World Famous Comics: Above the Veil (The Seventh Tower, Book 4)
Above the Veil (The Seventh Tower, Book 4)
By: Garth Nix Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Scholastic Paperbacks Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 248 Publication Date: April 01, 2001 Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Product Description: As they grapple with their individual fates, Tal and Milla become entangled in a revolution being planned against the Chosen of the Castle. But nothing is as it seems, and the revolution may be the cover for something much more sinister . . .
Excellent book I am an avid reader of science fiction, fantasy, romance and historical novels. I found this entire series to be exceptional. I am an adult and these seemed to be written for a younger generation but I could not put these books down!
If you would like some light fantasy reading that is different from many of the books out there, then this is for you.
Friends and enemies Things get more intense in "Above the Veil," a pivotal point in Garth Nix's Seventh Tower series. New alliances are forged, new information is found, and the endangered Milla takes the biggest risk of her life. While not quite the most gripping, this book hints at future apocalyptic events further on in the series.
Tal and Milla have just returned to Aenir, and end up falling in with a group of rebel Underfolk, who are determined to rise above the nasty caverns where they live. He also finds Jarnil, a blinded Chosen who was thought to be dead, and the ringleader of the rebels. With his help -- and the discovery that the Codex is wandering around the Castle.
Elsewhere. Milla leaves the Castle to return to the Icecarls. Since she now has a Spiritshadow, she knows that they will kill her. However, the Crones come to a decision about Milla that will change their culture forever. And at the Castle, Tal and the belligerent Underfolk Crow uncover the secrets of the Keystones -- a secret guarded by the inhuman Sushin.
"Above the Veil" is one of those books that serves mainly to set up the action of future novels. Garth Nix's creepy fantasy elements and taut writing keep it from being one long boring infodump. And by the ending, some very important events have taken place.
Nix also reveals more about the Underfolk, and their lives as semi-slaves under the Castle, as well as the natural resentment they have toward the privileged Chosen. Nix's intense writing is well-suited to scenes like Milla being attacked by a fellow Icecarl, or our heroes being attacked by venomous water spiders. There are a few moments of comedy, usually from Uncle Ebbitt, but not many.
Tal and Milla have both changed dramatically. Tal has already learned to appreciate the warlike Icecarls, and now he has to accept the Underfolk, which he always took for granted. Milla also has grown up, although her sense of honor and loyalty is unchanged. Crow isn't nearly as likable -- he's even more bigoted than Tal was originally. But Nix makes it understandable why that is.
The fourth Seventh Tower book, "Above the Veil," begins the buildup to the final battle of the series. Epic, creepy and pivotal.
The Seventh Tower Series' Above the Veil (Book 4) Tal and Milla have successfully returned from Aenir and infiltrated the Castle. They are hidden with a group of renegade Underfolk, who call themselves Freelies. Milla leaves to complete her quest by going to the Shield Mother, which is easier said than done. When she is wounded, she forces herself into the tenth Rokvir breathing pattern, one which will get the user to the end of their task, and then the user will die. She is attacked by a Shield Maiden because of her unnatural shadow, Odris, and ends up slaying her to continue on her journey. When she finally gets there, she must be revived. If the Shield Mothers cannot, Milla will die. Meanwhile, Tal and Crow, a Freelie leader, are climbing the Red Tower, when suddenly they penetrate the Veil and Crow falls because of the Sun's sudden light. What will become of them? Read Garth Nix's book, Above the Veil!
My favorite part of this book was the part where Tal and Crow were getting the Red Keystone with the Guardian, Lokar, trapped in it. Every triumph for Tal was a triumph for the reader, and this, even if it was a medium-paced book, was still quite exciting and interesting. I hope that you enjoy this book!
The Seventh Tower Series' Above the Veil (Book 4) Tal and Milla have successfully infiltrated the Castle. They are hidden with a group of renegade Underfolk, who call themselves Freelies. Milla leaves to complete her quest, by going to the Shield Mother. Easier said than done describes it best. When she is wounded, she forces herself into the tenth Rokvir breathing pattern, one which will get the user to the end of their task, and then the user will die. She is attacked by a Shield Maiden, and ends up slaying her to continue on her journey. When she gets there, finally, she must be revived. If the Shield Mothers cannot, Milla will die. Meanwhile, Tal and Crow are climbing the Red Tower, when suddenly, they penetrate the Veil and Crow falls, because of the Sun's sudden light. What will become of them? Read Garth Nix's book, Above the Veil!
My favorite part of this book was the part where Tal and Crow were getting the Red Keystone with Lokar trapped in it. Every triumph for Tal was a triumph for the reader, and this, even if it was a medium-paced book, was still quite exciting and interesting. I hope that you enjoy this book!
A fast-paced continuation... If you've been following the series this one will be impossible to put down. The plot intensifies, Tal's problems continue to spiral out of control, and the consequences of even one mistake on his part could spell doom for his world.
Tal and Milla seperate early in the book, and Tal is the main focus through most of it, which means loads of character development for him. The author writes each character, though particulerly Tal in this book, not as a thirteen year old boy, but as a human being, caught in frightening events, and handed burdons that seem impossible to bear. Thus, every time Tal triumphs, it seems a triumph to the reader as well, rather than a predictable outcome.
But, despite the excellently developed characters, this book is mainly about action and plot, which is written just as well. Definitely read this series from the beginning, and you won't regret it when you do. :-)
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