The Farseekers

After a devastating war, and subsequent plagues and mutations, the ESP-gifted mutants, called Misfits, are hunted down and killed. Now, however, a group of young Misfits, mostly orphans, have found a haven in the remote fortress of Obernewtyn. Hiding from the powerful and ruthless Council, the Misfits use their talents to discourage visitors, and to pretend that the fortress is a mostly abandoned ruin. Elspeth, a strong farseeker, has become a guildmistress in the budding society of Obernewtyn. Her special relationship with the telepathic animals, and her sense of duty urge her to participate in a dangerous mission: a trip to the lowlands to rescue a very strong and probably doomed telepath, out of both humanitarian reasons, and to show more prevent accidental discovery of Obernewtyn.

I had some issues with this book. The narrator, Elspeth Gordie, is as unsympathetic as she was in the first book. At no point did I understand her or what makes her tick. We know what she does -- rescue people, mostly -- but we are almost never privy to her innermost thoughts. In fact, Elspeth is the least sympathetic "good" character in the entire novel (and there are quite a few - read "too many" - to keep track of).

Another irritating point is that Elspeth seems to manufacture mental talents whenever the plot calls for it. Does she need to pick a lock? Suppress pain? Farseek? Beastspeak? Coerce? Stun? Kill? No problem! Because she's the heroine. Don't ask questions.

In a similar vein, it seems like every second person is a Misfit - but not only a Misfit, a Misfit with mental powers! (Carmody manages to conveniently forget that, in the first book, most Misfits are physically mutated, not mentally mutated. Not only that, but also that Misfits are supposed to be quite unusual.

The most annoying part of the book? One word: Lidgebaby. (For those who have read the book, you know what I'm talking about. What a cop-out. For those who haven't, brace yourselves.)

Finally, the rising action is far, far too drawn out. By the end, any rational person will be screaming internally for the damn thing to just cut to the chase, already! How much more could the author have possibly put the narrator through?

All that having been said, Carmody must be given credit for the creation of a likeable cast of supporting characters. Elspeth's companions on the journey, the people she meets, the non-humans she meets - all are strongly imagined. The "guildmerge" is an interesting concept, and kudos for the groundwork for future alliances and interesting geographical/topographical information.

If Carmody continues to improve, then perhaps ASHLING (the third book in the series) will be a very good read. For now, though, the OBERNEWTYN CHRONICLES remain at merely satisfactory. show less

The Farseekers by Isobelle Carmody is the second book of The Obernewtyn Chronicles. It was first published in 1990, three years after the first book Obernewtyn. That was back when books in a series weren't cranked out year after year. Readers nowadays are more impatient. Yes, that includes me!

For me, The Farseekers was a good bit better than Obernewtyn. It's set two years after the end of the first book, Elspeth is now 17. Being older opens Elspeth's character to a lot more possibilities. All the characters in this book were better developed.

I love the animals being sentient and how each animal has a distinct personality. It's true in real life (the personality part) and it's great to see it in the book. It's fascinating how the bonds show more form between the humans and the animals.

The story pace picks up more in The Farseekers and is even more enjoyable to read. show less

Not as good as the first in the series. Elspeths "Grand Destiny" is actually rather boring. The plot of the moment suffers because of too much series arc interrpting it. And really, that healing scene.... giant bird hospital in the mountaintops? Too silly. I think they're supposed to be birds of prey, but I can't see them as anything but pigeons, which doesn't help. Disappointed. May not continue unless there's absolutely nothing else to read.

This is book 2 of the Obernewtyn Chronicles. This installment continues with the strengthening of Obernewtyn as a safe haven to all Misfits, those with mental abilities such as telepathy, empathy, etc who are persecuted by the new government that arose after an apocalyptic event. Elspeth must journey to the lowlands to find a Misfit as powerful as she, find a lost library of the Oldtimers (pre-apocalypse peoples), and find out who of their enemies is investigating Obernewtyn. These books have been fast-paced with characters that you can connect to.

This is the second book in the obernewtyn chronicels. obernewtyn is now a place for misfits to learn and controll their powers. A group of misfits set out on an expidition to get more befortimmer books. Along the way they meet a rebel andjoin forces. When they reach the library, they find a girl who has the ability to project images into your mind. They rescue her and teach her how to speek.

I admit the main reason I like these books is because of the relationship of elspeth and Rushton. I cant read books unless I have someone root for. I could tell in the series that one the two got together, the author wrote about them less and less. I think she ran out of ideas to make it important. I loved the seen where they are all in the library, show more and see pictures of dwarfs and mermaids and believed that they evolved from them. show less

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others, but it was still very very good. I couldn't put it down. I just love how Isobelle Carmody writes

Elspeth sets out on an expedition to retrieve a strong misfit and gets wrapped up in the competing factions all scheming to acquire power or to escape the tyranny of the existing government. The excitement is stay with near escapes and new mysteries. A great addition to the series.