by
John Peel
ISBN: 0-590-59680-2 Order from: Amazon.com
A weak plot borrowing some elements from the classical Victorian romance, and a plucky teenage heroine makes for a mediocre juvenile.
Reviewed by David on August 02, 1998
Genre: Fantasy (Juvenile)
Synopsis: A teenage Melayne and her young brother are left orphans after a group or raiders attack their farm. They embark on a perilous journey to find a place to live, hiding their Talents from the King's press-gangs—everyone with the magical abilities is drafted to fight an endless war against the other kingdoms' magicians. During the journey, Melayne's ability to communicate with animals and her determination, decency and intelligence help them defy the odds, befriend the inhabitants and correct old wrongs.
Full Review: The basic plot is hackneyed, bringing elements from a Victorian romantic/gothic tale, by way of innumerable juvenile romances. The style is pedestrian, the magic is too regimented, the conspiracies implausible. This novel is appropriate for sub-teenage reading, but the book suffers from excessive length and lack of juvenile labeling.
Overall: 4; Plot: 4; Characters: 4; Style: 4; World-building: 4; Originality: 4;
Copyright date 1998, Scholastic, Inc. (Scholastic), July 1998, Mass-market, 369 pages
ISBN: 0-590-59680-2 Order from: Amazon.com