In the distant land of deserts and islands, the servants of the god rule the land, his wishes conveyed through the Oracle and interpreted by the High Priestess. Mirany is the new Bearer, afraid of her perilous duties for the god in the rituals of the Oracle, and fearful of her secret questioning … Does the god truly exist?
The priestess is corrupt and in secret partnership with the General, ruler, since the God-on-Earth, the Archon, has no real power – chosen as a child, his face always masked, never seen by outsiders. Should any national tragedy occur, he is also the sacrifice. When the old Archon dies, his spirit migrates into a child, and there are several candidates for succession. But Mirany begins to experience the real visions of the god, discovers which child is the rightful heir, and that the General and High Priestess intend to choose another child and seize power. With only a tomb-robbing scribe and a mad musician for allies, Mirany begins her quest – knowing that, if she is betrayed, her fate will be to be walled up alive in the Archon’s tomb …
The priestess is corrupt and in secret partnership with the General, ruler, since the God-on-Earth, the Archon, has no real power – chosen as a child, his face always masked, never seen by outsiders. Should any national tragedy occur, he is also the sacrifice. When the old Archon dies, his spirit migrates into a child, and there are several candidates for succession. But Mirany begins to experience the real visions of the god, discovers which child is the rightful heir, and that the General and High Priestess intend to choose another child and seize power. With only a tomb-robbing scribe and a mad musician for allies, Mirany begins her quest – knowing that, if she is betrayed, her fate will be to be walled up alive in the Archon’s tomb …
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Reviews
'suspense is constantly built ... rattles along at a dizzying pace ... next volume please.
an intoxicating world reminiscent of the Arabian Nights. Highly recommended
Vivid and convincing ... a very satisfying read for young people who want some depth to their fiction, and the depiction of an unusual and interesting world.
The tension endures until the last page ... we want the sequel, soon!
will linger long in readers' memories
'the reader will fall under the spell of this fantasy story'
A crisp, quick-moving narrative ... will keep readers hooked.
A powerful and very exciting adventure story
... a thrilling, chilling world of magic and menace
A gripping story that'll keep you guessing!
an extraordinary imagination, always coming up with some new twist that is both weird yet utterly convincing.
Breathlessly paced . . . almost painfully heightened tension right to the end . . . will have readers queuing for the concluding volume.
'gripped by the deeper truths of the story and the compelling, vivid intensity of the writing.'
Thrilling start to an outstanding trilogy
It will have you consumed until the very last word
The mythology that underpins Mirany's world is richly imagined
Climactic, triumphant...with a brief, genuinely chilling denouement
A crisp, quick-moving narrative and fully fleshed-out characters will keep readers hooked to the remaining installments in this trilogy.
Catherine Fisher is an expert at creating new worlds, and this is no exception
Fisher's uncompromising style plunges us...into a hot, arid Mediterranean landscape...the tension endures until the very last page
A powerful and very exciting adventure story
Catherine Fisher has captured the doubtful, devious surviving nature of people in society to perfection. I have never come across a book which shows as much understanding and deals with it as The Oracle
