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The Beguilers
In Rilka's village, it isn't safe to go out after dark. That's when the beguilers drift through the streets, as bright and visible as fireflies. Everyone knows their power-they hypnotize their victims and, in the end, lead them to their deaths. When Rilka declares her Great Intention to capture a beguiler, her family and friends mourn her. Still, a determined Rilka sets out on her lonely, danger-filled journey, where she will struggle to keep her strength and her sanity. What she learns there will change her life-and the life of her village-forever. . . .
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2001
3 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Kate Thompson
63 books151 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Kate Thompson is an award-winning writer for children and adults.She has lived in Ireland, where many of her books are set, since 1981. She is the youngest child of the social historians and peace activists E. P. Thompson and Dorothy Towers. She worked with horses and travelled in India before settling in the west of Ireland with her partner Conor. They have two daughters, Cliodhna and Dearbhla. She is an accomplished fiddler with an interest in Irish traditional music, reflected in The New Policeman.
While Kate Thompson's children's fiction is primarily fantasy, several of her books also deal with the consequences of genetic engineering.
She has won the Bisto Children's Book of the Year Award four times, for The Beguilers, The Alchemist's Apprentice, Annan Water and The New Policeman. The New Policeman was also awarded the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Book Award and the Dublin Airport Authority Children's Book of the Year Award for 2005.
Kate Thompson is an award-winning writer for children and adults.She has lived in Ireland, where many of her books are set, since 1981. She is the youngest child of the social historians and peace activists E. P. Thompson and Dorothy Towers. She worked with horses and travelled in India before settling in the west of Ireland with her partner Conor. They have two daughters, Cliodhna and Dearbhla. She is an accomplished fiddler with an interest in Irish traditional music, reflected in The New Policeman.
While Kate Thompson's children's fiction is primarily fantasy, several of her books also deal with the consequences of genetic engineering.
She has won the Bisto Children's Book of the Year Award four times, for The Beguilers, The Alchemist's Apprentice, Annan Water and The New Policeman. The New Policeman was also awarded the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Book Award and the Dublin Airport Authority Children's Book of the Year Award for 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 13, 2010
Rilka lives in a small village, where it isn't safe to go out after dark lest the beguilers lure you away, and where odd creatures called chuffies absorb human emotions, ridding the villagers of their negative feelings. Rilka has always been a misfit, and when she decides to try to catch a beguiler, she becomes an outcast. Though she does discover an astonishing truth about her world, her journey is mostly a coming-of-age tale, showing how she grows and changes as she copes with her difficult path.
I figured out the central mystery before Rilka did, but not far enough ahead that I got impatient, fortunately. The pacing is generally good and suspenseful, though I thought Rilka was overly given to long self-analysis in a way that didn't always blend well with the narrative. Also, the ending felt rushed; the implications of what Rilka reveals to the rest of the villagers aren't fully addressed, and given the importance of her discovery, I'd have liked to see that explored more. Still, Rilka is a well-developed, interesting character, and I liked the small-scale (what lies beyond the village?) but convincing worldbuilding.
I figured out the central mystery before Rilka did, but not far enough ahead that I got impatient, fortunately. The pacing is generally good and suspenseful, though I thought Rilka was overly given to long self-analysis in a way that didn't always blend well with the narrative. Also, the ending felt rushed; the implications of what Rilka reveals to the rest of the villagers aren't fully addressed, and given the importance of her discovery, I'd have liked to see that explored more. Still, Rilka is a well-developed, interesting character, and I liked the small-scale (what lies beyond the village?) but convincing worldbuilding.
September 26, 2017
Overall, this book was fantastic! The only thing that kept it from being a 5-star read, though, was the fact that it took me such a long time to become interested in the story. I know that's probably my fault though and not the fault of the author, so I'll give Thompson the benefit of the doubt here. Read it! This book is the perfect mix of suspense and fantasy! I highly recommend it!
October 31, 2014
Rilka is bored with her life, and the future doesn't look much better. Rather than marry or enter the priesthood, she makes her Great Intention one of capturing a beguiler, the ghost-like lights that lead people to their deaths. But capturing a beguiler isn't as easy as it looks, and holding on to one is even harder.
