Hello from Madame Sidler! This week I read the introductions and first five chapters of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. As I promised, here is an excerpt from my reading: the part that made me shiver. Something I love about these books is the way they can be spooky and funny all at once. This one is mostly spooky, though! Read it out loud—it's so deliciously creepy.
Janner Igiby lay trembling in his bed with his eyes shut tight, listening to the dreadful sound of the Black Carriage rattling along in the moonlight. His younger brother Tink was snoring in the bunk above him, and he could tell from his little sister Leeli’s breathing that she was asleep too. Janner dared to open his eyes and saw the moon, as white as a skull, grinning down on him through the window. As hard as he tried not to think about it, the nursery rhyme that had terrified children in the land of Skree for years sang in his head, and he lay there in the pale moonlight, his lips barely moving.Lo, beyond the River BlappThe Carriage comes, the Carriage BlackBy shadowed steed with shadowed tackAnd shadowed driver drivingChild, pray the Maker let you sleepWhen comes the Carriage down your streetLest all your dreams be dreams of teethAnd Carriages arrivingTo wrest you from your berth and bowerIn deepest night and darkest hourAcross the sea to frozen towerWhere Gnag the Nameless pounds youAt Castle Throg across the span,A world away from kith and clanYou’ll weep at how your woes beganThe night the shadows bound youAway, beyond the River Blapp,The Carriage came, the Carriage BlackBy shadowed steed with shadowed tackThe night the Carriage found you—From chapter 1, "The Carriage Comes, the Carriage Black"
Are you reading along? I'd love to hear what lines jumped out at you (possibly literally!) from your own reading. Just post them in the comments! And if you're at another spot in the books, that's fine, too. Post away!There are some great discussions happening in the forum this week. We're talking about our favorite characters, the song of the ancient stones, secret maps, dealing with bullies, and more. Come hang out with us!