frightening results when a religion tries to use lies for its own benefit.

But despite some tense moments, the schemes and plots never come to life, even when the god makes a convenient cameo to save a little girl. Fisher seems more comfortable in Alexos' desert quest, in which the god-boy has to deal with drunks, savages, fallen stars, and a master thief who thinks he's just a crazy little kid.

The biggest flaw is the heroine Mirany. While Seth is struggling to protect his family, we're never really told why Mirany cares about any of this. She also seems a trifle wimpy and naive beside the mysterious desert thieves and the enigmatic Alexos, who can be a cheerful boy one minute and an overpowering god the next.

Though the scheming priestesses get tiresome after awhile, the desert quest for the three fallen stars is reason enough to read "Sphere of Secrets." Not Catherine Fisher's best, but an intriguing read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Sphere of Secrets, April 20, 2010

By 

Ithlilian "Ravenous Reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sphere of Secrets: Book Two of The Oracle Prophecies (Hardcover)

The Sphere of Secrets has many of the same problems that the first novel had. I still don't get a feel for society as a whole, and the characters are weak. I feel like the characters are just going through the motions and completing tasks without any drive or determination. They do as ordered by the god and don't really think for themselves. In addition, this novel adds a large amount of traveling. I'm really not into books where the main plot consists of traveling across the land to retrieve an object or complete a task. In a nutshell, that's what this book is. Plenty is happening in this book, but it doesn't seem to fit in with the events of the last story. Most of the events in The Sphere of Secrets are based on the discovery of the sphere and traveling to restore the water. Those things could have been explained without the sphere, and I don't understand why the Archon is just now discovering how to restore water. To sum it up nicely, I would say that the plot doesn't flow very well.

I'm interested in the land, and I want to know what happens with everything. I just want a little more than is being delivered. I want to know more about the characters. I want to know what drives them, why they act the way they do, why they care about certain events. I want to know what the god thinks of people randomly asking for things, and I would like to see a reckoning. I don't know that any of those things will happen, but I will continue to read the series because it's not bad. It's not really good or great, but it's not bad either. I don't judge it too harshly because it is the second book in a trilogy, and I almost expect those to be slow. If you liked the first book, definitely give this one a try.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great 2nd book, January 8, 2011

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BOOKFreak! (Spanish Fork Ut.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Sphere of Secrets: Book Two of The Oracle Prophecies (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this second book. It was not a disappointment and carried the same fire as the first. Strong characters with a great story and well developed land to have this little series in. These are great young adult reads.