I didn't find much to like about the book, honestly. I spent the majority of the book not even knowing the main character's name. The first time anyone says it is on page 101, and they don't use it afterwards, either. The fantasy elements were for the most part never explained because they were already familiar to the narrator. What is a chuffie? I know what they do, but what are they? Dogs? Miniature ponies? Oversized cats? A goat? You decide. Perhaps it would have been more fun imagining them all as miniature ponies, but I digress. This oversight made it hard for me to get into the fantasy world.
I didn't much like the main character, either. Her mistakes are so easy to predict I could've plotted out half the book myself before reading it. And the whole near-death experience at the end left me confused more than satisfied. What did she learn? Why did that impart a nearly magical self-confidence? The bag of beguiler's eyes was poorly done, in my opinion. Rilka didn't open it because she had that level of self-control: she didn't open it because the knots were too complicated! That hardly convinces me she learned how to hold out on her own.
I was also dissatisfied with her final reaction to the beguiler. It was my opinion that she/humanity owed them a sacrifice, and Rilka's journey should have led her to a point where she either found a way to satisfy them without killing anyone or she got rid of the chuffies.
The prose wasn't too bad, and the pacing was okay once Rilka got out of the village. Other characters didn't have much fleshing out, but since Rilka made the majority of her journey on her own, I suppose that's not as big a deal.
Overall, the book wasn't that bad, but given the sloppy handling of the subject matter and the inconclusive ending, I'm going to rate it Not Recommended.
I didn't find much to like about the book, honestly. I spent the majority of the book not even knowing the main character's name. The first time anyone says it is on page 101, and they don't use it afterwards, either. The fantasy elements were for the most part never explained because they were already familiar to the narrator. What is a chuffie? I know what they do, but what are they? Dogs? Miniature ponies? Oversized cats? A goat? You decide. Perhaps it would have been more fun imagining them all as miniature ponies, but I digress. This oversight made it hard for me to get into the fantasy world.
I didn't much like the main character, either. Her mistakes are so easy to predict I could've plotted out half the book myself before reading it. And the whole near-death experience at the end left me confused more than satisfied. What did she learn? Why did that impart a nearly magical self-confidence? The bag of beguiler's eyes was poorly done, in my opinion. Rilka didn't open it because she had that level of self-control: she didn't open it because the knots were too complicated! That hardly convinces me she learned how to hold out on her own.
I was also dissatisfied with her final reaction to the beguiler. It was my opinion that she/humanity owed them a sacrifice, and Rilka's journey should have led her to a point where she either found a way to satisfy them without killing anyone or she got rid of the chuffies.
The prose wasn't too bad, and the pacing was okay once Rilka got out of the village. Other characters didn't have much fleshing out, but since Rilka made the majority of her journey on her own, I suppose that's not as big a deal.
Overall, the book wasn't that bad, but given the sloppy handling of the subject matter and the inconclusive ending, I'm going to rate it Not Recommended.
September 12, 2020
4.5 stars
____________
Meet Rilka, a girl from a small village who’s different. She’s allergic to chuffies, dog-like creatures that absorb sadness and cheer you up, so her family can’t have one in the house with them. She experiences a lot more emotions than anyone else. Not just that - when the rest of her peers have Intentions (basically a monthly To Do List) like “fetch more firewood”, Rilka aims to come up with a more efficient irrigation system.
Most people her age have offered up a Great Intention (usually marriage) that is what they want to do with their life. And when Rilka finally gives one, it’s crazy and marks her as an outcast. Her shocking Intention? To catch a Beguiler. These are little balls of light that lure travellers to their deaths, but no one really knows what they are.
Along her quest, she meets Malik, a mysterious porter who isn’t afraid of Beguilers and Shirsha, a woman who succeeded in catching one. But Shirsha is a shell of a woman, and Rilka is determined to avoid her mistakes. But can she pull it off? And will her Great Intention be her ticket to an early death?
I thought this book was unique, well-written and a great read. There were an awful lot of characters who the author assumes you remember, but they were minor and not significant. I’d really recommend this book!
____________
Song Match:
Creep by Radiohead
____________
Meet Rilka, a girl from a small village who’s different. She’s allergic to chuffies, dog-like creatures that absorb sadness and cheer you up, so her family can’t have one in the house with them. She experiences a lot more emotions than anyone else. Not just that - when the rest of her peers have Intentions (basically a monthly To Do List) like “fetch more firewood”, Rilka aims to come up with a more efficient irrigation system.
