Secret Sacrament

by Sherryl Jordan

Book Overview

Dreams. Vows. Prophecies. Destiny. The Navoran Empire is wealthy, powerful - -and slowly falling under the sway of the Empress's corrupt and sinister adviser. The Shinali nation has been reduced to a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006028904X
• ISBN13: 9780060289041
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Secret Sacrament

With SECRET SACRAMENT, New Zealand teen fiction writer Sherryl Jordan adds richly to her fantasy oeuvre. In her convincingly realized world, two nations --- one powerful, one weak --- live side by side. One inhabits a vast empire; the other, a narrow strip of land. The Navorans are civilized (or so they think). The Shinali are traditional, living their lives as peaceful hunter-gatherers. Enter the unlikely hero, Gabriel Eshban Vala, toss in a prophecy and words like destiny, vows, and dreams, and you have the makings of a perfect fantasy --- a fantasy in which one man will bring about both destruction and rebirth. Born the son of a wealthy merchant-mariner, Gabriel is to take over his father's thriving business one day. But when he witnesses a brutal act committed against a Shinali women, he is inextricably bound to a different destiny. Highly intuitive by nature, Gabriel is a born healer, a vocation he pursues despite his father's demands. His gift as a healer is finally legitimized when he is accepted into the Citadel, the most esteemed institution in the land. He is soon in league with the powerful of the empire, including Empress Petra herself, who comes to rely on his ability to interpret dreams. In gaining her favor, he makes powerful enemies and witnesses firsthand the corruption that is weakening the empire, rotting it from the inside out. Soon, he will be called upon to make a choice --- a choice that will threaten Navora, his beloved Shinali, and his very life. Who will prevail? --- Reviewed by Tammy L. Currier

This is one of my favorites-Top 5

Secret Sacrament is an awesome book! I have read three times already and still every time I turn the next page I get excited and want to keep going. Sherryl Jordan is an awesome author and is one of the many that inspire me. This book is a fantasy that kids of all ages will enjoy! I sure did. I recommend this book along with The Raging Quiet. A book also by Sherryl Jordan. It is Awesome!

Beautiful Sacrament

First of all, I'd like to start by saying that this book is one of the most beautifully written and poignant stories I've ever read, and I've read quite a few. I was most amazed that most people haven't heard of this book, and it hasn't gotten nearly the amount of publicity it ought to have gotten. It truly was a buried treasure, and I am so lucky I found it.Jordan does a wonderful job with the language in this novel. The writing is clear, simple, and easy to understand, yet is incredibly descriptive. The wording is so colorful, I could almost feel the wind on my face as I stood beside Gabriel on the city walls, overlooking the bustling markets...and it only starts there. Although this is a fantasy novel, the historical and political references had implications even a child couldn't ignore. Thoughts of the persecuted native Americans, the Roman empire, and Jesus Christ were only a few of the historical concepts going through my head as I read this novel, which not only brought the story to life and made it more realistic, but also brought the story close to home, for I'm sure not only myself. I won't waste time by writing a full synopsis, but the main points to know are that Gabriel is a tormented hero who, ever since he was a child, has wanted to be a healer. He is kind, patient, and above all, flawed yet fundamentally good, which makes him grow on the reader and regard him with close empathy even at the beginning of the story. The rest of the characters were incredibly endearing, also- Ashila and the wise Sheel Chandra, for example. Not only were famous historical allusions made, but many personal difficulties and home life troubles were brought to attention in this story. Gabriel dealt with an unfeeling father who was often away from home, as well as overbearing uncles. Gabriel's mother was an excellent example of what I loved about the story's characters- she was a fundamentally sweet and kind woman who was overly controlled by her husband, yet, despite her weakness, she was not a totally meek and mild person. No one in Secret Sacrament is black-and-white, good and evil. Everyone has some good and bad in them, making all the characters charmingly realistic.I recommend this book for readers of all ages, however, I think it's fair to say that there is some sex, though it is not too graphic and is quite beautiful, as well as this is a heart-wrenching story which had me weeping in the last few chapters, as Gabriel becomes a martyr for his people. If you are interested in a completely beautiful and amazingly well-written story, though, I recommend Secret Sacrament with all my heart.

Unlike any other book I've read

When I finished this book I sat back and said "wow". I have to say three days later, when I was re-living Gabriels story I cried. I didn't cry during the book, but after! I'm crazy. Well, most AWESOME books on my A List make me want to read them so fast that I miss half the meaning and never fully capture the essence of the book. This book however, was one where I read it, then I thought about it and I was never bored. I dunno what else to say. I wanted to write this just to make even 1 person read this wonderful book. Im not very good with words....But, lol, READ THIS PLEASE! Thanks a million!

Sherryl Jordan outshines herself

"In this luminous fantasy, Sherryl Jordan surpasses her award-winning novel The Raging Quiet with a vividly realized story that centers on a young healer, the evocatively named Gabriel, as he moves inexorably toward fulfilling his destiny with a heroic sacrifice." So begins the editorial review above. But Sherryl Jordan actually wrote Secret Sacrament BEFORE The Raging Quiet. It was published in 1996 and shortlisted in the Aim Awards (as I think they were then called) for 1997. In my opinion it should have won not only the award for Best Book for Older Readers but should also have won overall Book-of-the-Year. But then I almost invariably find myself disappointed in the choices made by the judges of New Zealand's most prestigious annual book awards. A recent addition to these awards is a children's choice. Unfortunately, instead of allowing children to choose from books published during the year, they're given ONLY the shortlisted books from which to choose. Not much better than Hobson's Choice, quite frankly. The children's choice is also invariably a picture book. I wish more encouragement would be given to readers who've gone beyond needing their fiction illustrated. Anyway, back to Secret Sacrament. It's a totally engrossing read for both teenagers and adults. You will never forget Gabriel and even adults will want to keep the book so they can rediscover its delights years later.