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The Obernewtyn Chronicles #1
Obernewtyn
In a world struggling back from the brink of apocalypse, life is harsh. And for Elspeth Gordie, it is also dangerous. That's because Elspeth has a secret: she is a Misfit, born with mysterious mental abilities that she must keep hidden under threat of death. And her worries only multiply when she is exiled to the mountain compound known as Obernewtyn, where—for all her talents—Elspeth may finally and truly be out of her depth. Then she learns she’s not the only one concealing secrets at Obernewtyn.
245 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
217 people are currently reading
9342 people want to read
About the author
Isobelle Carmody
104 books1,735 followersIsobelle Carmody began the first novel of her highly acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles while she was still in high school. The series has established her at the forefront of fantasy writing in Australia.
In addition to her young-adult novels, such as the Obernewtyn Chronicles and Alyzon Whitestarr, Isobelle's published works include several middle-grade fantasies. Her still-unfinished Gateway Trilogy has been favorably compared to The Wizard of Oz and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Little Fur quartet is an eco-fantasy starring a half-elf, half-troll heroine and is fully illustrated by the author herself.
Isobelle's most recent picture book, Magic Night, is a collaboration with illustrator Declan Lee. Originally published in Australia as The Wrong Thing, the book features an ordinary housecat who stumbles upon something otherworldly. Across all her writing, Isobelle shows a talent for balancing the mundane and the fantastic.
Isobelle was the guest of honor at the 2007 Australian National Science Fiction Convention. She has received numerous honors for her writing, including multiple Aurealis Awards and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.
She currently divides her time between her home on the Great Ocean Road in Australia and her travels abroad with her partner and daughter.
Librarian's note: Penguin Australia is publishing the Obernewtyn Chronicles in six books, and The Stone Key is book five. In the United States and Canada this series is published by Random House in eight books; this Penguin Australia book is split into two parts and published as Wavesong (Book Five) and The Stone Key (Book Six).
In addition to her young-adult novels, such as the Obernewtyn Chronicles and Alyzon Whitestarr, Isobelle's published works include several middle-grade fantasies. Her still-unfinished Gateway Trilogy has been favorably compared to The Wizard of Oz and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Little Fur quartet is an eco-fantasy starring a half-elf, half-troll heroine and is fully illustrated by the author herself.
Isobelle's most recent picture book, Magic Night, is a collaboration with illustrator Declan Lee. Originally published in Australia as The Wrong Thing, the book features an ordinary housecat who stumbles upon something otherworldly. Across all her writing, Isobelle shows a talent for balancing the mundane and the fantastic.
Isobelle was the guest of honor at the 2007 Australian National Science Fiction Convention. She has received numerous honors for her writing, including multiple Aurealis Awards and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.
She currently divides her time between her home on the Great Ocean Road in Australia and her travels abroad with her partner and daughter.
Librarian's note: Penguin Australia is publishing the Obernewtyn Chronicles in six books, and The Stone Key is book five. In the United States and Canada this series is published by Random House in eight books; this Penguin Australia book is split into two parts and published as Wavesong (Book Five) and The Stone Key (Book Six).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 878 reviews
February 5, 2016
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
Despite its flaws, I really enjoyed Obernewtyn. Most of the characters were interesting enough; but not all were developed that well. The main character, Elspeth Gordie, seemed realistic enough; an emotionally distant child suffering the pain of losing her parents, spending her childhood in a variety of orphanages and possessing powers she has to keep secret. I also enjoyed her misfit friends, Matthew and Dameon, the enigmatic Rushton, and the mind-speaking animals. I wish some of the characters would have been developed more, like the doomed Cameo and the other girl, Selmar. The villains, Madame Vega, Alexi and Ariel were too one-dimensional to be interesting. Ariel was even funny at times, though I'm certain Carmody didn't mean for his character to be humorous.
I love post-apocalyptic fiction, and Carmody did a great job creating a society controlled by a fearful religious faction. I grew to care about the characters and the fate of the Misfits, but would have liked more background information on the world outside Obernewtyn. The magical abilities of the orphans were convincing and explained in great detail. At times, however, I felt the author overused Elspeth's magical abilities to conveniently get her out of jams and found it a little contrived at times.
While the story didn't seem overly original to me, the totalitarian society controlled by a religious faction fearful of the Misfits' mental abilities was interesting, as well as the variety of things one can do with her mind.
Obernewtyn was short, easy, and fun to read. It invaded my nightly dreams and allowed me to have fun fantasizing about what life might be like possessing such mind powers. Had this book been written when I was a child, I know it would have been very enjoyable.
The cover artwork by Donato is stunning, too.
Despite its flaws, I really enjoyed Obernewtyn. Most of the characters were interesting enough; but not all were developed that well. The main character, Elspeth Gordie, seemed realistic enough; an emotionally distant child suffering the pain of losing her parents, spending her childhood in a variety of orphanages and possessing powers she has to keep secret. I also enjoyed her misfit friends, Matthew and Dameon, the enigmatic Rushton, and the mind-speaking animals. I wish some of the characters would have been developed more, like the doomed Cameo and the other girl, Selmar. The villains, Madame Vega, Alexi and Ariel were too one-dimensional to be interesting. Ariel was even funny at times, though I'm certain Carmody didn't mean for his character to be humorous.
I love post-apocalyptic fiction, and Carmody did a great job creating a society controlled by a fearful religious faction. I grew to care about the characters and the fate of the Misfits, but would have liked more background information on the world outside Obernewtyn. The magical abilities of the orphans were convincing and explained in great detail. At times, however, I felt the author overused Elspeth's magical abilities to conveniently get her out of jams and found it a little contrived at times.
While the story didn't seem overly original to me, the totalitarian society controlled by a religious faction fearful of the Misfits' mental abilities was interesting, as well as the variety of things one can do with her mind.
Obernewtyn was short, easy, and fun to read. It invaded my nightly dreams and allowed me to have fun fantasizing about what life might be like possessing such mind powers. Had this book been written when I was a child, I know it would have been very enjoyable.
The cover artwork by Donato is stunning, too.
March 31, 2021
Well this was an oddly compelling little read.
Despite the lack of character development, or world building, or explanations of mysterious capabilities that people had, I weirdly still enjoyed this. It is quite short so there was definitely room to flesh things out a bit more. And guess what! There are animals that the main character can talk to! Another animal book in my booktalk repertoire.
Despite the lack of character development, or world building, or explanations of mysterious capabilities that people had, I weirdly still enjoyed this. It is quite short so there was definitely room to flesh things out a bit more. And guess what! There are animals that the main character can talk to! Another animal book in my booktalk repertoire.
August 18, 2019
I want to like this book. I really do. I was interested in the world Carmody was building, especially after the first few pages.
Then I kept on reading. The book is short, primarily because there's so little of substance. Normally, I love the first book in a fantasy series because there is so much world building. Here, Carmody has it's setting, but she doesn't do anything to make that world feel alive. The story takes place mostly in the countryside and the mountains. There is little description of the scenery, of everyday life.
The story is written in first person, but I never get any real sense of who Elspeth is. First person narratives give us an intimate look into the narrator's life and mind. Done well, the narrator's voice can carry an entire novel or series. Done wrong and the narrator comes of as a robot. This particular novel falls into the "narrator sounds like a robot" category.
Then, there the biggest problem: this book is 90% telling and 10% showing. In fact, if it weren't for this problem, the previous two problems wouldn't be so prominent. The narrator tells us he or she is searching for something, is feeling anxious, is crying because of so and so, is angry because of so and so, is friends with so and so.
A fine example is near the climax, when the narrator learns the truth about another character. She attempts to cheer him up by basically telling him he will have his friends' support. And that's it.
From my summary, you expect a dialogue, lots of emotion, and feeling that the two have connected despite their differences. What you actually get is the narrator telling us she told him to cheer up because he's still got his friends. Then we get a one line response from the other character who basically say, in a round about way, "Yeah, you're right". Then the focus goes back to the climax.
In fact, there's a lot of phony dialogue where you can tell it's all to advance the plot because people just don't telk that way. One of the heroine's friends joins her in Obernewtyn, and after some bland rebuttals, falls into three+ pages where she basically tells the heroine everything that has happened since the heroine left. The heroine doesn't say a word throughout.
Or the part where the heroine hides and the villains come out and conveniently lay out all the clues and background info about their supper secret plot, each other, and the secrets of Obernewtyn.
******************
In short, the entire novel reads like a book version of bad and generic rpg game where the writers have set up a world with potential and characters who have interesting backgrounds, only for the whole thing to fall flat because the writers can't be bothered to spend more then a page on a scene and show instead of tell.
This book is short for a reason. On the plus side, the cover is nice and I like the title.
Then I kept on reading. The book is short, primarily because there's so little of substance. Normally, I love the first book in a fantasy series because there is so much world building. Here, Carmody has it's setting, but she doesn't do anything to make that world feel alive. The story takes place mostly in the countryside and the mountains. There is little description of the scenery, of everyday life.
The story is written in first person, but I never get any real sense of who Elspeth is. First person narratives give us an intimate look into the narrator's life and mind. Done well, the narrator's voice can carry an entire novel or series. Done wrong and the narrator comes of as a robot. This particular novel falls into the "narrator sounds like a robot" category.
Then, there the biggest problem: this book is 90% telling and 10% showing. In fact, if it weren't for this problem, the previous two problems wouldn't be so prominent. The narrator tells us he or she is searching for something, is feeling anxious, is crying because of so and so, is angry because of so and so, is friends with so and so.
A fine example is near the climax, when the narrator learns the truth about another character. She attempts to cheer him up by basically telling him he will have his friends' support. And that's it.
From my summary, you expect a dialogue, lots of emotion, and feeling that the two have connected despite their differences. What you actually get is the narrator telling us she told him to cheer up because he's still got his friends. Then we get a one line response from the other character who basically say, in a round about way, "Yeah, you're right". Then the focus goes back to the climax.
In fact, there's a lot of phony dialogue where you can tell it's all to advance the plot because people just don't telk that way. One of the heroine's friends joins her in Obernewtyn, and after some bland rebuttals, falls into three+ pages where she basically tells the heroine everything that has happened since the heroine left. The heroine doesn't say a word throughout.
Or the part where the heroine hides and the villains come out and conveniently lay out all the clues and background info about their supper secret plot, each other, and the secrets of Obernewtyn.
******************
In short, the entire novel reads like a book version of bad and generic rpg game where the writers have set up a world with potential and characters who have interesting backgrounds, only for the whole thing to fall flat because the writers can't be bothered to spend more then a page on a scene and show instead of tell.
This book is short for a reason. On the plus side, the cover is nice and I like the title.
January 22, 2015
This month, June, marks the start of the Obernewtyn Chronicles Reading Marathon! Each month we are reading a book in the series, though predictably the release date for the final book, The Red Queen, has been pushed back to next year - no surprises there. I decided to go ahead with the read-along anyway, because it has literally been YEARS since I last read them and there's so much going on that I had forgotten about, I've been itching to start from the beginning again.
Forgive my daggy 1993 second edition pictured here, it is the least attractive cover of them all (I believe it has gone through about five covers by now, a new one each time a new book is released) - bear with me and I'll try and convince you how awesome this book, and the series, really is.
Some time in our future, we nearly destroyed the world. After the Great White, and the Chaos, only the farmlands were untouched by the poison that ruined so much else. The farmers rallied against the influx of refugees fleeing the cities, banding together and forming a Council that meted out death to the incomers. To further cement their growing hold on the land and its survivors, they gave power to a fledgling religion, the Herder Faction, which decreed that the creator, Lud, had sent the Great White as punishment for the wickedness of the Beforetimers, their machines and books and meddling. Such things were outlawed. People who spoke out against the Council or the Herders were labelled Seditioners and either sent to Council Farms or burnt.
Such was the fate of Elspeth Gordie's parents. Now she and her older brother, Jes, are Orphans, living in a home in Kinraide. Their future is uncertain, they have no friends, and because of Elspeth's growing mutant mental powers, she has become estranged from her brother who seeks favour with the Herder Faction. If anyone were to find out that she is a Misfit - one of those "deformed" by the taint of the world - she would be sentenced and possibly burned, and Jes' hopes of being independent, a free man, would be ruined.
On a routine trip to collect the highly toxic substance called Whitestick, a task given to Orphans because they are dispensable, Elspeth falls into a stream and strikes her head on a rock. The headaches she experiences are less because of the fall and more to do with a premonition coming upon her, but the excuse serves. Only when a woman from the mountain keep of Obernewtyn arrives, looking for Misfits who the Master of Obernewtyn can practice his cures on, does Elspeth feel in danger. Caught out by the woman, Madame Vega, she is denounced as a Misfit - though she uses her power to make it known that tainted water from her fall is the cause of her Dreaming, not a genetic or hereditary mutation that would cause her brother to be suspected of it too.
Sentenced to Obernewtyn, a place far away in the mountains rife with rumour and a gothic reputation, Elspeth feels for once strangely free. To be finally "caught" and labelled Misfit, something she has always worked hard and struggled to avoid, is like sloughing off an old skin. But the Orphan way to avoid being friendly with others and to always hold your own counsel is harder to do away with. It takes weeks for two boys at Obernewtyn to befriend Elspeth, a loner and a secretive one at that. Matthew and Dameon have their own Misfit abilities: like Elspeth, Matthew is telepathic and can "farseek" - mentally reach out over distance, though he is not as strong as she is. Dameon, a blind boy and the son of a Councilman, is Empathetic, able to feel the emotions of others.
Making friends for the first time in her life, Elspeth is far from relaxed at Obernewtyn: the farm overseer, Rushton, seems to openly dislike Elspeth for no apparent reason; Madame Vega has yet to return from her tour of the Lowlands, collecting Orphans, but in her absence a favoured twelve-year-old boy with an angelic face, Ariel, rules the roost with his haughty arrogance and sly cruelty. A girl about Elspeth's age, Selmar, wanders the halls of Obernewtyn with a vacant look on her pale face; touching her mind, Elspeth discovers she is mentally broken and half-derranged.
Through her new friendship with Matthew and Dameon, they start to piece the puzzle together: that the Master of Obernewtyn is collecting Misfits for some terrible purpose, that they are searching for something dangerous. And it is not long before Elspeth realises that she is the one they are looking for, the one strong enough to unlock the secrets they are after. Knowing that it could only be a matter of time before she too is taken away every night and turned into another brain-dead Selmar, her thoughts turn to flight. Only no one has ever escaped Obernewtyn and lived.
I first read this book in primary school - when I was in, what, grade 5 or 6. So, a couple of years after it came out in 1987 I think. I used to scour the school library's shelves every week, looking for something new to read. Most of the books were old paperbacks from the 70s and early 80s; new books were less common, since funding was so pitiful. But this book, with its unusual cover, jumped out at me. And when I started reading it, I was instantly hooked. It became one of my favourite books ever, alongside Thunderwith and a couple of others that held places close to my heart. These were books that touched me personally, that felt like friends, that seemed to have been written for me alone. Like I was waiting all my life for them. That's what reading Obernewtyn the first time felt like, like being reunited with someone dear to you. Like it was a key that made things click into place for you. You never know what book will do that to you, and it doesn't mean that it will do that for anyone else, but when you come across such a book they leave a lasting impression.
I've since read this book about five or six times now, and it never grows old or stale. It always has the same magic. Now, my edition has some typos, some missing punctuation, and at one point an important piece of dialogue comes after Elspeth's thoughts on it (page 186), but I expect they've been cleaned up in the later editions and I can never hold such things against a beloved book or such an awesome story.
For this is just the beginning. From here it gets ever so complex and stunningly original. You never know where Carmody's imagination will take you, but it always comes together beautifully. When this book first came out in 1987, you didn't really get Fantasy books about kids with mind powers, or even that much in the way of post-apocalyptic fiction (U.S. publishers today would blindly label this "dystopian" but while there is a repressive regime, it's not really about that. It's much more fantasy than anything else). For all the fantasy I've read in my life, this series is still original.
Part of it is Elspeth. She is always a loner at heart, restless, not wanting to be cooped up or stationary. She is always secretive by nature, holding her innermost thoughts and desires close. In this book she learns, to her surprise, that it is rude to read the thoughts of other people, especially if they are Misfits like her. Having always believed she is the only one to have such powers, and that she needed to do whatever it took to survive, she never had any qualms before.
She is about fourteen or fifteen in this book (her older brother Jes, we know, is sixteen), but thinks like a much more mature person. Considering all she's been through in her life, and how suspicion and finger-pointing leads all Orphans to keep their own counsel and grow up fast, it's not surprising. For all that Elspeth changes and grows over the course of the novels and the years, these traits remain with her and mean that her relationship with Rushton is one you'll need a lot of patience to see through - it moves slowly.
Oh Rushton. Another great character who never really has large roles in the books, but tends to steal your attention away whenever he's present. I always had a thing for him, as a teenager, and that never really died. Feeling the chemistry brewing between him and Elspeth over the years (it certainly felt like years and years because each book took such a long time to come out!!), the slow-burning anticipation of something more was enough to keep you reading, let alone all the other qualities of the story.
If you're a fan of Young Adult fantasy, post-apocalyptic fiction, dystopian fiction, science fiction or any good genre fiction really, you absolutely have to try Obernewtyn. The book does bear the subtle marks of a first novel, and one originally written when Carmody was 14 - no matter how many times you re-write and edit a first book, it tends to read less smoothly than later works. This is the introduction book to the series, the "setting the scene" book: if the concept and the characters do not draw you in as thoroughly as they do me, you should still read on: every book is better than the one before it. My favourite series from my favourite author, I am of course incredibly biased. But for good reason. Come discover the magic for yourself.
If you have read or are reading Obernewtyn, feel free to stop by the read-along post and join in the discussion.
Forgive my daggy 1993 second edition pictured here, it is the least attractive cover of them all (I believe it has gone through about five covers by now, a new one each time a new book is released) - bear with me and I'll try and convince you how awesome this book, and the series, really is.
Some time in our future, we nearly destroyed the world. After the Great White, and the Chaos, only the farmlands were untouched by the poison that ruined so much else. The farmers rallied against the influx of refugees fleeing the cities, banding together and forming a Council that meted out death to the incomers. To further cement their growing hold on the land and its survivors, they gave power to a fledgling religion, the Herder Faction, which decreed that the creator, Lud, had sent the Great White as punishment for the wickedness of the Beforetimers, their machines and books and meddling. Such things were outlawed. People who spoke out against the Council or the Herders were labelled Seditioners and either sent to Council Farms or burnt.
