07/30/2018
This standalone fantasy from Houck (the Tiger’s Curse series) focuses on 17-year-old witch Ember O’Dare and Jack, an immortal “lantern” whose soul resides inside a pumpkin and whose job it is to guard the crossroads linking the Otherworld to Ember’s sleepy village of Hallowell. Lanterns mustn’t leave their posts, but when roguish vampire Dev sneaks into the mortal realm and charms the witch into returning home with him, Jack follows—less to punish Dev for trespassing than to protect Ember, for whom he’s developed feelings from afar. Jack and Dev aren’t the only ones with designs on Ember: the Otherworld runs on energy derived from witches, making the powerful girl a priceless commodity. Houck’s adventure, a take on the legend of Sleepy Hollow, suggests alternate origin stories for Halloween and various monsters. Regrettably, capable female characters are forced to share the page with moody, macho suitors and over-the-top villains—and the book’s strengths (elaborate costumes, swoony romance, and a sumptuous, steampunk-inspired backdrop) fail to compensate for leaden pacing and murky stakes. Ages 14–up. Agent: Robert Gottlieb, Trident Media Group. (Sept.)
The Lantern's Ember
Narrated by Piper Goodeve
Colleen HouckUnabridged — 11 hours, 50 minutes
The Lantern's Ember
Narrated by Piper Goodeve
Colleen HouckUnabridged — 11 hours, 50 minutes
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Overview
Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It's difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern-one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. Jack has spent centuries jumping from town to town, ensuring that nary a mortal-or not-so-mortal-soul slips past him. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O'Dare.
Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack's warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire-and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos.
Colleen Houck, the New York Times bestselling author of the Tigers Curse series and Reawakened series, breathes new life into classic folklore in this wild, twisting adventure propelled by the spirit of Halloween.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for The Lantern's Ember:
"[Houck] offers a fresh spin on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow...with some genuine surprises in store."—Kirkus
"A wild and seductive adventure...a must-have for YA collections."—SLJ
Praise for the Reawakened Series:
"[A] must-read for thrill-seekers and fans of alternate worlds."—RT Book Reviews
"Rick Riordan fans who are looking for another series will delight in this fantasy."—SLJ
"Fans of paranormal romance will love the Egyptian spin on this story of devotion and sacrifice, and Lily's humor, combined with plentiful dangerous escapades, will keep readers engaged."—VOYA
"The author weaves her story out of Egyptian lore, cinematic magic, selfless love, and . . . is clever enough to remain surprising even to the last sentence."—Kirkus Reviews
"Wonderfully written and...the heart-pounding adventures are topped only by the heart-melting romance."—The Deseret News
"A sparkling new novel with a fully imagined world and mythos, and crackling romance! Egyptian mythology has never been this riveting!"—Aprilynne Pike, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wings series, on Reawakened, book one in the series
Praise for The Tiger's Curse Series:
New York Times Bestsellers
USA Today Bestsellers
Publishers Weekly Bestsellers
Parents' Choice Award Winners
"A sweet romance and heart-pounding adventure . . . In short, Tiger's Curse is magical!"—Becca Fitzpatrick, New York Times bestselling author of Hush, Hush
"The hot new romance-adventure series of 2011 . . ."—Teen Magazine
"Epic, grand adventure rolled into a sweeping love story . . ." -Sophie Jordan, author of Firelight
07/01/2018
Gr 8 Up—This plot-driven, supernatural romantic thriller injects the moodiness of the "Sleepy Hollow" legend into a wild and seductive adventure. Jack made a deal with the devil 500 years ago and is serving a sentence guarding the portals to the Otherworld. When the stubborn, 17-year-old witch Ember O'Dare ignores Jack's warnings not to cross into the forbidden plane of the underworld, chaos ensues. Jack must do everything in his power to return Ember to the mortal world as the fates of the earthly and unearthly realms hang in the balance. Readers will find Ember brave, courageous, sexually confident, and independent. Likewise, secondary characters—like the mysterious and debonair vampire, Deverell—add to the emotional impact of Ember's journey into the dazzling futuristic, yet dangerous Otherworld. This epic, heart-pounding paranormal love story contains a little bit of everything—black cats, cauldrons, ghosts, trolls, spiders, mad scientists, werewolves, jack o' lanterns, vampires, pirates, skeletons, and more. VERDICT Recommended for fans of the author's "Tiger's Curse" and "Reawakened" series and a must-have for YA collections.—Angelina Bair, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, OH
Piper Goodeve’s talents are showcased in this young adult fantasy. Charged with safeguarding a portal to the Otherworld, Jack has dutifully performed his job for hundreds of years. Things change when he crosses paths with the young witch Ember O’Dare. When Ember slips Jack’s protection and finds her way into the Otherworld without his help, he leaves his post to save her. Goodeve’s even cadence, pleasing tone, and articulate narration make for an appealing production. As she provides voices befitting each character, her skillful portrayal highlights each of their unique personalities. Full of emotion, her performance vividly captures the magical world, aurally illustrating the tale, and drawing listeners deeper into Ember and Jack’s story. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
2018-06-18
Houck's (Tiger's Dream, 2018, etc.) new adventure offers a fresh spin on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"…and a few more tales besides.Jack, once mortal, is a lantern, conscripted into service by a devil 500 years ago, who watches over one of the crossroads leading from the human realm into the Otherworld. Now his soul resides in the pumpkin that is constantly by his side. He's kept an eye on the village witch, Ember O'Dare, since she was a girl, because witches are very sought after by those in the Otherworld, which is powered by witchlight. When Ember, now 17, meets Jack, it's instant sparks, and he's desperate to keep her safe. When Ember is offered a trip to the Otherworld by the charming, and not quite trustworthy, vampire Deverell "Dev" Blackbourne, she jumps at the opportunity, but she may be in over her head, and Jack, with Ember's friend Finney in tow, heads into the Otherworld to find her. What follows is a race through a world technologically light years ahead of the human realm, full of all manner of supernatural beings, skyships, and plenty of swashbuckling derring-do. A love triangle adds tension, but the real fun lies in spotting Houck's inventive riffs on a ton of monster myths (and other stories) along the way. A bit overstuffed but fun nonetheless, with some genuine surprises in store. (Fantasy. 12-17)
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940172684753 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HighBridge Company |
| Publication date: | 01/28/2020 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
Read an Excerpt
Chapter 1
Crossroads
Jack sat on top of the covered bridge in his favorite spot, his arm draped over his carved pumpkin. The gourd wasn’t his first choice to house the ember of his immortality, but then again, he’d never really been given a choice.
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard of foolish men who’d made deals with the devil. During every scary story he’d been told as a child on long winter nights, he’d clutched his covers to his throat imagining frightening specters, red demons, or wicked-clawed ghouls looming out of swaying shadows, ready to snatch up unmindful children and trick them with beguiling words. His imagination never came close to the truth. And he’d certainly never envisioned those devils walking earth as mere men, dressed as pirates, storing stolen souls in harvest vegetables.
The devil who’d conscripted him five hundred years ago was named Rune. Jack barely remembered the town he was attempting to save by negotiating with Rune, or the boy he’d been when he’d done it. Now all the villagers were long dead. But not Jack. He wasn’t so lucky. Instead, Jack was stuck in a monotonous job, the same job Rune once had. And Jack had the pleasure of looking forward to another five hundred years of doing exactly the same thing day in and day out.
It wasn’t like the job was too difficult. It was mostly quiet, but when it wasn’t, he did everything from exporting entire herds of gremlins, to clearing caves full of werewolves, to capturing a flock of Otherworld bats. Jack had even done the highly dangerous job of evicting a nest of half-breed vampires from an underground necropolis, entirely on his own.
Admittedly, the swaggering pirate Rune had come to Jack’s aid a time or two, helping him avert what could have been disasters. But Jack quickly learned he didn’t appreciate how Rune handled mortals. Too many of them died or went insane under his care.
Eventually, Jack ended up at his current assignment, a quiet New England town called Hallowell that butted up against one of the most boring, sleepy crossroads in the entirety of the Otherworld. Rune had probably thought Jack would complain about the placement, but the town was pretty, if small. There were plenty of large oaks and maples, elms and dogwood trees to offer him shade during the day. And in the fall the colors were beautiful. There was something to be said for a quiet life.
It was lonely, but Jack was used to being alone.
He was about to summon his horse so he could ride through the forest while the red, orange, and yellow fall leaves rained down upon his head, when he heard a noise.
“Must you sit all the way up there?” Rune groused, emerging from the covered bridge and looking up at him. Smoke trailed in after the large man, pooling around his polished boots and caressing his ankles with long fingers. Stepping forward, Rune peeled off black leather gloves and stroked his short, boxed beard, shaved in thin lines and curls. “Someone could get past you before you could intervene. Besides, I hate craning my neck to have a conversation.”
