Seven o’clock on a Monday morning, five hundred years after the end of the world, and goblins had been at the cellar again. . . . Not that an...
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reviews
Feb 09, 2011
Jane
rated it: 
My main complaint about Runemarks was the complexity. The narrative was far too extensive and unfocused. I don’t know much about Norse mythology, so I found myself frequently frustrated with the intricate and complicated Norse histories. I usually prefer being eased into a new world where I’m given time to absorb the characters’ personalities and different politics, etc. It wasn’t my taste.
YABC May 2008
YABC May 2008
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May 27, 2008
Alethea
rated it: 
I loved the movie Chocolat and I read a bit of Jigs and Reels, but nothing has hooked me on Joanne Harris as much as this! She started it as a story for her daughter, years later it is a fantastic tale of magic and adventure for all ages. The mythology is Norse, a nice break from the Greek gods if you've been devouring Rick Riordan's Olympians. So soon after reading Michael Scott's The Alchemyst, it's neat to come across more references to Yggdrasil, the World Tree. And if, like me, you love kee
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Nov 17, 2010
Rebecca
rated it: 
I really liked Runemarks it was a nice change of pace and if you love anything to do with mythology especially Norse mythology then you will defnitely love this book.
I am a huge fan of mythology and while I like Norse mythology I didn't really know much about it and I felt that Runemarks was actually a really good way to learn a bit more about Norse mythology.
I found the book as a whole to be really really fascinating and I loved every bit of it. While Runemarks is a big book More...
I am a huge fan of mythology and while I like Norse mythology I didn't really know much about it and I felt that Runemarks was actually a really good way to learn a bit more about Norse mythology.
I found the book as a whole to be really really fascinating and I loved every bit of it. While Runemarks is a big book More...
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Dec 21, 2008
Kenzie
rated it:
An excellent fantasy esp. if you enjoy mythology.
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(3 people liked it)
Jul 17, 2011
Hilary
rated it:
We're all familiar with the author who lives in denial of their genre writing ("It doesn't have spaceships in, so it can't be science fiction!"). Joanne Harris is somewhat the opposite; for years she's been slyly slipping fantastic elements into her otherwise resolutely mainstream fiction and getting away with it. Here she goes for all-out fantasy, and it's a sad reflection on the publishing world today that in order to do so she's had to have it marketed as YA. This is a lovely book:
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Jan 19, 2009
Kristen
rated it:
Imagine that Ragnarok happened, Asgard fell, and in the aftermath the survivors stumbled blindly forward to build a new world on the ashes of the old. Imagine, also, that the ancient runes have power for those that are born marked with them. Five hundred years after the end, much of the world is dominated by the Order, which has done its best to eradicate rune-magic and magical creatures of all kinds - with a thoroughness comparable to the Inquisition at its worst. But on the far side of the
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(4 people liked it)
Oct 06, 2011
Romaine
rated it: 
The first children's book by Joanne Harris writer of chocolat. Got the priviledge to read this before it came out officially and I absolutely loved it. Second installment will be out later this year, Nov 11.
Maddy is born with a rune mark on her hand and everyone in the village has made her an outsider because they know that rune marks are part of the old Gods and involve the use of magic. There is only one that person labels her by the name of rune mark and she gains only one friend or More...
Maddy is born with a rune mark on her hand and everyone in the village has made her an outsider because they know that rune marks are part of the old Gods and involve the use of magic. There is only one that person labels her by the name of rune mark and she gains only one friend or More...
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Sep 08, 2010
Kimberli
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 29, 2010
Jason
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 14, 2009
Jessica
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Oct 04, 2011
Cassandra
rated it:
This was a pretty good book. Not amazing, but not half bad either--the kind of rollicking adventure, with themes of self-esteem and rebellion against intolerant, controlling leadership, that seems to have taken the world of young adult literature by storm. I had already fallen in love with the subtle overtones of fairy-tale in 'Chocolat,' so when I discovered this, Joanne Harris' first excursion into YA fantasy lit, I picked it up and devoured it eagerly.
To say that I was disappointed More...
To say that I was disappointed More...
Jul 25, 2011
Routa
rated it:
As someone who loves early Scandinavian history and mythology, this was an absolute must for me.
The idea of the book is rather fascinating and seems original to me, as what happened after Ragnarök always seemed rather vague. I like how Harris portrays the characters: they do not seem distant like divinities in books sometimes do, but very humane and relatable. I especially liked how Loki was portrayed: untrustworthy, yet not completely evil or despicable person. The book itself doesn' More...
The idea of the book is rather fascinating and seems original to me, as what happened after Ragnarök always seemed rather vague. I like how Harris portrays the characters: they do not seem distant like divinities in books sometimes do, but very humane and relatable. I especially liked how Loki was portrayed: untrustworthy, yet not completely evil or despicable person. The book itself doesn' More...
Jul 13, 2011
Shiloh
rated it:
4.5 stars.
500 years after Ragnarok, the world is on the brink of war again. The gods are trapped in various places in the Nine Worlds, except for Odin, who is very weak. In the power vacuum after the war came the Order, a University-turned-religion which resembles the worst of Puritanism and the Spanish Inquisition rolled into one, which wants to create perfect order everywhere (which, of course, would be just as bad as perfect chaos). Into this world, Maddy is born, bearing a runemark More...
500 years after Ragnarok, the world is on the brink of war again. The gods are trapped in various places in the Nine Worlds, except for Odin, who is very weak. In the power vacuum after the war came the Order, a University-turned-religion which resembles the worst of Puritanism and the Spanish Inquisition rolled into one, which wants to create perfect order everywhere (which, of course, would be just as bad as perfect chaos). Into this world, Maddy is born, bearing a runemark More...
May 30, 2009
Miz Lizzie
rated it:
Wow! Another top-flight fantasy by an excellent writer. In an alternate world that bears some resemblance to Britain and is grounded in a rich vein of Norse mythology, fourteen-year-old Maddy Smith discovers that the rune mark on her hand not only gives her magical powers but binds her to a family and destiny shrouded in prophecy. The end of the world, battles between Order and Chaos, old feuds and new alliances, religion and spirituality all figure into an engrossing tale of Maddy's journey
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Jan 07, 2008
Lisa
rated it:
This book isn't usually my area of interest, but I figured I shoudl read it since a lot of the students here seem to like that kind of stuff.
I like the idea of a book involving Norse Gods, but I felt like Runemarks was way too long! It is too much of an adventure story to appeal to most older middle school students, but its 550+ pages make it a little too much for the average 4th & 5th grader. Not sure who the target audience is.
I like the idea of a book involving Norse Gods, but I felt like Runemarks was way too long! It is too much of an adventure story to appeal to most older middle school students, but its 550+ pages make it a little too much for the average 4th & 5th grader. Not sure who the target audience is.
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Nov 08, 2011
Vivienne
rated it:
This is not a book to be rushed. It is like a fine wine that needs time to mature, allowing your mind to fully appreciate the detailed world building that has gone into it. Joanne Harris has provided comprehensive lists and pictures to help you and I would suggest reading and studying them first before you embark on this epic tale as you may find yourself slightly lost with the huge cast of characters that appear in the story.
Within in this book, you need to tread carefully and keep y More...
Within in this book, you need to tread carefully and keep y More...
May 16, 2010
Lynn
rated it:
I skipped though to the end, but at about half way I finally decided that while it had nifty bits (a post Ragnorak world with a "Nameless" god like entity and a religious structure of inquisitor types).
The magic structure of a runemagic with magicworkers being born with runes is interesting and well done and I really liked the Norse myth as a background structure.
My biggest problem was headhopping (must have been 50 POVs although it was in third) and spending a More...
The magic structure of a runemagic with magicworkers being born with runes is interesting and well done and I really liked the Norse myth as a background structure.
My biggest problem was headhopping (must have been 50 POVs although it was in third) and spending a More...
Jun 22, 2009
Rachel
rated it:
AWESOME! I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK, DO YOU HEAR ME? AWESOME! "Runemarks" is based on Norse Mythology, and the witty and surprisingly colorful cast of characters includes many Norse Gods (including Loki the Trickster, Odin the All-Father, and Thor the Thunderer), several hilarious goblins (my favorite of which was named Sugar-&-Sacke), and quite a few persnickety, clever, and downright serendipitous humans (including Nat Parson, his wife Ethelberta who is not all she seems, and the u
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Apr 29, 2009
earthy
rated it:
Ridiculously complex and somewhat hard to follow. Our heroine Maddy begins the story being clever and feisty, but ultimately becomes little more than a spectator at the end of the world. The gaggle of secondary characters gets confusing, and the rising pantheism vs. monotheism theme could alienate some readers.
But.
Fabulous portrayals of the Norse pantheon, in particular Loki and Odin, who are presented as complex, endearing, and difficult characters who challenge Maddy More...
But.
Fabulous portrayals of the Norse pantheon, in particular Loki and Odin, who are presented as complex, endearing, and difficult characters who challenge Maddy More...
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Mar 28, 2009
I am not a huge fan of the young adult fantasy genre, but I read "Runemarks" because of it's connection to Norse mythology (I'm 1/2 Norwegian) and I was blown away by Joanne Harris' ability to tell an epic story of good versus evil with such wit and dedication to crafting such amazing and interesting characters.
I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys films like "Lord of the Rings" and "The Narnia Chronicles", but doesn't typically read the source m More...
I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys films like "Lord of the Rings" and "The Narnia Chronicles", but doesn't typically read the source m More...
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Mar 01, 2010
Polly
rated it:
I wasn't at all sure about this for the first hundred pages or so, but after that it got really good. It's full of Norse mythology (which I love), magic, adventure, and has a happy/sad ending that I can't get out of my mind.
The one thing that really bothers me about this book is that it was marketed as a children's book, for the bad old reason that it's about a kid. Other than that fact, it is not a kids' book. It's too heavy for people who are expecting a Harry-Potter story. Not that Har More...
The one thing that really bothers me about this book is that it was marketed as a children's book, for the bad old reason that it's about a kid. Other than that fact, it is not a kids' book. It's too heavy for people who are expecting a Harry-Potter story. Not that Har More...
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Sep 29, 2010
Maureen
rated it:
by Joanne Harris
Opening line--"Seven o'clock on a Monday morning, five hundred years after the End of the World, and goblins had been at the cellar again."
This is a massive, sprawling book. But Harris is talented enough to pull off sprawling without feeling bogged-down.
From the front flap: "In Maddy Smith's world, Order rules. Chaos, old gods, Faeries, goblins, magics, glamours--all of these were supposedly vanquished centuries ago. But Ma More...
Opening line--"Seven o'clock on a Monday morning, five hundred years after the End of the World, and goblins had been at the cellar again."
This is a massive, sprawling book. But Harris is talented enough to pull off sprawling without feeling bogged-down.
From the front flap: "In Maddy Smith's world, Order rules. Chaos, old gods, Faeries, goblins, magics, glamours--all of these were supposedly vanquished centuries ago. But Ma More...
Jul 16, 2010
Hannah
rated it:
In the town of Malbry, Maddy stands alone as the one person who won’t conform to the new religion and whom everyone fears or dislikes. She likes stories and dreams, but the biggest difference between her and the people of the town is that she has a runemark on her hand. Runemarks mean trouble to the towns people. Maddie has grown up dealing with the goblins that get into wine cellars and other such problems and always these and other disasters are blamed on her. Her only friend is a travele
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Nov 11, 2009
Patrick
rated it:
Over-Expository & Lacking In the Excitement Department
What I liked the most in Runemarks - saving it from sad one-starhood - was the mythology Harris has re-created dealing with the, uh, runemarks. There's this whole symbolism and connection between the marks and the old (and new) Norse deities that's pretty cool. She's taken the old tales of Odin, Thor, the Ragnarok (end of the world), etc, and created a premise dealing with what happens to the world after that cataclysm has come More...
What I liked the most in Runemarks - saving it from sad one-starhood - was the mythology Harris has re-created dealing with the, uh, runemarks. There's this whole symbolism and connection between the marks and the old (and new) Norse deities that's pretty cool. She's taken the old tales of Odin, Thor, the Ragnarok (end of the world), etc, and created a premise dealing with what happens to the world after that cataclysm has come More...
Dec 21, 2011
Tina
rated it:
Originally published at Nose in a Book
I love this book. It’s like the YA version of Discworld, but written by a woman. I almost swooned when I read this book. Magic? Loki and Odin? Female heroine? I’m in! This book takes place after Tribulation, which I took to mean the apocalypse. Before Tribulation, it seems people worshiped Odin and Loki and Thor, but now they worship the Nameless and are as zealous as Crusaders with their enforcement of the religion. For me, I imagined T More...
I love this book. It’s like the YA version of Discworld, but written by a woman. I almost swooned when I read this book. Magic? Loki and Odin? Female heroine? I’m in! This book takes place after Tribulation, which I took to mean the apocalypse. Before Tribulation, it seems people worshiped Odin and Loki and Thor, but now they worship the Nameless and are as zealous as Crusaders with their enforcement of the religion. For me, I imagined T More...
Nov 17, 2009
Amber
rated it:
Finally done with this book! I feel like it took me years to finish it.
This book started out really promising, and I was really into it. A little over half way through, I stopped being interested for several days. And then I went back and finished the ending of it quickly because it got interesting again.
This book follows Maddy Smith, who was born with a mysterious runemark on her hand. The townsfolk are suspicious of her, and of what she may be capable of doing. At the More...
This book started out really promising, and I was really into it. A little over half way through, I stopped being interested for several days. And then I went back and finished the ending of it quickly because it got interesting again.
This book follows Maddy Smith, who was born with a mysterious runemark on her hand. The townsfolk are suspicious of her, and of what she may be capable of doing. At the More...
Oct 21, 2010
Julia
rated it:
14-year-old Maddy Smith isn’t your average country bumpkin and everyone in her village knows it. They blame her “ruinmark"--the strange, rust-colored sigil on her hand--which they say marks her as a witch. But the mysterious traveler One-Eye claims the rune-shaped sign is not a defect, but a destiny--albeit one she may not survive. For it will take all of Maddy’s illegal magic to make it to the end of this twisty-turny tale into the heart of old Norse mythology. And, no, I won’t even attemp
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Oct 13, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
I was glad to see this favorite of mine finally released in paperback.Runemarks is an epic fantasy for young readers featuring characters from Norse mythology. Centuries ago, there was a great battle that remade the world and vanquished the old gods. The balance between Chaos and Order is now threatened again and young Maddy Smith must leave the life she knows in the World Above and find away to unite the old gods and save the world and her friends from an unknown enemy. This book is full of eno
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Jul 21, 2010
Mailis
rated it:
The writing wasn't bad in a schoolbook about Norse religion style, but the idea that this is a children's book didn't make sense to me at all...it sad that a good idea that could have been fun and exciting and interesting, was just plain boring...absolutely not one of the bad guys or good guys impressed me...Loki was maybe the only one, who had a chance to be something interesting, but no, just a puppet going through the actions...too much philosophical and religious nonsense, too little adventu
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Jan 10, 2012
Navi
rated it:
Honestly, I'm kind of a mythology buff, so I understood this book mostly.
However, if you're new to Norse mythology/culture, you're going to get confused.
Very, very confused. You see, this book sort of falsely assumes that everyone reading it has a basic knowledge of Norse folklore. From animal skins to runes to the odd relationships between gods, this one covers basically all of it. You also don't really get a good feel for any of them. You never really get to know *who* the More...
However, if you're new to Norse mythology/culture, you're going to get confused.
Very, very confused. You see, this book sort of falsely assumes that everyone reading it has a basic knowledge of Norse folklore. From animal skins to runes to the odd relationships between gods, this one covers basically all of it. You also don't really get a good feel for any of them. You never really get to know *who* the More...
