Rating: Summary: You won't be disappointed Review: Kate Forsyth's ability to keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting anxiously to discover what will happen next is uncanny, and once again proven in this book. The world she has created (which began in the first book, The Witches of Eileanan) has taken on a life of it's own and simply grows stronger with each addition to the series. In this book, The Skull of the World, the 5th book of the Witches of Eileanan series, we find ourselves once again with Isabeau (who was absent from the 4th book, The Forbidden Land, as The Forbidden Land and The Skull of the World occur at the same time on Eileanan. They were originally one book which was split into two for size reasons) during her self-imposed exile on the Spine of the World. Isabeau has immersed herself in the life of the Khan'cohbans when the time comes to undertake her journey of initiation to the Skull of the World. It is on this difficult journey that Isabeau will (finally) discover her true Talent. With splendid surprises around every corner, lurking dangers, and returning characters that you can easily come to love, adore, hate, and even fear, this book comes to life as much as (if not more than) the last four in the series. You will not be disappointed.
Rating: Summary: So glad to be back with Isabeau! Review: Out of the 6, this has probably been my favourite. Finn's story of book 4 was nice enough, but I was so relieved to read Kate's note in the back saying that Isabeau would be returning. She completely surpassed my expectations. Everything else has been said, really. I'll just add that it's been facinating to watch Isabeau grow as a character, and I found it particularly interesting that I could go back to book one and properly understand why Iseult acted as she did when she first came down from the Spine of the World with Meghan.
Rating: Summary: Well, what did you expect? Review: This book has been eagerly awaited by many, I'm sure. I myself have been impatient to read it. After almost six months, I find that I haven't been disappointed. This book is mainly about Isabeau, with a couple pages of a Fairge prionnsa\prince and his half-breed lover woven in. The characters seem mostly to be in their usual moods, including Lachlan and his fury and suspicions. There is a slight moment in which Meghan gets a bit prickly over the Key with Isabeau, but it is almost unnoticeable. At the start of the book, right after a fairgean excerpt, Isabeau is on the Skull of the World. She wins the right to search for her name, a journey which also reveals her Talent. In a way, I wasn't surprised by it, but it is very powerful. When I pondered over her Talent in earlier books, the possiblity occurred to me but I brushed it away. As it turns out, the far-fetched stray thought was correct. There is much mastery in the story telling of Forsyth. She keeps the reader interested throughout almost the whole book. Another leak is in the Righ's court, yet none can even guess who. And the identity of this person surprised me greatly! I would never have guessed . . . But, moving on, Isabeau is once again home. Time passes through which Isabeau is accepted into the Coven. She is blissfully content with her studying. Then Margrit of Arran ruins it all. She steals Donncan and Neil from their very beds while Isabeau is in a drugged sleep. When she wakes up, it is just in time to see the swan-pulled sleigh disappearing into the sky. With the disappearances, people turn against Isabeau. Desperate to prove her innocence and save the two lads dear to her heart, Isabeau sets off after Margrit hoping to return the two bairns home before their parents get back. "The Forbidden Land" and "The Skull of the World" were meant to be one book. They were split into two because of size, which is why Isabeau was absent from the last book. This book has five stars because, although some parts made me uneasy (that's how submerged I become into books) there was nothing unenjoyable or unentertaining.
Rating: Summary: Good series. Review: This series is a new series that I started around six months ago.I am very impressed by Kate and her books, she makes you feel that the witches,espiecally Isabeau,and Megahan are real people. I am hoping that in the final book that Maya and Bronwen are accepted by Lachlan and Iseult, and I hope that the Fairgen people and the people of Eileanan can work out their problems and somehow learn to work together. The Skull of the World was a book that I was anxiously wanting to read and this book did not let me down. I am going to wait another whole year to read the last book of the series.
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