As head of Obernewtyn’s Farseeker guild, Elspeth Gordie must travel to the lowlands to seal an alliance between Obernewtyn and the rebel forc...
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Sep 03, 2010
Ksenia
rated it: 
So I got the first one from the library and towards the end of the first book I knew this was something interesting. But it wasn’t until the second book (at the end of the second book no less) when I knew I had something fascinating in my hands. The moment that really got me was when the horse Gahltha pledges his loyalty to Elspeth and promises to help her and never leave her side (there’s a reason why of course) but I was so moved by this previously-arrogant horse and his devotion, that my hear
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Apr 29, 2009
Kerry
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Reading The People of Sparks and then The Dreaming Place got me into a YA mood, making me conquer my I’m-so-worried-about-what-will-happen-to-Elspeth collywobbles and I picked up Ashling, the next in Isobelle Carmody’s Chronicles of Obernewtyn. This is a great addition to the story, flowing along at a steady pace and shifting location and focus several times. That meant I stayed interested and didn’t have time to stress too much about Elspeth, concentrating on the story instead.
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Jun 03, 2009
Brice
rated it: 
Summary:
Interesting items: plot line, misfit magic system
Drawbacks: No resolution of plot threads
Suggestion: Power skimming makes this book better
Detail:
The plot is engaging, but by the end of the book nothing is resolved. That doesn't make me want to read any more in the series for fear of being endlessly sucked in.
Misfit magic system:
Three general categories of people: normal humans, misfits (special mental powers), and normal humans who have min More...
Interesting items: plot line, misfit magic system
Drawbacks: No resolution of plot threads
Suggestion: Power skimming makes this book better
Detail:
The plot is engaging, but by the end of the book nothing is resolved. That doesn't make me want to read any more in the series for fear of being endlessly sucked in.
Misfit magic system:
Three general categories of people: normal humans, misfits (special mental powers), and normal humans who have min More...
Nov 03, 2011
Dr.q
rated it: 
*Spoilers Implied*
I think that Carmody just gets better and better. it's obvious that the series started while she was a young writer, (i believe she was in high school when she started it) but it has progressively evolved to having a solid voice. I'm in love with all of her characters, that being said all of the perifery characters have more depth than the protagonist. Elspeth is pretty pig-headed and refuses to evolve. Her acceptance at the end of the novel comes out of the BLUE an More...
I think that Carmody just gets better and better. it's obvious that the series started while she was a young writer, (i believe she was in high school when she started it) but it has progressively evolved to having a solid voice. I'm in love with all of her characters, that being said all of the perifery characters have more depth than the protagonist. Elspeth is pretty pig-headed and refuses to evolve. Her acceptance at the end of the novel comes out of the BLUE an More...
Nov 23, 2008
Leila
rated it:
This started out incredibly slowly--so get past the first 80 pages--and then it really picked up pace. Annoyingly, there are certain plot points that seem really obvious to the reader (oh, does ARIEL have something to do with the slavery?) that are not obvious to the characters. That is incredibly frustrating. But it's nice to see many of the characters grow and develop--except for poor Dragon, put in a coma through the entire book (sorta like a character on a soap, when her contract is under di
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Oct 29, 2011
Alexandra
rated it:
Spoilers for the first two Obernewtyn books.
Ashling. The point at which Carmody's editor said, let's make it big! Sigh. 520-odd pages is large. Still, she is a page turner, so it didn't take me that long to plough through it a second time.
The book opens with a halfblooded gypsy about to be burned at the stake by a Herder, which is nicely dramatic and also introduces the gypsies themselves, who have only been vaguely alluded to in the previous books. Here, beginning with Elspe More...
Ashling. The point at which Carmody's editor said, let's make it big! Sigh. 520-odd pages is large. Still, she is a page turner, so it didn't take me that long to plough through it a second time.
The book opens with a halfblooded gypsy about to be burned at the stake by a Herder, which is nicely dramatic and also introduces the gypsies themselves, who have only been vaguely alluded to in the previous books. Here, beginning with Elspe More...
May 07, 2009
Rachel
rated it:
The first three books in Isobelle Carmody’s science fiction series, The Obernewtyn Chronicles, take place after a tragic event called the Great White has killed most of the population and caused some survivors to inherit special mental talents that allow them to read minds, coerce people and speak to animals. These people are called misfits and are unwanted members of society. Often hunted and killed by the government and fanatic religious groups, these misfits must hide their powers at all time
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Mar 19, 2011
NicNacNoodle
rated it:
Just finished reading Ashling by Isobelle Carmody, book three in The Obernewtyn Chronicles.
I'm enjoying this series immensely. It's a Young Adult or Teen Fiction series, but I think only because the characters are teens themselves, it certainly has a depth beyond an average Teen Fiction story.
It's not always an easy read, but it's captivating and addictive.
What does it get?
8/10: "Excellent read, well written, fell right into the fictional w
I'm enjoying this series immensely. It's a Young Adult or Teen Fiction series, but I think only because the characters are teens themselves, it certainly has a depth beyond an average Teen Fiction story.
It's not always an easy read, but it's captivating and addictive.
What does it get?
8/10: "Excellent read, well written, fell right into the fictional w
Dec 22, 2010
Karen
rated it:
I'm on hold for the 4th book so it might be a little while before I get to it. I really like that Elspeth is growing up. It's a bit odd that I'm saying this because I keep forgetting just how young the characters in these books are. This one in particular brings it up constantly, but I keep seeing them in my mind's eye as late twenties or even older (Rushton I have to keep from giving salt-and-pepper hair too sometimes). I really look forward to reading the next ones when they are available.
Feb 14, 2009
Erin
rated it:
I'm noticing little flaws in these books that I didn't notice the first time around (and maybe I've become a more critical reader in the intervening years, although I still think I'm pretty uncritical), but those flaws don't keep me from loving them, since I still find the characters and world extremely compelling. To an extent, this book suffers from "middle-book-itis" in that not enough gets resolved, but there was enough development of the characters and broader plot to keep me hap
Jul 30, 2011
Neill
rated it:
., In the third book of the Obernewtyn Chronicles Elspeth is torn between her need to pursue her quest to find and destroy the beforetime weapons and the chain of events that keeps her finding people and alliances to help the rebels in their battles with the Council. Her search leads her to the desert country where the Misfits must challenge the rebels to prove that the powers of the Misfits will help the rebels in their upcoming war.
Oct 22, 2011
Laura
rated it:
This series continues to get just a little bit better with each book, and by the end of this one, I'm actually excited to start the fourth to find out what happens to Elspeth and her friends. It's kind of annoying that Elspeth and her fellow band of Misfits haven't seemed to figure out quite *how* bad Ariel is, because unless my guess is wrong (and at this point it is just a guess, but all clues seem to be pointing that way), he's totally *the* bad guy, but overall a fast and interesting read.
Jun 23, 2009
Miranda
rated it:
really like this heroine-- smart, clever, brave, but still with believable flaws that don't prevent me from really liking her. Enjoyed the plot development. Very gripping. I'm totally sucked in, hooked, and addicted to these books! I must find out what happens next!
Sep 25, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
The third story in the Obernewtyn Chronicles has an interesting story line, but mostly sets up the possibility for some fantastic future stories. Sadly I have to wait for the library to get the 4th book (but this does mean I got a few nights of sleep, so maybe this is good).
Nov 08, 2011
Alissa
rated it:
Ashling is my least favourite of the Obernewtyn chronicles - why, I'm not sure. I think there's too much sadness in it and that makes it hard to read. I start, and then remember what is coming next, and then have to put the book down for a while.
Nov 01, 2009
Chris
rated it:
I enjoy this series, but I have some issues with how it sometimes reads like a teenager who read too much bad epic fantasy (e.g., all the guilds) and how everything happens because of fate, not because Elspeth has some other redeeming qualities.
Aug 02, 2011
Bianca
rated it:
This book is full of surprises and Elspeth's quest becomes clearer although there are dark forces with the same quest and different intentions. More interesting characters are met and more information from the Beforetime is unearthed. A worthy addition to this series and can't wait to read the next one!!
May 24, 2010
Andrea
rated it:
Much better than the second book in the series. I didn't want to put it down, and wasn't confused by millions of characters (and there was a list of characters to help with any confusion).
Jan 20, 2012
Sarah
rated it:
I didn't like it as much as the Farseekers, but I was still very happy with it. I would have liked Elspeth's and Rushton's love to come together sooner. Great ending though.
May 15, 2011
Judy
rated it:
See Obernewtyn (1st in the series) - the entire series is phenomenal. There is some variation among the books but I don't remember which were the better/worse ones at this point.
Sep 17, 2010
Jenny
rated it:
OK, it's official, I love this series! I wouldn't say the writing is amazing, or the concept original but these books have the best characterization. It's been ages since I've read a book and had to set it down, take a deep breath and remind myself that it's just a story, it's not real and to calm down. I love that!
Jun 12, 2009
Lisamarley
rated it:
i lernded that matthew is totally fricken cool, and i dont just mean "lappin" cool, i mean with dark sunnies and everything... or if they had sunnies and everything
Feb 07, 2009
Ruby
rated it:
I vaguely remember the others as being a bit worse then the first in my eyes, but with more intricate plot.
Did I mention it's been a hella long time?
Did I mention it's been a hella long time?
Jun 13, 2010
Warnie B.
rated it:
Oh, I cried like a baby at the end of this, and with every book I like this series more and more. I imagine it is not for everyone, but there's something about it that just draws me in completely. I am starting the next book immediately!
Sep 06, 2008
Maria
rated it:
Really good book, but with a lot of lose threads left hanging for the next book in the series. There were a number of plot-twists and happenings that were left unexplained, so it very obviously led up to the next in the series. And as this is the last of the series available at Danish libraries, it's unlikely I'll get hold of the rest anytime soon. Also the romantic plotline was told rather than shown, and therefore never seemed completely believable to me. That aside, I loved reading about Elsp
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Oct 22, 2010
LaserWraith
rated it:
It was okay. Some parts were too predictable, and I always felt like everything had some special meaning and was upset when the characters paid no attention to it.
Jan 18, 2011
Angie
rated it: 
I couldn't get into this book. I liked the first two. To be fair, a lot was happening in my life while I was trying to read this book. I finally decided to give up on it after it was in the trunk of my car when a big truck decided to rear-end me. The trunk would not open, the book was entombed in the trunk until such time as the car was repaired. It took about a month, and when I finally got the book back, I wasn't even remotely interested in finishing it. In fact, I didn't even miss it wh
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Dec 10, 2011
Beans
rated it:
Not the most emotionally interesting book/series, but I'm a sucker for things with rich backstories.
Jun 30, 2011
Tanya
rated it:
after this bok i became hooked on the series.. it is so good.. i like it
