The Diamond of Darkhold
First edition cover
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| Author | Jeanne DuPrau |
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| Language | English |
| Series | The Book of Ember series |
| Genre | Young adult, Science fiction, Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Random House/Yearling |
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Publication date
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August 25, 2008 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 285 (hard cover) |
| ISBN | (hardcover first edition) |
| OCLC | 191023753 |
| Preceded by | The Prophet of Yonwood |
The Diamond of Darkhold is a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by American writer Jeanne Duprau, published in 2008. The novel is the fourth and final "Book of Ember" and was released on August 26, 2008. The fourth book picks up where The People of Sparks left off, during the Emberites' first winter above ground. Lina and Doon find a mysterious book that alludes to a mysterious device that was left outside Ember. An advance copy was given out to attendees of the San Diego Comic-Con 2008 who visited the Random House booth.
The story begins with the Builders discussing what the Emberites should do when they are released from the city. It is decided that a recent invention (which is later shown to be a diamond-like gadget) will be stored along with a guide providing information. Plans are made to store these things where the Emberites will find them, but they are not found because the door is covered by trees, and as such, the technology is left hidden.
9 months after Sparks and Embers have reached the truce, Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow are curious when a roamer comes into town with a mysterious book. They trade the roamer a match for the book and discover it only contains eight pages. On the front of the book the words "For the People of Ember" are printed in gold letters. Unable to make sense of the book, they go back to Ember. When they return, a family has taken over the darkened city. The Troggs (Washton, Kanza, Minny, Yorick and an adopted boy called Scawgo), believe they own Ember, and rename it Darkhold.
They capture Doon while Lina goes back to Sparks for help. Meanwhile, Lizzie Bisco (from Ember), Torren Crane, and Kenny Parton (both from Sparks) decide to go and try to find them. They don't succeed and a search party goes to look for them. While Doon is with the family they show him a diamond they found just outside Ember. Doon steals the diamond and escapes from Ember with help from Scawgo. While escaping, he also breaks the pipe connecting the generator to a waterwheel that created power for Ember, therefore shutting down Ember's lights for good. He finds Lina, who is being attacked by a pack of wolves. Doon throws the diamond at the wolves to frighten them away but shatters it in the process and twists his ankle. Lina treats his wound and takes him to where the book and the original diamond were discovered.
They find a switch that uncovers shelves filled with hundreds upon hundreds of diamonds. Lina and Doon figure out that the diamonds are solar-powered sources of electricity. A lot of people decide to help them gather the diamonds and go back to Ember and look for other things to help in the winter. Lina looks for her drawings of her dream city that she created at her old home. She then goes to City Hall and stands on top of the building and says "Goodbye Ember, forever." They bring back thousands of new inventions, which earn the town money and food to last the winter.
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