What do you think?
Rate this book
The Seventh Tower #4-6
The Seventh Tower
The Dark World is in danger, for the Veil protecting it is vulnerable. A war is brewing among the Underfolk rebels, the fierce Icecarls, and a hidden, shadowy evil that is just now letting itself be known.
As shadows rage, ancient spells return, illusion reigns, and corruption threatens, the search for hope is the bravest quest. It is up to two young heroes, Tal and Milla, to fend off their own darkness in order to save their world from destruction.
There is mystery, magic, and imagination at work here. And the Seventh Tower is the key to it all.
As shadows rage, ancient spells return, illusion reigns, and corruption threatens, the search for hope is the bravest quest. It is up to two young heroes, Tal and Milla, to fend off their own darkness in order to save their world from destruction.
There is mystery, magic, and imagination at work here. And the Seventh Tower is the key to it all.
691 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
14 people are currently reading
611 people want to read
About the author
Garth Nix
236 books14.9k followersGarth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia, to the sound of the Salvation Army band outside playing 'Hail the Conquering Hero Comes' or possibly 'Roll Out the Barrel'. Garth left Melbourne at an early age for Canberra (the federal capital) and stayed there till he was nineteen, when he left to drive around the UK in a beat-up Austin with a boot full of books and a Silver-Reed typewriter.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 21, 2020
Honestly, these books read so much better when combined together into one larger volume. Overall, I did like the series, but it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. I would put it overall in a 3.5 to 4 star range. I don't feel like going into each individual book in detail, but here are some sort of assorted thoughts on these last three books as a whole:
Positives:
- It was good to see take on an active role in the last book. That was fun to see for a change.
- The Crones are awesome, and I wish we had more insight into their abilities and their role. Their ability to ice skate into dreams is cool.
- Milla and Tal's relationship and coming to terms with each other, despite being from different worlds, is very gratifying.
- The concluding showdowns in the Violet tower and Aenir are pretty fun and strongly conclude this series.
Negatives:
- basically became an nonentity in the end of the series. Which was sort of fine, since his development in the series had been nominal.
- Similar to the point above, being a non entity was disappointing, considering the lengths Tal went to .
- I wasn't a huge fan of Tal . Was that really necessary? It honestly felt superfluous in the large scheme of the novel, and wasn't even a focus really in the conclusion.
- I still don't think it was ever fully explained why Sushin had such a vendetta against Tal and his family early on.
Positives:
- It was good to see take on an active role in the last book. That was fun to see for a change.
- The Crones are awesome, and I wish we had more insight into their abilities and their role. Their ability to ice skate into dreams is cool.
- Milla and Tal's relationship and coming to terms with each other, despite being from different worlds, is very gratifying.
- The concluding showdowns in the Violet tower and Aenir are pretty fun and strongly conclude this series.
Negatives:
- basically became an nonentity in the end of the series. Which was sort of fine, since his development in the series had been nominal.
- Similar to the point above, being a non entity was disappointing, considering the lengths Tal went to .
- I wasn't a huge fan of Tal . Was that really necessary? It honestly felt superfluous in the large scheme of the novel, and wasn't even a focus really in the conclusion.
- I still don't think it was ever fully explained why Sushin had such a vendetta against Tal and his family early on.
November 26, 2009
This is one of the best books I have ever read. The story is unique in it's own way, always making you wonder what will happen next, with the often cliff hangers at every single chapter. Not one scene in this book has nothing to do with the plot.
The characters are well-rounded. They develop over time, becomming stronger both physically and emotionally. Tal and Milla both end up from simple children to young adults in a matter of a few monthes. Instead of them hating each other, they end up growing a strong bond as friends.
The style of writing using words that a lot of kids would know and understand. Nothing complicated that would make you go grab a dictionary over and over again.
Finally, for the theme of this book, the theme is based on change and courage. No matter how weak you may be, or what may stand before, you always can take on what is before you. If your a small kid, you'll end up being a strong tall kid. If that makes any sense.
Tal ends up becomming the Emperor, and Milla becomes the War-Chief of her people. Tal's mom ends up surviving, my only complaint is that we never see his father in this book, which is a little disappointing. But overall, reading the battle between Sushin and Sharrakor makes this book all worth while. I reccomend it to many others.
The characters are well-rounded. They develop over time, becomming stronger both physically and emotionally. Tal and Milla both end up from simple children to young adults in a matter of a few monthes. Instead of them hating each other, they end up growing a strong bond as friends.
The style of writing using words that a lot of kids would know and understand. Nothing complicated that would make you go grab a dictionary over and over again.
Finally, for the theme of this book, the theme is based on change and courage. No matter how weak you may be, or what may stand before, you always can take on what is before you. If your a small kid, you'll end up being a strong tall kid. If that makes any sense.
Tal ends up becomming the Emperor, and Milla becomes the War-Chief of her people. Tal's mom ends up surviving, my only complaint is that we never see his father in this book, which is a little disappointing. But overall, reading the battle between Sushin and Sharrakor makes this book all worth while. I reccomend it to many others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2022
Reading this series again in my thirties has been an interesting experiment. I read these twenty years ago and I remembered almost nothing about these last three books.
These books are completely fine. They don’t reach the heights of Aenir, for me, but they do carry on the story with some mildly interesting plot developments and character development. The arcs aren’t as satisfying as I’d hoped they’d be, but I shouldn’t expect too much depth from a series written for a much younger audience.
Above all else, I really love the world that Nix built. Even if the story didn’t hit me the way I wanted it to, I will always appreciate the visual images of Sunstones, Spiritshadows, Storm Shepherds, and Icecarls.
