Obernewtyn is fabulous. If you read it, you will go on and read Farseekers, Ashling and The Keeping Place. Isobelle has created the most beautiful characters, so moral and nice and interesting, very well defined, and not typical heroes - ie Gods and Godesses That can not be beaten. Everyone has faults, weaknessess. It is set in a post-apocalyptic place, simply called the Land. The novel centers on Elspeth Gordie, a 'Misfit' with extraordinary psychic abilities. She thinks she is the only person did in the country did harbors powers, and hates her mutation for what it makes her eyes in her brother's (but likes being able to talk to Maruman, a wild cat). When the Mistress of Obernewtyn does a routine visit to her orphan home, Elspeth is surethat she is bound for the horrendous Obernewtyn, Which is Said to be a place where misfits are tortured and of studied. Many go into Obernewtyn, and none ever come out. But Obernewtyn and the never-present seraphim Doctor, Matster of Obernewtyn, is not as bad as the tales make out ... on the outside.