Runemarks
Ratings12
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings12
Average rating3.8
Seven o'clock on a Monday morning, five hundred years after the end of the world, and goblins had been at the cellar again. . . . Not that anyone would admit it was goblins. In Maddy Smith's world, order rules. Chaos, old gods, fairies, goblins, magic, glamours--all of these were supposedly vanquished centuries ago. But Maddy knows that a small bit of magic has survived. The "ruinmark" she was born with on her palm proves it--and makes the other villagers fearful that she is a witch (though helpful in dealing with the goblins-in-the-cellar problem). But the mysterious traveler One-Eye sees Maddy's mark not as a defect, but as a destiny. And Maddy will need every scrap of forbidden magic One-Eye can teach her if she is to survive that destiny.From the Hardcover edition.
Series
2 primary books4 released booksRunemarks is a 4-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2007 with contributions by Joanne M. Harris, Joanne Harris, and Kris Eikelenboom.
Reviews with the most likes.
This book is a hugely fun read for anyone interested in Norse mythology (and for the uninitiated who enjoy a complex story). It feels quite a lot like YA - another reviewer mentioned anachronistic slang and jokes, which I think were meant to convey that tone - but excellent YA. The lead is one of those rare female characters who's fierce, funny, and flawed without being artificial or preachy, and the side characters, particularly Loki, were beautifully fleshed out. The concept is original, too, though anyone who took issue with Phillip Pullman's subtle criticism of Christianity in the Golden Compass books should probably skip this one; still, it's a great book, and a pleasure to read.
I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, and once I got used to a few vocal quirks on the part of the narrator it was quite enjoyable. Sile Bermingham gives all the characters more or less distinct voices, and she's a steady reader.
The story was enjoyable, but I think certain aspects would have been easier to follow had I been holding a paper copy of the book. There's a lot of crossing and double-crossing going on amongst the characters, and it would have been nice to be able to flip back and forth to check things.
