Cybele's Secret

by Juliet Marillier

Book Overview

For Paula, accompanying her merchant father on a trading voyage to Istanbul is a dream come true. They have come to this city of trade on a special mission to purchase a most rare artifact--a gift... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 037583365X
• ISBN13: 9780375833656
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.03 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.9" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

More, more, more!

I liked Cybele's Secret more than Wildwood Dancing; the latter was enjoyable but not earth-shaking like Juliet Marillier can be. This one definitely falls into the earth-shaking category for me--one of those kinds of books during which you're torn between skimming because you can't wait to see what happens, and stopping to savor every beautifully written phrase. I think one of the differences for me between the two books is that this one has a much stronger romantic element to it, and the love interest is SO SEXY!!! The heroine here, Paula, is just as likable as Jena was in Wildwood Dancing, but if I recall correctly Jena's love interest was a frog for most of the book. In Cybele's Secret, there's two highly attractive men and one of them is Stoyan, who is so manly and chivalrous that I was totally in love with him one-third of the way through the novel. Juliet Marillier is one of the best authors I've ever read for combining really good writing--lyrical, beautiful, never trite--with AMAZING story. Because Cybele's Secret is written for a young adult audience and not an adult one like most of her others, it doesn't have as complex a storyline and the characters have less time to agonize before reaching their maturity...which leaves a little less scope to create her usual magic, in my opinion. But Cybele's Secret is such a gem--it managed to create all the emotions and identification that her longer works have done for me, all in a compact 400+ pages. Hoping very much for a third book in the series...although I'll be satisfied with whatever Marillier comes up with next, so long as it's soon!

Thrilling and emotional, this romantic adventure will leave readers hoping for more

Six years have gone by since Paula and sisters Jena, Julia and Stela visited the Other Kingdom and said goodbye to their eldest sibling Tatiana, who chose to stay behind with her sweetheart Sorrow. Although the family of Piscul Dracului has gone through many changes, each of the sisters still hopes to be reunited with their beloved Tati and experience the wondrous realm once again someday. When Paula joins her father on a voyage from Transylvania to Istanbul, Turkey, the 17-year-old scholar wants to experience a memorable adventure. However, work must come first, as Paula is her father's assistant during an important trading expedition. The father-daughter duo is anxious to find out more about a highly sought-after artifact. Paula's father, Theodor, would like to buy a mysterious relic for an elderly scholar. Called Cybele's Gift, it is said to contain the wisdom of an ancient pagan earth goddess. According to legend, the relic will bring good fortune to those worthy of keeping it. Paula and Theodor have barely arrived in Istanbul when they learn that a trading colleague has been murdered. To make matters more complicated, Paula begins seeing visions of a woman who may be Tati. As her father conducts trade meetings and waits for the secret deal, Paula seeks more information about Cybele's Gift. Prior to their arrival, Paula had agreed with her father that since she is a young woman acting as a trader's assistant, she must have a bodyguard while staying in the Islamic-ruled city. While interviewing candidates, Paula meets Stoyan, who, ironically, was the bodyguard of the murdered trader. Despite his intimidating appearance and their initial misgivings, the father and daughter agree to hire the solemn Bulgarian. Unfortunately for the young assistant, getting the chance to explore the ancient city proves to be more difficult, especially when she catches the eye of a charismatic Portuguese trader named Duarte de Costa Aguiar --- rumored to be involved in piracy. Meanwhile, Paula meets a beautiful Greek woman named Irene de Volos. A merchant's wife, Irene's home includes a library that is a haven for female scholars. As rumors swirl and danger brews, Paula uncovers startling clues that lead her on an unbelievable quest of discovery involving a dark history, love and secrets of the Other Kingdom. Told through the perspective of Paula (the bookish sister), CYBELE'S SECRET is the highly anticipated companion to WILDWOOD DANCING. Thrilling and emotional, this romantic adventure will leave readers hoping for more stories featuring the family of Piscul Dracului. --- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle

A fantastic story of romance, intrigue, and destiny

Cybele's Secret is the unabridged audiobook version of the historical fantasy novel by Aurealis Award-winning author Juliet Marillier. Paula looks forward to accompanying her father to Istanbul on a special mission to acquire a one-of-a-kind artifact, but a hostile cult makes their trip a deadly serious affair when her father's colleagues is found murdered. Furthermore, Paula is drawn to figure out the mysterious riddle behind Cybele's legendary treasure - can she discover the secret before it's too late? A fantastic story of romance, intrigue, and destiny, Cybele's Secret is highly recommended for listeners of all ages as well as public library fantasy collections.

Phenomenal!

I just finished reading this amazing book and I have chills on my arms, it is so good. Run and buy this book for you are a woman of any age- Mom or daughter you will love it. The cast of characters- Paula, Duarte and Stoyan are amazing. I had not previously read Wildwood Dancing, but I had no trouble getting immersed in this story. Action, adventure, fantasy and most of all a wonderful romance, this book has it all. Paula grows and mature through the course of the story and she has to choose between two very different men. The dashing, erudite and handsome pirate, and the scarred, illiterate farmboy/bodyguard. OMG, this book defines romance- the growing together of two people through love and trust and of course physical attraction. Straight romance novels focus so much on the physical aspect that true love gets lost by the wayside. This book was so romantic and tender, and set in a wonderfully exotic location of Istanbul. Please buy it, I promise you won't regret it, even if you are way beyond the YA age group, as I am! I hope we get more books set in this world by this wonderful author.

Cybele's Secret

I loved "Wildwood Dancing", so I was thrilled when I saw that Juliet Marillier was writing a sequel (or companion) to it. The main character this time is Paula. We don't see too much of the other sisters (Jena, Iulia, or Stela), as Paula leaves them behind to travel with their merchant father to Istanbul as his assistant. Paula and her father, Teodor, are hoping to purchase a legendary artifact related to the ancient cult of Cybele. The artifact has an air of The Holy Grail to it: nobody is exactly sure what it is, but everybody wants it. They aren't the only merchants in the running, however, and some are not above violence and murder. Paula, ever the scholar, tries to learn more about Cybele and the mysterious artifact. In Istanbul, where women are hardly allowed out in public, to say nothing of their educations, Paula finds an intellectual sanctuary in the home of Irene of Volos, an influential as well as a respected woman of intellect. It is in Irene's library that Paula receives clues to discovering Cybele's Secret, and the quest she needs to embark upon in order to succeed in her search. Paula finds herself back in the Other Kingdom, where she thought never to return, in a quest filled with eerie dangers and hairbreadth escapes. As a whole, I really enjoyed "Cybele's Secret". The characters are well-developed, and Paula particularly, is marvelously written. I liked the fact that she wasn't perfect, and didn't try to convince the reader otherwise. BUT, there is an extremely fine line between brilliant and ridiculous, and Juliet Marillier definitely wavered along it in some parts of this book. Towards the end, things started feeling a little rushed and haphazard. I felt that "Cybele's Secret" lacked some of the quality of Juliet Marillier's previous works (all of which I have read and loved). There are some important parts that lack a good explanation. The plot was also a trifle predictable. Despite the various "buts", I have no regrets in purchasing "Cybele's Secret". Juliet Marillier has a knack for characterization and relationships: familial and romantic. And who can help but fall in love with the gorgeous Kinuko Y. Craft cover? "Cybele's Secret" gets a hearty recommendation from me. There is originality and better-than-your-average-fantasy-novel here.