The Dark (Guardians of Time Book 2) - Hardcover

Curley, Marianne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1582348537 ISBN 13: 9781582348537

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, 2003

Synopsis

Ethan and Isabel, heroes from The Named, are on a more exciting journey than ever and are joined by Isabel's brother Matt, who is still getting accustomed to life in the Guard. Arkarian, their ageless mentor, has been kidnapped and sent by the Goddess of Chaos to a frighteningly dark underworld. His friends have been forbidden to rescue him, but and ever-increasing connection to Arkarian drives Isabel to convince Ethan and Matt that they must risk everything to find him, despite the consequences Each of the characters must face the demons of their inner-self and draw upon what they find in their hearts in order to succeed. Told from the perspective of both Isabel and Arkarian, this sequel stands on its own as a testament to the power of friendship and the strength of love.

About this title

About the Author:

Marianne Curley is the author of The Named and Old Magic (S&S). She is a native of Australia. She finds writing for young adults challenging and satisfying. She has three teenage children, whose conversations and experiences inspire her writing. They are also her fervent critics.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 7-9-A sequel to The Named (Bloomsbury, 2002), with ample introductions to characters and plot developments from that book. Lathenia controls the forces of the dark while her brother, Lorian, fights with the Named, nine ordinary humans with extraordinary gifts, to stop her. In this book, Arkarian, one of the most powerful of the Named, has been abducted and imprisoned by Lathenia in the furthest reaches of the Underworld. Isabel and Ethan, ordinary high school students by day and Guardians of Time by night, decide to attempt a rescue, joined by Isabel's brother Matt, newly Named but still untested and untrained in any special gift. Meanwhile, various combinations of the Named carry out several missions, visiting medieval France to protect the child who will become Arkarian's mother, and ancient Rome to prevent injury to Octavius, future emperor. Plot action dominates this story, with awkward attempts to add romance to the tangled relationships among the main characters. The novel is poorly written, with sentence fragments and awkward constructions popping up throughout. There is an incongruous use of knees and fists by characters who can send energy bolts from their fingertips, but it does give Isabel ample practice in using her gift of healing power on all the broken bones and bleeding wounds. Ultimately, several loose ends are tied up, but new questions arise that will presumably be addressed in the next installment of this series. There is enough action and excitement here to keep nondiscriminating readers involved, but little else.
Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
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About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1582348537
• ISBN 13: 9781582348537
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 333