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The Chain of Charms #4
The Cat's Eye Shell
The final three paperbacks of the award-winning six-book series by Kate Forsyth.
Life is always hard for the gypsies, who live to their own rhythm and their own rules, but since Oliver Cromwell had seized control of England, life had been harder – and drabber – than ever. But now life for the Finch tribe has gone even more horribly wrong. They have been accused of vagrancy and murder, and thrown into gaol with only three weeks to live. The only members of the family to escape are 13-year-old Emilia and her cousin Luka. They have been entrusted to find the six charms and bring them together again. Then, perhaps, the gypsies could once again have some luck... and the Finch tribe could walk free. What Emilia and Luka do not realise is that there is a price to be paid for each lucky charm, and that the cost may prove too high...
20th August – 24th August 1658:
Having acquired the first three charms in the quest to secure their family's freedom, Luka and Emilia flee into Sussex with soldiers hot on their heels, in company with a Royalist duke, a Catholic priest, a highwayman and young Tom Whitehorse. Only the Catholic underground can help them all escape – but this is a most dangerous religion in the time of Puritan rule. And Emilia and Luka still must find the elusive gypsy tribe of the cat's eye shell, who, it seems, have turned to smuggling...
Life is always hard for the gypsies, who live to their own rhythm and their own rules, but since Oliver Cromwell had seized control of England, life had been harder – and drabber – than ever. But now life for the Finch tribe has gone even more horribly wrong. They have been accused of vagrancy and murder, and thrown into gaol with only three weeks to live. The only members of the family to escape are 13-year-old Emilia and her cousin Luka. They have been entrusted to find the six charms and bring them together again. Then, perhaps, the gypsies could once again have some luck... and the Finch tribe could walk free. What Emilia and Luka do not realise is that there is a price to be paid for each lucky charm, and that the cost may prove too high...
20th August – 24th August 1658:
Having acquired the first three charms in the quest to secure their family's freedom, Luka and Emilia flee into Sussex with soldiers hot on their heels, in company with a Royalist duke, a Catholic priest, a highwayman and young Tom Whitehorse. Only the Catholic underground can help them all escape – but this is a most dangerous religion in the time of Puritan rule. And Emilia and Luka still must find the elusive gypsy tribe of the cat's eye shell, who, it seems, have turned to smuggling...
Audio CD
First published May 1, 2007
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About the author
Kate Forsyth
87 books2,592 followersKate Forsyth wrote her first novel at the age of seven, and is now the internationally bestselling author of 40 books for both adults and children.
Her books for adults include 'Beauty in Thorns', the true love story behind a famous painting of 'Sleeping Beauty'; 'The Beast's Garden', a retelling of the Grimm version of 'Beauty & the Beast', set in the German underground resistance to Hitler in WWII; 'The Wild Girl', the love story of Wilhelm Grimm and Dortchen Wild, the young woman who told him many of the world's most famous fairy tales; 'Bitter Greens', a retelling of the Rapunzel fairytale; and the bestselling fantasy series 'Witches of Eileanan' Her books for children include 'The Impossible Quest', 'The Gypsy Crown', 'The Puzzle Ring', and 'The Starkin Crown'
Kate has a doctorate in fairytale studies, a Masters of Creative Writing, a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, and is an accredited master storyteller.
Her books for adults include 'Beauty in Thorns', the true love story behind a famous painting of 'Sleeping Beauty'; 'The Beast's Garden', a retelling of the Grimm version of 'Beauty & the Beast', set in the German underground resistance to Hitler in WWII; 'The Wild Girl', the love story of Wilhelm Grimm and Dortchen Wild, the young woman who told him many of the world's most famous fairy tales; 'Bitter Greens', a retelling of the Rapunzel fairytale; and the bestselling fantasy series 'Witches of Eileanan' Her books for children include 'The Impossible Quest', 'The Gypsy Crown', 'The Puzzle Ring', and 'The Starkin Crown'
Kate has a doctorate in fairytale studies, a Masters of Creative Writing, a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, and is an accredited master storyteller.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 30, 2020
The prose is smooth and elegant, the descriptions often hauntingly lovely. A sky with the colour of light passing through a rose petal is such a glorious image.
The gypsy children, Emilia and Luka, are hidden on a rowing boat, cramped and uncomfortable, sailing into Portsmouth harbour. Together with them are a group of men on the run from Cromwell's soldiers: the Duke of Ormonde who is in England at the behest of the exiled king; the Duke's servant, Nat; the Catholic priest Father Plummer, as well as a highwayman and young Tom Whitehorse.
The Duke and his servant have only just left the boat when an alarm goes up - somehow the troopers have found him again and are hot on his heels, even before he has a chance to look for a ship to take him to France. Who is signalling to Cromwell's men and betraying him?
Landing further up the coast, still fiercely pursued, the group head for the ruins of Arundel Castle, a place destroyed earlier in the war between the Cavaliers and the Roundheads. Emilie is able to use one of the charms to attract a group of horses, enabling them to reach Arundel safely. But there is, it seems, nowhere to hide. Father Plummer, however, insists he knows of a secret passage from the castle under the Downs that comes out near Amberley.
Their escape is not without its hazards - and, wherever they go, the soldiers are closing in. Luka wants to leave the group and strike out on their own but Emilie points out they don't know how to contact the smugglers who are reputed to have the cat's eye shell charm they need to help their family escape the gallows - but, apparently, Father Plummer does! His knowledge of far too many unusual modes of life leave them wondering if he's the traitor. Or is it the highwayman, Harry Morrow, once a cavalier who has now turned to robbery? Or Tom, the son of the squire of Norwood?
A gentle evocation of a brutal era of history.
The gypsy children, Emilia and Luka, are hidden on a rowing boat, cramped and uncomfortable, sailing into Portsmouth harbour. Together with them are a group of men on the run from Cromwell's soldiers: the Duke of Ormonde who is in England at the behest of the exiled king; the Duke's servant, Nat; the Catholic priest Father Plummer, as well as a highwayman and young Tom Whitehorse.
The Duke and his servant have only just left the boat when an alarm goes up - somehow the troopers have found him again and are hot on his heels, even before he has a chance to look for a ship to take him to France. Who is signalling to Cromwell's men and betraying him?
Landing further up the coast, still fiercely pursued, the group head for the ruins of Arundel Castle, a place destroyed earlier in the war between the Cavaliers and the Roundheads. Emilie is able to use one of the charms to attract a group of horses, enabling them to reach Arundel safely. But there is, it seems, nowhere to hide. Father Plummer, however, insists he knows of a secret passage from the castle under the Downs that comes out near Amberley.
Their escape is not without its hazards - and, wherever they go, the soldiers are closing in. Luka wants to leave the group and strike out on their own but Emilie points out they don't know how to contact the smugglers who are reputed to have the cat's eye shell charm they need to help their family escape the gallows - but, apparently, Father Plummer does! His knowledge of far too many unusual modes of life leave them wondering if he's the traitor. Or is it the highwayman, Harry Morrow, once a cavalier who has now turned to robbery? Or Tom, the son of the squire of Norwood?
A gentle evocation of a brutal era of history.
July 30, 2023
Another one in the gypsy charms series. The historical background is really well researched and I appreciate that but I did NOT like reading the torture scene in the prison. I don't know if that would really disturb kids but it should. I don't know what the answer is because sanitising history is not ideal but it was just a really horrible thing to read about. It was good to show how stupid the sexism of the past was.
Apart from that, presumably the kids will solve the quest just in time ;) This is book 4 so they have not yet.
Apart from that, presumably the kids will solve the quest just in time ;) This is book 4 so they have not yet.
March 26, 2018
Fourth entry in the series is another good yarn and the series builds towards the end. One question I have is I wonder if the author was thinking of later preacher Charles Spurgeon when she named the evil minister Spurgeon? It seems such an unlikely name and the real Spurgeon from all accounts was a good man unlike this horror in the story.
Anyway a decent book again.
Anyway a decent book again.
April 14, 2018
I really like that Emilia has such strong, feministic character for such a young girl.
Now I have to wait 10 days for the audiobook for the book 5 to become available. Le sad.
But in all honestly - I know that I've said this in every review for every book so far in this series, but they are so well plotted and researched.
Now I have to wait 10 days for the audiobook for the book 5 to become available. Le sad.
But in all honestly - I know that I've said this in every review for every book so far in this series, but they are so well plotted and researched.
May 5, 2019
This series continues to impress, mystery element in this of who is betraying the duke? The story of Emilia and Luka keeps developing and more people interact with them, priests, gypsies, nobles, Catholics, smugglers. I also really liked all the actual historical houses and land marks included in this series.
March 17, 2017
N read.
April 15, 2023
Rating: 3.75 stars - didn't like the twist villain
"That's my job," Nat said gruffly. "Besides, I like my life. I want to live to see more of it."
Book four of this series delves deeper into the Royalist side-plot, with Emilia and Luka fleeing into Sussex with a Royalist duke, a Catholic priest, a highwayman and Tom Whitehorse as their company to find the cat's eye shell. This one was pretty fun, but I didn't really like the twist villain. I saw it coming from miles away. Other than that, though, it was quite entertaining.
"That's my job," Nat said gruffly. "Besides, I like my life. I want to live to see more of it."
Book four of this series delves deeper into the Royalist side-plot, with Emilia and Luka fleeing into Sussex with a Royalist duke, a Catholic priest, a highwayman and Tom Whitehorse as their company to find the cat's eye shell. This one was pretty fun, but I didn't really like the twist villain. I saw it coming from miles away. Other than that, though, it was quite entertaining.
May 24, 2012
This is book four in a series of six. Luka and Emilia are desperate to find the fourth charm, which will help save their families from the gallows.
This book was rather slower than the others. Not as much happened, not as much urgency felt. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it. In fact, in some ways this book felt more realistic as the children weren't escaping from the clutches of Coldham every five minutes.
I'll continue reading the series.
This book was rather slower than the others. Not as much happened, not as much urgency felt. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it. In fact, in some ways this book felt more realistic as the children weren't escaping from the clutches of Coldham every five minutes.
I'll continue reading the series.
April 24, 2012
I am still enjoying this series.
More adventures for Luka and Emilia as they chase the next charm for their bracelet. They find it in Rye, as an earring in a smugglers ear and in exchange for this charm they must trade the telescope that Luka got from a person they had spent some time with on their trip.
They travel in this book with a royalist group - The Duke of Ormond, his servant Nate, Tom Whitehead who is someone from home and a Catholic Priest.
More adventures for Luka and Emilia as they chase the next charm for their bracelet. They find it in Rye, as an earring in a smugglers ear and in exchange for this charm they must trade the telescope that Luka got from a person they had spent some time with on their trip.
They travel in this book with a royalist group - The Duke of Ormond, his servant Nate, Tom Whitehead who is someone from home and a Catholic Priest.
November 18, 2008
Book 4 - entertaining, just as the other ones. i quite liked this one because of a couple of newish characters, the earl who's a bit blind, really, and the shifty gypsy smuggler (whose name has just escaped me). lots of running away from their captors again and somehow Emilia and Luka always find a way out.
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October 2, 2013I think it was fabulous and i really liked the way Luka and Emilia is succeeding on getting the charms. This book is a real beuty.
August 7, 2015
This was a good book.
I suspected Nat of being the traitor because he was so uptight and grumpy all the time - like a Puritan.
I suspected Nat of being the traitor because he was so uptight and grumpy all the time - like a Puritan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2016
Finished this yesterday, and as per usual it was great! These are such fun and entertaining middle grade reads and I'm finally almost at finishing this series! Read this in one sitting and loved it!
October 21, 2015
Another fantastic instalment in the Chain of Charms Series.
May 26, 2016
Really liked the entire series
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews