ISBN: 0-15-201608-2 Order from: Amazon.com
A likeable heroine, a sense of humor and a pleasant world balance the lack of effectiveness on the part of the heroine in this simple, enjoyable adventure.
Reviewed by David on August 12, 2001
Genre: Fantasy (Juvenile, War)
Synopsis: Tlanth is a poor and provincial County. So is its ruling family, the Astiars. When the increasing greed of the king force the Astiars to rebel, there isn't much hope. Led by the young Count and his teenage sister Meliara, the Tlanth are faced with overwhelming forces. Meliara's last hope is to muster support among other subjects—nobles and commonfolk alike.
Full Review: A typical juvenile, the fantasy features a streamline plot, focused on the main character, and a relative lack of complexity. It does, however, have ambiguity. Things are rarely simple for the heroine, and Meliara's simplistic approach runs into the hard, rough surface of reality.
The world is lightly sketched but attractive, with mostly familiar elements rearranged to be exotic. There is some subtle elements of Japanese culture as well,
The magic is subdued, and much of the plot concentrates on adventure, and, lightly, romance. The latter is perhaps the key to the book's greatest weakness—the heroine is ineffectual despite physical and moral courage—in contrast to the mysterious, ambiguous and overly competent counterpart.
A pleasant book, and a start of a solid, enjoyable dualogy (with Court Duel), this fantasy provides light entertainment but doesn't try for or achieve deep, enduring satisfaction.
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 6; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 1997, Harcourt Brace & Company (Jane Yolen Books), 1997, Cloth, 214 pages
ISBN: 0-15-201608-2 Order from: Amazon.com