The Severed Land

by Maurice Gee

This gripping, page-turning fantasy adventure follows a dangerous quest through a divided world.

From the high reaches of a tree, Fliss watches the soldiers attempting yet again to break through the invisible wall. Amid the explosions, a drummer boy tries to escape. As he is about to be shot, Fliss reaches through the wall and pulls him to safety. But Fliss is dismayed to find she has saved an overfed rich boy. She is even more dismayed to learn that she must accompany him back through the wall on a special mission to rescue the Nightingale.

The world they have to travel through is a perilous one, full of predatory thieves, slave masters, beggars, dippers, mudlarks, drain-sliders, spies and wall-men. It is a world where the ruling families are caught up in a lethal power struggle.

Will Fliss and the despised drummer boy learn to trust each other? Who is the Nightingale? And will they all make it back alive?

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Adventure, Young Adult, Action, Fiction

187 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Maurice Gough Gee was a New Zealand novelist. He was one of New Zealand's most distinguished and prolific authors, having written over thirty novels for adults and children, and having won numerous awards both in New Zealand and overseas, including multiple top prizes at the New Zealand Book Awards, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in the UK, the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship, the Robert Burns Fellowship and a Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement. In 2003 he was recognised as one of New Zealand's greatest living artists across all disciplines by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, which presented him with an Icon Award.
Gee's novel Plumb (1978) was described by the Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature to be one of the best novels ever written in New Zealand. He was also well-known for children's and young adult fiction such as Under the Mountain (1979). He won multiple top prizes at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and in 2002 he was presented with the prestigious Margaret Mahy Award by the Children's Literature Foundation in recognition of his contributions to children's literature.

Reviews

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maurice Gee can write a decent fantasy that is for sure! Some of the best things about his books is that they are not over written nor overly long. He is the master of showing not telling. This book is just heaving at the seams with rollicking action. Great characters who have missions to complete and once the story really gets going there is wall to wall action.

A wall divides the land, a wall of some kind of impenetrable substance which only very few are able to pass through. On one side of the land war between several tribes rages, on the other side of the wall, where the man who holds the wall up with his mind lives there is a kind of peace. Fliss is tasked with taking care of a young man who is one of a tribe at war with another, he is being hunted by a man who wants to kill him, he is Kirt. His sister is being held by one of the tribes and he is desperate to save her, but she is also important to Fliss because she is the only person who will be able take over the task of keeping up the wall. Fliss needs to safely get herself, Kirt and his sister back through the wall and save their world.

I don't think it is a perfect book, but it is full of action and will definitely appeal to those who want a great fantasy with an interesting world which feels ancient but yet familiar and which is short and easily digested.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always great to find a book you can read in a day and enjoy from start to finish! The world Gee creates to tell the story could be in the future or the past - it's hard to really know from such a short book. The people arrive in ships, so these could be sea vessels or space flight vessels - there is a feel of Patrick Ness's world from the Chaso Walking trilogy. This makes Gee's fantasy even better as it really is a timeless account of colonisation and the brutality of the invaders to the indigenous people and the land. The ruling class of families rely upon slavery to build their new world, and their arrogance and contempt for others is brutal. Thank goodness for the Wall - a protective impenetrable force which had elements of tapu and rahui - and since it was created by the minds of the original people, and Gee is a New Zealander, I'm going to keep enjoying that image, if only we could have done that instead of a treaty!! Will enjoy recommending this to my students. Fabulous.

[Mon · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

3.5 stars

I love when a book is short and filled with adventure.

The Severed Land packs a punch and is far as fantasy books go, is one of the better ones I’ve read in a while. Author Gee has taken great care to fleshing out the characters and making you want them to succeed. Fliss is a strong headed girl you really get behind and her evolving relationship with the Drummer Boy was brilliantly executed. The highlight of this book for me is the world building. From the opaquely desolate land to the description of the, shall we say unsavoury characters they meet on their journey, every chapter was as vivid as the last. With some unexpected twists and turns thrown in the mix, this is brilliant fantasy you can fly through when short on time.

If you’ve heard about Maurice Gee’s work before but aren’t sure if he is for you, this is a delicious taster of the scope of his talent. Highly recommend!

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a book to finish my reading year with! love Maurice gees writing. the story sucks you in I very nearly shed a tear at the end!!

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review to come.