Such was the fate of Elspeth Gordie's parents. Now she and her older brother, Jes, are Orphans, living in a home in Kinraide. Their future is uncertain, they have no friends, and because of Elspeth's growing mutant mental powers, she has become estranged from her brother who seeks favour with the Herder Faction. If anyone were to find out that she is a Misfit - one of those "deformed" by the taint of the world - she would be sentenced and possibly burned, and Jes' hopes of being independent, a free man, would be ruined.
On a routine trip to collect the highly toxic substance called Whitestick, a task given to Orphans because they are dispensable, Elspeth falls into a stream and strikes her head on a rock. The headaches she experiences are less because of the fall and more to do with a premonition coming upon her, but the excuse serves. Only when a woman from the mountain keep of Obernewtyn arrives, looking for Misfits who the Master of Obernewtyn can practice his cures on, does Elspeth feel in danger. Caught out by the woman, Madame Vega, she is denounced as a Misfit - though she uses her power to make it known that tainted water from her fall is the cause of her Dreaming, not a genetic or hereditary mutation that would cause her brother to be suspected of it too.
Sentenced to Obernewtyn, a place far away in the mountains rife with rumour and a gothic reputation, Elspeth feels for once strangely free. To be finally "caught" and labelled Misfit, something she has always worked hard and struggled to avoid, is like sloughing off an old skin. But the Orphan way to avoid being friendly with others and to always hold your own counsel is harder to do away with. It takes weeks for two boys at Obernewtyn to befriend Elspeth, a loner and a secretive one at that. Matthew and Dameon have their own Misfit abilities: like Elspeth, Matthew is telepathic and can "farseek" - mentally reach out over distance, though he is not as strong as she is. Dameon, a blind boy and the son of a Councilman, is Empathetic, able to feel the emotions of others.
Making friends for the first time in her life, Elspeth is far from relaxed at Obernewtyn: the farm overseer, Rushton, seems to openly dislike Elspeth for no apparent reason; Madame Vega has yet to return from her tour of the Lowlands, collecting Orphans, but in her absence a favoured twelve-year-old boy with an angelic face, Ariel, rules the roost with his haughty arrogance and sly cruelty. A girl about Elspeth's age, Selmar, wanders the halls of Obernewtyn with a vacant look on her pale face; touching her mind, Elspeth discovers she is mentally broken and half-derranged.
Through her new friendship with Matthew and Dameon, they start to piece the puzzle together: that the Master of Obernewtyn is collecting Misfits for some terrible purpose, that they are searching for something dangerous. And it is not long before Elspeth realises that she is the one they are looking for, the one strong enough to unlock the secrets they are after. Knowing that it could only be a matter of time before she too is taken away every night and turned into another brain-dead Selmar, her thoughts turn to flight. Only no one has ever escaped Obernewtyn and lived.
I first read this book in primary school - when I was in, what, grade 5 or 6. So, a couple of years after it came out in 1987 I think. I used to scour the school library's shelves every week, looking for something new to read. Most of the books were old paperbacks from the 70s and early 80s; new books were less common, since funding was so pitiful. But this book, with its unusual cover, jumped out at me. And when I started reading it, I was instantly hooked. It became one of my favourite books ever, alongside Thunderwith and a couple of others that held places close to my heart. These were books that touched me personally, that felt like friends, that seemed to have been written for me alone. Like I was waiting all my life for them. That's what reading Obernewtyn the first time felt like, like being reunited with someone dear to you. Like it was a key that made things click into place for you. You never know what book will do that to you, and it doesn't mean that it will do that for anyone else, but when you come across such a book they leave a lasting impression.
I've since read this book about five or six times now, and it never grows old or stale. It always has the same magic. Now, my edition has some typos, some missing punctuation, and at one point an important piece of dialogue comes after Elspeth's thoughts on it (page 186), but I expect they've been cleaned up in the later editions and I can never hold such things against a beloved book or such an awesome story.
For this is just the beginning. From here it gets ever so complex and stunningly original. You never know where Carmody's imagination will take you, but it always comes together beautifully. When this book first came out in 1987, you didn't really get Fantasy books about kids with mind powers, or even that much in the way of post-apocalyptic fiction (U.S. publishers today would blindly label this "dystopian" but while there is a repressive regime, it's not really about that. It's much more fantasy than anything else). For all the fantasy I've read in my life, this series is still original.
Part of it is Elspeth. She is always a loner at heart, restless, not wanting to be cooped up or stationary. She is always secretive by nature, holding her innermost thoughts and desires close. In this book she learns, to her surprise, that it is rude to read the thoughts of other people, especially if they are Misfits like her. Having always believed she is the only one to have such powers, and that she needed to do whatever it took to survive, she never had any qualms before.
My mind was reeling with the things he had said. In one moment he had changed my life. Not only were there others like me, but there were people who had different sorts of abilities. Surely that would mean we were not isolated Misfits. I realized I had been rude taking a thought from [Matthew's] mind. It was different when they did not know. I would have to be more considerate. I knew then that I had decided to trust the boy and his blind companion. In one sense I had no choice, but my sudden desire not to invade the thoughts of another person was new, and told me that I had accepted something I had previously thought impossible. I was no longer alone. [pp.100-101]
She is about fourteen or fifteen in this book (her older brother Jes, we know, is sixteen), but thinks like a much more mature person. Considering all she's been through in her life, and how suspicion and finger-pointing leads all Orphans to keep their own counsel and grow up fast, it's not surprising. For all that Elspeth changes and grows over the course of the novels and the years, these traits remain with her and mean that her relationship with Rushton is one you'll need a lot of patience to see through - it moves slowly.
Oh Rushton. Another great character who never really has large roles in the books, but tends to steal your attention away whenever he's present. I always had a thing for him, as a teenager, and that never really died. Feeling the chemistry brewing between him and Elspeth over the years (it certainly felt like years and years because each book took such a long time to come out!!), the slow-burning anticipation of something more was enough to keep you reading, let alone all the other qualities of the story.
If you're a fan of Young Adult fantasy, post-apocalyptic fiction, dystopian fiction, science fiction or any good genre fiction really, you absolutely have to try Obernewtyn. The book does bear the subtle marks of a first novel, and one originally written when Carmody was 14 - no matter how many times you re-write and edit a first book, it tends to read less smoothly than later works. This is the introduction book to the series, the "setting the scene" book: if the concept and the characters do not draw you in as thoroughly as they do me, you should still read on: every book is better than the one before it. My favourite series from my favourite author, I am of course incredibly biased. But for good reason. Come discover the magic for yourself.
If you have read or are reading Obernewtyn, feel free to stop by the read-along post and join in the discussion.
January 14, 2021
I have read and reread this book so many times. This entire series has helped me escape the monotony of life across my twenties and into my thirties. Each time I delve into this series, I get something new from the narrative, some titbit I didn't pick up on last time. Obernewtyn plunges the reader into a deep and immediately immersive world, not allowing them to come up for air until the very end. Isobelle Carmody's work inspired me to become an author, and as such, has had a significant impact on my life.
Read
January 27, 2016DNF at page 66. It was just so boring and was putting me in the worst slump! The only redeeming factor was the talking cat, but even that wasn't enough to get me to finish it!
July 7, 2023
This book has
1) Awesome animal characters
2) Intriguing mystery
3) Thought provoking mesh between sci-fi and fantasy
4) A likable heroine
5) Brilliantly written
6) A well thought out world
7) No plot-hinging whinny cry-baby romance
With all of those factors how could I not love this book? It's exactly the kind of book that you want to curl up and read on a rainy day. I feel warm inside just thinking about it. Will definitely be reading the others is the series ASAP.
1) Awesome animal characters
2) Intriguing mystery
3) Thought provoking mesh between sci-fi and fantasy
4) A likable heroine
5) Brilliantly written
6) A well thought out world
7) No plot-hinging whinny cry-baby romance
With all of those factors how could I not love this book? It's exactly the kind of book that you want to curl up and read on a rainy day. I feel warm inside just thinking about it. Will definitely be reading the others is the series ASAP.
September 26, 2010
Arrrrrg. This one thing was really getting on my nerves and I just couldn't enjoy the book the way I should have.
When certain characters are speaking, their accents are demonstrated in the most frustrating way. For example: Dinna ye ev'n think 'bout gon' roun' thar an' all.
Uh, What? Exactly what I was thinking. It's not so much the visual indicator of their speech pattern that bothered me; as it definitely helped me to "hear" their accent, but it was the frequency with which it was used that was infuriating. I kept looking down and seeing a hundred damn apostrophes in a paragraph. Really?
I know it's a nit picky thing, but I think I'm entitled to not getting an apostrophe headache every time I turn the page. It was so bad in parts that I was tempted to not finish the book, but I really did want to know what happened next. I settled for putting the book down for a while so I could reboot my brain.
Then eventually I got sucked back into the storyline. Dang you intriguing misfits and your mad skills!
Other than that gripe, I really liked it. Great storyline which works well as a standalone, even though I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I don't know why, as they are completely different, but it sort of reminded me of the Dumbledore's Army part of Harry Potter. Just reminiscent of it and not as good, though it did get exciting toward the end. Overall, a great start to the series.
When certain characters are speaking, their accents are demonstrated in the most frustrating way. For example: Dinna ye ev'n think 'bout gon' roun' thar an' all.
Uh, What? Exactly what I was thinking. It's not so much the visual indicator of their speech pattern that bothered me; as it definitely helped me to "hear" their accent, but it was the frequency with which it was used that was infuriating. I kept looking down and seeing a hundred damn apostrophes in a paragraph. Really?
I know it's a nit picky thing, but I think I'm entitled to not getting an apostrophe headache every time I turn the page. It was so bad in parts that I was tempted to not finish the book, but I really did want to know what happened next. I settled for putting the book down for a while so I could reboot my brain.
Then eventually I got sucked back into the storyline. Dang you intriguing misfits and your mad skills!
Other than that gripe, I really liked it. Great storyline which works well as a standalone, even though I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I don't know why, as they are completely different, but it sort of reminded me of the Dumbledore's Army part of Harry Potter. Just reminiscent of it and not as good, though it did get exciting toward the end. Overall, a great start to the series.
January 16, 2009
This was the author's first book, written in her twenties, and it has some flaws. But the story and characters have had a powerful hold on my imagination since I first read it in my twenties, and I found it just as compelling and suspenseful this time around. I'm so excited that the rest of the series is going to be made available in America! For years you could only get the first 3 books.
September 28, 2011
I tried really hard to get into this book, but I felt no connection with the main character. The story might have been very good, but I kept getting distracted and bored because of the descriptions of scenery and setting. Setting can be very important, but I just couldn't get into the book because it got in the way. I'd like to try it again sometime, since I ended up skimming the ending.
August 14, 2018
I'm conflicted with rating this book. On the one hand, I would give it two stars and nothing more, but compared to the other two-star rated books I've read, Obernewtyn was somewhat better. But it's not quite three stars, you see. I gave three stars for Lips Touch by Laini Taylor, and I thought that was infinitely better than Obernewtyn.
On the other hand, I wanted to like this. I had high expectations for it - which probably just added to my disappointment. So I suppose for me, this book lies somewhere between two and three stars.
There are several beefs I have with Obernewtyn. The first being that new information is constantly dumped into the narrative whensoever it is conventient.
Oh, so you need people to think that your misfit abilities is a product of contamination and not something you suffered from birth? But you can't tell them that yourself because they won't believe you?
- here, have some coercive powers so you can coerce someone to rat out to people that you've been afflicted by contaminated water during an unfortunate accident.
Oh, so you need some way of progressing the plot forward and discovering some imminent, threatening force in Obernewtyn?
- here, have some outer-fucking-body-astral-projection abilities so you can uncover a terrible machine that's capable of capturing one's mind and controlling his body -- and at the same time, meet a mysterious ally!
Oh, so you need some way of seeking information from the past?
-here! Have some psychometry powers while you're at it! Here! Take it! TAKE IT!!!
There were so many more instances, and not all of them related to Elspeth's powers. All of these information just jumped out at you, as if it had always been there, but was just never actually mentioned to us. It made the book seem unplanned, as if Isobelle Carmody had just been writing and writing, never having a complete idea of what would happen and where her story would lead.
My second problem came with the lack of action. I would say almost 90 per cent of this novel was telling instead of showing. Here is a (not so brief) demonstration of what I was reading most of the time. It's very long, so I've cut a few bits and pieces out, but rest assured this went on in a continuous flow:
Everything was so passive, even the action scenes were boring and dull. I suppose this comes from having such a dull heroine.
This of course leads me to my third complaint: the characters were (1) flat and one-dimensional. We read things from Elspeth's perspective, but I never really understood her as a character.
Elspeth started out suspicious of everyone around her, making her seem like a paranoid character. She didn't even want to be seen talking to people for God's sake - like, I don't even know why talking would be forbidden even in a post-apocalyptic world. But once she arrives at Obernewtyn, it's like she changed to a completely different person. She was chatty, she was sharing secrets, and it's all so puzzling, this sudden turn of events.
If her inconsistency didn't bother me, her stupidity surely did. When Madam Vega, the lady from Obernewtyn, came to inspect the orphan home for some prospective misfits to take back with her, what does Elspeth do? Instead of laying low, instead of being - you know, prudent for such the paranoid parrot that she is, she actually tries to penetrate into Madam Vega's mind to see what she's thinking. This while they're both practically the only people in the room.
Well of bloody course you're going to be discovered, you stupid, stupid girl.
And even if her stupidity didn't get to me, her blatant disrespect for privacy certainly did. The second she meets her new friends at Obernewtyn, she goes around prying into their minds, digging into their thoughts, like it's any of her bloody business.
She does this every so often I want to backhand the bitch and teach her a lesson or two about manners and basic human decency. I mean, she didn't even have any reason to pry into their thoughts. It's not like they were evil masterminds and she needed to uncover their secrets to rescue the world. Shit, she didn't even try to do any of that to the real evil masterminds.
Asides from being little more than human cardboard cut-outs, the other characters were also (2) unbelievably stupid. They're telling each other secrets, conspiring to escape. Between Elspeth, Matthew, and Dameon, they knew each other's secret abilities -- which may prove fatal for one another if one was captured.
And then Rosamunde, a friend of Elspeth from the orphan home, comes to Obernewtyn (for some uncanny reason), and of course she knows everything there is to know about Elspeth - even things about her older brother.
What I'm saying is, it's not really a brilliantly kept secret, is it? And if Madam Vega and her cronies had an ounce of brain power, they would've just shuffled through all the misfits at Obernewtyn and questioned them one by one. They would certainly find the person they were looking for in a matter of days. Stupid is as stupid does.
I mean, why rely on "informants" when you can just as easily find things out for yourself? They had no moral reservations against torture. They also had no problem "wiping" peoples' memories, if that were necessary. So I mean ... ... this book, and its characters, made no sense.
And what about the plot? you ask me. What about the actual story? It was mediocre, in my opinion. The world was there, but it didn't seem so engaging for me. It's obvious the "Great White" was a product of human wars instead of some God's wrath. It's not so obvious just how advanced they were before the apocalypse, though.
The main tension of this book was uncovering the mysteries of Obernewtyn, and once discovered, it was ... ... very anti-climactic indeed. I mean, we found out who the antagonists were long before the end, but it took chapters upon chapters just ... planning for a (never actually performed) escape and looking for something very important indeed, which Elspeth managed to do in a full three seconds with her conveniently convenient psychometric abilities which I didn't even know she could do.
So I guess, overall, I thought Obernewtyn was a very random novel. The type of story I would narrate out to my younger brother just before bed time, pulling it right out my arse just as I went along, waiting for him to drift asleep.
On the other hand, I wanted to like this. I had high expectations for it - which probably just added to my disappointment. So I suppose for me, this book lies somewhere between two and three stars.
There are several beefs I have with Obernewtyn. The first being that new information is constantly dumped into the narrative whensoever it is conventient.
Oh, so you need people to think that your misfit abilities is a product of contamination and not something you suffered from birth? But you can't tell them that yourself because they won't believe you?
- here, have some coercive powers so you can coerce someone to rat out to people that you've been afflicted by contaminated water during an unfortunate accident.
Oh, so you need some way of progressing the plot forward and discovering some imminent, threatening force in Obernewtyn?
- here, have some outer-fucking-body-astral-projection abilities so you can uncover a terrible machine that's capable of capturing one's mind and controlling his body -- and at the same time, meet a mysterious ally!
Oh, so you need some way of seeking information from the past?
-here! Have some psychometry powers while you're at it! Here! Take it! TAKE IT!!!
There were so many more instances, and not all of them related to Elspeth's powers. All of these information just jumped out at you, as if it had always been there, but was just never actually mentioned to us. It made the book seem unplanned, as if Isobelle Carmody had just been writing and writing, never having a complete idea of what would happen and where her story would lead.
My second problem came with the lack of action. I would say almost 90 per cent of this novel was telling instead of showing. Here is a (not so brief) demonstration of what I was reading most of the time. It's very long, so I've cut a few bits and pieces out, but rest assured this went on in a continuous flow:
One morning, there was a rumor at firstmeal that someone had broken into Madam Vega’s chamber. (...) There was no way they could trace the matter to me, but it meant I must wait a time before going back for a map. (...) We were stealing and hiding food and supplies in a hole concealed beneath a loose board in one of the barns. (...)
During this period, Louis told us that things were becoming unsettled in the highlands. There were even rumors that the ghosts of the Oldtimers had been stirring restlessly on the Beforetime ruins at the edge of the Blacklands.
A ghost of a different sort, Selmar now drifted about Obernewtyn like a gray wraith, unsmiling, silent, and pale. (...)
Perhaps the strangest thing of all, though, was the relationship that arose between Rushton and myself. (...) I had found out from Louis that he was a paid overseer who had been given the job by Madam Vega when he came to the mountains after his mother died (...).
Ariel was another matter entirely. He had a queer mania that made him hurt people just to see them cringe—as though he wanted proof of his superiority. It had been even worse since he had brought Selmar back. (...) He seemed to have forgotten about Cameo, but one day, near the end of the harvest season, he came to Cameo and bade her go with him to the doctor’s chamber.
We watched her trail after him with dread.
That night, she was in her bed, but not the next night or the one following. Soon her nightmares recommenced. I tried again to make her talk to me about what was happening to her, as did Matthew, who tortured himself with dreadful speculations. He could not bear even to look at Selmar. But Cameo refused to speak.