Jack shrugged. “I like keeping my pumpkin far from the road, so there’s no risk it could get trampled on. Besides, I’d hear someone long before they got close.” Jack’s pumpkin never aged or decomposed, but it could be broken, and that made his soul vulnerable.
“Yes.” Rune fingered his firefly-shaped earring, a far better choice of vessels for a lantern to hide his ember than a fat orange gourd. He smiled up at Jack. The shaggy hair that slipped from his careless queue hung down to his shoulders, dark, except for a white streak that fell across his eyes. “I suppose, then, that’s a wise choice.”
“What do you want, Rune?” Jack asked.
“There’s been a rumor.”
“About?”
“Your town. It would seem a witch wind is blowing and it’s coming from your crossroad.”
“My crossroad?” Jack said, leaping down with his pumpkin and landing easily next to Rune, feeling thin and pale next to Rune’s sun-kissed tan and deep-V silk shirt. “Are you certain?”
All the lanterns were apprised when a witch wind blew. The Lord of the Otherworld gathered winds from the mortal world in a great funnel. Most of the time, the winds blowing through the crossroads were normal, but every so often, a special wind blew, indicating that a witch had grown strong enough not only to enter the Otherworld but to undo it completely. Unless the witch was captured and his or her energy contained, the Otherworld as they knew it could be destroyed. Only one witch was permitted in the Otherworld. She was trusted not just to avoid destroying it, but also to run it. She was the high witch, the Lord’s wife, and provider of all the magical energy in that realm. All others were a dreadful danger.
“There are whispers,” Rune insisted. “Whispers in the wind of a powerful witch. One much more skillful than any you or I have dealt with before.” Rune’s own light glowed brighter, his earring winking as his dark skin brightened showing the skeleton lying beneath.
Jack sighed. “You must be mistaken,” he said. “I’ve peered beneath the skin of every citizen of this town. There’s not a drop of witch blood among them.” He was relieved to be able to tell Rune the absolute truth for once. Hallowell was full of very content, happy mortals.
“It’s not that I’m doubting your abilities, Jack,” Rune said, giving him a meaningful look that made Jack wince. “I just need to verify it for myself. You understand.”
Jack waved his hand in resignation and Rune sent his firefly high above the town. It zipped back and forth, pausing occasionally while the lantern himself stared into space, seeing through the eye of his light. His eyes glowed with a silver sheen and then finally dimmed.
“Told you,” Jack said. “Do you think it’s possible she got the location wrong? You could tell the high witch to look again.”
“If a witch wind is blowing, you can be sure there’s a witch or warlock out there. Look, I’m just asking you to watch. Be on your guard. And, if you see something, let me know.” He clapped Jack on the back. “Don’t worry, son; if you can’t finish the job, I’ve always got your back.”
Jack frowned, bristling at the slight. “Fine. I’ll send word if I find any trace of a witch,” Jack said.
“You do that.”
Rune left and Jack was too distracted to head off on his morning ride after all. Jack sat thinking about how strange it was for a witch wind to blow in his territory three times. Most lanterns never even had it happen once, but he’d been there when witches were detected at both Roanoke and Salem. It didn’t make sense. Perhaps he was just terribly unlucky.
He was thinking about it all day as he walked the borders of the town, and into the evening as he settled down for the night on top of his bridge. The light flickered in his pumpkin and he turned it so he could trace the eyes with his fingertip. He’d long ago hollowed out the orange globe and carved a smiling face. His only companion on long days and even longer nights. It comforted him to see his ember’s glow in the pumpkin’s expression. The light warmed him, giving him hope that somehow, somewhere, there was a spark of freedom waiting for him, even if it was at the end of a very long, weary road.
Jack had just fallen asleep when he heard the thunder of hooves on the road leading to town. Summoning his black stallion, he leapt off the bridge and onto the monstrous horse’s back as it materialized from the Otherworld, nostrils steaming and eyes glowing with fire. The horse reared and Jack, with the pumpkin tucked beneath his arm, kicked the horse’s sides, and they galloped toward the road.
He stopped on the hill and saw a carriage, shiny and new, a fine pair of horses pulling it quickly down the path. Jack chose not to show himself, but sent a moaning wind that frightened the driver who glanced right and left and cracked his whip to make the team run faster.
Jack, the lantern, sat and watched as the carriage made its way to town. Just as it passed him, the curtain moved and a small, white face was lit by a moonbeam. It was a wide-eyed little girl, her brown hair curled in ringlets. She pressed her hands against the glass and her pink mouth opened in a circle as she stared right at him.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "The Lantern's Ember"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Colleen Houck.
Excerpted by permission of Random House Children's Books.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
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