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Spellbound
How far would you go to get rid of an annoying brother? Athene meets the Gloam, who cast a spell on everyone who knew her little brother so that they forget all about him. However, it is Athene who cannot forget her brother and so she sets out into a world of dark magic, underground kingdoms and twisted histories to save him.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
12 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 25, 2021
it's the childhood nostalgia for me 😌 child me absolutely fucked with this book so hard and it'll always have a special place in my heart. I wanted to be a gloam so bad!!!
February 20, 2016
Spellbound takes on various popular elements of English fantasy and children's literature, merges it deeply in a sense of wilderness and landscape that fits to that world of secrets, tunnels and hidden places, and tells an entertaining tale of a young girl coming to terms with the nastiness inside her. In the tradition of everything from Narnia, to Watership Down and even Harry Potter, this is the story of twelve year old's Athene's encounter on a British farmyard holiday with the world's secretive, nocturnal residents, the Gloams. On discovering the existence of a group of vicious underground, slave-driving Gloams beneath a gnarled old tree, Athene contrives to send her irritating six year old brother Zach into her clutches and then, perched on the precipice of erasing his memory altogether, makes the guilt-laden decision to go and rescue him.
The book is unspectacularly written, face-paced, dialogue packed prose with a knack for a good action scene. The magical creations are not too original, another race of beings keeping their existence secret from the prying eyes of humans, but they are unashamedly human in manerisms and language, making the suspension of disbelief easy. The animals talk, like in many great English children's books, and have also come under the spell of the underground Gloam. The evil characters are merely misguided or uninformed, although there is a particularly nasty jailer and some moments of real danger and threat, especially during the dramatic final escape. The plots revelations are evenly and interestingly spaced and Dale takes a leaf from the Rowling book of magic ideas in revealing to Athene the falsity of the Gloam's history through a history book not to be trusted.
Yet in all such magical adventures, it's the characters that make or break it. The two Gloam are uninspiring yet suitably heroic and emotional when the time comes. Little brother Zach starts well with his sister's hateful depiction but then barely comes into the story as more than a plot function to trace Athene's progress to nicer, more accepting human being. The deluded Lodestar is a fitting bad guy with plenty of conceitedness to go with her stupidity. And Athene is an excellent protagonist. Her arc is believable and the betrayal of her brother shocking. She redeems herself with heart-stirring bravado and determination, a couple of moments of aggressive heroism (kicking the jailer) and a few ingenious escape ideas that all makes for a rousing finish to a very respectable magical adventure. 4
The book is unspectacularly written, face-paced, dialogue packed prose with a knack for a good action scene. The magical creations are not too original, another race of beings keeping their existence secret from the prying eyes of humans, but they are unashamedly human in manerisms and language, making the suspension of disbelief easy. The animals talk, like in many great English children's books, and have also come under the spell of the underground Gloam. The evil characters are merely misguided or uninformed, although there is a particularly nasty jailer and some moments of real danger and threat, especially during the dramatic final escape. The plots revelations are evenly and interestingly spaced and Dale takes a leaf from the Rowling book of magic ideas in revealing to Athene the falsity of the Gloam's history through a history book not to be trusted.
Yet in all such magical adventures, it's the characters that make or break it. The two Gloam are uninspiring yet suitably heroic and emotional when the time comes. Little brother Zach starts well with his sister's hateful depiction but then barely comes into the story as more than a plot function to trace Athene's progress to nicer, more accepting human being. The deluded Lodestar is a fitting bad guy with plenty of conceitedness to go with her stupidity. And Athene is an excellent protagonist. Her arc is believable and the betrayal of her brother shocking. She redeems herself with heart-stirring bravado and determination, a couple of moments of aggressive heroism (kicking the jailer) and a few ingenious escape ideas that all makes for a rousing finish to a very respectable magical adventure. 4
May 23, 2020
The only major flaw that I could find in this book is that the main character seemed to have a dramatic shift in not just her attitude but who she was as a person. This shift was very sudden and seemed to have no real reason or explanation behind it.
January 1, 2019
A very simple concept written in such an engaging and exciting way that the reader cannot help but be enthralled.
Read
March 31, 2021Amazing use of the language as the author uses a wide variety of vocabulary. It really shows children how many descriptive words there are to choose from.. Fun adventure to boot.
January 23, 2023
I think this was really cute and sweet ,the whole scale concepts confused me but humdudgeon and huffkin and shoveller have my heart <3
July 8, 2024
Used to be one of my absolute favs as a kid, loved the gloam tribes and the idea of being a glare. The animals underground are half of the fun. Just a cute book, nothing to write home about lol!
