Soul Eater (novel): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|2006 fantasy novel by Michelle Paver}} |
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{{about|the 2006 Michelle Paver novel|the anime and manga franchise|Soul Eater (manga)|other uses|Soul Eater (disambiguation)}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}{{more citations needed|date=February 2024}} |
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| author = [[Michelle Paver]] |
| author = [[Michelle Paver]] |
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| illustrator = [[Geoff Taylor]] |
| illustrator = [[Geoff Taylor (illustrator)|Geoff Taylor]] |
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| cover_artist = John Fordham |
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| country = |
| country = United Kingdom |
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| language = |
| language = English |
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| series = [[Chronicles of Ancient Darkness]] |
| series = ''[[Chronicles of Ancient Darkness]]'' |
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| genre = [[ |
| genre = [[children's literature|Children's]] [[adventure novel|adventure]], [[fantasy novel]] |
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| publisher = [[Orion Publishing Group|Orion Children's Books]] |
| publisher = 2006 [[Orion Publishing Group|Orion Children's Books]] |
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| media_type = Print ([[hardcover|hardback]] & [[paperback]]), audio book ([[compact disc|CD]] & [[compact cassette|cassette]]) |
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| release_date = 2005 |
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| english_release_date = |
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| isbn = 1-84255-170-1 |
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| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]]) & Audio book (CD & Cassette) |
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| preceded_by = [[Spirit Walker (novel)|Spirit Walker]] |
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| followed_by = [[Outcast (Paver novel)|Outcast]] |
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| followed_by = Outcast |
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}} |
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''Soul Eater'' is preceded by ''[[Wolf Brother]]'' (2004) and ''[[Spirit Walker (novel)|Spirit Walker]]'' (2005), and followed by ''[[Outcast (Paver novel)|Outcast]]'' (2007), ''[[Oath Breaker (novel)|Oath Breaker]]'' (2008), ''[[Ghost Hunter (Paver novel)|Ghost Hunter]]'' (2009), ''Viper's Daughter'' (2020), ''Skin Taker'' (2021), and ''Wolfbane'' (2022). |
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==Plot summary== |
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''It's winter, and Wolf, Torak's beloved pack-brother has been captured by an unknown foe. In a desperate bid to rescue him, Torak and Renn must brave the Far North. As they battle for survival amid howling blizzards and the ever present menace of the great white bear, their friendship is tested to breaking point, and Torak is forced to get closer to his enemies than ever before...'' - Soul Eater |
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Wolf gets kidnapped by a group of strangers and Torak and Renn track his captors northwards. During their journey, Torak spirit walks{{refn|group=note|As depicted in [[Spirit Walker (novel)|Spirit Walker]].}} in a raven, and discovers that the Soul Eaters, a group of evil mages, have captured Wolf. They follow them to the Far North, where they encounter Inuktiluk, leader of the White Fox Clan. They go with him to the White Fox Clan's camp, where the clan's mage tells them of a vision she has had, in which Torak is about to hit Wolf with an axe. Continuing their search for Wolf, they find the cave which the Soul-Eaters now inhabit. The mages are named as: Thiazzi, the Oak Mage; Nef, the Bat Mage; Seshru, the Viper Mage, and their chief Eostra, the Eagle Owl Mage. |
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Torak secretly changes places with a boy who is serving as an [[acolyte]] to the Soul Eaters. To maintain his disguise, Torak helps the Soul Eaters in their quest to release an army of demons, while Renn also enters their cave. While inside, Torak, after learning that his father once saved the Bat Mage's life, spirit walks in a bear and finds out where Wolf is. When Torak and Renn find Wolf, who is maddened by an injury to his tail and doesn't recognise them, they are forced to use Renn's axe to cut off Wolf's tail, fulfilling the mage's vision. They free all the animals which the Soul Eaters have been holding captive, but the Soul Eaters release demons in pursuit. Renn takes the Fire Opal, a religious artifact belonging to the Soul Eaters that can control demons, but as they flee, Torak and Renn become separated when Renn floats away on a piece of [[sea ice]]. Meanwhile, Torak becomes [[photokeratitis|snow blind]] and is captured by the Soul Eaters. |
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Renn's [[ice floe]] eventually halts, and she realises that the Fire Opal can be destroyed by being buried under stone while a life is sacrificed. She intends to kill herself to get rid of the Fire Opal, but before she can do so, Torak and the Soul Eaters arrive. Torak spirit walks inside an ice bear and attacks the Soul Eaters. Renn is about to jump but at the last minute, the Bat Mage sacrifices herself to fulfill her debt to Torak's father. Having escaped from the three remaining Soul Eaters, Torak, Renn and Wolf are rescued by Fin-Kedinn and Inuktiluk. They return to the forest together, and deduce that the fire opal which was buried with Nef was only one of three fragments. |
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== Translations == |
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''Soul Eater'' has been released in several languages including French, Dutch, Italian, [[Korean language|Korean]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} |
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== Reception == |
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Someone kidnaps Wolf, and Torak and Renn try to find him. They follow Wolf's kidnappers to the Far North, and someone in the White Fox Clan finds them. They go to the White Fox Clans camp and the Mage tells them about a vision of Torak about to hit Wolf with an axe. Renn had the vision also. They keep following Wolf and then Torak Spirit walks into a bird and sees that it is the Soul Eaters that captured Wolf. They get to a cave and Torak switches places with a boy who was going to help the Soul Eaters. He goes into the cave and has to help the Soul Eaters. Renn goes into the cave and hides. Torak spirit walks into a bear and finds where Wolf is. Torak and Renn find Wolf, but he doesn't recognize them because his tail is hurt. they have to use the axe to cut off his tail, and that's what the vision was. they free all the animals, but the Soul Eaters let the demons out. Renn takes the Fire Opal, and Torak and Renn get separated because Renn is on a piece of ice that floats away. She lands on some land, and is going to sacrifice herself to get rid of the Fire Opal, but at the last minute, the Bat Mage sacrifices herself ( to pay back Torak's father for once saving her) . Then they go back to the forest, but the Soul Eaters had already put the Soul Eater mark ( a three pronged fork) on Torak. Torak stays with the Raven Clan but doesn't tell anyone about the mark. |
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In a starred review, ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' claimed ''Soul Eater'' is "compelling from first page to last" and highlighted the novel's "quick pacing, vivid storytelling and strong connections between human characters and the natural world".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-01-15 |title=Soul Eater |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/michelle-paver/soul-eater/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602111355/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/michelle-paver/soul-eater/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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Several reviewers discussed the novel's pacing and suspense, with ''[[Booklist]]''<nowiki/>'s Sally Estes calling the tension "palpable and the danger excruciating".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Estes |first=Sally |date=2007-03-15 |title=Soul Eater |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Soul-Eater-Michelle-Paver/pid=1912167 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=[[Booklist]] |archive-date=29 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229032920/https://www.booklistonline.com/Soul-Eater-Michelle-Paver/pid=1912167 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[School Library Journal]]'''s Walter Minkel discussed how "Paver describes how much labor and constant attention go into simply surviving in a world so hostile to humanity, and readers will be kept on the edge of their chairs as they follow the struggle of characters who risk their lives every day trying to accomplish a task that seems certain to lead to their death".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minkel |first=Walter |title=Soul Eater |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/michelle-paver/soul-eater/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=[[School Library Journal]] |via=[[Chicago Public Library]] |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602111355/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/michelle-paver/soul-eater/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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==Editions== |
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''Soul Eater'' was released in [[French]], [[Italian]], [[Korean]], [[Swedish]], and many other languages. |
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Estes also highlighted the novel's "mesmerizing blend of magic, convincing animal lore, and an indelibly limned environment".<ref name=":0" /> |
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==Research== |
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For Soul Eater, Michelle spent time in a snowy forest in the foothills of the Carpathian mountains in Romania. She saw the tracks of wolves, boar, deer, lynx, badger and many more, as well as being taught by her guide how to fake a kill to attract ravens.[[Image:Tundra_buggy.jpg|thumb|A "tundra buggy" like the one Michelle was in at Churchill, Canada, to see polar bears.]] |
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To learn about husky-sledding she was taken on several exhilarating races in both Finland and Greenland. The Ice Clan's ways of life were inspired by studying the traditional skills of the Inuit of Greenland and northern Canada. From the Inuit she learnt about their hunting techniques, their snow-houses, and their hide clothing. Whilst in Greenland she also experienced the might of wind and ice, as well as spotting a polar bear in the distance whilst on a solo hike. The Inuit of north-west Greenland call the polar bears ''pisugtooq'', meaning Great Wanderer. |
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== Notes == |
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To get closer to polar bears she went to Churchill in northern Canada. They go there to wait for the Bay to freeze over, so that they can go out onto the ice and hunt seal. In Churchill itself there's a 24-hour patrol for bears who wonder into the settlement. On Michelle's first night there one did, and leapt right onto the balcony area of where she was staying before the bear-patrol scared it away. For that reason, and because she wanted to be alive to finish the rest of the series, Michelle opted to go in a "tundra buggy" instead of going for a solo hike (a big truck with an open-air balcony. Several times bears came right up to the buggy and rose on their hind legs to study her. |
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{{reflist|group=note}} |
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== References == |
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{{Reflist}}{{Portal|Children's literature |
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}} |
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{{Chronicles of Ancient Darkness}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Soul Eater}} |
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[[Category:2006 British novels]] |
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[[Category:Children's fantasy novels]] |
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[[Category:British children's novels]] |
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[[Category:Chronicles of Ancient Darkness]] |
[[Category:Chronicles of Ancient Darkness]] |
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[[Category:2006 children's books]] |
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[[Category:Novels set in the Arctic]] |
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Latest revision as of 09:57, 24 May 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2024) |
 The cover of the first British edition | |
| Author | Michelle Paver |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Geoff Taylor |
| Cover artist | John Fordham |
| Language | English |
| Series | Chronicles of Ancient Darkness |
| Genre | Children's adventure, fantasy novel |
| Publisher | 2006 Orion Children's Books |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback), audio book (CD & cassette) |
| Pages | 323 (paperback) |
| ISBN | 1-84255-170-1 (first edition, hardback) |
| OCLC | 71329760 |
| Preceded by | Spirit Walker |
| Followed by | Outcast |
Soul Eater is the third book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series written by Michelle Paver and illustrated by Geoff Taylor.
Soul Eater is preceded by Wolf Brother (2004) and Spirit Walker (2005), and followed by Outcast (2007), Oath Breaker (2008), Ghost Hunter (2009), Viper's Daughter (2020), Skin Taker (2021), and Wolfbane (2022).
Plot summary
[edit]Wolf gets kidnapped by a group of strangers and Torak and Renn track his captors northwards. During their journey, Torak spirit walks[note 1] in a raven, and discovers that the Soul Eaters, a group of evil mages, have captured Wolf. They follow them to the Far North, where they encounter Inuktiluk, leader of the White Fox Clan. They go with him to the White Fox Clan's camp, where the clan's mage tells them of a vision she has had, in which Torak is about to hit Wolf with an axe. Continuing their search for Wolf, they find the cave which the Soul-Eaters now inhabit. The mages are named as: Thiazzi, the Oak Mage; Nef, the Bat Mage; Seshru, the Viper Mage, and their chief Eostra, the Eagle Owl Mage.
Torak secretly changes places with a boy who is serving as an acolyte to the Soul Eaters. To maintain his disguise, Torak helps the Soul Eaters in their quest to release an army of demons, while Renn also enters their cave. While inside, Torak, after learning that his father once saved the Bat Mage's life, spirit walks in a bear and finds out where Wolf is. When Torak and Renn find Wolf, who is maddened by an injury to his tail and doesn't recognise them, they are forced to use Renn's axe to cut off Wolf's tail, fulfilling the mage's vision. They free all the animals which the Soul Eaters have been holding captive, but the Soul Eaters release demons in pursuit. Renn takes the Fire Opal, a religious artifact belonging to the Soul Eaters that can control demons, but as they flee, Torak and Renn become separated when Renn floats away on a piece of sea ice. Meanwhile, Torak becomes snow blind and is captured by the Soul Eaters.
Renn's ice floe eventually halts, and she realises that the Fire Opal can be destroyed by being buried under stone while a life is sacrificed. She intends to kill herself to get rid of the Fire Opal, but before she can do so, Torak and the Soul Eaters arrive. Torak spirit walks inside an ice bear and attacks the Soul Eaters. Renn is about to jump but at the last minute, the Bat Mage sacrifices herself to fulfill her debt to Torak's father. Having escaped from the three remaining Soul Eaters, Torak, Renn and Wolf are rescued by Fin-Kedinn and Inuktiluk. They return to the forest together, and deduce that the fire opal which was buried with Nef was only one of three fragments.
Translations
[edit]Soul Eater has been released in several languages including French, Dutch, Italian, Korean and Swedish.[citation needed]
Reception
[edit]In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews claimed Soul Eater is "compelling from first page to last" and highlighted the novel's "quick pacing, vivid storytelling and strong connections between human characters and the natural world".[1]
Several reviewers discussed the novel's pacing and suspense, with Booklist's Sally Estes calling the tension "palpable and the danger excruciating".[2] School Library Journal's Walter Minkel discussed how "Paver describes how much labor and constant attention go into simply surviving in a world so hostile to humanity, and readers will be kept on the edge of their chairs as they follow the struggle of characters who risk their lives every day trying to accomplish a task that seems certain to lead to their death".[3]
Estes also highlighted the novel's "mesmerizing blend of magic, convincing animal lore, and an indelibly limned environment".[2]
Notes
[edit]- ^ As depicted in Spirit Walker.
References
[edit]- ^ "Soul Eater". Kirkus Reviews. 15 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ a b Estes, Sally (15 March 2007). "Soul Eater". Booklist. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Minkel, Walter. "Soul Eater". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Chicago Public Library.
