why is the book important Advent: A Novel
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. ghosts.. or ......By L. .G. avid readerA book that my daughter, Dina will love. Full of magic and witches - myths and cursesMost of the story is a mystery to be solved. Who is Gavin? Who is Ms Grey(his ghostly "imaginary" friend)? Why does his aunt never meet him at the station? Why is Marina (a 13 year old girl) not allowed off of her property?Then we begin to learn the answersAdvent is a retelling of the legend of Faust.The book really only uses it for some main facts, mixing it with the legend of Cassandra and Helen of Troy.Advent alternates between the story of Gavin, an only child who has always been a bit different and the greatest magister (magician/warlock) the world has ever known Johannes Faust. Treadwell switches between the two, going backward and forward in time until their two stories converge, with very unpleasant consequences.I read that it is the first of a trilogy - I will definitely read the next installment0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. and HIGHLY recommend it. Sometimes lyricalBy KayrsJust finished Advent, the first book of the trilogy, and HIGHLY recommend it. Sometimes lyrical, sometimes terrifying, always kept me wanting to know what woul happen next -- incredibly imaginative and wonderful characters. I read 3/4 of it in one gulp, went to bed, picked it up first thing in the morning and finished it. After I've read the entire series I'm going to reread it; there's just so much richness in this writing.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. More Christopher Marlowe than Dan BrownBy scharFinally, a really original 'mysterious danger from the past' novel. A lot of its strengths have been pointed out by other reviewers -- yes, it's well-written and has varied and interesting characters whom one cares about. But I don't think that many have noted how very frightening it is. And not just from craftsman-like use of foreshadowing and surprise (although both can be found in Advent, they are applied with some subtlety). That restraint helps in the willing suspension of disbelief, so that this becomes more frightening, rather than less, if you stop and think about it.