The Named is a fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 novel written by Marianne Curley

Marianne Curley

Marianne Curley, is an Australian author best known for her Guardians of Time Trilogy and Old Magic books.-Life:According to her official biography, Marianne Curley now lives in Coffs Harbour, on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales...

. It is the first book in the Guardians of Time Trilogy

Guardians of Time Trilogy

The Guardians of Time Trilogy is a series of novels written by Marianne Curley.The plot of the trilogy consists of the Guardians of Time , trying to protect the past, present, and future by traveling into the past to thwart their enemies, the Order of Chaos , who are trying to change past events to...

.

Narration

As with all of the Guardians of Time books, the prologue

Prologue

A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Greek prologos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance...

 is written in third person while all the chapters are written in first person, switching points of view between the two narrators. The two narrators are Ethan

Ethan (Guardians of Time)

Ethan Roberts is one of the lead characters in the Guardians of Time series by Marianne Curley.-Character history:In The Named, Ethan narrates the adventures with Isabel Becket, friend and fellow member of The Guard. Throughout the books Ethan is sixteen and seventeen years old, presumably, based...

 and Isabel. They are together for most of the book.

Setting

The story is set in Angel Falls which is located above the ancient city of Veridian. Angel Falls is a small, fictional, town set near the Australian bush. The descriptions of the high schools implies that the town is smaller than average.

The story is set in the present or near-present time. Some of the story takes place in the past, in a variety of times/places. For example, one of the earlier missions that Isabel takes with Ethan is to Medieval England, as well as colonial America.

Plot summary

'The Named' begins with an foreshadowing that portrays the protagonist: Ethan, witnessing his own sisters death by Marduke, an evil minion to the evil Goddess: 'Chaos' who is also the leader of the 'Order of Chaos'(an organisation that opposes the Guards). The story continues when Ethan is 16. He goes to school in Angel Falls and is aware of his powers, and is relatively good at controlling them. The story switches point of views and Isabel comes into play. She is a long time acquaintance with Ethan because of his standing friendship with her brother Matt. Unfortunately, Matt and Ethans friendship grew apart because of their common interest in Rochelle. However, Rochelle doesn't come truly into play until later in the story. Ethan is training under the power of Arkarian the coordinator of the Guard. He has the power of agelessness and remains 18. He has blue hair and violet eyes, but only because of this power. Arkarian is also a truthseer (can read the minds of others) and has his wings which allows him to teleport to anywhere by thinking of it. Isabel becomes aware of her powers one day while getting ready for school. She has the power to heal. Arkarian tells Ethan that he has been given an apprentice: Isabelle, whom he must train in the following three weeks. This is to be ready for the final battle between the Order and the Guard but Ethan now Isabel knows of this in this moment in time. Isabel was in love with Ethan when they were young. She would follow him and her brother around just to be with them. She grew attached to the outdoors and was very strong for being a girl. This feature alone helped Ethan train her. At first, Isabel was weary about Ethan and couldn't trust what he was saying, but she grew to it and soon was a very strong member of the Guard and one of the named. The Named, are the group of nine who are said to fight the evil goddess in the final battle. The nine who may or may not appear in this book, are Arkarian, Ethan, Isabel, Matt, Neriah, Rochelle, Jimmy, Shaun, and Mr. Carter. Ethan and Isabel go on their first mission back in time to make sure King Richard actually became king. The only way to get back in time is to go through the citadel (a palace with many rooms that appeal to the people who show up in them). They can only get to the Citadel through their sleep, and only their souls go, their body remains behind while they sleep.

Isabel is close to dying at one point in the book. Only her soul-mate can save her. Her soul-mate had to call her name to get her soul back to her body. Ethan tried but failed. Isabel couldn't hear him. Then Arkarian called her name. Isabel heard him. When she awoke she thought it was Ethan that had saved her. Arkarian said that Isabel can never know that he is her soul-mate.

See also

• Guardians of Time Trilogy
  Guardians of Time Trilogy
  The Guardians of Time Trilogy is a series of novels written by Marianne Curley.The plot of the trilogy consists of the Guardians of Time , trying to protect the past, present, and future by traveling into the past to thwart their enemies, the Order of Chaos , who are trying to change past events to...
  
  
• The Dark
• The Key
• Project Page

External links

• Marianne Curley's website
• Bloomsbury Guardians of Time website