The House of Power: Atherton # 1

0082

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Title:
- The House of Power
*to be read


Authors:
- Patrick Carman


First Publication:
- 2007 by Miramax Books

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Trivia:
- Carman has stated that he drew on stories such as Frankenstein and The Turn of the Screw for inspiration for Atherton.
- At the end of the book, it states that there will be an "Atherton Two", and will called "Atherton: Rivers of Fire"
- Patrick Carman has been asked to be a part of The 39 Clues series. The 39 Clues is a series that will be written by five different authors (Carman included).

Awards:
- Wyoming Statewide Soaring Eagle Book Award short list 2009
- Oregon Battle of the Books list for 2008-2009
- New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Book Award Short List 2008
- VOYA's 2008 Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers List
- The Texas Bluebonnet award 2008 (short listed)
- Junior Library Guild Premier Selection 2008
- 2008 Kids Wings Award recipient

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Synopsis

From the creator of the Land of Elyon comes a riveting adventure set in an extraordinary satellite world'created as a refuge from a dying Earth'that begins to collapse and forever change the lives of its inhabitants. Edgar, a gifted climber, is a lonely boy scaling the perilous cliffs that separate the three realms of Atherton: a humble fig grove; a mysterious highland world of untold beauty and sinister secrets; and a vast wasteland where he must confront an unspeakable danger that could destroy the people of Atherton. When Edgar discovers a book which contains the history of Atherton's origins and ultimate apocalypse, his world'quite literally'begins to turn inside out.

In the shadow of what was once the planet earth (now known as The Dark Planet) is the intriguing world of Atherton. This is a planet made up of three levels, each spiraling upward like a layered cake and sided by jagged rocks with a steep incline. On Atherton, water is the most valuable source of life and is controlled by the House of Power on the uppermost part known as the Highlands. On the second level, the Tabletop, are the workers who labor tirelessly in the fields of fig trees and live under the strict rule of their cruel supervisor. The bottom level is the mysterious Flatlands where the dangerous, always hungry beasts known as the "Cleaners" live.

Atherton thrives with this setup: the wealthy top-livers giving orders, indulging in their powers and riches; the Tabletop area living a day-to-day existence of hard work with little rewards; and the bottom wastelands is the place where no one goes --- and if they do, they never come back.

It is in the groves of healthy-growing fig trees where we first meet 11-year old Edgar. This young boy is ever-curious with an abundance of energy (despite the scare rations) that allows him to scale the steep walls of rock as he explores the world around him. Edgar is actually in search of something. Is it a dream or possibly a memory from long ago? He climbs because he is driven to discover this "something," and when he finds it he will know what to do from there. But, because of the many restrictions on the laborers, any climbing he does has to be done in secret.

Everyone Meet the Purple Emperor

0081

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Title:
- The Purple Emperor


Authors:
- Herbie Brennan


First Publication:
- 4 October 2004 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

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Trivia:
- Herbie Brennan became Ireland's youngest newspaper editor at 24 and since then has had considerable experience in journalism and advertising.
- Herbie Brennan has had a lifelong interest in the occult and trained in Qabalah for 12 years.
- Herbie Brennan is a highly competent hypnotist and also an I Ching practitioner. He has experimented successfully with occult therapeutic techniques.
- Herbie is also working intermittently on a new book for tweenagers (streetwise, savvy 9 to 12 year-olds) called The Book of Impeccable Posteriors. He describes it as 'a love story with devils' and says it was given to him by his Mother-in-Law in a dream. The mind boggles.
- Herbie's repackaged Faerie Wars quartet - which includes the final volume in the series, Faerie Lord - is selling strongly in U. K. and Irish bookshops countrywide.

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Among the most exciting multi-plotted stories, this one is one of my favorites. The bizarre imagination of the faerie world, where danger lurks in every corner, is highly sophisticated. A plus points for this book is the hilarious and non-fake funny moments, making you laugh by your self. The flashbacks add to the mystery of the story. This sequel to Faerie Wars is as good as the first one. All the trademarks that made the author's books enjoyable are also present in this one. So if you are in for an exciting read, don't forget to buy a copy of this book.

Short Summary

Henry Atherton, his faerie prince friend Pyrgus, and Pyrgus's fearless sister, Holly Blue, return in this fantastic adventure to save the Faerie Realm from the evil Hairstreak and his henchmen, Chalkhill and Brimstone.

With the help of forest faeries, some silk mistresses, a sewer-dwelling creature of unknown dimensions, and additional creatures magical and otherwise, the three intrepid young friends find their way from exile back to the home they all would die to preserve and protect.

Good friends Pyrgus, Henry, and Holly Blue thought they'd defeated the leaders of the Faeries of the Night, Hairstreak and his henchmen, not to mention the demons they'd raised from Hael. But when Henry finds himself on the other side of the Blue Fire Portal and back in the land of Faerie, everything has changed. Hairstreak has resurrected Pyrgus's father, the murdered Purple Emperor, in order to control the entire Faerie Realm. This zombie is not the father Pyrgus and Blue loved. Now his body and mind are enslaved to Hairstreak, and Pyrgus is no longer heir to the throne.

While Henry struggles to find his friends in this suddenly unfamiliar world, Pyrgus and his fearless sister, Holly Blue, are stripped of any power they might have had and banished to far-off lands. Not knowing who or what might greet them upon returning to the palace, they must find their way back to the palace and salvage what they can - with any friends they might find along the way, and by any means possible.