In a Nutshell: Drive Out the Devil Dancers
Menace, madness and medieval adventure abound in this thrilling fourth volume of the atmospheric Order of Darkness series by a doyenne of historical fiction.
Luca Vero belongs to the Order of Darkness and has been charged with investigating disturbing occurrences that seem to herald the imminent end of the world. Travelling through medieval Europe with Lady Isolde and her companion Ishraq, he witnesses the alarming outbreak of “dancing sickness”.
As Luca seeks to discover the truth behind this phenomenon – are the victims possessed by Satan? – Isolde herself succumbs to an overwhelming urge to dance after acquiring an irresistible pair of scarlet shoes from a travelling tradesman.
Alongside being an epic adventure, and richly rewarding for history and mystery buffs, a powerful thread about rejecting prejudice and hatred weaves its way through this novel. “You have to do the right thing, not just the certain thing... Surely you want to be a good lord, not just a powerful one?” Such remarks about social responsibility and acting honorably resonate sharply, as does a potent sense of female empowerment.
While women were believed to “have little determination and they are not strong”, the principle female protagonists here display much resolve, with Isolde determined to raise an army to win back her inheritance from her brother, and Ishraq being a highly educated free woman. ~ Joanne Owen
Click here to view all titles in the 'Order of Darkness' series; They are:
Vol One: Changeling
Vol Two: Stormbringers
Vol Three: Fools' Gold
Vol Four: Dark Tracks
A note from Philippa Gregory: “I am delighted to move into a new area of writing. I know I have many young adult readers already and it will be a pleasure to write a series especially for them. Bringing history alive is a great joy and to bring it to a younger generation doubly so.”
Join the Order of Darkness in their quest to witness the end of the world in the fourth volume of Philippa Gregory's epic adventure series.
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Join the Order of Darkness in their quest to witness the end of the world in the fourth volume of Philippa Gregory's epic adventure series. Luca Vero is a member of the secret Order of Darkness, tasked by his master to uncover the truth behind strange happenings. Together with Lady Isolde, her friend and confidant Ishraq, Luca's manservant Freize, and Brother Peter, Luca travels across medieval Europe - seeking out the signs of the end of days, judging the supernatural and testing the new science.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Dark Tracks and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
Dark Tracks features in the following genres: Featured Books for 13+ readers, Recommendations, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for Young Adults, Fantasy / Magical, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback, Hardback. Not Available.
Dark Tracks was written by Philippa Gregory and published by Simon & Schuster Childrens Books an imprint of Simon & Schuster Ltd
