Category Archives: Fantasy

Review: Through the Balustrade by M B Dahl

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , ,

Through the Balustrade by M. B. DahlThrough the Balustrade
M. B. Dahl
Taberah Publishing
Published May 1, 2013

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For the first time in her life, Roxan has a home of her very own. Safety. Control of her own space. Yet trouble isn’t far behind her. A shadowy figure threatens her from the window. Her new boss seems bent on punishing her. When a peddler offers her answers for the relentless persecution, she reluctantly agrees to follow him to a forbidden area. The journey jolts free memories which have been trapped in Roxan’s mind, but she wants nothing to do with the promises or responsibilities the memories would bring. She only wants her normal life back.

Abiga’s never had normalcy. As an outcast child left to die in the wilderness, she grew up doing what she must in order to survive. Sometimes she did terrible things. Maybe that’s why the Leader hasn’t given her a gift. Maybe he doesn’t want her. It’s clear he does want Roxan, though, the strange girl with a gift more powerful than even she can imagine.

With the gentle guidance of Altrist, the group of believers seek the freedom of a life away from Hyperion’s crushing rule. When the dark ruler sets his sights on destroying Altrist and his friends, hope seems weak and far. Only with the help of the Leader and the powerful gifts he gives can they escape.

The fantasy world quickly sucks readers into a story peppered with off-beat, interesting characters. Once or twice characters made small decisions that seemed out of place, but on the whole, they were consistent. Sometimes stories which strive for this allegorical tone quickly turn cheesy or become awkward in the attempt to preserve parallels with the source story. Through the Balustrade steered clear of that pitfall and kept the familiar themes feeling fresh through its detailed setting and complex relationships between characters. Dahl proves herself a wonderful storyteller, definitely an author to watch.

Profanity and Crude Language Content
No profanity or crude language.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Some characters follow a Leader, an unnamed being who gives gifts and aid to his followers and promises to lead them into freedom away from Hyperion’s tyranny.

Violence
Battle scenes show characters fighting to the death. No gory details given.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: Word Changers by Ashlee Willis

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Word Changers
Ashlee Willis
Conquest Publishers
Published January 1, 2014

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In an attempt to escape from the turmoil of her home, Posy hides in the library. She begins reading and wakes to find herself trapped within a story. The king and queen treat her as their daughter, but the king’s advisor and the prince know she is an imposter. Posy simply wants to return home, and the only way to do that is to find the real princess and bring her home.

Posy embarks on the journey to find Princess Evanthe, but she soon learns that treachery runs deep within the kingdom. This quest sends her and her companions outside the plot, and if any of them should die, they will not reappear when the next reader begins the story. It quickly becomes clear that to rescue the princess and save her friends, Posy must find the Author and speak to him.

Though this is a story with strong threads of symbolism, I really liked that the author resisted the temptation to have the story play out as a direct allegory to the Christian story. I liked that it was more unpredictable and subtle. The suspenseful elements of looming war and betrayal keep the story moving quickly while the budding romance between Posy and Prince Kyran is really sweet. In the tradition of stories that take a contemporary character to another world, Willis rises to the challenge of engrossing her readers in another world. The simplicity of the story makes it a great read for late elementary-aged readers while the romance and more subtle character relationships make it a good choice for middle and high school readers, too.

Profanity and Crude Language Content
No profanity.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Posy enters a story in which characters have the choice to follow the Plot set by the Author or to rebel against it. Some characters do not believe the Author even exists, and others have set their own wills above that of the Author. This easily parallels the Christian worldview, in which we make choices about whether to follow the precepts outlined in the Bible or to deny those and live a different way. The Author appears as a character in his own story, the way that God appears in unexpected places in our lives.

Violence
Posy witnesses battles between humans and other creatures. The scenes are described without any gory detail.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, , , ,

Oliver and the Seawigs
Philip Reeve
Illustrated by Sarah McIntyre
Random House BFYR
Available September 5, 2013

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When Oliver’s parents disappear along with some islands in the bay outside his home, he decides to follow them. Raised by world-renowned explorers, Oliver isn’t daunted when the islands turn out to be living, migrating creatures or when a nearsighted mermaid blunders into his expedition. Oliver befriends the island and mer-girl and together they set off to rescue his parents.

Each character in the story faces an obstacle which requires courage to overcome. Oliver, who grew up simply wishing for a normal life, learns the value of his wilderness education when it takes every ounce of his bravery and resourcefulness to save his parents from an evil island. Iris learns that her voice can be a weapon. Together they challenge the bully who swiped ornaments from the island they’ve befriended and who holds Oliver’s parents captive.

This book is packed with hilarious illustrations and quirky characters. The story is as whimsical as it is fun. Iris, the unusual mermaid, and Oliver make a good team and balance the story, making it a great read for boys and girls alike.

Language Content
No profanity.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violence
Brief references to rumors of human sacrifice.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Fire Wish by Amber Lough

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Fire Wish (The Jinni Wars #1)
Amber Lough
Random House Books for Young Readers
Published July 22, 2014

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When Zayele is promised to the prince against her will, she vows to escape her fate and return home to her family. The perfect opportunity arises when a curious jinni who wanders too close. Zayele seizes the girl and forces the jinni to take her place.

The jinni girl, Najwa, indeed takes Zayele’s place. Instead of returning home as she asked, Zayele finds herself trapped in the jinni world, where she is mistaken for Najwa. There she learns not all the rumors she’s grown up believing about jinni are true.

Trapped in Zayele’s place, Najwa tries her best to play the part of the betrothed princess. If she’s discovered – a jinni living in the Baghdad palace – she’ll surely be killed.

As the girls learn more about the history between humans and jinni, they uncover a sinister plot which means to destroy the jinni once and for all. Only together can they thwart the powerful new weapon which threatens all jinni and both their lives.

Threaded with suspense and romance, Lough weaves a cunning, fantastic tale of a kingdom besieged by fear and hatred. Through the eyes of two young girls, the reader experiences mirrored stories – one human, one jinn – showing the loss and tragedy created by war.

Lough captures the voice of fairytale and fancy, carrying the reader off to places and times unknown. Though this story doesn’t have the same lyrical beauty as some other Eastern stories, what it does well is marry a modern style to a fantasy story. This makes it a lot more accessible to readers who aren’t big fantasy fans, but who are looking for tales of forbidden romance.

I also liked that while the girls each have a part in battling the story’s villain, the boys who’ve stolen their hearts are quick, smart and powerful, making a good balance of characters. I’m all for strong heroines, but I dislike weak men as their counterparts. Lough’s characters complement one another well.

However, it’s Rahela, the princess’ companion who steals my heart. Though she first appears meek and fearful, Rahela’s true nature emerges when her cousin leaves her behind with a jinni. Instead of raising the alarm, Rahela reacts coolly. It is she who keeps her head and helps Najwa succeed in pretending to be Princess Zayele. While I loved the story and the other characters, I couldn’t help admiring her most.

Profanity and Crude Language Content
No profanity.

Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
A brief reference to origin of jinni tells of a man who found an angel who had crashed into earth and helped, thinking this was a test from God. Afterward, he discovers he’d helped a fallen angel, who then transformed him into a jinni.

The story is set in and near Baghdad, and contains several references to Allah and regular prayer times.

Violence
Zayele recalls the incident which left her brother blind. War between humans and jinni causes casualties to both sides. Battle descriptions are brief and without any gory details.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: Reap by Casey Bond

Book Review and Content, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult/Teen 12-18,

Reap
Casey Bond
Published by Casey Bond
Published 2014

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Abby and the other Lessers in her small village rush to bring in the apple harvest for shipment to the Greaters in their vast, advanced cities. At the end of the harvest the village’s betrothed couples will wed in a group ceremony. Abby’s best friend Kyan will stand among them with his wife-to-be. The village leader’s son tries to bully Abby into marrying him, but she refuses, captivated instead by a handsome stranger who is more than he seems. Abby soon discovers dangerous secrets swirling beneath the surface of her simple life. Secrets that change who she is and whom she can trust.

The story contains an interesting dystopian landscape with sharp divides between the powerful rich and subservient poor. Abby and Kyan’s relationship is sweet, though she is a little dense about his feelings for her. When Crew arrives to help with the apple harvest, Abby is nearly swept off her feet. His character seems less developed than some of the others. In the latter portion of the tale, he becomes much more erratic and fragmented. Despite the fact that Crew appears to be a major hunk, I couldn’t help rooting for Kyan, who remains steadfast and loyal to Abby.

The story itself spirals into something of a confusing end. The last two chapters yank the story in a different direction and left me confused. It’s clear another novel is meant to follow this one, and the author may clarify the ending in that next book.

Throughout the novel Abby remains a strong heroine willing to fight for what she wants, seeking love but not helpless without it. Fans of Bond’s earlier novel Winter Shadows will notice similarities in the core characters of each story, but the settings are very different. Dystopian fiction fans may enjoy this novel for its themes and setting.

Profanity and Crude Language Content
Moderate profanity, infrequent usage.

Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violence
A girl is whipped for contradicting those in command and protecting a child. A man threatens and tries to take advantage of a girl.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Middle Grade 8-12, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

The Thief Lord
Cornelia Funke
Scholastic, Inc.
Published January 1, 2000

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The adventure begins when an apparently grief-stricken couple hire detective Victor Getz to track down their missing nephews: Prosper, age twelve and Bo, age five. Instead of languishing in the chill of the Venice streets as their aunt fears, Prosper and Bo have allied themselves with a band of urchins led by a boy who calls himself the Thief Lord.

When a shop owner whispers to the group of a special task for the Thief Lord worth an enormous amount of money, the kids are quick to relay the information to their leader. But not even the Thief Lord could foresee what would happen if the artifact is recovered and the magical merry-go-round is rebuilt.

Quirky characters and quick humor make it easy to get lost in Funke’s award-winning, whimsical tale. Sections from Victor’s point-of-view keep the story grounded and realistic, balancing the children’s idealism and limited understanding of the world around them.

The story creates several moments in which its characters have opportunities to choose how to respond to situations and face grave consequences. When the children discover the true identity of the Thief Lord, they must reevaluate their relationships with him. Some respond with understanding and loyalty, but others embrace feelings of betrayal and remain unforgiving. When the merry-go-round is restored and its magical properties discovered, the children must decide whether it should be used at all.

The variety of narrators make this novel a great read for young and old alike. Recommended especially for readers who enjoy realistic fiction with a twist of fantasy.

Profanity and Crude Language Content
Very mild profanity.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violence
Mild.

Drug Content
None.

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