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Once shunned as a Misfit for the powers that set her apart, Elspeth Gordie has finally found happiness and love. But when she receives the long-awaited summons to begin her final quest, she must slip out in the night and leave all that she loves behind without saying a single goodbye. Elspeth sets off across the toxic Blacklands with the help of a pack of mutant wolves to find the ancient weapons that once loosed chaos and death upon the world. Those weapons have begun to stir. . . .
480 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2012
14 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
Isobelle Carmody
104 books1,731 followersIsobelle Carmody began the first novel of her highly acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles while she was still in high school. The series has established her at the forefront of fantasy writing in Australia.
In addition to her young-adult novels, such as the Obernewtyn Chronicles and Alyzon Whitestarr, Isobelle's published works include several middle-grade fantasies. Her still-unfinished Gateway Trilogy has been favorably compared to The Wizard of Oz and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Little Fur quartet is an eco-fantasy starring a half-elf, half-troll heroine and is fully illustrated by the author herself.
Isobelle's most recent picture book, Magic Night, is a collaboration with illustrator Declan Lee. Originally published in Australia as The Wrong Thing, the book features an ordinary housecat who stumbles upon something otherworldly. Across all her writing, Isobelle shows a talent for balancing the mundane and the fantastic.
Isobelle was the guest of honor at the 2007 Australian National Science Fiction Convention. She has received numerous honors for her writing, including multiple Aurealis Awards and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.
She currently divides her time between her home on the Great Ocean Road in Australia and her travels abroad with her partner and daughter.
Librarian's note: Penguin Australia is publishing the Obernewtyn Chronicles in six books, and The Stone Key is book five. In the United States and Canada this series is published by Random House in eight books; this Penguin Australia book is split into two parts and published as Wavesong (Book Five) and The Stone Key (Book Six).
In addition to her young-adult novels, such as the Obernewtyn Chronicles and Alyzon Whitestarr, Isobelle's published works include several middle-grade fantasies. Her still-unfinished Gateway Trilogy has been favorably compared to The Wizard of Oz and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Little Fur quartet is an eco-fantasy starring a half-elf, half-troll heroine and is fully illustrated by the author herself.
Isobelle's most recent picture book, Magic Night, is a collaboration with illustrator Declan Lee. Originally published in Australia as The Wrong Thing, the book features an ordinary housecat who stumbles upon something otherworldly. Across all her writing, Isobelle shows a talent for balancing the mundane and the fantastic.
Isobelle was the guest of honor at the 2007 Australian National Science Fiction Convention. She has received numerous honors for her writing, including multiple Aurealis Awards and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.
She currently divides her time between her home on the Great Ocean Road in Australia and her travels abroad with her partner and daughter.
Librarian's note: Penguin Australia is publishing the Obernewtyn Chronicles in six books, and The Stone Key is book five. In the United States and Canada this series is published by Random House in eight books; this Penguin Australia book is split into two parts and published as Wavesong (Book Five) and The Stone Key (Book Six).
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 23, 2016
-sigh-
I'm not even sure what to say about this book. I think splitting the last book into two parts was a really bad idea. Granted, the second half might be super awesome and I hope it will be, but this book was a waste of time. I felt no rising action, no involvement in the story, and what was like 200-300 pages could easily have been cut down to 100 or less if only the important events were included.
This book was instead lots of land description and passive reflecting and observing on the part of Elspeth. While she thought she was looking for the key, I didn't mind it. But Maruman kept hinting at things and confusing Elspeth, which just frustrated me. I'm used to this in the other books, but this was the worst of them all. I understand we were likely supposed to feel in the dark like that, but there is a point where I need something to work with to figure out what the actual purpose of the book is.
I was left confused and disappointed with this book and wished I could get my time back from it. Really, only 3 major things happened, and the ending of the book you can tell is an obvious split because it doesn't feel like an ending at all. It leaves too many open questions and so many things unexplained and it seems like we're supposed to just be okay with all that and go along with it like Elspeth is.
I'm not even sure what to say about this book. I think splitting the last book into two parts was a really bad idea. Granted, the second half might be super awesome and I hope it will be, but this book was a waste of time. I felt no rising action, no involvement in the story, and what was like 200-300 pages could easily have been cut down to 100 or less if only the important events were included.
This book was instead lots of land description and passive reflecting and observing on the part of Elspeth. While she thought she was looking for the key, I didn't mind it. But Maruman kept hinting at things and confusing Elspeth, which just frustrated me. I'm used to this in the other books, but this was the worst of them all. I understand we were likely supposed to feel in the dark like that, but there is a point where I need something to work with to figure out what the actual purpose of the book is.
I was left confused and disappointed with this book and wished I could get my time back from it. Really, only 3 major things happened, and the ending of the book you can tell is an obvious split because it doesn't feel like an ending at all. It leaves too many open questions and so many things unexplained and it seems like we're supposed to just be okay with all that and go along with it like Elspeth is.
November 12, 2011
In all honesty I was a little angry while reading this book., in hindsight though this is probably because I had a particular idea in my mind as to how The Sending should be written. Obviously it was different to my own day dreaming of Elspeth's next step in the journey that I have taken with her for the last 18 years. If you see a keen follower of the Obernewtyn Chonicles you will push through the first few chapters but I could understand why some people would find it hard. All in all I enjoyed The Sending, slthough in truth, not as much as others in the O.B. series but I wouldn't recommend this for the Sunday afternoon reader.
Want to read
December 1, 2011Oh wow. I seriously salute you if you are acutally up to this one. I'm pretty sure I read up to about 1/2 way through number five and just gave up. As brilliant as these books are, Carmody has a tendency to waffle. And take about 10 years to publish her next book. Ah well.
April 25, 2014
Love this series, but waited f-o-r-e-v-e-r for this one to be available, and it looks like it could be even longer for the last two. The story is on the path toward the finale, so waiting is hard :(
This series was originally published in Australia, but the breaking points for the books don't match, plus some titles are the same and some are combined volumes. Makes it very confusing.
This series was originally published in Australia, but the breaking points for the books don't match, plus some titles are the same and some are combined volumes. Makes it very confusing.
January 4, 2015
3.5 stars. I've liked most of the entire series of the Obernewtyn Chronicles, but the fact is that this installment was simply not as good as the others. There was a lot of review. But mostly there was just too much first person interior reflection and not enough action. The story was not even finished. It just stopped midway.
January 16, 2012
I was so disappointed that this is not the last book. Unfortunately, my disappointment overshadowed my excitement at reading this book.
It was definitely enjoyable and in some places it was hard to put down. I just wish that we weren't being strung along to wait for another book.
It was definitely enjoyable and in some places it was hard to put down. I just wish that we weren't being strung along to wait for another book.
Want to read
November 4, 2011YAYYYY!!! finally the last book i cant believe how many years we've all waited for this final book to come! hope the sending is just as epic as all the other books in this series! <3
January 3, 2014
Very good.
March 9, 2015
a slow installment
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March 2, 2018Fabulous series but on the last book now and finding it hard to get into due to the long wait and lost story line
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews