Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Fantasty/Mystery/Science Fiction Blend
Review: A dream book for fans who love multiple genres, particularly those in the fantastic/speculative section of the spectrum. "Obernewtyn" is a detailed, fully constructed 'imaginary' world with its own culture, biophysical characteristics, and social idiosyncracies like a great Fantasy novel but clearly descended from 'our' own world by means of an immense global catacylsm and the subsequent decay and rebuilding of civilization, comfortably co-existing as a Science Fiction standout. Long after the 'Great White' that destroyed the previous planetary civilization, some people are being born with special powers that usually manifest years into life. Called Misfits, they were once all killed off, but in the timeframe of the novel, "all but the most horribly afflicted" are being rounded up and used as glorified slave labor, resulting in Misfits generally trying to keep their natures hidden. It is to an 'orphanage' for such individuals - the titular Obernewtyn - that the novel's main heroine Elspeth is sent, and the dark, mysterious and foreboding nature of the place conjures up images of another genre - a subtle, older-styled horror movie or novel. Add to this plentiful drama, and Elspeth and her allies - including a highly intelligent cat named Maruman who Elspeth can communicate with telepathically - and you have a first-rate novel, descriptively written with flair and equally driven by characters and concept. Superb first volume of a saga, with welcome suspense and originality.
Rating: 
Summary: Do not believe the other "poor" reviews
Review: A few here have totally bashed this book. That they can do that and claim to have read the book quite possibly lying, or to give them a benefit of the doubt maybe they skimmed over the book.Mz Carmody did a wonderful job with this book, yes there are a few "quirkies" in the editing, but overall she did well transitioning from writing childrens books. This book is good for 12 to adults readers, at 41 I enjoyed the fresh characters and the new world. Her writing reminds me of Ursula LeGuin's EarthSea searies, it can be enjoyed by fantasy readers of all ages. I am almost through with the third book, and have ordered "The Keeping Place" from Austraila (expensive, but the series has hooked me). Oh a final thought, her writing "voice" becomes more refined in each book, her characters grow, the plot thickens and is well weaved. ;]
Rating:
Summary: WHERE'S MAD MAX?
Review: Elspeth Gordie has grown up in a world much different than ours. After a nuclear war called "The Great White" which made much of the world unliveable, only the most remote areas were spared. As refugees poured in from the radioactive areas, these people banded into a powerful confederation called The Council and slaughtered any contaminated humans. Even those killings weren't enough, for later, babies were born mutated, and to overcome the revulsion of killing the infants, a religious order was founded, The Herder Faction. As happens in human history, religion is used to hide atrocities and horror. The Herders over time make people believe that The Great White and all its horrors were punishements visited down by God, or as the call him, Lud. They forbid all the technology and customs of the old world. Any who oppose them are branded Seditioners and burned. A new problem has arisen in that there are secret mutants walking among them. Ones whose powers do not show themselves. Elspeth Gordie is one such hidden mutant. She has extremely powerful telepathy, allowing her to read minds,to even control other people if she wills it, and even talk to animals. She has to conceal them though, especially since her brother is trying to fit into the Herders. They are already seen as suspicious since their parents were put to death for Sedition. A problem arises with the arrival of Madame Vega. She is a keeper at Obernewtyn, a remote mountain facility where supposedly hidden mutants, or Misfits, can be cured. The scary part about it is that noone ever returns from Obernewtyn. In a dumb mistake, Elspeth reveals her powers, and is forced to go there. It is there that she will learn the truth about the past. She will also learn how to save the future. I enjoyed this book. The setting was pretty imaginative and the characters were excellent. It's pretty timely for our world too. I mean you can't help seeing Islamic Jihadists in the repressive and terroristic ways of the Herders. The world of Obernewtyn is a world not allowed to go forward because they reject their past. When religion becomes a tool of fear, you know the culture is in trouble. It also reminded me of the Spanish Inquistion and atmosphere of the Salem Witch Trials. All religions have known their savageries.
Rating:
Summary: WHERE'S MAD MAX?
Review: Elspeth Gordie has grown up in a world much different than ours. After a nuclear war called "The Great White" which made much of the world unliveable, only the most remote areas were spared. As refugees poured in from the radioactive areas, these people banded into a powerful confederation called The Council and slaughtered any contaminated humans. Even those killings weren't enough, for later, babies were born mutated, and to overcome the revulsion of killing the infants, a religious order was founded, The Herder Faction. As happens in human history, religion is used to hide atrocities and horror. The Herders over time make people believe that The Great White and all its horrors were punishements visited down by God, or as the call him, Lud. They forbid all the technology and customs of the old world. Any who oppose them are branded Seditioners and burned. A new problem has arisen in that there are secret mutants walking among them. Ones whose powers do not show themselves. Elspeth Gordie is one such hidden mutant. She has extremely powerful telepathy, allowing her to read minds,to even control other people if she wills it, and even talk to animals. She has to conceal them though, especially since her brother is trying to fit into the Herders. They are already seen as suspicious since their parents were put to death for Sedition. A problem arises with the arrival of Madame Vega. She is a keeper at Obernewtyn, a remote mountain facility where supposedly hidden mutants, or Misfits, can be cured. The scary part about it is that noone ever returns from Obernewtyn. In a dumb mistake, Elspeth reveals her powers, and is forced to go there. It is there that she will learn the truth about the past. She will also learn how to save the future. I enjoyed this book. The setting was pretty imaginative and the characters were excellent. It's pretty timely for our world too. I mean you can't help seeing Islamic Jihadists in the repressive and terroristic ways of the Herders. The world of Obernewtyn is a world not allowed to go forward because they reject their past. When religion becomes a tool of fear, you know the culture is in trouble. It also reminded me of the Spanish Inquistion and atmosphere of the Salem Witch Trials. All religions have known their savageries.
