Product Details
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, August 2011
Hardcover, 416 pages
ISBN-10: 1442420049
ISBN-13: 9781442420045
Grades: 7 and up
Read an Excerpt
Chapter 1
Description
High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.
It’s all a fake.
At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?
But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—
Are about him.
It’s all a fake.
At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?
But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—
Are about him.
Read more:
Chapter 1* "Takes on faith, doubt, and dualities, exposing their flaws and strengths alike. Plot twists unfold at a riveting pace, the boys' characters are compellingly sketched, and Coakley explores her subject matter masterfully without falling prey to safe plot choices."
-- Publisher's Weekly July 11, 2011 *STAR
* "The rich language will enthrall female and male readers alike.”
-- Kirkus, July 15, 2011 *STAR
* "Coakley’s world comes to life with exquisite detail and imagery; readers will feel the chill of the frost and smell the crackling bonfires. High fantasy lovers will gobble up Witchlanders."
-- SLJ, December 2011, *STAR
"Fans of contemplative, psychologically rich (but no less action-packed) fantasies à la Ursula Le Guin will welcome this warm, inventive debut."
-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
PublishersWeekly.com, July 11, 2011
...Alicia Alonso: Prima Ballerina Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, illus. by Raúl Colón. Marshall Cavendish, $19.99 (64p) ISBN 978-0-7614-5562-2 Witchlanders Lena Coakley. S&S/Atheneum, $16.99 (416p) ISBN 978-1-4424-2004-5 Blood Wounds Susan Beth ...
PublishersWeekly.com, July 11, 2011
...Alicia Alonso: Prima Ballerina Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, illus. by Raúl Colón. Marshall Cavendish, $19.99 (64p) ISBN 978-0-7614-5562-2 Witchlanders Lena Coakley. S&S/Atheneum, $16.99 (416p) ISBN 978-1-4424-2004-5 Blood Wounds Susan Beth ...
