Night Gate

The Gateway Trilogy #1

by Isobelle Carmody

Rage Winnoway’s closest friends have always been her four Bear, Billy Thunder, Elle, and Mr. Walker. When Rage sets off for the hospital where her mother lies in a coma, the dogs and the neighbor’s goat tag along. On the way, they run into the firecat, who talks them into going through a magical gate. And something wonderful happens! Each of Rage’s friends is transformed. Bear becomes a real bear; Billy Thunder, a teenage boy; Elle, a warrior woman; Mr. Walker, a small, large-eared gentleman; and the goat, a satyr with an inferiority complex. Together, Rage and her companions embark on a quest to save the world of Valley, a journey that is somehow tied to Rage’s family. In this brilliant tale of courage and transformation, Isobelle Carmody captures the magic of Narnia and the whimsy of Wonderland without losing sight of the real world and all its difficulties.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Magic

272 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

About the author

Isobelle 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).

Reviews

[Paradoxical · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a weakness for books like this. There is just something so compelling about a young character bravely going off into an adventure to save someone, with her trusty companions by her side. It's not about intelligence or physical prowess or magical aptitude, it's about strength of character and growing up just a little bit and doing your best under the most trying of circumstances.

So, yeah, total sucker for this book.

Rage, the main character, along with four dogs and a goat, stumbles across a gate that a mysterious creature called firecat urges them through. Firecat gives Rage a task; bring an hourglass to a lost wizard and the lost wizard will send her home and wake her mother up from her coma as well. Her animal companions have in some way been transformed and now have the ability to speak, and Rage is stuck in a world where magic flows through everything and is dying bit by bit.

It starts off a bit slow, but the book does warm up. Once it really gets going it becomes interesting and you appreciate the little twists and turns the author has you threading through. The little connections and how everything is drawn together skillfully in the end was a pleasure to read as well. And Rage and the rest? They're fun, dynamic characters that slowly grow into their own.

The writing style reminds me of books such as A Wrinkle In Time. Classic children's books that can be read by any age with appreciation. Sacrifice, struggling for oneself, growing up, they're all well worn themes that never seem to grow old (at least to me, anyway). 4 stars.

[Blanky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was 13 years old. Back then I would have rated it five stars. This time around I found it a little bit less organized and coherent, and a little bit confused and disjointed. I still thought the characters were gorgeous and very likable, but something just felt a bit off, maybe I'm just a bit too old for this kind of story and that's all it is. Either way, I do love Isobelle Carmody's work, but I am frustrated that she has four series she hasn't finished, including this and the Darksong trilogy which have had over 12 years wait for the final installment. It's a bit ridiculous and disappointing but I just imagine this book as a stand-alone (as I believe it was initially planned to be) and save myself another agonizing 12 years wait for a final that may never appear.
Also, can someone please do some fan art for this book? I think there is so much potential but I have the artistic ability of a spatula.

[Goldenwattle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is some years since I read this book, but I seem to recall thinking it was an okay read, but nothing more. I didn't like a main character being called "Rage". And I didn't like the description of her flyaway hair. That might seem silly, but it bugged me. I did like the idea of a flooded valley still existing in another dimension.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have set myself a tentative goal to read all of Isobelle Carmody's novels in the next year or two and with that in mind I borrowed the audiobook of Billy Thunder and the Night Gate from the library.I quite enjoyed this story, although it is not my favourite book I've read by Carmody.

One of the things that I love about Carmody's stories is the richness of her worlds and this one is no different. The land of Valley was a rich and complicated world and I was able to visualise it easily. I particularly loved the city of Fork, which was almost a character in and of itself, and how gritty, twisted and magical it was.

I quite liked Rage Winnoway's character arc throughout the story. I liked that she started to think about being blindly obedient to people's rules and then to question the morality of some of the rules and why she was being told to follow them. It was also good to watch her become more brave and start to use her initiative. I thought that most of the other characters fell fairly flat and were rather one dimensional. The exceptions to this was Billy Thunder and Bear. I loved watching them grow separately and then to see the effect of that growth on their relationship together.

I did find this book to be fairly predictable. I guessed where the story was going and I also guessed who the wizard was early on in the story and it annoyed me that the characters took so long to understand everything. They would often theorize about things after learning a new piece of information but then never change their theories or their plans. In saying that, there were still a few things at the end that hit me emotionally that I wasn't really expecting, in particular with the mother and child relationships.

As I said earlier, I picked up the audiobook for this and I have to say I wasn't a huge fan of the narration. I found the narrator, Rebecca Macauley, often used similar voices for characters and I would sometimes be unsure to which character was speaking. She also gave tremulous voices to many of the characters and it got on my nerves a little. It wasn't bad narration though, there were just a few things that irked me.

The book started off a little slow but I did end up enjoying it in the end and I will definitely be continuing with this series. I ended up giving it 4/5 stars.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad story, but I was not drawn in by the story or characters. I would much prefer to stick with the Obernewtyn series.

[Adrian Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely written but didn't appeal to me.

[Rosemary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the Obernewtyn Chronicles, which Isobelle Carmody started writing while in high school. However, I couldn't get into this book at all.

[Dexter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isobelle Carmody is one of the best writers ever. It must be because she's Australian (a lot of my favorite authors are Australian).

But seriously, her writing is just so beautiful and gorgeous that it's hard to stop reading once you've really gotten into it. I admit, the first half of Night Gate is a bit hard to sink one's teeth into, but if you make it that far, you are definitely in for the rest of the ride.

Isobelle Carmody makes me -feel- everything she writes. In the beginning, Rage is in a miserable position, and I felt just miserable reading about it. When Rage and company encounter the sinister city of Fork, I could -feel- the menacing presence of such a city, and I can honestly say that it gave me chills. When Rage is screaming in pain and fury, I'm screaming right along with her, and when Rage is laughing in happiness, I can't help but join in.

Night Gate is a work of art. That's all I can say.

Third Time Reading:
You know it's a good book when you take up the tradition of reading it again every year. Once again, I admit that the first half or so is a bit tedious and hard to sink your teeth into... but it's just so beautiful.

Isobelle Carmody strikes me as a very wise and knowing woman. Her knowledge of the world and love and emotion and pain is heartbreakingly accurate.

This is a story that will stay with me forever, a story that I will ponder and contemplate, a story that I hug tightly after every reading. It's a quiet, beautiful little thing.

[Liana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the kind of books where you get a load of characters who are all lovable and different from one another. Night Gate definitely has that!

I got into the flow of the story right away. Rage, (whose name first gave me the impression that she's possibly a troubled and angry child with temper issues lol) the main character's mother is in coma and dying. Rage isn't allowed to see her, and by the sounds of things, Rage is stuck with the most disagreeable adults in the country. (Luckily, she has her doggie friends with her.~) So Rage decides to run away and search for the hospital her mother is staying in. Her dogs come with her of course, and even the neighbors goat! Eventually, she finds a magical gateway and is thrown into another world through it. This world has magic in it, but it is dying. From there on, her quest becomes MUCH greater than just finding her way back to her mother, it becomes quite dangerous for her and her 'transformed' friends. I really loved the adventure that took place, it was exciting, nerve wracking, FUNNY (had lots of giggles) and just... Fun. Night Gate was a fun book to read.

The story felt very long for a 255 page book. I do wish that the ending was explained more after Rage came back into her own world, but I guess that's what the sequel is for! ;) With that said, I can hardly wait to read it!

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Night Gate" starts rather quickly and doesn't leave much room for introduction, but it's still interesting. The writing is very good, as could be expected by this author. It starts out when Rage Winnoway runs away from home to see her sick mother in the hospital, and four dogs and a goat tag along. On the way, they meet a firecat who convinces them to go through a magical gate into a strange world where magic is dying. The firecat tells Rage that it is her job to find the wizard so he can save the land.
Carmody created a very interesting land in this book, giving it a strong culture and showing some very interested ideas. Rage is a good character, but my favorite is probably the firecat, most likely for his potential to be evil. (Exactly what his alliance is, I will not say, and do not take that as a hint.)
One thing that annoyed me was the lack of a language barrier, but once I learned the history of the land, I excused it.
All in all, "Night Gate" was very interesting, but I believe the author could have gone a bit farther with this idea. Thankfully, there are sequels.

[Alison Strumbeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's categorized as fantasy but its more of a futuristic dystopia. The whole book has that interesting yet creepy feel which exists in all dystopia stories. I would consider this sci-fi more than fantasy. The animals that are literally personified in the story are strange and don't seem to retain any of their animal nature, which defeats the purpose of personification. But in the end I found myself getting attached to the characters and strange as it is I want to read the next one. I guess it's kind of like 1984 where it's unsettling but so well done.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I found this book to be unique; it wasn’t exactly a page turner. I thought Carmody did a good job creating an interesting world that was well flushed out and distinctive. I also liked the idea of her pets becoming sort of human and helping her complete her quest. Overall an ok fantasy book that might appeal to animal lovers.

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oops... I guess 10 years has fuzzed the memory on this book, but no wonder the characters (Billy Thunder in particular) seemed so familiar even if the story didn't.

This book totally reminds me of why I love Carmody's stories despite her recent Obernewtyn books: sweet and endearing.

[Selenis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enquanto espero e desespero pelos últimos volumes da série Obernewtyn, resolvi ler este. A forma de escrever dela é facilmente reconhecível, com assuntos bem sérios a espreitar em alegorias bem formuladas. Não tão bom como a série Obernewtyn, mas gostei.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good!Although I do not like the name Rage..........:) hehe

[bin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is really good, it's better for young readers though. It's only a light read, and it feels like she wrote it at first on a whimm, but as you progress it's really enjoyable.

[Calli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series a lot. I love the characters!!!!! It is a very good series.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2010/12...

[Ann Babcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute Sci-Fi for teens. Good writing and good characters.

[νєяαℓι∂αιиє]

I have a feeling I've already read this book... But it's so long ago I may as well just read it again. XD

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was a lot younger. And it’s been a long time since I’ve had the pleasure of picking it up. But now that I have… wow. It’s just as good as I remember. I picked up so many new nuances and moments throughout. And, having had the pleasure of actually talking to the author for an interview once, I can also see a bit more of her personality through the pages. All of which I found exceedingly pleasurable and wonderful. Fun and still impossible to put down, even if I did know exactly what was going to happen…

As a child, I related a lot to Rage and her loneliness. That, and her extreme attachment to her dogs. As an adult, I really haven’t changed. I still feel like I don’t quite belong with the rest of my friends, and don’t actually have that many friends. And I have a super strong connection to my dogs. The main difference between then and now? I’m happy with that reality. I have managed to collect a few true friends that I enjoy spending my time with… and the rest of it? I’m more than happy in the pages of a great book like this with my dogs fighting for primo-lap space.

One of the things that I have always found characterises Carmody’s writing is the use of a message in her writing. In the case of this novel, it is that sometimes rules aren’t that good. Sometimes you need to break the rules and stand up for yourself if the situation asks for it. The other message is about love and family. Not leaving those you love behind and staying loyal and true to those whom you love. Both are integral, unforgettable aspects of this storyline and you walk away feeling like being yourself is enough. And that you should always try to stick around for the ones that you love.

There is nothing so good as returning to a well-loved story from your childhood. Except, maybe, returning to a well-loved story from your childhood and discovering that you love it just as much as an adult. After all, it can be a little crushing when your memories don’t quite hold up to the reality. That is certainly not the case for this novel. Whether your young or old, male or female, if you like fantasy… you’ll love this.

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rage Winnoway is in a predicament - her mother's in a coma, she's never met her father, her grandfather is dead and her uncle has vanished years ago. She is likely to be put into a home - but what would happen to her four dogs, Bear, the matriarch and mother to Billy Thunder, both large dogs though Billy is still a pup; Elle, a bull terrier rescued from the pound on her last day there, and Mr. Walker, a Chihuahua? If only Rage could see her mother, she might be able to convince her to wake up.

So she decides to leave the neighbors' home and head off across the countryside to find her mother. And while she tries to convince the dogs to stay behind, they didn't - and neither did the neighbor's goat, Goaty. So now the six of them are on the run across what had originally been Winnoway lands but had been taken by the government to put in a lake - something that made Rage's granduncle vanish years before.

While trying to find a good place to rest, Rage hear's a strange voice - a creature calling itself a firecat convinces her that a wizard might be able to wake her mother. All she has to do is go through the thorn gate - which appears in the brambles ahead of them. Rage isn't sure if this is the right thing to do but -

upon stepping through the gate, her animal friends are transformed - Bear looks more like a bear, Billy Thunder is a teenage boy, Elle is a warrier woman, Goaty is a faun, and Mr. Walker is a tiny human with large large ears. And the only way for them to find a way to the hospital is to locate the missing wizard who created the Valley...

The problem? The wizard's been missing for eons and no one but the firecat seems to have any clue where he might've gone.

A very fun read with a lot of imagination.

[Anu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully heartwrenching book. As Phillip Pullman once said "There are some themes, some subjects, too large for adult fiction; they can only be dealt with adequately in a children's book". Isobelle Carmody's Gateway Series does precisely that in the most amazing way.

The first is not just a tale of magic and bravery, but also a lesson in human nature, and how ideals can often get twisted. How good people may have bad results. How bad people could originally have had good intentions. Every main character is fleshed out, and I'm sure that it's the kind of book that reveals more with every rereading.

The writing does leave something to be desired, it's not as coherent as the second book of the series is, and the story seems a bit rushed and pointless at times, however it's to a forgivable extent for me. And I didn't think it needed to be said, but looking at some of the comments maybe it does -- unless you enjoy reading children's fiction, don't read it. It's a children's book, and while I read it as an adult, I actively still enjoy children's fiction and I was introduced to the world through the second book as a child. So unless you like books aimed at children (NOT YA but children), then give it a try!

[Caspian Hendrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very boring. Nothing’s happened in 200 pages, and I really couldn’t care about any of the characters, except maybe Billy Thunder, btu I still have issues with him. Authors need to realise that people don’t relate to a fantasy book where the reality the characters come from is the outback or bogan Australia. The actual reality of bogan Australia is something people want to escape from, not come back to after a fabulous journey. It’s full of snooty racists, no one wants that! And the naming in this book, just… I can’t stand it. It’s dumb and so is this book.

[Mazil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoughtful coming-of-age fantasy adventure. I enjoyed the themes of adulthood, love and loss, humans and nature, society and the environment.

Docking a star because it feels more like a slightly over-extended short story with a padded plot and some hand-waving.

But beautifully written from moment to moment and an engaging cast of characters.

[olive · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a childhood favorite for me. One of the books that really inspired me to start writing. I went back and read this as an adult and I still think it’s an incredible and unique story. I wish the author finished this series.

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I all of a sudden thought of -- I must have read it when I was 10 or 11? I really loved it, and I should reread it someday to see if I still do!

[Christopher Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice potrayal of the love that exists between a person's pets and family

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Fiona Seaburn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might have given this a better rating 30 years ago.