[Ella Fleming-Christie · Rating 2 out of 5]

To read a novel that was clearly young adult but set in a fantasy world based in an olden-day time of slavery was slightly unnerving, if I’m being completely honest. I was absolutely certain that reading this story with the protagonist being considered a slave for the fact that her skin is black would set me in an uncomfortable ease the whole way through; unfortunately that feeling stuck and made it hard for me to really try and see past the discrimination. Maurice Gee is a well-known New Zealand based author who has written titles such as Under The Mountain and the Salt trilogy and has won multiple literary awards for his writing. I have never read his work before this so I had no clue as to what I would be immersing myself in. I received The Severed Land from Penguin Random House as a uniquely wrapped package – the book itself was wrapped within a blown up poster print of the map inside the book, a brief message from the author explaining his writing hiatus, and everything was tied up in a twine bow.

Read more on my blog here: http://wordsofeuphoricnostalgia.blogs...

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl lead, a believable brave, smart, black girl to boot.
Intriguing dystopia along the lines of Salt. I'm a Maurice Gee fan so was always going to love it.
He took me to a land where I was 'other' and was therefore able to observe with fresh eyes.
A harsh landscape and some nightmarish scenes.
This book was written with full respect for the young adult reader. (Or adult in my case).

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful fantasy adventure. I enjoyed reading this book, a fantasy with a difference. Written from the point of view of Fliss and ex slave, it brings fantasy, arrogant nobles, fighting armies and a quest together to make a gripping story. Another good read from New Zealand author Marice Gee.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a welcome return to writing fiction intended primarily for younger readers, Maurice Gee has definitely pulled it off. This is an excellent book.
It's set in a time where,as in many dystopian novels, there has been a breakdown of civilisation.
However I hesitate to label it as dystopian fiction, as there is greater depth and more hope than in many books of that genre.

So instead, I will call it an adventure. It brings to mind the Salt trilogy, which was such an excellent series, but it's not at all the same. It also made me think about The Chimes, although again there are not really similarities – I think that it's about the feeling these books create in the reader which makes them feel somewhat familiar.
But what an adventure: power, thievery, slavery, acts of immense courage and bravado, and a definite nod to an underworld of violence and cruelty. It's all managed brilliantly.

The main character, Fliss, is an escaped slave who lives in a part of the country Galb which is separated from the rest by an invisible – and generally unbreachable – wall. On her side of the wall there used to be The People who were instrumental in creating and holding the wall, but only one, the Old One , remains. His urgent need is to find and bring through another who has the ability to hold the wall together even if only for a while.

Fliss is a remarkably-drawn character. She is gutsy, determined, brave, and sure of herself. A good role model, one might say, except for the knife which she can use when necessary! One could fantasize that, put in a similar situation, one would be brave enough to use that knife……………

The other main character is Kirt/Keef, who was once a member of one of the ruling families in Galb. His circumstances changed dramatically and at the start of the book he tries to escape and but for Fliss, would have been killed. I don't want to give away the whole plot, so if you want to find out you'll have to read this for yourself!

But I will just say – who is the Nightingale? Can she be saved? Will the wall hold up for long enough?

It goes without saying really that this is well-written – I honestly don't think Maurice Gee could write a bad sentence if he tried – and the characters spring from the pages.
It also goes without saying that it may have been aimed at younger readers, but that like any really good book, its audience is in fact anyone who loves a great story. Of course it's not as complex as it might have been were it written with an adult readership in mind, but sometimes less is more!


And while the story is complete, it's possible there could be more - I guess we'll just have to hope.

[Ian Tymms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a medieval world where war-lord families are battling for control, this fantasy adventure has the pace and engagement of The Hobbit but without the goblins and wizards. The exploration of power and race is thoughtful and the theme of good v evil is interestingly complex. This was my first reading of a novel by Gee and I hope it won't be my last. A strong Middle School novel.

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more of a 2 (it was ok) for me, but I kept reading, so something kept me interested! Despite Maurice Gee's reputation as one of New Zealand's best fantasy authors for children, and despite having read quite a few of them, I'm not a big fan of his work - they just don't really emotionally resonate with me. There is a distance to the writing that means I never really care about the characters. All readers are different and I know others will feel differently about the stories he writes.

This story was about the magical wall that divides a land of cruel conquerors and native people they've enslaved from a land of people who live in peace and harmony with each other and the land. Fliss, a girl on the cusp of womanhood, is an escaped slave who was pulled through the wall by Shoo, and lives with Shoo and the Old One, the last of the People who once lived in the Forest and who keeps the wall in place through magical willpower. Kirt (later called Keef) is one of the Despiners, one of the ruling families, who has fallen on hard times because of his attempts to save his sister, a blind, hunch-backed, club-footed psychic, Lorna, from marriage to the Morisette family.

For me, the ruling classes were so cruel, vain, pompous, and self-centered that they felt like caricatures, so much so that I didn't really find Kirt's love for his sister convincing. Love seemed too soft an emotion for such cruel and callous people to be able to feel. Fliss was a more rounded and convincing character, although she didn't seem to have any relationship with the people of the nearby village on the good side of the wall and there was a kind of fatalism to the ending of the story that there was no place for her on that side anymore and she would be more useful on the other.

An interesting read, but not really to my taste.

[R.L. Stedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal book. Gee is a master storyteller, and he only gets better with age. The Severed Land tells the story of Fliss, an escaped slave, hiding behind the protection of a mysterious wall. The wall divides the world, and so stops the spread of an evil technocratic empire. But the wall is fading... The Severed Land is fast-paced, exciting and extraordinarily moving. Technically, this is a brilliant work. As always, Gee's prose is deceptively simple and the sparse, elegant, descriptors only emphasises the ugliness of the civilization Fliss escaped from. There's no fat in this book; it's a short read but very intense. It's probably the best book I've read this year. It should be taught in schools. The only book I've read that's similar is The Giver, but The Severed Land is far, far more current. In case you haven't already figured it out: I highly recommend this work.

[Matthew Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Severed Land's strength is its characters. It's a small story because of its characters, because of its focus on the people over the possibility for a sweeping epic, and I appreciated it because of that. When I think back over the story, the most memorable parts are the character arcs. Fliss, our main character, grows as a person in a subtle way. It's very subtle, hardly noticeable, barely stressed, but when I look at who she was at the beginning and who she is at the end, I still marvel.

And on the ending—it's the logical ending. It's the only ending that would have worked. It shows the bitter end of all-consuming vengeance, prominently; but in that subtle style the author has mastered there is also the pain and the joy of love.

Rating: 4 Stars (Good. I would probably reread it.)

[Mary Taylor Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in a world where there are feudal families vying for power and oppressing the people. Fliss was a slave but escaped through the Wall to safety. No one can pass through the invisible wall unless the wall wants you to. The wall is going to fail unless Fliss sets out to bring back the only person who is capable of keeping the wall alive. Fliss is a strong character who has had to learn skills to survive. On this quest she proves her worth and her courage in the face of adversity.
The mission is dangerous and daring; the world she lives in is not a pleasant one, but Fliss brings some humanity to the story.

[Linley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good, short, fantasy story. The main character will appeal, as will the supporting characters apart from the young lad. How wonderful to have a character to dislike, to be annoyed by, to see his mannerisms as something we don't want in our own society.

Will appeal to young fantasy readers Y9-11, and thank goodness it isn't too long. The art of showing the whole story in a few words was not lost on me, and I eagerly await the next in what is hopefully a series.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine if it were possible to build an invisible, impenetrable wall that would protect your land and people from slavery. Mr. Gee has produced a beautiful, exciting adventure story that will lead to all sorts of discussion on topics ranging from racism to violence and when fighting for freedom and justice is not only allowed, but necessary.

[Coral Smith]

An entertaining tale of adventure and fantasy that will keep you turning the page. Fliss is an ex-slave who finds herself on an adventure which takes her through all the areas where she used to be a slave. She has to help Lorna get to the otherside and save her from the Morissette's a family who are harsh with slaves and anything that goes against their beliefs.

[Ryan Hepburn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book seriously sucked.

[Sheryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Proof perhaps that authors don't age ! Interesting concept, very readable.

[Diana Mcmahon-Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well drawn heroine who deserves another book. This is a story of colonisation and resistance told as an adventure.

[Julia Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jaky Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is me waiting to read this book

[Rosie · Rating 1 out of 5]

confusing and not very enjoyable but got better as book went on

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a thorough back story to it, and i loved every minute i was reading this book..it was highly enjoyable.

[Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good fantasy read, good characters, lots of action and a good quest
A wee bit predictable but sometimes that helps in a fantasy book for kids

[Maddie K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read it for school. It was kinda boring (most of my class agrees) and I wouldn't read it again.
And I totally saw fliss and Kirt dating when the got older, why tf would u kill him???

[Ben Radford]

it was ight

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great easy read book for young people.

[Carril Karr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this older children’s story. A fable of conquest and destruction with a fantasy twist.
New Zealand writer Maurice Gee always writes imaginative stories with a close eye on how people act and react to their situations.

[Lorraine Orman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absorbing dystopian fantasy - I want more, so I hope this is the first in a series.