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: Immersion, thy name is...
Review: Looking for a new series? This one's excellent. It deals with the child Elspeth Gordie (or Innle) and her movement towards her ultimate destiny, as yet unforseen: the destruction of the weaponmachines that caused the Great White, the nuclear holocaust that has wiped out much of the population of the world, turned much of the Land into a blackened, tainted ruin and allowed the rise of the tyrannical Council and Herders. Elspeth here is unaware of her greater purpose and so this book reveals very little of this...you'll just have to read on! I love Carmody's treatment of the mind powers: more human than Julian May, yet more plausible than Anne McCaffrey. Basically, there are different 'talents': empathy, coercion, farspeaking (telepathy), beastspeaking, futuretelling and Teknoguilding (slight telekinesis, ability to understand relics of our age). Of course Elspeth, as the heroine, is gifted with all of these (except empathy) and she uses all of them in her yet unwitting quest as the Seeker. Supporting characters are good too, like the blind, gentle empath Dameon, the skinny, eager farseeker Matthew, the doomed Cameo and Selmar and the sadistic three in control of Obernewtyn. Plus of course the enigmatic Rushton... I think Carmody's books played a major part in getting me into fantasy. That's how great they are. Some of the writing may not suit certain people's taste as it's fairly unique; however this is a read not restricted to the young adult demographic. I know as many adults as kids who are fans. Carmody just sucks you into her world and doesn't let go, not even after you've finished the book - and I'm speaking as one who dreams about the series!
Rating: 
Summary: An original Plot-Line
Review: Isobelle Carmody's book 'Obernewtyn' is one that has a very interesting and original plot-line, but could have been written better. The result of seeing the story from powerful farseeker Elspeth Gordie's eyes, you miss the chance to see what the other characters are thinking or planning. The book could have been longer and more exciting if we could have seen more of what went on outside of Elspeth's knowledge. It also seemed to move along very quickly, making it seem she was only in Obernewtyn for a few months before wanting to escape. At the end, I found myself wondering about a few things, as some questions had been left unaswered and I had to go back and re-read a few parts before I understood what it meant. All in all, it was an original and well-thought out idea, and the book wasn't the worst I've ever read, just saying that it's not the best either. I suggest you read it. Who knows, you may even like it! I did, I just thought there could've been a few things to change. Good work though Isobelle, I look forward to reading the other Obernewtyn Chronicals.
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Summary: THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ YOU MUST READ IT!!!!!
Review: This book is the greatest!!! I have read all Isobelle Carmody's books and she is my favourite author!! Obernewtyn is a fantasy a sci-fi and a mystery all in one. It tells a story of a girl, Elspeth with amazing abilites she can telepath kind of stuff etc. She lives in possibly a futre world after a great disaster were tales of the cruel old world excist and people are confused. Magic lurks around the corners but the rulers punish or even kill people who perform unusual or different things. Elspeth is at the equivalent of an orphanage where she tells no one of her amazing powers except her brother and her cat Maruman (who she can speak to). One day her world is changed when she goes to Obernewtyn where people like her are being experimented on but she and her new found friends change Obernewtyn for the better. A wonderful book for 12 to whatever age (my mum is reading it)or people younger who like good books and are good readers! Read the other books in the series and Darkfall, Scatterlings and the Gathering. If you do not read this book you have certainly missed out on a thrilling expierience.
Rating:
Summary: It has changed my life...wonderful
Review: Obernewtyn is fabulous. If you read it, you WILL go on and read Farseekers, Ashling and The Keeping Place. Isobelle has created the most beautiful characters, so moral and nice and interesting, very well defined, and not typical heroes - ie gods and godesses that can't be beaten. Everyone has faults, weaknessess. It is set in a post-apocalyptic place, simply called the Land. The novel centers on Elspeth Gordie, a 'Misfit' with extraordinary psychic abilities. She thinks that she is the only person in the Land that harbours powers, and hates her mutation for what it makes her in her brother's eyes (but likes being able to talk to Maruman, a wild cat). When the Mistress of Obernewtyn does a routine visit to her orphan home, Elspeth is sure that she is bound for the horrendous Obernewtyn, which is said to be a place where Misfits are tortured and studied. Many go into Obernewtyn, and none ever come out. But Obernewtyn and the never-present Doctor Seraphim, Matster of Obernewtyn, is not as bad as the tales make out...on the outside.
Rating:
Summary: A different book, but also fantastic
Review: Obernewtyn is a fab book about a young girl in a post-apocalypse world. The survivours set up a council, and condems Misfits, who are mutants. The main character, Elspeth, is one mutant,who has the power to read minds, as well as to beastspeak. That is, to talk to animals. Her friend, a cat, tells her that her destiny lies in the mountains, at Obernewtyn, a jail type place for Misfits. I found this book a joy to read, and I couldn't put it down. In my opinion, Carmody draws you into this future world, and I felt like I was there. I only wish it could have been longer, but I guess in a sense it is - that is it is part of a series. I have already read a few more books in the series, I can't wait for the rest!
Rating:
Summary: SUPERB SERIES -- COULDN'T PUT DOWN EACH BOOK!
Review: This is an unusually well-written series, with unique characters and a fascinating story line. Isobelle Carmody is a gifted writer. I have read a lot of fantasy/scifi, and often the plots or aspects of the plot are similar from one book to another (find a portal, travel to another world/time, etc). This series is not only creatively different, it is thought-provoking. I could not put down each book in the series, reading late into the night (which I usually avoid doing). I will not recapitulate the plot here, because so many others have done so. I do want to contradict one of the reviewers that was cited on the cover of the second book of the series (Farseekers), who stated that the book was likely more appropriate for adolescent females. I am 45, and I have found this series to be one of my all-time favorites. Order your copy of Obernewtyn today, and set some time aside!
Rating:
Summary: A Gulag of Misfits
Review: Obernewtyn is the first novel in the Obernewtyn series. Death fell from the skies during the Great White, leaving lingering radiation and chemical destruction over much of the land. During the Age of Chaos, those fortunate enough to live on untainted land ruthlessly slaughtered refugees who poured from the cities. Thereafter, mutations among men and beast were frequent, so the Council decreed that any who born with abnormalities were to be burned. The Herder Faction, a fledging religious order who worshipped Lud, were appointed to perform the burnings. Gradually the law and dogma fused to condemn all technology other than simple farm implements. Later the Herder Faction announced that some mental aberrations did not show at birth, but manifested later. These mutants were called Misfits. In this novel, Elspeth Gordie is a Misfit who has been raised in orphanages following the execution of her parents for Sedition. Now she and her brother, Jes, are residents of the Kinraide orphan home. Jes has just become a Herder assistant and wants to advance in the Herder Faction, but this career would be ruined if she is accused of being a Misfit. She cannot have any friends, due to the danger to herself and them, except Maruman, the mutant cat. Maruman has visions, once telling her that the mountains will call for her. Another time he confessed that a Guanette bird had told him that his destiny was twinned with hers. For the rest of the time he was haughty, conceited, full of opinions about everything. Maruman was instrumental in discovering the extent of her telepathic powers; one day she scared away a bird that Maruman was stalking and Maruman said a rude comment into her mind and she responded in kind. Every since then, she has been bonded with Maruman. Maruman predicted that a "darkOne" would come from the mountains seeking her. Elspeth knew the mountains meant Obernewtyn, the most remote work farm. An ancient institution in the Western Mountains, Obernewtyn accepted only the worst afflicted of the Misfits and those Misfits sent there were never heard of again. The Obernewtyn keeper arrived three days later. Madame Vega detects some small part of Elspeth's ability, but that is enough to send her to Obernewtyn. There she meets other Misfits, the working staff, and the supervising triumvirate: Alexi, Ariel, and Madame Vega. Later, she meets the nominal director, Doctor Seraphim. This post-apocalyptic novel is much like Norton's The Stars Are Ours in several respects, including theocratic restrictions by the government and underground resistance to those repressions. Moreover, there is the element of hope at the end. Subsequent volumes in this series further develop the mental powers aspect as well as the the role of the mutated animals. Recommended for Norton fans and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted novel of suspense and adventure in a SF setting.
Rating:
Summary: Steady postapocalyptic mystery
Review: Isobelle Carmody's "Obernewtyn," now reprinted for kids and young adults by Starscape Books, is a pretty good post-apocalypse fantasy, with a pretty good heroine and a good, suspenseful plot. It's not a typical fantasy, but it should definitely be given a look. After the Great White (nuclear holocaust), the Beforetime civilization was pretty much destroyed -- the people remaining lost most of their knowledge of the past, and genetic mutations altered the minds and bodies of animals and humans alike. The human mutants are known as Misfits, and if they're found, they are burned by the Council on the assumption that they are possessed by demons. One such girl is Elspeth Gordie, a girl who has kept her psychic abilities secret for a long time. But a future-seeing cat pal of hers sees the future -- that she will be found out and taken to the ountains. His prediction comes true. Elspeth, instead of being burned, is taken to the mountain prison of Obernewtyn. Misfits there are kept as laborers, and the mysterious Master of Obernewtyn is supposedly trying to find a cure for them. But Elspeth soon learns that all is not as it seems -- the Misfits are being used by someone at Obernewtyn to find out the nuclear secrets of the past. Not bad -- not bad at all. Isobelle Carmody puts a lot of work into making her world believable and sort of simple -- she doesn't overburden us with too many weird developments, like many postapocalypse fantasies do. Very realistically, "Beforetime" is viewed sort of the way we view ancient Rome, as a noisy, mean, fascinatingly mysterious place; it's very cool when she has Elspeth flipping through a manual for computers that don't exist anymore. Telepathic talking animals and ever-increasing psychic abilities add an extra edge to the book, though one that is thankfully never overused. Elspeth is a good heroine in the sense that she reacts very much the way you'd expect her to, since she is an orphaned girl with no real friends until she lands in Obernewtyn. That doesn't mean that she's always likeable, but she's always believable. The supporting characters tend to be a bit flatter, as the good guys tend to run together a little. The less sympathetic characters like Rushton, Jes, and the real Master are more three-dimensional, they have a little more bite to them. Carmody's plotting still lacks somewhat -- her prose is pretty standard, nothing mind-blowing here. And the middle of the book sags a bit as Elspeth lives her first months at Obernewtyn. For a long time, nothing really seems to happen except people snap at her. But she does give a drearily hopeless atmosphere to Obernewtyn, and does one of the best jobs of "talking animals" ever. (No cutesiness here!) This book is fine for teens and kids; I advise buying the juvenile edition of this book, because the cover art is much better. While "Obernewtyn" is not perfect, it's a good darker fantasy.
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. ;]
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