The Book of Lies (Moloney novel)

infobox Book |
name = The Book of Lies
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Australian novel cover
author = James Moloney
cover_artist = James Moloney
country = Australia flagicon|AUS
language = English
series =
genre = Fantasy
publisher = HarperCollins
release_date = May 26, 2004
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 392 pp
isbn = ISBN 9780207198311
preceded_by =
followed_by = Master of The Books
last_book = The Book from Baden Dark

"The Book of Lies", is the first novel by Australian novelist James Moloney. Published in 2004, the fantasy novel is set in land known as Elsterwyk and tells of the main character, Marcel‘s journey, after he loses all his memory and revives it only to discover he is an heir to the throne of Elsterwyk along with his siblings Nicola and Fergus.

"The Book of Lies" was shortlisted as notable in the Younger Readers category of the 2005 Children's Book Council Awards, was also shortlisted at the 2005 APA Book Design Awards and at The 2005 Galley Club Awards for Excellence in Production and Print.

A sequel to the novel named "Master of the Books" was released on 1 June, 2007 and a last novel to finish the series will be released in 1 June, 2009. A considered name for the novel will be The Book from Baden Dark.

Main Characters

Marcel: The main character. Marcel is taken to an orphanage where he is given a false memory of his past by a spell cast by a man called Lord Alwyn. Some of Lord Alwyn's spell is broken by a girl called Bea who hears his true name and manages to block his ears with candle wax, before the spell takes full effect.

Fergus: A boy who was abandoned at the orphanage and is a bully to other orphans. He and Marcel fight several times throughout the book. Fergus is taller than the other orphans, has broad-shoulders and he is quite strong.

Nicola: A girl abandoned at the orphanage who was adopted and ran away back to the orphanage. She looks after her appearance very well and acts quite spoiled despite her circumstances.

Bea: a girl who was abandoned at a church and was brought to the orphanage as a baby. She is the one who told Marcel his real name. In certain situations Bea is able to make herself very hard to see.

Lord Alwyn: He is the person who gave Marcel a fake memory and who lives in the tower next to the orphanage. He uses the "Book of Lies" to take Marcel's memory. He also uses a terrifying cat-like creature called Temagent to keep Marcel in the orphanage.

Starkey: A knight trying to free prince Damon and Princess Eleanor. In the book he convinces Fergus and Nicola to help him in his quest. Marcel later joins them as he could not escape the orphanage at first.

Damon and Eleanor: These two claim to be the rightful heirs to the throne and are trying to become the rulers of the kingdom. Before being freed they were locked inside a chamber for many years by the current King.

Ms Timmins: The kindly woman who runs the orphanage and looks after the children.

Albert: Ms Timmins son, who is in charge of the children and their chores.

"The Book of Lies:" "The Book of Lies" can tell truth from lies and was created by Lord Alwyn.

References

* [http://www.harpercollins.com.au/global_scripts/product_catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0207198314 http://www.harpercollins.com.au/global_scripts/product_catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0207198314]

External links

* [http://www.harpercollins.com.au/global_scripts/product_catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0207198314 HarperCollins page about the book]