January 17, 2015
Kamu punya adik? Pernah nggak sih ngerasa adikmu itu menyebalkan sekali sampai-sampai kamu pingin cuma ada kamu sebagai anak satu satunya?
Well, Athene merasa begitu terhadap Zach, adik laki-lakinya.
Cerita ini berawal dari perjalanan keluarga mereka pergi liburan dan tinggal di sebuah penginapan yang jauh dari keramaian. Suatu malam, Athene bertemu makhluk aneh di belakang penginapannya. Awalnya sih dia ketakutan, tapi setelah bercakap cakap, ternyata makhluk itu nggak kelihatan berniat jahat, malahan mereka kemudian berteman. Makhluk itu adalah Gloam, mereka menyebut manusia sebagai Glare, nah kalau Gloam ini siang hari mereka beristirahat, malam hari mereka mengerjakan pekerjaan sehari harinya, jadi kayak nokturnal versi manusia biasa gitu.
Beberapa kali Athene bermain tiap malam bersama para Gloam itu, tetapi pada suatu malam, Zach, adiknya ikut keluar dan berkenalan pula dengan si Gloam ini.
Merasa dinomorduakan, Athene kemudian memiliki rencana licik untuk melenyapkan Zach, yaitu dengan mendorongnya masuk ke sebuah pohon tua di mana di bawah tanahnya tinggal para Low Gloam. Mereka ini Gloam yang jahat dan tidak akan membiarkan siapapun keluar dari wilayahnya selama lamanya.
Awalnya sih Athene diam diam bahagia sekali karena bebas dari adiknya yang terus terusan membuntuti dia. Tapi para Glam berpendapat lain,mereka harus segera menyelamatkan Zach karena Low Gloam sangat membenci manusia. Maka dimulailah petualangan Athene dan dua Gloam baik hati yang membantunya yaitu Humdudgeon dan Huffkin di lingkungan Low Gloam.
Di bawah pohon tersebut, suasananya gelaap, oleh karena itu athene menggunakan larutan ajaib milik gloam agar ia dapat melihat di kegwlapan dan menemukan adiknya. Ada banyak jenis hewan di sana, beberapa baik hati, tapi ada juga yang kejam terhadap athene dan teman temannya. Ada pemimpin mereka yang judes, jahat dan galaknya luar biasa, dan ialah yang menjaga agar tidak ada yang berhasil melarikan diri dari pohon tersebut.
Lalu berhasilkah Athene menemukan adiknya? Kalaupun ketemu, bagaimana cara mereka keluar?
Well, ide ceritanya sederhana, tapi entah agak susah juga membayangkan suasana bawah tanahnya. Padahal sih udah ada detail yang diceritakan penulis, tapi mungkin sejak awal saya sudah nggak suka sama Athene, jadi yaa kurang sreg sama petualangannya. Padahal Athene ini unik menurutku sih, penulis ngga membangun image kakak yang sempurna, alih alih malah menjadikan Athene sebagai tokoh antagonis di awal cerita. Tapi karena itu pula kita jadi bisa mengikuti perkembangan kepribadian athene dalam petualangannya, ngga monoton gitu gitu aja. Dan sebenarnya, petualangan mereka cukup bikin penasaran untuk diikuti. Seru, meski ada banyak tokoh di cerita ini dan namanya unik unik (yang membuat saya susah juga ngehafalinnya).
Ceritanya penuh pesan moral, tentang keluarga utamanya kakak adik, tentang persahabatan antar makhluk yang berbeda, tentang kepercayaan, serta pesan utama agar tidak mempercayai sesuatu tanpa bukti yang jelas.
Ngga nemu karakter yang loveable banget sih, tapi saya suka keunikan masing masing tokohnya. Penasaran? Baca aja sendiri ya :p
Well, Athene merasa begitu terhadap Zach, adik laki-lakinya.
Cerita ini berawal dari perjalanan keluarga mereka pergi liburan dan tinggal di sebuah penginapan yang jauh dari keramaian. Suatu malam, Athene bertemu makhluk aneh di belakang penginapannya. Awalnya sih dia ketakutan, tapi setelah bercakap cakap, ternyata makhluk itu nggak kelihatan berniat jahat, malahan mereka kemudian berteman. Makhluk itu adalah Gloam, mereka menyebut manusia sebagai Glare, nah kalau Gloam ini siang hari mereka beristirahat, malam hari mereka mengerjakan pekerjaan sehari harinya, jadi kayak nokturnal versi manusia biasa gitu.
'My name is Athene,’ she said.‘And I’m Humdudgeon,’ responded the man
Beberapa kali Athene bermain tiap malam bersama para Gloam itu, tetapi pada suatu malam, Zach, adiknya ikut keluar dan berkenalan pula dengan si Gloam ini.
Merasa dinomorduakan, Athene kemudian memiliki rencana licik untuk melenyapkan Zach, yaitu dengan mendorongnya masuk ke sebuah pohon tua di mana di bawah tanahnya tinggal para Low Gloam. Mereka ini Gloam yang jahat dan tidak akan membiarkan siapapun keluar dari wilayahnya selama lamanya.
Awalnya sih Athene diam diam bahagia sekali karena bebas dari adiknya yang terus terusan membuntuti dia. Tapi para Glam berpendapat lain,mereka harus segera menyelamatkan Zach karena Low Gloam sangat membenci manusia. Maka dimulailah petualangan Athene dan dua Gloam baik hati yang membantunya yaitu Humdudgeon dan Huffkin di lingkungan Low Gloam.
Di bawah pohon tersebut, suasananya gelaap, oleh karena itu athene menggunakan larutan ajaib milik gloam agar ia dapat melihat di kegwlapan dan menemukan adiknya. Ada banyak jenis hewan di sana, beberapa baik hati, tapi ada juga yang kejam terhadap athene dan teman temannya. Ada pemimpin mereka yang judes, jahat dan galaknya luar biasa, dan ialah yang menjaga agar tidak ada yang berhasil melarikan diri dari pohon tersebut.
Lalu berhasilkah Athene menemukan adiknya? Kalaupun ketemu, bagaimana cara mereka keluar?
Well, ide ceritanya sederhana, tapi entah agak susah juga membayangkan suasana bawah tanahnya. Padahal sih udah ada detail yang diceritakan penulis, tapi mungkin sejak awal saya sudah nggak suka sama Athene, jadi yaa kurang sreg sama petualangannya. Padahal Athene ini unik menurutku sih, penulis ngga membangun image kakak yang sempurna, alih alih malah menjadikan Athene sebagai tokoh antagonis di awal cerita. Tapi karena itu pula kita jadi bisa mengikuti perkembangan kepribadian athene dalam petualangannya, ngga monoton gitu gitu aja. Dan sebenarnya, petualangan mereka cukup bikin penasaran untuk diikuti. Seru, meski ada banyak tokoh di cerita ini dan namanya unik unik (yang membuat saya susah juga ngehafalinnya).
Ceritanya penuh pesan moral, tentang keluarga utamanya kakak adik, tentang persahabatan antar makhluk yang berbeda, tentang kepercayaan, serta pesan utama agar tidak mempercayai sesuatu tanpa bukti yang jelas.
We’re friends, aren’t we? Being nice to each other is what friends do
Ngga nemu karakter yang loveable banget sih, tapi saya suka keunikan masing masing tokohnya. Penasaran? Baca aja sendiri ya :p
October 19, 2009
i loved this book, it is probably one of the best book ive ever read. it is full of magic and adventure. have you ever had a little brother or sister that is always after you and is really annoying? well that is athenes problem. her brother zack is so annoying. athene and her family go to a vacation in a house on the outers of the city. athene goes exploring and finds the glare. the glare are people that sleep in the day light and work at night. then zack finds out about them and athene get relly mad.
zack as a really dumb kid, he gets really excited about these people so he goes to the kingdom of the bad glare. athenes job is to rescue him. they make friends, also enemies and after al the adventure is over zack and athene are like the best brothers forever.
zack as a really dumb kid, he gets really excited about these people so he goes to the kingdom of the bad glare. athenes job is to rescue him. they make friends, also enemies and after al the adventure is over zack and athene are like the best brothers forever.
August 20, 2012
An ornery 12-year-old girl gets more than she ever bargained for during a family holiday at a bed-and-breakfast in the Somerset countryside. Many years ago, the two sisters who owned the farm had a bad scare, and sold the property suddenly. What were they so scared of? Lonely and a little frightened, Athene ventures out one night to find the cat, and discovers a strange little man in the field. And this is the start to her amazing adventures. Anna Dale's books are reliably well-written and the plot of this newest tale is inventive and interesting. A strong and captivating chapter book for 4th grade and up, recommended for children who like their fantasy mixed with reality.
February 12, 2012
Athene tricked her brother into falling down a Low Gloam hole. Soon she fills guilty and decides to rescue him. Two Gloam decide to go with her. Down in the tunnels of Low Gloam, Athene doesn't find Zach,her little brother. Soon it looks like Zach is not in the tunnels of Low Gloam, nor is there a way out. And where is that otter?
Reasons why I like this book-
Reason 1- It was magical.
Reason 2- I couldn't stop reading.
Reason 3- I could imagine what was happening.
Reason 4- It made me wonder, are there secret tribes of people living among us?
Reasons why I like this book-
Reason 1- It was magical.
Reason 2- I couldn't stop reading.
Reason 3- I could imagine what was happening.
Reason 4- It made me wonder, are there secret tribes of people living among us?
December 18, 2008
I honestly didn't read this whole book. I am a mother to a young teen and a 6 year old, and the bickering between the siblings was so realistic that I couldn't handle it! I read to escape the stress of my life, not relive it!!! I really liked her writing style and the story premise looked interesting. So... it is probably really good, I just couldn't get past the fighting... too much like the things I mediate every day!
December 4, 2011
This was a really cute book, but I think that it may be a bit challenging for the Y/A audience because it was originally published in Great Britain, but not edited for the American audience. Therefore, many youth (including my daughter, who I bought the book for) find translating some of the words difficult enough to get bored early on and decide that it’s not “my kind of reading”. Still, it had an interesting plot, and I actually had a hard time putting it down.
June 21, 2014
Anna Dale,you've done it again! I loved Whispering to Witches and this is the second book I've read by Anna Dale.I thought the story was great and unusual.I couldn't stop reading this book(when I wasn't doing something else) and truly enjoyed it! I recommend this book and all of the other books written by Anna Dale.
July 27, 2015
The plot is a blend between "Wind in the Willows," and "Labyrinth."
Athene is twelve years old with an annoying six year old brother.
When Zach also discovers the Gloam, Athene becomes jealous and shoves him into a hallow tree trunk.
Athene learns latter that the tree trunk is the entrance to the world of the Low Gloam, and reluctantly sets out to rescue Zach.
Funny and not overly scary.
Athene is twelve years old with an annoying six year old brother.
When Zach also discovers the Gloam, Athene becomes jealous and shoves him into a hallow tree trunk.
Athene learns latter that the tree trunk is the entrance to the world of the Low Gloam, and reluctantly sets out to rescue Zach.
Funny and not overly scary.
Want to read
March 28, 2009I just couldn't get into this one right now. I have so many other books I want to read and this one didn't grab me right away like her other book Whispering To Witches. I'll try it again at another time...
August 24, 2009
I expected better of this book. I concluded that this book was a waste of time and because it wasn't my type of book. My type is about princessess, fairies, dragons etc... but this is about exploring underground. What kind of plot is that? I liked the cover of the book though. and the title.
October 2, 2014
Surprisingly fun read with twists and turns. I was all the way with Athene, Huffkin and Humdudgeon! A self centred lil brother hating sister turns hero by rescuing her brother and the entire low gloam tribe with a huge splash of another world, goggle drops and magic.
January 19, 2013
You know, this book is extraordinary, it really is. I've read many books, but never had I ever read a book about 2 different types of human, literally, not the good and bad, but a glare and gloam. Unfortunately, it doesn't really talk about the little brother.
April 4, 2015
Right through, I had the distinct impression that I had read it before. But it was a vague enough recollection for it not to interfere with my enjoyment of the book!
http://www.varshaseshan.com/blog/spel...
http://www.varshaseshan.com/blog/spel...
Want to read
October 8, 2008Released June 2008
October 14, 2008
This is an entertaining fantasy for older children. While on vacation, Athene and her little brother become captives in an underground community where magic binds them.
November 3, 2009
This was I realy cool book I like fantacy
January 11, 2011
It's exciting and it's got lots of adventure.
May 25, 2011
Dragged on, and I thought it was boring.
July 25, 2011
This was probably one of the most amazing books I have ever read, I LOVED it!
December 19, 2011
When she "accidentally on purpose" loses her young brother to an underground tribe called the Low Gloam, a girl must go to his rescue and free not only him but all the other captives as well. C+
May 8, 2013
I would say that this book is not bad
February 3, 2014
i think the is book is great because in the end it says the hurry up and give me my breakfast said thene probably
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews