Foxmask

By Juliet Marillier

At his coming of age, Thorvald learns a shocking secret about his parentage, and sets out on a perilous voyage in search of a father he has never known. His loyal friend, Creidhe, was never meant to be part of this desperate journey. But love works in strange ways.

In the Lost Isles they find a population gripped by terror. The Unspoken sing away the souls of the newborn and the chieftain of the isles answers to nobody. Creidhe and Thorvald become enmeshed in a battle for survival, in which they find themselves on opposing sides. For the future of the islands depends on a visionary child: the powerful seer Foxmask. Snatched away in infancy by a young kinsman, the boy is held in a place protected by ancient forces of nature. Before the summer is over, Thorvald and Creidhe will learn truths about themselves and about the world that will change them both forever.

Praise for Wolfskin:

'An engrossing and enjoyable tale' Starburst

'A powerful narrative...a truly rewarding experience' SFX

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Release date: Jul 6, 2011
• ISBN: 9781447204602

Juliet Marillier

Juliet Marillier was born in New Zealand and brought up in Dunedin, the ‘Edinburgh of the South’. She has a passionate interest in Celtic music and Irish folklore. A mother of two daughters and two sons, she lives in a rural area outside Perth in Western Australia.

Reviews for Foxmask

[jennybeast · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I respect what Juliet Marillier is trying to do with both this book and Wolfskin -- but it's really hard to translate icelandic saga into contemporary fantasy. I think she does a better job of it than anyone else, but I also think her ya book are more readable, somehow. Not really less complex, but somehow more engaging, and I think that has to do with how saga characters are portrayed. This one ends better than most, but I have a hard time investing my liking into a character that is obviously doomed in some way, and that is a hallmark of saga heroes.

[jen7waters · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Máscara de Raposa é a ovelha negra das obras da Juliet. Porquê? Não sei. A opinião geral é mais ou menos assim "Não me identifiquei muito com a Creidhe", ou "A Creidhe irrita-me um bocadinho". E porque será isto? Será porque a rapariga é a mais desperate housewife das protagonistas da autora? Será porque ela é apaixonadíssima por um idiota e não correspondida? Ou será porque é um bocadinho... sei lá o quê? Um absoluto mistério. Bem, Creidhe à parte, os machos desta trama também deixam algo a desejar; Thorvald é o tal idiota que em vez de dar graças aos céus pela mãe e pela Creidhe, prefere passar a vida a remoer no assunto Tadinho De Mim Que Não Conheço O Meu Pai; o Sam é outro louco enamorado não correspondido que admito, muito por culpa do seu nome, mas também pelo facto de ser o sidekick bonzinho-certinho-toninho faz constantemente lembrar o Sam do The Lord Of The Rings - versão filme - e por mais fofinhos que ambos sejam há algo que... não sei; o Guardião, o Guardião é o típico herói Marillierano, cavalheiro, forte, corajoso, modesto, muito apaixonado e com aquela faceta não-sou-bom-o-suficiente-para-aquela-deusa que derrete o coração quer da deusa, quer das leitoras. Para agravar o seu carácter, ele possui ainda um instinto paternal/fraternal super desenvolvido que vaporiza os corações derretidos anteriormente, e ainda assim, há qualquer coisa... não sei.Até hoje não sei se foi um percalço na tradução, ou então se a Juliet usou mesmo, mesmo aquele termo diga-se... chocante, se o comparar-mos com termos para descrever a mesma situação em obras anteriores (ufa). Não é incorrecto, é até biologica/anatomica/cientificamente o mais correcto (suponho), mas pronto... era escusado. Bah! Leiam-no:)

[infjsarah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am a huge fan of Juliet Marillier and along with "Dreamer's Pool" this novel "Foxmask" is my absolute favourites of her novels. I have just completed a reread via audio of it and it was wonderful. It has fabulous characters - it is full of tragedy, hope, love and it goes in directions you do not always expect. Yes, I was lost in fear of what would happen at times and I cried more than once. I loved it.

[whitewavedarling · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I normally sink into Juliet Marillier's books and have trouble putting them down almost immediately--within twenty pages, all I want to do is continue being dragged along in her words and worlds. The first book in this series, Wolfskin, was no different. I fell in love with the characters and the world, and was utterly fascinated for the duration of the novel.And yet, somehow... this finish to the two-book series didn't hold me like her other books have. It may be that the characters felt a bit younger and less mature (though I don't think they were meant to), or it may be that the first book just had such a hold on me that I wasn't ready to let those characters go so completely and focus on their children (though I expected it, knowing the author), but for whatever reason, I had a hard time keeping my focus on this one. In fact, through nearly the first half of it, I kept sort of wandering away from it to engage with other books, and though I kept coming back to it, I fear my returning was as much to do with habit and love of the author's works in general as it was to do with this particular story.In the last 100 or so pages, I couldn't put this book down, but I can't say it ever pulled together the same power as the other books I've read by Marillier, or even nearly the same power as the book that came before it in this series. I'm glad to have read it, and finished the series, but I don't think this is one I'll come back to, and it will probably keep this series from being the one it comes to mind to recommend when I think of the author.Certainly, I'd recommend it to readers of Wolfskin, but although it could probably be read on its own without too much difficulty, I'd only send readers in that direction, and tell them to come on to this one if they wanted the series wrap-up and to follow on with the children of the characters from the first book.

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Foxmask by Juliet Marillier is the sequel to her previous novel Wolfskin. Although connected, these two books could each stand alone. Combining both Viking and Celtic legends, these fantasies are a wonderful blend of magic and history with the end result being an atmospheric, multi-layered fantasy story. My only complaint about Foxmask was I felt the book could have delivered just as much impact with a hundred pages or so cut from it’s length. Although a little too wordy, this is a tale of loss and redemption, love and sacrifice, strength and weakness. The main character is Creidhe, a young girl who follows her heart in all matters. She stows away in order to follow Thorvald whom she has loved since girlhood. They, along with a friend, Sam, end up on the Lost Isles where they all go through enormous changes and each discover their own path in life. Creidhe has the most emotional journey, as the blinders fall away, and she discovers her true love, only to face loss and sadness.Foxmask is an engrossing, beautifully written story. Juliet Marillier writes in a lyrical manner and evokes such emotion that I readily admit being brought to tears over this story. Characters with depth, an intriguing plot and captivating writing are all details that I have come to expect from this author and in Foxmask she delivers all three.