Rating: 
Summary: Far from spectacular
Review: Having read all the glowing reviews on Amazon, I decided to purchase Isobelle Carmody's OBERNEWTYN. As I read it, I was surprised that I did not find it to be as wonderful as everyone had said. Carmody's prose is anemic; events that should have been played out for the reader to "see" are instead summarized quickly by the narrator. The characterizations leave a lot to be desired; of all the characters, only about two (I would say Matthew and Rushton) are three-dimensional. The reader never really gets to know the narrator, Elspeth Gordie. Even at the end of the book, the extent of her powers remains a mystery, and equally mysterious are any emotions or personal feelings she may or may not have. The plot is hardly a plot at all. After Elspeth is deposited at Obernewtyn, the story meanders along without any real goal until the very end. Personally, I prefer a little more structure in my reading. While the rising action is exciting, the climax is disappointing. (I will not spoil the ending for those who do intend to read it.) To be fair to the author, it feels like someone did a heavy-handed editing job on this novel. The narrator knows the names of people and things without ever introducing them to the audience (so to speak); there are small inconsistencies that I believe an author of Carmody's stature would not miss (is it "breakfast" or "firstmeal"?); the entire last half of the book feels like it has parts missing. I did give the book three stars, because I admit I did finish it (which I would not have, had it been really awful). The premise of OBERNEWTYN is intriguing, and the society that Carmody creates is truly fascinating. All in all, I enjoyed this book a little,... --This text refers to the Hardcover edition
Rating:
Summary: A great start for the begining of a series
Review: I absolutley loved this book! It is so different to a lot of the others I have read and yet still keeps all the things that makes a novel good. A must read if your into fantasy!
Rating: 
Summary: waterly thin plot if any
Review: I bought this book because everyone seems to give it a good review. I was sadly disappointed. First of all, the story was very very predictable: good vs evil where evil was really apparent. There was no actions in the first half of the story, and just a bit in the latter half but not enough to keep me interested. The author had some promising leads which she never fully explored, nor did she describe potentially cool scenes and props in any detail (instead she used dialogues to move the scene along and that just showed her limited imagination). She couldn't really describe the range of "mutancies" in a believable way.
Rating:
Summary: A good read, however short.
Review: I found this book to be a good read, though, I never had a moment when I felt I could not put the book down. The characters are likeable enough, I really just think the book was lacking length and a little more depth. I think this book would be exciting for young adults, but if you are an older adult you might find you need a little more "excitment" than talking cats and psychic students.
Rating:
Summary: a pleasure to read
Review: I have never had much desire to read post-apoctalyptic literature, so it took me awhile to actually get around to reading this book. What I found was pleasantly surprising. While the book is naturally full of anti-nuclear war sermonizing, it (thankfully) is not a story of bitter characters who spend most of their time whining about how bad things are. Instead, I found a captivating introduction to a world of survivors who must live with the consequences of "The Great White", but who are prevented from knowing anything about the era which created such weapons. In fact, the ruling Council ascribes the event to their god and hence burns all mutants as further evidence of divine punishment. The whole series focuses on a group of so-called Misfits whose mutations are mental and have allowed them to have unusual abilities (such as talking to animals and forms of ESP). This book chronicles the events in which the characters discover their abilities and bind together to stand against those who would destroy them or use them to evil ends. The story is told from the viewpoint of a very talented misfit, Elspeth. Her personal struggles and fears are focus point of similar aspects in other characters. It is a beautiful and deadly world in which she lives. She must face poisons from the Great White, the restrictive Council, and the hatred of mutants. This book begins the story of the fight against such evil. Get all the books you can at once since you will want to get as much of this story in as you can. (I just wish that the publishers would be quicker about getting these published in America!)
Rating:
Summary: Obernewtyn - An adventure for all ages
Review: I have to say that Obernewtyn is one of the best books i have read, being better than Harry Potter,Which is saying something. This is one of those books which you start reading and can't put down, even when you get to number 4 (the longest, being around 750 pgs). Set after a World wide holoucast, Elspeth is on a quest to destroy the long forgotton weapon machines which are threatening to destroy the world once more. Spread over the four books, we witness her journey, based around the beloved Obernewtyn. An excellent read for all ages, and although an advanced read, my friend did read it in Yr 5 (hey Shaz!) Isobelle carmody has outdone her self with this series and being an Australian writer, it makes it better. 10 out of 10. By *~Melissa~* with a little help from *^*Shaz*^*
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