One night, she woke me with her mental cries, but when I went to comfort her as I had done before, I was appalled to see that her eyes were again the fierce eyes of a stranger.
Everything was so passive, even the action scenes were boring and dull. I suppose this comes from having such a dull heroine.
This of course leads me to my third complaint: the characters were (1) flat and one-dimensional. We read things from Elspeth's perspective, but I never really understood her as a character.
Elspeth started out suspicious of everyone around her, making her seem like a paranoid character. She didn't even want to be seen talking to people for God's sake - like, I don't even know why talking would be forbidden even in a post-apocalyptic world. But once she arrives at Obernewtyn, it's like she changed to a completely different person. She was chatty, she was sharing secrets, and it's all so puzzling, this sudden turn of events.
If her inconsistency didn't bother me, her stupidity surely did. When Madam Vega, the lady from Obernewtyn, came to inspect the orphan home for some prospective misfits to take back with her, what does Elspeth do? Instead of laying low, instead of being - you know, prudent for such the paranoid parrot that she is, she actually tries to penetrate into Madam Vega's mind to see what she's thinking. This while they're both practically the only people in the room.
Well of bloody course you're going to be discovered, you stupid, stupid girl.
And even if her stupidity didn't get to me, her blatant disrespect for privacy certainly did. The second she meets her new friends at Obernewtyn, she goes around prying into their minds, digging into their thoughts, like it's any of her bloody business.
She does this every so often I want to backhand the bitch and teach her a lesson or two about manners and basic human decency. I mean, she didn't even have any reason to pry into their thoughts. It's not like they were evil masterminds and she needed to uncover their secrets to rescue the world. Shit, she didn't even try to do any of that to the real evil masterminds.
Asides from being little more than human cardboard cut-outs, the other characters were also (2) unbelievably stupid. They're telling each other secrets, conspiring to escape. Between Elspeth, Matthew, and Dameon, they knew each other's secret abilities -- which may prove fatal for one another if one was captured.
And then Rosamunde, a friend of Elspeth from the orphan home, comes to Obernewtyn (for some uncanny reason), and of course she knows everything there is to know about Elspeth - even things about her older brother.
What I'm saying is, it's not really a brilliantly kept secret, is it? And if Madam Vega and her cronies had an ounce of brain power, they would've just shuffled through all the misfits at Obernewtyn and questioned them one by one. They would certainly find the person they were looking for in a matter of days. Stupid is as stupid does.
I mean, why rely on "informants" when you can just as easily find things out for yourself? They had no moral reservations against torture. They also had no problem "wiping" peoples' memories, if that were necessary. So I mean ... ... this book, and its characters, made no sense.
And what about the plot? you ask me. What about the actual story? It was mediocre, in my opinion. The world was there, but it didn't seem so engaging for me. It's obvious the "Great White" was a product of human wars instead of some God's wrath. It's not so obvious just how advanced they were before the apocalypse, though.
The main tension of this book was uncovering the mysteries of Obernewtyn, and once discovered, it was ... ... very anti-climactic indeed. I mean, we found out who the antagonists were long before the end, but it took chapters upon chapters just ... planning for a (never actually performed) escape and looking for something very important indeed, which Elspeth managed to do in a full three seconds with her conveniently convenient psychometric abilities which I didn't even know she could do.
So I guess, overall, I thought Obernewtyn was a very random novel. The type of story I would narrate out to my younger brother just before bed time, pulling it right out my arse just as I went along, waiting for him to drift asleep.
August 29, 2021
I tried multiple times to read this book in primary school. I remember that I’d read almost all the books in the school library, including the senior section for older primary students. Obernewtyn was one of the few in that section that I hadn’t. I almost finished it the first time I read it, but the climax started to terrify and disturb me so I stopped. When I tried again later – purely from sheer desperation at having run out of other books in the school library – I finally got through to the end. And then I devoured the sequels that were out at the time.
Some of my favourite childhood memories are reading library copies of these giant books in my grandparents’ little townhouse. I fondly recall hunching over the tiny print and straining to read by the light from the kitchen as my family watched TV nearby.
After a rocky start, this series weaved a special magic for me. It gave me that feeling of being so immersed in a world that nothing outside of the book existed – a feeling that you sadly lose when you read as an adult and everyday problems and demands constantly creep in. I think that maybe I’m trying to reclaim that lost magic by rereading now (or re-listening, rather, seeing as I borrowed the audiobook this time).
I definitely enjoyed this reclamation of a piece of my childhood. Just like with memories of people from your past, books hold a distinct feeling even if the full memory is blurred.
Obernewtyn has a very eerie, mystic even, feel to its dystopic setting. The languid writing style adds to the strange atmosphere, and is definitely one of Carmody's strengths. It was so nostalgic rereading the book. As an older reader, more of the dystopian aspects made sense to me, and I could link them back to our current world. It makes for a truly intriguing read.
However, it struck me how often the plot is too slow moving and the writing is heavily descriptive. It most definitely feels like the first of a series, in that it’s spending time laying the groundwork. It also feels like the debut that it was for Isobelle Carmody: a good but far from perfect novel. I’m far more excited to reread its sequel The Farseekers, when, from memory, the world expands and Elspeth travels to other territories and there’s more bam bam action.
Perhaps it’s because of her age, but Elspeth feels like a passive character who, for the most part, only reacts to events. She doesn’t quite leap off the page at this stage. Her introspective demeanour led to a lot of telling not showing, which irked me. But it makes sense to have her start this way and have her character progress through the series. I can’t quite remember, but I’m hoping her character evolves a lot.
Unfortunately, the other side characters are completely flat. Why should I care about Cameo, even if her plight is what most of the plot hinges on? Her personality never evolves past the stereotype of a weak damsel in distress. It’s clear she is nothing but a plot-driver. I don’t understand why Elspeth risks so much for Cameo – someone who we, and apparently Elspeth too, barely know.
The last few chapters saved the novel plot-wise with their action and sense of danger. There seemed to be a lack of urgency before then, but I can’t judge objectively because I already knew what was going to happen. It might just be me.
Something small that bugged me while rereading is, how does Elspeth know what the names are for her secret powers, e.g. "coercion"? Especially considering other misfits also call them the same names later on. But that’s probably because I know and love this series to the point of picking up on tiny irregularities. What’s truly frustrating is the fact that people with mental disabilities are referred to as “defectives”, which is problematic and insensitive – and, I believe, continues through the series.
Despite all these flaws, Obernewtyn still casts its indescribable spell over me. I’ve read so many fantasy novels and series since, and it always thrills me to think of the powers Carmody crafted for this world. Obernewtyn has a truly fantastic magic system. The premise of the dystopic world, with its totalitarianism and religious fanaticism, is so gripping and well thought out.
Sadly, I never read the final two books in this series: The Sending and The Red Queen. They came out years after my initial binge-read of the series, and there was too much that I’d forgotten. I’ve always had it in the back of my mind to reread The Obernewtyn Chronicles and come back to its intricately-crafted world. Perhaps it’ll be a good chance for me to finally leap into audiobooks as well.
Good stuff: Inventive world and premise. Eerie setting. Atmospheric writing. Very intriguing magic system. Action in the last chapters.
Bad stuff: Slow moving until final chapters. Weighed down by introspection and description. Passive protagonist. Flat side characters. Lots of telling not showing.
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Some of my favourite childhood memories are reading library copies of these giant books in my grandparents’ little townhouse. I fondly recall hunching over the tiny print and straining to read by the light from the kitchen as my family watched TV nearby.
After a rocky start, this series weaved a special magic for me. It gave me that feeling of being so immersed in a world that nothing outside of the book existed – a feeling that you sadly lose when you read as an adult and everyday problems and demands constantly creep in. I think that maybe I’m trying to reclaim that lost magic by rereading now (or re-listening, rather, seeing as I borrowed the audiobook this time).
I definitely enjoyed this reclamation of a piece of my childhood. Just like with memories of people from your past, books hold a distinct feeling even if the full memory is blurred.
Obernewtyn has a very eerie, mystic even, feel to its dystopic setting. The languid writing style adds to the strange atmosphere, and is definitely one of Carmody's strengths. It was so nostalgic rereading the book. As an older reader, more of the dystopian aspects made sense to me, and I could link them back to our current world. It makes for a truly intriguing read.
However, it struck me how often the plot is too slow moving and the writing is heavily descriptive. It most definitely feels like the first of a series, in that it’s spending time laying the groundwork. It also feels like the debut that it was for Isobelle Carmody: a good but far from perfect novel. I’m far more excited to reread its sequel The Farseekers, when, from memory, the world expands and Elspeth travels to other territories and there’s more bam bam action.
Perhaps it’s because of her age, but Elspeth feels like a passive character who, for the most part, only reacts to events. She doesn’t quite leap off the page at this stage. Her introspective demeanour led to a lot of telling not showing, which irked me. But it makes sense to have her start this way and have her character progress through the series. I can’t quite remember, but I’m hoping her character evolves a lot.
Unfortunately, the other side characters are completely flat. Why should I care about Cameo, even if her plight is what most of the plot hinges on? Her personality never evolves past the stereotype of a weak damsel in distress. It’s clear she is nothing but a plot-driver. I don’t understand why Elspeth risks so much for Cameo – someone who we, and apparently Elspeth too, barely know.
The last few chapters saved the novel plot-wise with their action and sense of danger. There seemed to be a lack of urgency before then, but I can’t judge objectively because I already knew what was going to happen. It might just be me.
Something small that bugged me while rereading is, how does Elspeth know what the names are for her secret powers, e.g. "coercion"? Especially considering other misfits also call them the same names later on. But that’s probably because I know and love this series to the point of picking up on tiny irregularities. What’s truly frustrating is the fact that people with mental disabilities are referred to as “defectives”, which is problematic and insensitive – and, I believe, continues through the series.
Despite all these flaws, Obernewtyn still casts its indescribable spell over me. I’ve read so many fantasy novels and series since, and it always thrills me to think of the powers Carmody crafted for this world. Obernewtyn has a truly fantastic magic system. The premise of the dystopic world, with its totalitarianism and religious fanaticism, is so gripping and well thought out.
Sadly, I never read the final two books in this series: The Sending and The Red Queen. They came out years after my initial binge-read of the series, and there was too much that I’d forgotten. I’ve always had it in the back of my mind to reread The Obernewtyn Chronicles and come back to its intricately-crafted world. Perhaps it’ll be a good chance for me to finally leap into audiobooks as well.
Good stuff: Inventive world and premise. Eerie setting. Atmospheric writing. Very intriguing magic system. Action in the last chapters.
Bad stuff: Slow moving until final chapters. Weighed down by introspection and description. Passive protagonist. Flat side characters. Lots of telling not showing.
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January 17, 2023
This is a gem of a book ✨ it was compelling, suspenseful and overall a wonderful reading experience :-) Loved the world-building in particular.
It reminded me of some of the fantasy ya novels I loved as a teenager. It only wish I had come across this series as a teenager as it would have been so incredible and even more impactful to enjoy this book at that age.
I'll be looking forward continuing the series ♥
It reminded me of some of the fantasy ya novels I loved as a teenager. It only wish I had come across this series as a teenager as it would have been so incredible and even more impactful to enjoy this book at that age.
I'll be looking forward continuing the series ♥
November 9, 2015
I have so much love for this book.
I first read this when I was a young teenager and having recently picked up some second hand copies of the first three novels from my favourite book man at my local market, I decided it was high time I gave them a re-read to see if they stood the test of time.
I am pleased to report that I enjoyed this even more than when I read it as a teenager. As a teen, this was one of the first fantasy/sci fi style novels I ever encountered, and I think that this has really shaped what I enjoy about novels in my adult years. It certainly explains my preference for paranormal romances, at the very least.
This novel is slow to trust and open up, much like the main character Elspeth Gordie. She is suspicious of everything around her and doesn't trust easily, and much like her, this novel is slow to give much away.
But while it is a slow build, the build is a beautiful one. The world building in this is fascinating and experiencing it with older, wiser eyes, I feel like I got more out of the descriptions than I did when I first read it.
Even with the fantasy in this novel, it is easy to digest and I absolutely screamed through it. Once I picked it up I often had trouble putting it down - even though I knew what was coming next.
My only gripe with this book was the overuse of the word "presently" it seemed to be everywhere and once I noticed it, I couldn't help but see it in nearly every chapter.
This book was first published the year I was born and the series is not yet finished. I only got as far as reading the first three books in my teens, but in the back of my mind I have always wanted to read the rest. And with the final installment finally meant to be coming out this year, I hope to read the rest of this series before then, so I am up to speed for the closing chapter of this great story.
This is also the first book I have read in hard copy since I got my e-reader, and I have to say, there is something so comforting about a physical book.
This book holds a very special place in my heart and I can't wait to read the rest.
4 Stars.
I first read this when I was a young teenager and having recently picked up some second hand copies of the first three novels from my favourite book man at my local market, I decided it was high time I gave them a re-read to see if they stood the test of time.
I am pleased to report that I enjoyed this even more than when I read it as a teenager. As a teen, this was one of the first fantasy/sci fi style novels I ever encountered, and I think that this has really shaped what I enjoy about novels in my adult years. It certainly explains my preference for paranormal romances, at the very least.
This novel is slow to trust and open up, much like the main character Elspeth Gordie. She is suspicious of everything around her and doesn't trust easily, and much like her, this novel is slow to give much away.
But while it is a slow build, the build is a beautiful one. The world building in this is fascinating and experiencing it with older, wiser eyes, I feel like I got more out of the descriptions than I did when I first read it.
Even with the fantasy in this novel, it is easy to digest and I absolutely screamed through it. Once I picked it up I often had trouble putting it down - even though I knew what was coming next.
My only gripe with this book was the overuse of the word "presently" it seemed to be everywhere and once I noticed it, I couldn't help but see it in nearly every chapter.
This book was first published the year I was born and the series is not yet finished. I only got as far as reading the first three books in my teens, but in the back of my mind I have always wanted to read the rest. And with the final installment finally meant to be coming out this year, I hope to read the rest of this series before then, so I am up to speed for the closing chapter of this great story.
This is also the first book I have read in hard copy since I got my e-reader, and I have to say, there is something so comforting about a physical book.
This book holds a very special place in my heart and I can't wait to read the rest.
4 Stars.
August 12, 2015
While I feel that the post-apocalyptic genre has pretty much done to ahem, death, I don't mind books that add new ideas and try and take the genre in new directions. Sadly, while this book attempts that, it doesn't make it, and I didn't feel any emotional connection to any of the major characters, and worse, I felt the book suffered by the author explaining nothing, and waiting for the story to develop as way of explanation. The climax while satisfying was short and didn't have any bang. I am uncertain if I will read the next in the series.
February 16, 2016
I'm gonna re-read this one day because I don't think I was in the right /mind space/ for it.
February 4, 2013
First published in 1987, Obernewtyn really just reads like a book from that era. I don't really know how to explain that, except that I've read dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction from then and from now, and it very much reads like the former. Partly, this stems from the formatting, broken into a number of short books, because in the 80s and 90s publishers did not have the same faith in teenage attention spans that they do now.
Pulled in by the pretty cover with the intense looking girl, pretty mountains and a cat, I had no conception of what I was getting myself into. Apparently, as the infodumping all over the beginning of the novel told me, humanity made machines that destroyed the world, irradiating and polluting it. Many people died immediately, but some hardy farmers survived. These farmers established a new order, one opposed to technology and worshipful of Lud (their God). They also dictated a policy to kill any seditious people and those affected by radiation, Misfits.
Oddly, though, they don't kill ALL of the misfits. Some are kept alive as workers or sent to the mysterious estate of Obernewtyn, much feared, because, like with a roach motel, those who go there check in but don't check out. Elspeth, the heroine, has, of course, psychic powers, able to speak with animals in her mind and sometimes having prophetic dreams. She, as expected, gets discovered, though for the more minor misfit tendency of the dreams, and shipped off to Obernwtyn.
There, mysterious happenings are afoot. People disappear. There's a creepy doctor running tests. A weird machine that attempts to take over Elspeth's mind. The people running Obernewtyn appear to be evil. On the other hand, for once in her life, Elspeth has real friends who know her for who and what she is and accept her. She has more freedom than ever before, but her life is in great danger.
Obernewtyn failed to really shine, though the story does exhibit promise. For one thing, you never really learn anything about the characters particularly. While I liked Elspeth, Matthew and Dameon well enough, all I really know is that they're nice people with powers. The world building, too, is half-hearted. I enjoyed the idea of this book, but never got sucked into Carmody's world.
Personally, I would label the book more post-apocalyptic than dystopian, though many people on Goodreads would disagree with me. There are elements of both, however. On the plus side, there's no romance in here, so I suspect there will be eventually. For now, it's a nice respite from the modern, romance-focused dystopian and post-apocalyptic tales.
Despite how slow much of the book was for me, I am curious enough to keep going with this series, because, at the very least, the books are short. I suspect these might be more enjoyable for middle grade readers.
Pulled in by the pretty cover with the intense looking girl, pretty mountains and a cat, I had no conception of what I was getting myself into. Apparently, as the infodumping all over the beginning of the novel told me, humanity made machines that destroyed the world, irradiating and polluting it. Many people died immediately, but some hardy farmers survived. These farmers established a new order, one opposed to technology and worshipful of Lud (their God). They also dictated a policy to kill any seditious people and those affected by radiation, Misfits.
Oddly, though, they don't kill ALL of the misfits. Some are kept alive as workers or sent to the mysterious estate of Obernewtyn, much feared, because, like with a roach motel, those who go there check in but don't check out. Elspeth, the heroine, has, of course, psychic powers, able to speak with animals in her mind and sometimes having prophetic dreams. She, as expected, gets discovered, though for the more minor misfit tendency of the dreams, and shipped off to Obernwtyn.
There, mysterious happenings are afoot. People disappear. There's a creepy doctor running tests. A weird machine that attempts to take over Elspeth's mind. The people running Obernewtyn appear to be evil. On the other hand, for once in her life, Elspeth has real friends who know her for who and what she is and accept her. She has more freedom than ever before, but her life is in great danger.
Obernewtyn failed to really shine, though the story does exhibit promise. For one thing, you never really learn anything about the characters particularly. While I liked Elspeth, Matthew and Dameon well enough, all I really know is that they're nice people with powers. The world building, too, is half-hearted. I enjoyed the idea of this book, but never got sucked into Carmody's world.
Personally, I would label the book more post-apocalyptic than dystopian, though many people on Goodreads would disagree with me. There are elements of both, however. On the plus side, there's no romance in here, so I suspect there will be eventually. For now, it's a nice respite from the modern, romance-focused dystopian and post-apocalyptic tales.
Despite how slow much of the book was for me, I am curious enough to keep going with this series, because, at the very least, the books are short. I suspect these might be more enjoyable for middle grade readers.
November 24, 2015
This is one of my all time favourite books - to lead into a series.. that is still being written 20+ years later!
It is another Dystopian-post apocalyptic style of fiction where after the 'Great White' has happened. We join the story of Elspeth several years later, there are 'Bad Lands' where 'White Stick' a source of energy is collected from by people who are 'misfits'.
Basically a Nuclear war has occurred and the bad lands is where radiation still exists and the by-product is collected as a fuel. The humans that are classed as misfits are people that are different, they either look different or have a power such as Elspeth who has the ability to read minds and communicate with animals. The humans that are sent to mine the white stick get sick and die, like radiation poisoning.
Elspeth is young and is sent to a 'farm' for misfits, where she discovers there are others like her with their own powers.
The books that follow Obernewtyn become very descriptive so I would suggest if you enjoy this first book continue with the rest, you will be well rewarded.
It is another Dystopian-post apocalyptic style of fiction where after the 'Great White' has happened. We join the story of Elspeth several years later, there are 'Bad Lands' where 'White Stick' a source of energy is collected from by people who are 'misfits'.
Basically a Nuclear war has occurred and the bad lands is where radiation still exists and the by-product is collected as a fuel. The humans that are classed as misfits are people that are different, they either look different or have a power such as Elspeth who has the ability to read minds and communicate with animals. The humans that are sent to mine the white stick get sick and die, like radiation poisoning.
Elspeth is young and is sent to a 'farm' for misfits, where she discovers there are others like her with their own powers.
The books that follow Obernewtyn become very descriptive so I would suggest if you enjoy this first book continue with the rest, you will be well rewarded.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2024
A very pleasant read. The world is an incredible idea: a post-apocalyptic world whose inhabitants are relatively oblivious to it. The characters are quite well written and memorable, though I'll admit the main character comes off a bit bratty at times.
The writing tends to be a bit flitty, at times it's unclear who is saying what, in whose head, and where they are. But if you go along with the style it's not too bad.
Almost a whole story but definitely setting up a series, something important to note if you're just looking for a one-off.
Maruman fans rise up!
The writing tends to be a bit flitty, at times it's unclear who is saying what, in whose head, and where they are. But if you go along with the style it's not too bad.
Almost a whole story but definitely setting up a series, something important to note if you're just looking for a one-off.
Maruman fans rise up!
November 19, 2023
Neat combination of fantasy and nuclear apocalypse, but for a younger audience. Most of the side characters felt pretty flat, but there are 6 more books to hopefully fix that. The world that Carmody built is the biggest draw for the series, and I'm definitely interested in continuing, but good lord, the numbering on the North American Editions looks atrocious and confusing to me.
June 1, 2024
Read from cover to cover! Just had to finish it! This was chosen to fulfil a book challenge prompt - it’s not my usual genre but it certainly kept me reading all weekend!
October 18, 2010
Originally Posted on Guy Gone Geek.
After following Will and his mates in their escape to the White Mountains, I decided to continue my dystopian adventure with Elspeth's exile to another mountain, Obernewtyn. The concept of these books may have parallelism but the stories in their entirety are completely different.
For one, White Mountains is a science-fiction while Obernewtyn, although has elements of sci-fi, leans more towards epic fantasy. And while the mountain Will trekked to promises refuge, Elspeth's mountain is a prison.
Years after a nuclear holocaust known as the Great White that almost annihilate Earth's population, mutations, both physical and mental, among the survivors became an occasional phenomena. Those who are discovered to have mutations at birth were burnt and those whose abilities had become evident until older were condemned as Misfits and sent to harsh Council farms.
Elspeth Gordie was discovered to possess mental abilities. She was sent to the mysterious mountain compound of Obernewtyn. At Obernewtyn, she met a handful of Misfits and discovered, to her great horror, that there are people searching for the weapon that caused the Great White.
What I don't like about epic fantasy books is the common pattern to spend copious pages describing the imagined world before the real action begins. Obernewtyn (thankfully!) doesn't follow that pattern. There is just a two-page introduction describing the basics and then we get to see more of Carmody's imagined world as the story progress. It's not a beautiful world, mind you.
Our heroine, Elspeth Gordie, is a wonderfully crafted. She's not the type of heroine that is completely out of her shell at the end of the book. Her growth as a character is subtle, thus leaving room for more in the sequels. It's a 7 part series and it would be extremely dull if she reached her extremes at the first one.
Maruman, the cat who had been the key for Elspeth to discover her abilities and became her companion, is also an interesting one. Coming from someone who hates cats as much as John Green hates unicorns, that's saying something. He is cranky and really enigmatic. It's obvious that he'll play an important role in Elspeth's journey and I love to see how that will play out. Those readers who hoped that there is more to Buttercup than meets the eye in Hunger Games will be satisfied with Maruman.
One thing that I didn't like is the sloppy characterization of the villains, Alexi, Ariel and Madame Vega. I know they are just distraction and the real villain is the Herder Faction, a ruthless religious organization that leads the burning of mutants, but Carmody could have still created believable villains. Honestly, they are more of three stooges. You'd not fear them nor hate them, you'll laugh at them and I believe they aren't meant to be funny. But that's just the villain-lover in me nitpicking.
This series has a lot of potentials. With characters gifted with the ability of mind coercion, it is bound to have "WOW" moments and mind-blowing pivotal twists. And I pray to Lud(their version of God) that I'm right.
After following Will and his mates in their escape to the White Mountains, I decided to continue my dystopian adventure with Elspeth's exile to another mountain, Obernewtyn. The concept of these books may have parallelism but the stories in their entirety are completely different.
For one, White Mountains is a science-fiction while Obernewtyn, although has elements of sci-fi, leans more towards epic fantasy. And while the mountain Will trekked to promises refuge, Elspeth's mountain is a prison.
Years after a nuclear holocaust known as the Great White that almost annihilate Earth's population, mutations, both physical and mental, among the survivors became an occasional phenomena. Those who are discovered to have mutations at birth were burnt and those whose abilities had become evident until older were condemned as Misfits and sent to harsh Council farms.
Elspeth Gordie was discovered to possess mental abilities. She was sent to the mysterious mountain compound of Obernewtyn. At Obernewtyn, she met a handful of Misfits and discovered, to her great horror, that there are people searching for the weapon that caused the Great White.
What I don't like about epic fantasy books is the common pattern to spend copious pages describing the imagined world before the real action begins. Obernewtyn (thankfully!) doesn't follow that pattern. There is just a two-page introduction describing the basics and then we get to see more of Carmody's imagined world as the story progress. It's not a beautiful world, mind you.
Our heroine, Elspeth Gordie, is a wonderfully crafted. She's not the type of heroine that is completely out of her shell at the end of the book. Her growth as a character is subtle, thus leaving room for more in the sequels. It's a 7 part series and it would be extremely dull if she reached her extremes at the first one.
Maruman, the cat who had been the key for Elspeth to discover her abilities and became her companion, is also an interesting one. Coming from someone who hates cats as much as John Green hates unicorns, that's saying something. He is cranky and really enigmatic. It's obvious that he'll play an important role in Elspeth's journey and I love to see how that will play out. Those readers who hoped that there is more to Buttercup than meets the eye in Hunger Games will be satisfied with Maruman.
One thing that I didn't like is the sloppy characterization of the villains, Alexi, Ariel and Madame Vega. I know they are just distraction and the real villain is the Herder Faction, a ruthless religious organization that leads the burning of mutants, but Carmody could have still created believable villains. Honestly, they are more of three stooges. You'd not fear them nor hate them, you'll laugh at them and I believe they aren't meant to be funny. But that's just the villain-lover in me nitpicking.
This series has a lot of potentials. With characters gifted with the ability of mind coercion, it is bound to have "WOW" moments and mind-blowing pivotal twists. And I pray to Lud(their version of God) that I'm right.
May 9, 2012
First off, some purchasing tips.
1) If you are going to get this book (and you should!) you should prolly get the edition called "The Seeker: The Obernewtyn Chronicles" because it combines Book 1 and Book 2 of the series into one low price edition, which will save you money, and you'll have the second one on hand once you finish the first engrossing book.
2) If you are going to get each book separately and are bad with faces, get the edition with the girl's face and cat. It will help you visualize the main heroine. If you are already good with faces... definitely get the edition with the giant doors.... you'll thank me later!!!! :)
So now onto the review of the book:
Hhhhmmmm..... B.. almost B+.
It was good. It was.
Not miraculous, nor wonderful nor amazing.... but it was good. :)
The trouble with this book was that it needed some logical polish. There were just too many instances in this book where the characters did something completely illogical or nonsensical OR where the action just suddenly moved along BUT it wasn't written in the book, which was jarring and confusing!(i.e. someone entered the room but the text didn't say so and you are left confused on what side of the door they still are? which then leaves you wondering if what they are saying is said openly or secretly...or what's happening exactly...etc.etc.).
