The Sight
David Clement-Davies
In a cave in Transylvania, two wolf cubs are born, one white, one black. Could the white cub, Larka, be the white wolf that heralds the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy? Larka's mother's sister, a powerful and evil wolf named Morgra, thinks so, and in her anger and her hunger for power, she curses Larka and her family. Morgra has the power of the Sight, an ability to see far things and to see through the eyes of animals, but she seeks the ultimate power foretold in the prophecy.
As Larka's family flees, trying to escape both Morgra and the prophecy, they encounter danger after danger as the prophecy, and Morgra's curse, seem to be coming true. They are also pursued by a pack of rebel wolves forming a greater wolf pack under a harsh leader named Slavka. Slavka seeks to wipe out belief in the Sight, the prophecy, and all superstition, and Larka's family is caught in the middle between Slavka and Morgra. As Morgra calls forth the power of Wolfbane, the evil one, can the love of the family overcome Morgra's ambitions and the prophecy itself?
This is an incredibly rich, detailed and complex book. The story is deep and moving, drawing on many sources including Christianity, history, folklore, and fairy tales. Clement-Davies brings to life the wilderness of the Carpathian mountains and the lives of the animals with beautifully expressive language and metaphor. There are some interesting plot twists that caught me by surprise, and that's not easy to do.
This is not an easy book to read; with its complicated plot and detailed language, it may be challenging for some young people. I was a little put off by the message, which seems a little heavy in the last part of the book. But in general, teens who are good readers and who enjoy a richly imagined animal fantasy will find a lot to like about this book.
A sequel to The Sight, Fell, will be published this month by Amulet Books.
16 comments:
Hi Sheila! Sorry to not see you on the roster for Chicago! Hope to meet at another event some day. Cheers!
Yeah, I'm disappointed that I won't be able to come and meet everyone. But it's not in the finances right now. Have a great time! I'll look forward to reading the blog reports, and maybe I can come next time.
Aah! Laini Taylor! Famous amazing author people! *dies*
If you by some miracle you happen to see this, can I please have Backbiter? That is the most amazing dagger in the world. :P
The Sight was such an amazing (if horribly depressing) book. I checked it out from the library once, but it was put on hold and I had to return it before I could finish it. So I bought it. It was incredible. I also got and read Fire Bringer, and I now have The Telling Pool, which I will start soon... I need Fell now.
I later learned that the person who checked out The Sight after me was someone I had just made best friends with at school. :P
Anyways, I recommend The Sight to all fantasy lovers who can stand this much darkness. The writing is amazing, and I love the way the wolves and the Sight are portrayed. I really loved how the Sight was shown as not just a misunderstood gift, but as an actual burden with both its bad sides and its bonuses. A very original book, and I hope someone who hasn't read the book sees this and reads it, because you must.
Hi Spirithunter,
You're right that The Sight was pretty dark. I enjoyed it, but it's not a book for people who don't like sadness in books.
And it is cool that Laini Taylor stopped by and commented on my blog!
It is cool. I'd better get to meet her some time, cuz I live right next door to Portland. :P Blackbringer was such a cool book, I love the spells... and the moonlight... I can't wait for Silksinger. Do you know when that'll be released?
I don't know, Spirithunter, but you could keep an eye on her blog:
http://growwings.blogspot.com/
She might announce it there when there is an official date.
Heya! Um, im a middle school girl and my friend lauren let me borrow the book over the weekend..ive read some of it but i accidentally left it in my locker bcuz we had a dance XD im probably gonna buy it so i dont have to worry about finishing it yet.Its AWESOME i love wolves and fiction, and the christian metaphor almost makes it like narnia...
omgh this book was amazing, i can't believe how it ended, and how humanly david made the wolves. I loved the unique names, and how touching this book was.
i loved your awesome review shelia. thx
Thanks for the compliment on my review, tylerdude. You're right, it was a touching book.
what is the theme of the sight?
i love the book , but i wnat to know what the message behind it is.
what is the theme/ message of the book? i can't figure it out :(
what's the theme/message?
ps. i love this book!
I also think this is an amazing and rather heartbreaking book. Also, I've been trying to figure out the theme of this book as well, and I'm thinking it could be something like, "Just because someone was mistaken and wrong, we can’t have the world live forever in hatred and guilt and darkness; hate is the betrayer, for it feeds on itself. We have to learn to forgive and to show compassion, and to love. But love takes responsibility, and to really love one another, we first must see, and understand suffering."
I looked mostly at what Larka said to Morgra at the end of the book, and I combined most of the messages I found...I don't know if this is really what the author intended, but it's what I think. Anyone have a different opinion? I'd like to know :)
okay so I have to post this review about the Sight on some kind of book blogging site thing for my english class so here we go:
*Plot - (no problem) Larka and Fell are born and life for the pack is good. (problem) Larka is discovered to posses the Sight. (problem solved) Larka masters the power of the Sight and sacrifices herself to save Bran and all Lera. (may opinion about the plot) its interesting and packed with action and conflict.
*Theme (wich i found on this site *thanks person btw and i did site you*) "Just because someone was mistaken and wrong, we can’t have the world live forever in hatred and guilt and darkness; hate is the betrayer, for it feeds on itself. We have to learn to forgive and to show compassion, and to love. But love takes responsibility, and to really love one another, we first must see, and understand suffering." (opinion of theme) I agree with the theme I found. Larka’s whole life revolved around putting others before herself. She learns to forgive man for all the cruel things they have done to the world.
*Setting - Transylvania. (opinion of setting) I think that having the setting somewhere foreign and surrounded by all the haunting legions makes the book more exciting and mysterious.
* Characters -
Larka - Possesses the Sight and learns to control it
Fell - Larka’s brother, lost in ice and brought up by Morgra as Wolfbane, also possessing the Sight
Bran - A human child stolen from a village to help Larka fore fill the prophecy
Morgra - Possesses the sight, and her goal is to enslave all Lera
Kar - an orphan brought to the pack by Skop
Searchers - Ghosts of all dead wolves, live in the red meadow
The Balker - The Balkar are a group of Draggas who do Morgra's bidding, Before, they were led by Tratto.
Huttser - Larka and Fell’s father and the Alpha of the pack
Palla - Larka and Fell’s mother and the Drappa of the pack
Brassa - The oldest member in the pack and a nurse to Palla ans Skop
Skop - Palla’s brother and the one who brought Kar to the pack
Tratto - a great Dragga who let all wolves live in peace and freedom, who then was murdered by Morgra.
(opinion of characters) I think that all of the characters were very realistic and believable
* Point of View - It stayed in third person throughout the book. (opinion) It flowed really well and it was easy to read
*****all in all my review is that it is a fantastic book and even though everyone says its very dark, I don't find that it is..well I love David Clement-Davis books and this was the first book I read by him and I fell in love. It's a great book and I suggest you read it if you are in to mystery, adventure, talking animals, prophecies, and according to everyone else, books on the darker side.
okay so I have to post this review about the Sight on some kind of book blogging site thing for my english class so here we go:
*Plot - (no problem) Larka and Fell are born and life for the pack is good. (problem) Larka is discovered to posses the Sight. (problem solved) Larka masters the power of the Sight and sacrifices herself to save Bran and all Lera. (may opinion about the plot) its interesting and packed with action and conflict.
*Theme (wich i found on this site *thanks person btw and i did site you*) "Just because someone was mistaken and wrong, we can’t have the world live forever in hatred and guilt and darkness; hate is the betrayer, for it feeds on itself. We have to learn to forgive and to show compassion, and to love. But love takes responsibility, and to really love one another, we first must see, and understand suffering." (opinion of theme) I agree with the theme I found. Larka’s whole life revolved around putting others before herself. She learns to forgive man for all the cruel things they have done to the world.
*Setting - Transylvania. (opinion of setting) I think that having the setting somewhere foreign and surrounded by all the haunting legions makes the book more exciting and mysterious.
*****all in all my review is that it is a fantastic book and even though everyone says its very dark, I don't find that it is..well I love David Clement-Davis books and this was the first book I read by him and I fell in love. It's a great book and I suggest you read it if you are in to mystery, adventure, talking animals, prophecies, and according to everyone else, books on the darker side.
I absolutely loved the book, David Clement-Davise is an amazing writer... the book was full of very many unexpected things of irony, and the depression and sadness was a reat contrast to the way he portrayed the wolves and the Sight. The descriptions were completely beutiful, and at one point i forgot i was reading and thought i was watching TV. :P i am really intrested in reading and possibly purchasing all of his books or similar books. Anyone have a list? Of books for me? That'd be much appreciated. ^^
I kinda would like to do some art for this book, i love to draw the wolfies :D (i'm not the best though :P) Please feel free to contact me:3
me.notu@hotmail.com
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