Most people her age have offered up a Great Intention (usually marriage) that is what they want to do with their life. And when Rilka finally gives one, it’s crazy and marks her as an outcast. Her shocking Intention? To catch a Beguiler. These are little balls of light that lure travellers to their deaths, but no one really knows what they are.
Along her quest, she meets Malik, a mysterious porter who isn’t afraid of Beguilers and Shirsha, a woman who succeeded in catching one. But Shirsha is a shell of a woman, and Rilka is determined to avoid her mistakes. But can she pull it off? And will her Great Intention be her ticket to an early death?
I thought this book was unique, well-written and a great read. There were an awful lot of characters who the author assumes you remember, but they were minor and not significant. I’d really recommend this book!
____________
Song Match:
Creep by Radiohead
August 28, 2011
Tedious...like struggling through a big patch of "druze".
On the whole, a well crafted story with some good imagery, but I thought it could have been further developed. The ending is particularly unsatisfying and lacklustre. Disappointing - left me feeling exhausted!
I'm surprised this book won so many prizes.
On the whole, a well crafted story with some good imagery, but I thought it could have been further developed. The ending is particularly unsatisfying and lacklustre. Disappointing - left me feeling exhausted!
I'm surprised this book won so many prizes.
January 9, 2019
An interesting read, but a bit confusing. I'm not sure if the ending answered any questions. Rilka seems to think so, but I don't. And I'm left with the feeling that I just don't get it. Did she save anyone else besides herself?
(No language or sexual content).
(No language or sexual content).
August 3, 2020
Als Kinderbuch sicher toll, ich fand die Welt schön konstruktiv und hätte am Ende gerne mehr über ihre Entwicklung gehört, aber sonst war es für mich etwas langweilig, werde das Buch aber gerne meiner kleinen Schwester (9 Jahre alt) überlassen.
November 11, 2018
Sweet little book, I enjoyed the main message!
November 3, 2019
Disappointing.
I'm surprised that such a dull book should have won so many awards.
I'm surprised that such a dull book should have won so many awards.
February 5, 2020
I just couldn’t get into it. I kept getting distracted and was unable to read the rate that I am used to.
January 9, 2024
A teenage girl on a solo mission to climb up a mountain and to solve the mystery of beguilers that have been haunting the village for a long time. The story sounds promising but somehow felt flat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2020
I read this book in my childhood and loved it. Maybe there is a nostalgia factor here, but I actually think her writing style just resonates with me. This is about a girl who leaves behind everything familiar for a chance at a much grander life. It is not that her life was bad, but she was not content with the status quo. She was a little bit of an outsider due to a factor out of her control, and she couldn't settle down in small town life like the rest of the people in her town. I can't really argue with this since I was that girl in so many ways in my teens. Rilka takes the most unorthodox route she can possibly take in the hopes that she will find what she needs from life. I completely related to the fact that sometimes you have to make that leap of faith to come out better on the other end. As I said, I loved the writing, but I also loved the story. It was a very satisfying read, and the book is very short so I recommend you at least give it a try.
December 20, 2008
This book was solid and servicable, a fitting cleanly into the ranks of young adult high fantasy/science fiction, but was not in any way outstanding. The world building was engaging but not astounding, and the character believable but not startlingly well drawn. Recommended to those who like this genre a great deal, but not anyone else.
January 12, 2012
This is one of my favorite YA fantasy novels. I'm not sure when it was written, but I bought it in some small bookshop on the ring road in Ireland years ago and just loved it! So much so that I described it to my husband, who did a painting for my birthday of my description. It is one of the few books that I have a double of so that I can loan it out.
April 8, 2008
This was a great little book that went fast and had an interesting plot. I have found some really good reading in the Young Adult section of my library.
September 20, 2010
I really wanted to like this book, but I never really got into it. Rilka wasn't compelling as a character. The concept was interesting, but it stopped there.
April 18, 2011
Different and a nice change. Kids books are for adults to!
June 27, 2011
This was a peculiar book.
September 22, 2014
I enjoyed Switchers more. This book is far more scattered and written with the heroine in a dreamy/hypnotised state.
August 3, 2012
I didn't enjoy the story very much. Maybe it is because I don't really like fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews