The Oracle (The Oracle Sequence)

The Oracle (The Oracle Sequence)

by Catherine Fisher (Author)

Synopsis

In the distant land of deserts and islands, the servants of the god rule the land, his wishes conveyed through the Oracle and interpreted by the High Priestess. Mirany is the new Bearer, afraid of her perilous duties for the god in the rituals of the Oracle, and fearful of her secret questioning ... Does the god truly exist?

The priestess is corrupt and in secret partnership with the General, ruler, since the God-on-Earth, the Archon, has no real power - chosen as a child, his face always masked, never seen by outsiders. Should any national tragedy occur, he is also the sacrifice. When the old Archon dies, his spirit migrates into a child, and there are several candidates for succession. But Mirany begins to experience the real visions of the god, discovers which child is the rightful heir, and that the General and High Priestess intend to choose another child and seize power. With only a tomb-robbing scribe and a mad musician for allies, Mirany begins her quest - knowing that, if she is betrayed, her fate will be to be walled up alive in the Archon's tomb ...

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 368
Edition: UK ed.
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Published: 16 Jan 2003

ISBN 10: 0340843764
ISBN 13: 9780340843765
Children’s book age: 9-11 Years
Book Overview: Shortlisted for the Whitbread Award. First of a compelling trilogy, full of action, betrayals and mystery, drawing on the rituals of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians.

Media Reviews
Thrilling start to an outstanding trilogy * The Times *
It will have you consumed until the very last word -- Christina Dunne, aged 15 * Feed Back (Plymouth) *
The mythology that underpins Mirany's world is richly imagined * The Horn Book magazine *
Climactic, triumphant...with a brief, genuinely chilling denouement * Kirkus *
A crisp, quick-moving narrative and fully fleshed-out characters will keep readers hooked to the remaining installments in this trilogy. * Publishers Weekly *
Catherine Fisher is an expert at creating new worlds, and this is no exception * Planet: The Welsh Internationalist *
Fisher's uncompromising style plunges us...into a hot, arid Mediterranean landscape...the tension endures until the very last page * Books For Keeps *
A powerful and very exciting adventure story * School Librarian *
'suspense is constantly built ... rattles along at a dizzying pace ... next volume please. * School Librarian *
Catherine Fisher has captured the doubtful, devious surviving nature of people in society to perfection. I have never come across a book which shows as much understanding and deals with it as The Oracle -- Hannah Latham, aged 15 * Young Adult Review News *
an intoxicating world reminiscent of the Arabian Nights. Highly recommended * The Bookseller *
Vivid and convincing ... a very satisfying read for young people who want some depth to their fiction, and the depiction of an unusual and interesting world. * Vector *
The tension endures until the last page ... we want the sequel, soon! * BfK *
will linger long in readers' memories * Kirkus Reviews *
'the reader will fall under the spell of this fantasy story' * Grafschafter Nachrichten *
A crisp, quick-moving narrative ... will keep readers hooked. * Publisher's Weekly *
A powerful and very exciting adventure story * School Library Journal *
... a thrilling, chilling world of magic and menace * The Mail on Sunday *
A gripping story that'll keep you guessing! * SHOUT *
an extraordinary imagination, always coming up with some new twist that is both weird yet utterly convincing. * Nicholas Tucker, Rough Guide to Children's Books *
Breathlessly paced . . . almost painfully heightened tension right to the end . . . will have readers queuing for the concluding volume. * Harper Collins Publishers *
'gripped by the deeper truths of the story and the compelling, vivid intensity of the writing.' * Armadillo - Douglas Hill *
Author Bio
CATHERINE FISHER is an award-winning fantasy writer. The Oracle was shortlisted for the Whitbread Award 2003, The Conjuror's Game for the Smarties Award, The Snow-Walker's Son for the W.H.Smith Mind Boggling Award, The Candle Man won the Tir-Na-n'Og Award, and Corbenic was shortlisted. Author of 16 books for children and two volumes of award-winning poetry, she is particularly well-known in Wales.