Product Description

A hero’s journey...a clash between worlds....With magical storytelling, this series vividly creates an intricate world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #336430 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: School & Library Binding
• 248 pages

From School Library Journal
Gr 5-7-Nix picks his adventure up in midstride, sending renegade aristocrat Tal from the lowest depths of the immense, sunless Castle in which he has spent most of his young life to one of its highest peaks, and dispatching Tal's warrior companion, Milla, back to her ice-dwelling people with a warning that the Veil protecting the world from the deadly shadowrealm Aenir is weakening. As the author has created a very complex world in previous volumes, and the plot has gone too far to recapitulate easily, readers new to the series will flounder; still, the pace seldom lets up. Tal's affable but dim-witted "Spiritshadow" Adras makes a comic foil worthy of a Disney movie, and-sure sign of a Nix tale-the various uglies, from Waspwyrms and Dretch to archfiend Shadowmaster Sushin, are thoroughly bone-chilling. After plenty of narrow squeaks, exciting chase scenes, and stunning revelations (but no resolutions), fans will be eager for episode five: and voil…! It's already out.

John Peters, New York Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Up and above
Things get more intense in "Above the Veil," a pivotal point in Garth Nix's Seventh Tower series. New alliances are forged, new information is found, and the endangered Milla takes the biggest risk of her life. While not quite the most gripping, this book hints at future apocalyptic events further on in the series.

Tal and Milla have just returned to Aenir, and end up falling in with a group of rebel Underfolk, who are determined to rise above the nasty caverns where they live. He also finds Jarnil, a blinded Chosen who was thought to be dead, and the ringleader of the rebels. With his help -- and the discovery that the Codex is wandering around the Castle.

Elsewhere. Milla leaves the Castle to return to the Icecarls. Since she now has a Spiritshadow, she knows that they will kill her. However, the Crones come to a decision about Milla that will change their culture forever. And at the Castle, Tal and the belligerent Underfolk Crow uncover the secrets of the Keystones -- a secret guarded by the inhuman Sushin.

"Above the Veil" is one of those books that serves mainly to set up the action of future novels. Garth Nix's creepy fantasy elements and taut writing keep it from being one long boring infodump. And by the ending, some very important events have taken place.

Nix also reveals more about the Underfolk, and their lives as semi-slaves under the Castle, as well as the natural resentment they have toward the privileged Chosen. Nix's intense writing is well-suited to scenes like Milla being attacked by a fellow Icecarl, or our heroes being attacked by venomous water spiders. There are a few moments of comedy, usually from Uncle Ebbitt, but not many.

Tal and Milla have both changed dramatically. Tal has already learned to appreciate the warlike Icecarls, and now he has to accept the Underfolk, which he always took for granted. Milla also has grown up, although her sense of honor and loyalty is unchanged. Crow isn't nearly as likable -- he's even more bigoted than Tal was originally. But Nix makes it understandable why that is.

The fourth Seventh Tower book, "Above the Veil," begins the buildup to the final battle of the series. Epic, creepy and pivotal.

The Seventh Tower Series' Above the Veil (Book 4)
Tal and Milla have successfully returned from Aenir and infiltrated the Castle. They are hidden with a group of renegade Underfolk, who call themselves Freelies. Milla leaves to complete her quest by going to the Shield Mother, which is easier said than done. When she is wounded, she forces herself into the tenth Rokvir breathing pattern, one which will get the user to the end of their task, and then the user will die. She is attacked by a Shield Maiden because of her unnatural shadow, Odris, and ends up slaying her to continue on her journey. When she finally gets there, she must be revived. If the Shield Mothers cannot, Milla will die. Meanwhile, Tal and Crow, a Freelie leader, are climbing the Red Tower, when suddenly they penetrate the Veil and Crow falls because of the Sun's sudden light. What will become of them? Read Garth Nix's book, Above the Veil!

My favorite part of this book was the part where Tal and Crow were getting the Red Keystone with the Guardian, Lokar, trapped in it. Every triumph for Tal was a triumph for the reader, and this, even if it was a medium-paced book, was still quite exciting and interesting. I hope that you enjoy this book!

The Seventh Tower Series' Above the Veil (Book 4)
Tal and Milla have successfully infiltrated the Castle. They are hidden with a group of renegade Underfolk, who call themselves Freelies. Milla leaves to complete her quest, by going to the Shield Mother. Easier said than done describes it best. When she is wounded, she forces herself into the tenth Rokvir breathing pattern, one which will get the user to the end of their task, and then the user will die. She is attacked by a Shield Maiden, and ends up slaying her to continue on her journey. When she gets there, finally, she must be revived. If the Shield Mothers cannot, Milla will die. Meanwhile, Tal and Crow are climbing the Red Tower, when suddenly, they penetrate the Veil and Crow falls, because of the Sun's sudden light. What will become of them? Read Garth Nix's book, Above the Veil!

My favorite part of this book was the part where Tal and Crow were getting the Red Keystone with Lokar trapped in it. Every triumph for Tal was a triumph for the reader, and this, even if it was a medium-paced book, was still quite exciting and interesting. I hope that you enjoy this book!