The Dark (Guardians of Time) - Softcover

Curley, Marianne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1599905442 ISBN 13: 9781599905440

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2010

Synopsis

Isabel and Ethan are joined by Isabel's brother Matt, who is still getting accustomed to life in the Guard. This time, they must find Arkarian, their ageless mentor, who has been kidnapped and sent to the underworld. Although Isabel and Ethan have been forbidden to rescue him, an ever-increasing connection to Arkarian drives Isabel to convince Ethan and Matt that they must risk everything to find him despite the potential consequences.

About this title

About the Author

Marianne Curley is a native of Australia. She has found writing for young adults both challenging and satisfying. Today she has three teenage children, whose conversations and experiences inspire her writing. They are also her fervent critics. She is also the author of Old Magic.

www.mariannecurley.com

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-9-A sequel to The Named (Bloomsbury, 2002), with ample introductions to characters and plot developments from that book. Lathenia controls the forces of the dark while her brother, Lorian, fights with the Named, nine ordinary humans with extraordinary gifts, to stop her. In this book, Arkarian, one of the most powerful of the Named, has been abducted and imprisoned by Lathenia in the furthest reaches of the Underworld. Isabel and Ethan, ordinary high school students by day and Guardians of Time by night, decide to attempt a rescue, joined by Isabel's brother Matt, newly Named but still untested and untrained in any special gift. Meanwhile, various combinations of the Named carry out several missions, visiting medieval France to protect the child who will become Arkarian's mother, and ancient Rome to prevent injury to Octavius, future emperor. Plot action dominates this story, with awkward attempts to add romance to the tangled relationships among the main characters. The novel is poorly written, with sentence fragments and awkward constructions popping up throughout. There is an incongruous use of knees and fists by characters who can send energy bolts from their fingertips, but it does give Isabel ample practice in using her gift of healing power on all the broken bones and bleeding wounds. Ultimately, several loose ends are tied up, but new questions arise that will presumably be addressed in the next installment of this series. There is enough action and excitement here to keep nondiscriminating readers involved, but little else.
Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
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About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1599905442
• ISBN 13: 9781599905440
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352