Fantasy Book Review: Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody
Australian author Isobelle Carmody [link to biography] is the latest author to be reviewed on Fantasy Book Review. Carmody is best known for The Obernewtyn Chronicles, her post apocalyptic tale of a young girl with extraordinary mental powers; novels that deal with themes of responsibility, duty, prejudice, discrimination, tolerance and human and animal rights.
When you put your mind to considering some of the greatest writers of the English language, it is a source of continuing pity that Isobelle Carmody’s name is not up there along with some of the greats like Tolkien, Lewis and Hemmingway. Though some of her work has been criticized, writing science fiction, fantasy, children’s and young adult literature, Carmody is probably most well known and praised for her work on the Obernewtyn Chronicles.
Told from the perspective of Elspeth Gordie, the reader is quickly asked to become attached to the protagonist, and the horrors and suffering she must face. And Carmody deftly brings reader and character together; binding us together with writing that is sublime to read. It is not just the dangers that Elspeth encounters that engender her to the reader; Carmody’s ability to write well – a trait more often lacking than not – ensures that the reader is invested in Elspeth’s fate.
Read the full Obernewtyn book review by clicking here
The first of a series, Obernewtyn almost doesn’t suffer from the quirks that an author’s early works can sometimes fall victim too. So passionate, skillful and clever, Isobelle Carmody’s Obernewtyn is a pleasure to read, and one that belongs on any true readers shelf.
Posted: February 22nd, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Fantasy Book Review
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