Wow! eBook
The Firehills
Author(s): Steve Alton (Author)
- Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
- Publication Date: September 1, 2005
- Language: English
- Print length: 192 pages
- ISBN-10: 1575057980
- ISBN-13: 9781575057989
Book Description
Charly, a recently initiated Wiccan, and her friend Sam reunite at the Green Man Festival in England, and this time find themselves battling the Sidhe, ancient faeries who are trying to conquer the world.
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–This sequel to The Malifex (Carolrhoda, 2002) continues the adventures of Charly, a Wicca teen; her mother, Megan; her friend Sam; and a wizard/bard named Amergin who, having been brought out of a deep sleep, spends his time watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on TV and marveling at modern technology. A brief prologue sets the stage for those who haven’t read the first book. Megan and Charly are packing to go to a Green Man festival. Sam joins them there and almost immediately they are threatened by evil faeries, or, in Gaelic, the Sidhe. When Amergin is abducted, Charly and Sam have to rescue him from the Hollow Hills. During their quest, they encounter the evil Malifex once again, and Sam is led to an unexpected destiny. The Sidhe, like all reliable fantasy villains, are bent on world domination and plan to use the Jack-in-the-Green, the green man built at the festival, to achieve their goal. The fantasy elements here were put to much better use by Susan Cooper in Greenwitch (1985) and The Grey King (1975, both S & S). Ultimately, The Firehills is a somewhat bizarre combination of traditional fantasy with Wiccan belief and ritual. Still, kids will probably respond to the action. Purchase where the first book is popular.–Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Gr. 6-9. This sequel to The Malifex (2002) finds Sam, Charley, and Amergin dealing with the aftereffects of their battle against evil. Sam struggles to accept his disturbing new powers, while Charley embraces hers with her initiation into the Craft; wizard Amergin, meanwhile, has become a television-obsessed couch potato. The three meet for the Jack-in-the-Green festival, when the Green Man is symbolically sacrificed to end winter, but their reunion is interrupted by the Sidhe, malevolent Faeries who intend to absorb the Green Man’s powers. Sam and Charley are attacked, and Amergin is kidnapped. Determined to rescue him and save the world, Sam and Charley confront the Sidhe, first in the Faerie underworld and then during the festival. British folklore adds an interesting backdrop to the swiftly moving story, which is standard fantasy fare, with magic, mayhem, and menace aplenty. Sam and Charley’s romance and Amergin’s newly adopted modernity provide warmth and humor, and Sam’s fear of his true nature comes across as both real and poignant. A quickly wrapped-up ending notwithstanding, this won’t disappoint fans of the first book. Krista Hutley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
