Runelight
{{Short description|2011 children's novel by Joanne Harris}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox book |
| name = Runelight
| image = Runelight front cover.jpeg
| caption = First edition cover
| author = Joanne Harris
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| series =
| genre = fantasy novel
| publisher = Doubleday
| pub_date =
| pages =
| isbn =
| preceded_by = Runemarks
| followed_by = The Gospel of Loki
}}
Runelight is a 2011 fantasy novel by Joanne Harris and is the second in her RUNE series, following her previous novel, Runemarks.{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Laura |title=There's a lot of meanness, stupidity and mischief |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/There%27s+a+lot+of+meanness,+stupidity+and+mischief.-a0271853965 |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |date=8 November 2011 |access-date=3 November 2012 |via=The Free Library}}{{cite news |title=Books|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/books.-a0272688498 |access-date=3 November 2012 |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |date=18 Nov 2011 |via=The Free Library}} The book centers on Maddy Smith, and her twin sister, Maggie Rede, both on opposing sides of a war between the new gods and the old, who must both face powerful forces in order to save everything they hold dear.{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Laura |title=Joanne Harris on her new book Runelight ahead of appearing at the Sefton Celebrates Writing Festival |url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-culture/liverpool-arts/2011/11/08/joanne-harris-on-her-new-book-runelight-ahead-of-appearing-at-the-sefton-celebrates-writing-festival-92534-29736790/3/ |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421032800/http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-culture/liverpool-arts/2011/11/08/joanne-harris-on-her-new-book-runelight-ahead-of-appearing-at-the-sefton-celebrates-writing-festival-92534-29736790/3/ |archive-date=2013-04-21 |access-date=2 November 2012}} Harris began working on the sequel due to feeling "that it wasn't finished as a story, that there was one chapter in the story that might continue".{{cite news |title=Norse code |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Norse+code.-a0271812205 |access-date=3 November 2012 |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=7 November 2011 |via=The Free Library}}
Description
Three years after the events in Runemarks, the Middle World has changed again. After the destruction of the Order, the surviving gods, having rescued their friends from the Black Fortress of Netherworld, have regrouped in the village of Malbry. The General is dead and chances of rebuilding Asgard seem remote. But a prophecy, coupled with the appearance of unnatural creatures in the Middle Worlds, reveal a breach in Chaos, which may lead to another Apocalypse. Once more, Maddy and her friends are forced to confront an enemy. This time, the enemy is one of their own, a renegade from World's End - Maddy's twin sister. They are both the daughters of Thor.
Reception
Tanja Jennings of School Librarian magazine said Runelight had "a Tolkienesque structure of maps and ancient runes".{{cite magazine |last=Jennings |first=Tanja |title=Review: Runelight |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-287391357.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410062001/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-287391357.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 April 2016 |magazine=School Librarian |access-date=3 November 2012 |via=HighBeam}} Peter Burton of the Daily Express said it has a "lack of plot and thin character development", and was a "distinct disappointment".{{cite news |url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/283119/Book-review-Runelight-by-Joanne-Harris-Doubleday-14-99 |title=Runelight by Joanne Harris |last=Burton |first=Peter |date=11 November 2011 |work=Daily Express |access-date=1 November 2012}} The journalist Valentine of The Guardian praised it, saying it is "rich with mythology and description" and they were "enraptured by this wonderful book".{{cite news |last=Valentine |title=Runelight by Joanne Harris |url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2012/apr/25/runelight-joanne-harris-review |access-date=1 November 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 April 2012}} Angela Youngman of the Monsters and Critics online magazine wrote that while the book was "not an easy read ... it is worth persevering".{{cite web |title=Book Review: Runelight |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/reviews/article_1702659.php/Runelight-%E2%80%93-Book-Review |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129003320/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/reviews/article_1702659.php/Runelight-%E2%80%93-Book-Review |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 January 2013 |website=Monsters and Critics |last=Youngman |first=Angela |date=23 August 2012 |access-date=2 November 2012}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.joanne-harris.co.uk Joanne Harris' website]
- [http://www.runemarks.co.uk Runemarks website]
Category:2011 children's books
Category:Children's fantasy novels
Category:British children's novels
Category:British fantasy novels
Category:Norse mythology in popular culture
Category:Norse mythology in art and literature