Why did half way through the book Elspeth reveal that her ability is not only telepathic but also telekinetic? (suddenly when the need arose.... voila, she can also unlock doors with the powers of her mind!!) It was too convenient. She should have listed her general powers somewhere near the beginning of the book.
(Abed and Troy from the show Community)
But as I said, and as Abed from the show Community put it, the main trouble is that sometimes characters did something that the audience would not do. For example:
1) what was motivating Jes to keep his distance from Elspeth? It would be good for the author here to develop Jes more... show how he suffers from shame of having a Misfit family... how badly he wants to fit in, be normal.
2) WHY OH WHY did Elspeth mentally push Rosamunde to send her to Obernewtyn??????? WHY???????????????????????
This is something no one would do! As the saying goes: the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. It's just nonsensical!
There are other examples, I'm just too tired to recall.
Ok, now the good stuff:
Despite it's problems... the book, as a young adult novel works. This is not as much on its merits as on the fact that over the past decade (or 2) the YA novel industry has been churning these thinly veiled harlequins at a high rate. This book is far above that quality. You will, as I did, read late into the night. :)
And as you read, you will be reminded of the crysalids for sure.
1) If you are going to get this book (and you should!) you should prolly get the edition called "The Seeker: The Obernewtyn Chronicles" because it combines Book 1 and Book 2 of the series into one low price edition, which will save you money, and you'll have the second one on hand once you finish the first engrossing book.
2) If you are going to get each book separately and are bad with faces, get the edition with the girl's face and cat. It will help you visualize the main heroine. If you are already good with faces... definitely get the edition with the giant doors.... you'll thank me later!!!! :)
So now onto the review of the book:
Hhhhmmmm..... B.. almost B+.
It was good. It was.
Not miraculous, nor wonderful nor amazing.... but it was good. :)
The trouble with this book was that it needed some logical polish. There were just too many instances in this book where the characters did something completely illogical or nonsensical OR where the action just suddenly moved along BUT it wasn't written in the book, which was jarring and confusing!(i.e. someone entered the room but the text didn't say so and you are left confused on what side of the door they still are? which then leaves you wondering if what they are saying is said openly or secretly...or what's happening exactly...etc.etc.).
Why did half way through the book Elspeth reveal that her ability is not only telepathic but also telekinetic? (suddenly when the need arose.... voila, she can also unlock doors with the powers of her mind!!) It was too convenient. She should have listed her general powers somewhere near the beginning of the book.
(Abed and Troy from the show Community)
But as I said, and as Abed from the show Community put it, the main trouble is that sometimes characters did something that the audience would not do. For example:
1) what was motivating Jes to keep his distance from Elspeth? It would be good for the author here to develop Jes more... show how he suffers from shame of having a Misfit family... how badly he wants to fit in, be normal.
2) WHY OH WHY did Elspeth mentally push Rosamunde to send her to Obernewtyn??????? WHY???????????????????????
This is something no one would do! As the saying goes: the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. It's just nonsensical!
There are other examples, I'm just too tired to recall.
Ok, now the good stuff:
Despite it's problems... the book, as a young adult novel works. This is not as much on its merits as on the fact that over the past decade (or 2) the YA novel industry has been churning these thinly veiled harlequins at a high rate. This book is far above that quality. You will, as I did, read late into the night. :)
And as you read, you will be reminded of the crysalids for sure.
September 3, 2010
So I got the first one from the library and towards the end of the first book I knew this was something interesting. But it wasn’t until the second book (at the end of the second book no less) when I knew I had something fascinating in my hands. The moment that really got me was when the horse Gahltha pledges his loyalty to Elspeth and promises to help her and never leave her side (there’s a reason why of course) but I was so moved by this previously-arrogant horse and his devotion, that my heart melted right then and there. And then when I got to the third book, I was desperate to finish it and see what happens that one night I stayed up to finish Ashling without so much as speaking to my husband one night. And now I wait for the fourth book to come from the library. And to be honest, after finishing Ashling, I was left in a bit of a reading funk: I didn’t know what to read next. In a matter of a week, I picked up four books and didn’t finish any of them (although one I know I will return to shortly). I guess I went through some withdrawal and I hadn’t felt that since last year in the summer. So that wasn’t so much of a review as me wanting to gush about this series. Loving it! Oh, and to think this whole series was started when the author was still in high school??? The author has got quite the imagination and even though it takes place on Earth, it might as well be Middle-Earth or something else like it. It’s so wonderful to read the world she has created here. And the people as well…if you can, read them. Definitely do not give up on the first book: the books get so much more interesting and intricate, that you’ll be itching for the next book in the series, like I am.
December 18, 2018
"There are those made to lead and those to follow. There are also those who go a lone path, to scout the way ahead. I am a scout at heart."
In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a devastating event called the Great White, some people have developed magical abilities and been named Misfits. These strange people, capable of reading minds or seeing the future, are shipped off to farms or mines to serve the rest of the population. But in the strange mountain residence, Obernewtyn, Misfits are being tried and tested to see if their powers are of any use and Elspeth Gordie may be just the Misfit they've been looking for.
As you can probably tell from the 1-star rating, I found this book unequivocally awful. The characters were boring, the written accents made the dialogue impossible to read and the writing was so painful I think I gave myself a stomachache. I don't actually know what happened in the entirety of the novel except for one character death but even then I wasn't sure what had happened for a good five minutes. The only saving grace of this novel is the worldbuilding which I do find fascinating enough to continue with the series.
I understand that the author started writing this when she was in high school and that the book was published in the 1980s when standards for teen fiction were vastly different but that doesn't make this reading experience any less painful. Regardless, I am going to press on with the rest of the books in the hopes that, eventually, one of the most prolific Australian fantasy authors figured out what she was doing and got better.
Fingers crossed The Farseekers is far more enjoyable and that it redeems Isobelle Carmody for me.
March 17, 2017
While I have found the plot so far fairly generic (dystopian world after a big tragedy, youth that are in danger because of abilities) I really enjoyed this book. I'm not sure whether this is due to the style of writing or Isobelle Carmody's mystical narration of the story. What I do know is that this story granted me that magic that good fantasy novels possess. It allowed me to be drawn into another world and be consumed by the goings-on.
I enjoyed Elspeth as the main character, she did not have any annoying characteristics that some YA books allow their protagonist's to endear, however I am hoping that she grows throughout the later books. I love Maruman, he his endearing yet with true feline attitude, and yet his trances intrigue me and make me want to learn more about him beyond Elspeth's side.
I will no doubt be venturing onto the next book in this series, hoping to learn more about the Beforetime, the development of Obernewtyn, and what is in store for Elspeth and her new companions.
I enjoyed Elspeth as the main character, she did not have any annoying characteristics that some YA books allow their protagonist's to endear, however I am hoping that she grows throughout the later books. I love Maruman, he his endearing yet with true feline attitude, and yet his trances intrigue me and make me want to learn more about him beyond Elspeth's side.
I will no doubt be venturing onto the next book in this series, hoping to learn more about the Beforetime, the development of Obernewtyn, and what is in store for Elspeth and her new companions.
January 9, 2015
Elspeth has pyschic abilities that she must keep hidden, but despite her best efforts a limited proportion of those abilities have been discovered. She is sent to Obernewtyn to live and work with other misfits.
This story has been written for younger readers. The grammar and language is straight forward and very easy to read. It moves at a great pace, never floundering. Whilst Elspeth abilities are outlined near the beginning, you can't help but feel some of those abilities are rather convenient later in the book; but this book is not targetted at adults, so this too fits in well with the audience.
If you like a little fantasy and you want to unwind with simple, this is a good short option.
This story has been written for younger readers. The grammar and language is straight forward and very easy to read. It moves at a great pace, never floundering. Whilst Elspeth abilities are outlined near the beginning, you can't help but feel some of those abilities are rather convenient later in the book; but this book is not targetted at adults, so this too fits in well with the audience.
If you like a little fantasy and you want to unwind with simple, this is a good short option.
December 11, 2009
It has taken me forever to get around to reading this book. I liked the world-building with the Council, but I would have liked to learn a bit more about the intricacies/rules in the settlements. Maybe this will be elaborated further later in the series...
I liked Elspeth, but I felt a little detached in the narration, and the same was true for Rushton. I liked the characters, but I didn't really care what happened to them all that much. The action and plot, while inventive, weren't all that groundbreaking or riveting, imo.
I will likely continue with the series, but it doesn't have me rushing to the library to get the sequels...meh.
I liked Elspeth, but I felt a little detached in the narration, and the same was true for Rushton. I liked the characters, but I didn't really care what happened to them all that much. The action and plot, while inventive, weren't all that groundbreaking or riveting, imo.
I will likely continue with the series, but it doesn't have me rushing to the library to get the sequels...meh.
November 10, 2015
I just love this series so much. Rereading it (again) I fell in love with the characters and world all over again, although I do wonder if I enjoy it so much because I have read all the other books and have a deeper connection with them all from future books. I will admit that the first book doesn't have as much in the way of character building and world building as the subsequent books. But an amazing book none the less and I cannot wait to read the rest.
December 8, 2013
I think if I had read this book when I was ten I would have loved it. I still enjoyed it now but it was a little too easy to read, no real suspense, no real action - ideal for a young age group which of course it was written for. I really liked the idea of farseeking and wish it had been featured more. Maybe it is in the rest of the series but I probably will not be reading any more. A nice little book but not inspiring.
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