These books are completely fine. They don’t reach the heights of Aenir, for me, but they do carry on the story with some mildly interesting plot developments and character development. The arcs aren’t as satisfying as I’d hoped they’d be, but I shouldn’t expect too much depth from a series written for a much younger audience.
Above all else, I really love the world that Nix built. Even if the story didn’t hit me the way I wanted it to, I will always appreciate the visual images of Sunstones, Spiritshadows, Storm Shepherds, and Icecarls.
March 29, 2020
3.5 out of 5 Stars
Though not as good as the first three books of the Seventh Tower, it was just as equally entertaining. I do feel like the finale was a bit abrupt. I do love the dialogue and banter between Tal and Milla, and their Spiritshadows; Adras was funny.
Though not as good as the first three books of the Seventh Tower, it was just as equally entertaining. I do feel like the finale was a bit abrupt. I do love the dialogue and banter between Tal and Milla, and their Spiritshadows; Adras was funny.
March 14, 2025
I finished the series I started as a kid finally. There was adventure and mayhem. As an adult I can see the message that power corrupts, slavery is bad, and marginalizing and trapping a lower class is also bad. Garth Nix is a good writer!
September 18, 2018
It was a really good book if you like action and thrillers this book would be one you should check out.
January 14, 2019
This series got better and better as it went on. A good ending, and great characters.
August 25, 2020
Actual rating: 3.83 rounded up to 4. My thoughts on the individual books are in my updates for the book.
September 9, 2023
The second half of this series is truly the heroes journey come alive, harrowing experiences, the questioning of ones existence, the morality of what is right and what is wrong. I love it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2015
Already finished the fourth book, and am now working on the Fifth. I'm kind of glad I got my Kindle because it allowed me to get these books at a much better cost, and being cut off in the first book at the third one was kind of... unsettling, it left a lot of stuff open. Now, however, I'm dragged back into this story and want to see where it goes. Like with most fiction (Television, books, movies) I already see where things are heading, and have for a while now... I make educated guesses and get the idea pretty fast, but the way I'm being taken to that point is still interesting and still makes me want to read more.
It finished better than I anticipated, and I'll be reviewing it fully at a later date on http://bated-breah.net/
It finished better than I anticipated, and I'll be reviewing it fully at a later date on http://bated-breah.net/
January 13, 2011
Read the entire series 1-7 and liked it. The characters, while young adult, are interesting and the plot is good. However, the covers for Scholastic vol. 4-6 are awful!! Who designed these? gack The hardcover 1-3 was wonderful,abstract tower, and it did not give you the impression you were reading an 'elementary level' book. The covers 4-6 showed characters, which are of course not as one imagines, and the characters are young, fine the characters are young, but spoiled the visual for me. Not sure if the resolution would be possible....Like Nix writing, and next time I read him, I will make sure to purchase ones with better covers.
January 19, 2016
This book is a long one and can be boring at times. Although it has a very interesting plot that consists of magic and plots for a political takeover. The story is set in a world that is in permanent darkness since the Veil, a thick mass of dark clouds, block out the sun. There is a another realm that the ¨Chosen¨ are able to go to called Aenir. The creatures of Aenir are shadows in the real world and need light to be strong, so the shadows are trying the destroy the Veil and turn on their Chosen masters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2009
Garth Nix is a goddamn genius.
Quick sum up: World covered in thick clouds, no sun. Power sources are lightstones from another world. Boy lives in castle that can access other world. Girl lives with viking people on the ice. Boy has to save family. Boy meets girl. Girl needs to save viking people. Boy helps girl helps boy. Then they do cool stuff, some of it in the other world. GREAT STORY!
Quick sum up: World covered in thick clouds, no sun. Power sources are lightstones from another world. Boy lives in castle that can access other world. Girl lives with viking people on the ice. Boy has to save family. Boy meets girl. Girl needs to save viking people. Boy helps girl helps boy. Then they do cool stuff, some of it in the other world. GREAT STORY!
Currently reading
March 18, 2009im on page 14 of this book and so far it is recapping what has happend in the other three books and how milla threw a sword threw susin but he didn't die and how they are being chased by the royal gaurds
July 30, 2012
Reread in July 2012: Still an awesome book (or books). I especially love Milla, the female protagonist. She's not relegated to simply a reward for the male protagonist, and is clearly her own character with her own goals and beliefs. She's awesome. And I'm still always amazed by Nix's imagination.
January 13, 2008
The Seventh Tower series was just not up to Nix's normal standards. It was enjoyable, but you could tell he was constrained by the story concept that came from Henson.
April 3, 2008
This is a young adult series. I enjoyed it. About two completely different worlds and learning about each other.
July 28, 2008
I loved this book! There is suspense and battles, Evil Dragons that want to destroy every thing and kill everyone! READ IT!!!!!!
July 5, 2009
This was an amazing series! The only regret I have is I loaned them out... Never to be heard from again.
July 16, 2009
This book it quite good. Garth Nix has a great way of writing books that grab and keep your attention. I recommend this and the first three to everyone!
August 1, 2010
the last 3 books of the series. it was O.K.-I liked the first 3 better I think. It a good premise, but really long.
Read
June 12, 2012started reading but never finsihed.
June 21, 2012
Will write review after I get back from ALA!
August 8, 2013
Loved the entire series.. Had me in suspense most of the time. Kept having "WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!" moments.
August 25, 2021
Ugh what can I say. Tal was finally home, and he had a sunstone. CRYING.
December 2, 2015
The story plot is put out like a picnic table, where the readers are the ants. They take out as much as the author put. :)
January 20, 2010
would love to read again.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews