I have a weakness for books like this. There is just something so compelling about a young character bravely going off into an adventure to save someone, with her trusty companions by her side. It's not about intelligence or physical prowess or magical aptitude, it's about strength of character and growing up just a little bit and doing your best under the most trying of circumstances.So, yeah, total sucker for this book.Rage, the main character, along with four dogs and a goat, stumbles across a gate that a mysterious creature called firecat urges them through. Firecat gives Rage a task; bring an hourglass to a lost wizard and the lost wizard will send her home and wake her mother up from her coma as well. Her animal companions have in some way been transformed and now have the ability to speak, and Rage is stuck in a world where magic flows through everything and is dying bit by bit.It starts off a bit slow, but the book does warm up. Once it really gets going it becomes interesting and you appreciate the little twists and turns the author has you threading through. The little connections and how everything is drawn together skillfully in the end was a pleasure to read as well. And Rage and the rest? They're fun, dynamic characters that slowly grow into their own. The writing style reminds me of books such as A Wrinkle In Time. Classic children's books that can be read by any age with appreciation. Sacrifice, struggling for oneself, growing up, they're all well worn themes that never seem to grow old (at least to me, anyway). 4 stars.
I first read this book when I was 13 years old. Back then I would have rated it five stars. This time around I found it a little bit less organized and coherent, and a little bit confused and disjointed. I still thought the characters were gorgeous and very likable, but something just felt a bit off, maybe I'm just a bit too old for this kind of story and that's all it is. Either way, I do love Isobelle Carmody's work, but I am frustrated that she has four series she hasn't finished, including this and the Darksong trilogy which have had over 12 years wait for the final installment. It's a bit ridiculous and disappointing but I just imagine this book as a stand-alone (as I believe it was initially planned to be) and save myself another agonizing 12 years wait for a final that may never appear.Also, can someone please do some fan art for this book? I think there is so much potential but I have the artistic ability of a spatula.
What do You think about Night Gate (2006)?
With a main character named Rage, I was really hoping for a crazy, spitfire kid that seized adventure by the teeth and threw herself one hundred percent into the action in an angry, passionate race to save her mother. I was also hoping that the humanized animals woukd be endearing and different and interesting. Instead, we got a weak, timid main character (Rage had her moments, but not many - and I appreciate that Carmody was trying to make her act like a real kid would in that situation, but it just came off as weak and flat) and pages of analysis about the world - show, don't tell! It had potential, but wasn't executed well.
—Margaret Fisher
"Night Gate" starts rather quickly and doesn't leave much room for introduction, but it's still interesting. The writing is very good, as could be expected by this author. It starts out when Rage Winnoway runs away from home to see her sick mother in the hospital, and four dogs and a goat tag along. On the way, they meet a firecat who convinces them to go through a magical gate into a strange world where magic is dying. The firecat tells Rage that it is her job to find the wizard so he can save the land.Carmody created a very interesting land in this book, giving it a strong culture and showing some very interested ideas. Rage is a good character, but my favorite is probably the firecat, most likely for his potential to be evil. (Exactly what his alliance is, I will not say, and do not take that as a hint.)One thing that annoyed me was the lack of a language barrier, but once I learned the history of the land, I excused it.All in all, "Night Gate" was very interesting, but I believe the author could have gone a bit farther with this idea. Thankfully, there are sequels.
—Carrie
