Day of the Scarab

by Catherine Fisher

Book Overview

Since the destruction of the Oracle, madness reigns in the Two Lands--and his name is General Argelin. The self-appointed king is destroying his enemies, human and god alike. Seth and the Jackal secretly gather a group of resisters, risking all in an attempt to save the Two Lands from Argelin's tyranny and from the new power he controls in the sign of the scarab. Their last hope lies in the Underworld. Mirany, the young priestess, can lead them on...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060571659
• ISBN13: 9780060571658
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

reminiscent of the Andre Norton young adult tales

General Argelin, after killing Hermia, one of the Nine and Speaker for the god, crowns himself king and Archon. The real Archon returns from the Well of Songs to see his people caught in a stranglehold by the dictator who rules with an iron fist and his mercenary army. The Nine are scattered; Mirany the new Speaker is in while Argelin destroys all pictures, paintings, books describing the Rain Queen, the goddess of the kingdom of death who he blames for Hermia's demise. Seth, a scribe takes a job as Argelin's assistant in the hopes of finding a way to free the people. The Emperor's fleet stays off the coast because his heir prince Jamil is held hostage. A way is found for the king to travel to the underworld to try and free Hermia from the Rain Queen. He takes Alexos the Archon (god on earth), Mirany and their ally the musician Oblek to the realm of the dead while Seth is chosen as the new Speaker until Mirany returns. Seth gathers an unusual group of allies in the hopes of saving the land from the god, the emperor and his soldiers. What began in SNOW WALKER and continued in the ORACLE BETRAYED comes to a glorious conclusion in DAY OF THE SCARAB. This book is reminiscent of the Andre Norton young adult tales that were enjoyed by an adult audience. The characterizations are superb and there is plenty of action and adventures to maintain readers' interest but it is the theme of good vs. evil that will resonate with the audience who sees that there are shades of gray in each individual so they are not all good or all evil. Harriet Klausner