ISBN: 0-441-00802-X Order from: Amazon.com
A good, but not wonderful modern fantasy with unusual magic, likable characters, warm humanity, and weak antagonists and plot.
Reviewed by David on May 02, 2001
Genre: Fantasy (Ghosts)
Synopsis: Matt (Matilda) and Edmund met and started traveling together in A Red Heart of Memories. Here they explore the mysteries of the old haunted house where Edmund became a witch. Stressful, scary events have scattered the circle of Edmund's friends, and now a mysterious purpose requires that the old friends be reassembled. But the magic is a great changer, and no one who encountered it remains the same. Some of the friends have changed beyond recognition, and others want no return to the past. Just finding them is no easy task—but what about the mysterious purpose?
Full Review: Hoffman's books sparkle with unusual magic which somehow resonates with old legends without repeating any. Her premise, that most people are good, and those who are not lack understanding or courage, creates a wonderful, warm atmosphere reminiscent of Zenna Henderson's books (for instance, Ingathering).
While full of unusual, transforming magic, animate ghosts and objects, and warmth characteristic of Hoffman's other works, this novels suffers from a weak plot. The narrative which jumps from point to point, and the assembly of old friends, suffer from the same lack of intensity as many conventional quest novels which spend half their time gathering traveling companies.
The central mystery was interesting but kept mysterious in a somewhat strained fashion, and the main villain proved to be weaker and less interesting than justified by the plot.
On the whole, while pleasant in style and featuring some interesting characters, especially object-talking Matt, the book's weak plot and view-hopping detract from the quality of the novel.
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 5; Characters: 6.5; Style: 7; World-building: 6; Originality: 7.5;
Copyright date 2001, Berkley Publishing Group (Ace), March 2001, Cloth, 342 pages
ISBN: 0-441-00802-X Order from: Amazon.com