Basilisk - Softcover

N M Browne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0747563268 ISBN 13: 9780747563266

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2004

Synopsis

'She blends history, myth, archaeology and psychology like no writer I've read since Rosemary Sutcliff' Amanda Craig, Independent on Sunday Basilisk is a rich and evocative story of greed, power and deception which sweeps from the underground cave network of the Combers, living like spiders amongst the endless tunnels and ropes, to the beautiful city inhabited by Abovers. The two worlds should never meet, but when the body of a murdered Abover appears in the combs, their worlds begin to draw closer and the corrupt dictator Arkel sees that his power over both is threatened. This is a brilliantly imagined and original novel, which will draw you into a dark and disturbing world.

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Review

At the beginning of Basilisk, young Rej wakes up Below, in his underground home, after dreaming of a dragon flying in a clear blue sky. Sixteen-year-old Donna wakes up Above in the town of Lunnzia, after dreaming the exact same thing--except she recognises the dragon as Arché, the creator dragon whom God sent to seed the world, and who would one day destroy it as a basilisk. Clue by clue, we learn that the fates of these two young people are interconnected, and the suspenseful story unfolds as it alternates between their two perspectives--until, that is, they are united in Chapter 10.

Tall, long-limbed Rej is "a comber, survivor, debtor, occasional beloved of the Lady Luck". Beautiful Donna is a scribe, given up by her family when she was 12 to serve the current anti-aristocratic regime, ruled by the tyrannical Arkel and the Council of Ten. The two teenagers meet when Rej must go Above to see if his dream-dragons are real... and with a somewhat bloodier mission in mind. When he meets Donna, they discover that they share the same dreams, and soon begin to uncover a host of secrets about the plans of the Abovers to destroy the "combers" who live Below in the catacombs. At great personal risk to themselves, Rej and Donna investigate the dreaded Basilisk Contrivance, which, fuelled by the mysterious "Basilisk's Breath," could literally scare Arkel's enemies to death.

Readers will find a colourful cast of characters, the hint of romance, a wallop of political intrigue and a pointed societal commentary on a nation at war, where rich, corrupt leaders deny their joyless citizens freedom and individuality. To open the book is to enter a dark, velvety, poisonous, drug-hazed world, where no-one can be trusted, and fear, greed, corruption, betrayal and murder are a way of life. Still, glimmers of love, altruism, courage and unshakeable loyalty shine through. Suitable for ages 13 and older. --Karin Snelson, Amazon.com

About the Author

N. M. Browne lives in London where she works full-time as an author. Her other books for Bloomsbury include WARRIORS OF ALAVNA, WARRIORS OF CAMLANN, HUNTED and the very successful early readers CRAZY GANG.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0747563268
• ISBN 13: 9780747563266
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320