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Seventh Son (1987)

by Orson Scott Card

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Tales of Alvin Maker (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
4,558692,476 (3.81)1 / 61
Named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults -- From the author of the award-winning Ender's Game comes the unforgettable story of young Alvin Maker, the seventh son of a seventh son. Born into an alternative frontier America where life is hard and folk magic is real, Alvin is gifted with power, but he must learn to use his gift wisely. Dark forces are arrayed against Alvin, and only a young girl with second sight can protect him.… (more)
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 World Reading Circle: Seventh Son, Orson Scott Card3 unread / 3mirrani, August 2013

» See also 61 mentions

English (66)  Spanish (2)  All languages (68)
Showing 1-5 of 66 (next | show all)
Please be aware that this book doesn't have an ending.

Story: 7.5 / 10
Characters: 8
Setting: 8.5
Prose: 8

Absolutely fantastic book, except for the lack of an ending. Technically, all the open questions were answered, but it feels so unsatisfying that story couldn't be completed. Though I am a huge fan of the Ender's Saga and Shadow Series, I cannot trust an author who won't give me an ending. As a result, I am not interested in continuing what is very likely one of the best fantasy series available.
I'll stick with Card's science-fiction instead.

Tags: Colonialism, magic, religion, light fantasy, makers, torches, elements, numerology, apprenticeships ( )
  MXMLLN | Jan 12, 2024 |
Read it for book club. I don't think I'll continue the series. ( )
  Tom_Wright | Oct 11, 2023 |
Looking for an unusual book? Here you go.
It took some real imagination for the author to create an alternate-history tale where people exhibit a variety of supernatural "knacks." These knacks are magical abilities that to some are viewed as natural blessings, but to others they are deemed evil--the equivalent of witchcraft. I will tell you now that if you don't want to read an entire series, you might pass on this book. It was a good book that basically introduces the characters. There is evil and good, kindness and cruelty, magical happenings as well as things that closely resemble our reality. A strong religious theme dominates the plot, and it doesn't shed the most flattering light on Christianity. Only having read book one, I am not certain where that will lead. ( )
  REGoodrich | Jun 22, 2023 |
Interesting trilogy about Alvin Maker who has some magical powers in early America. Pretty much based on Joseph Smith story. I also read the next two. ( )
  kslade | Dec 8, 2022 |
The world if Seventh Son is fairly fascinating. It's set in early 1800s somewhere around what would have been Indiana or Ohio in our world, except in this world magic is real. It seems to be based on any number of folk magics turned real and powerful--but apparently only in the New World. Possibly because of that, American history hasn't gone quite as we remember it. The Iroquois nation became a state. Washing was executed as a traitor. Things aren't named quite as we know them, which at times gets annoying.

As the seventh son of a seventh son, Alvin Maker Jr is destined to be a Maker, a particularly powerful user of the story's magic. As such, he's apparently been hunted by a powerful evil being--the Unmaker--his entire life. He already has hints of that power, although he doesn't seem to completely realize it at first. Towards the end, he manages to heal what should have been a deadly injury.

On the downside, this is very obviously the first book of a series. Honestly, it looks like Card may have just cu the book in parts, since Seventh Son by itself doesn't really come to a climax, it just sort of ends at what would have been a section break in many other books. Such books generally annoy me, especially when they're the first of the series. This is no exception.

Overall, the world building sounds like it has a lot of potential, but the story itself was lacking. I'm curious enough to see how the next book is though, so there's that? ( )
  jpv0 | Jul 21, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 66 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (11 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Card, Orson Scottprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Azimuth, KnutTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Brick, ScottNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Claesson, MathsTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Couton, PatrickTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
de Cuir, GabrielleNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Harrison, Mark G.Cover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hoye, StephenNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kankaanpää, JaakkoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Nolan, DennisCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tizano, PaolaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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To Emily Jan,
who knows all the magic
that she'll ever need.
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Little Peggy was very careful with the eggs.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults -- From the author of the award-winning Ender's Game comes the unforgettable story of young Alvin Maker, the seventh son of a seventh son. Born into an alternative frontier America where life is hard and folk magic is real, Alvin is gifted with power, but he must learn to use his gift wisely. Dark forces are arrayed against Alvin, and only a young girl with second sight can protect him.

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