Book Review: "Circle of Three" by Erica Farber and J.R. Sansevere

SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY

Both Niko and Aurora are orphans raised by their guardians in a land called Sunnebeam. But both of their lives change forever when they lose their homes and discover both are involved with an ancient prophecy, involving the empress of Sunnebeam and strangers from another world.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Aurora is a young gypsy who has strange abilities that she would rather keep secret. She makes vague references to a mother who had a tragic end and a lost brother.

Niko has spent his whole life away from society, alone in a castle with his adopted father. He is eager to prove himself as a warrior.

Walker is the only character from our world. Not much is known about his past, other than that his parents' are divorced. Nothing seems too unique about him and it's not clear as to why he was summoned by one of the stones.

Lord Amber is a rather cryptic man and unfortunately, he isn't in the story much. But he is an important person, as it's revealed that he could be a possible regent for a future ruler.

Castor La Croix is the main villian, making an appearance in the beginning. He is a cousin of the empress.

THE LORDS OF TIME

It turns out an old nursery rhyme that everyone knows is actually an ancient prophecy that speaks of heroes that come from world. These nine people can be summoned with nine stone charms. The ryhme also speaks of a chooser and a protector. The Chooser has silver eyes and a silver sword (the one that Niko chose from the weapon's room). And the Protector will have the Sign of the Dragon's eye (a mark on Aurora).

LORD AMBER-SPOILERS

When Niko sneaks into a secret room, he finds a room full of weapons. It shocks him, because in all of his training, he has never been allowed to use real weapons. Lord Amber shows up, and instead of lecturing him and punishing him, he makes him choose a weapon.

They fight and Niko loses, which isn't surprising. What is surprising, is that Lord Amber reveals that he has trained all of a group of soldiers called the Dragons as well as their leader, Janus. And another man he refuses to name but who he implies fought Janus and it didn't end well.

LORD AMBER AND NIKO

Lord Amber is barely in the story. I understood it was necessary to move the story forward but it also caused me to become detached from the relationship between him and Niko. At least he was in the story, as Titi (Aurora's adopted mother) is not.

We mostly get told about Lord Amber, and not even that much. The most insight we gain into his character is when Niko sneaks into a weapons room and his master reveals his secret history. Perhaps this sudden harsh attitude (he say's he could easily kill Niko) is a hint at what is to come so Lord Amber is taking the kid gloves off. But either way, the reader learns a great revelation about a character they don't even know. So they don't get to be shocked.

Perhaps it would have been wiser to slow the pace of the story and show months and years going by in a matter of pages. At least then we could get some idea of how Lord Amber and Niko formed a relationship. Maybe get some idea how adequate or inadequate he was as a father figure.

THE DRAGONS

The Dragons are a group of fighters that have been disbanded since their leader, Janus died. From Aurora, we learn that they were banished before she was born, but they showed back up again when she was four. So they really haven't been gone that long. And she suspects that they are why the country of Kasmania violated their treaty and crossed the border to Sunnebeam.

INCOMPETENT NIKO & AMAZING AURORA

When Aurora first meets Niko in the forest, he's rude. He says that the castle is no place for a girl but she points out that she saw Dragons on the bridge. But they decided to leave for a moment so Aurora could later be useful when they came back five seconds later. She notes that Niko is a bad climber and catches up, missing a few times until she gets him.

To be fair we are given a reason, because she climbs trees in her camp and those are even harder to climb. I guess her skirts don't get in the way.

She pulls Niko down with all her might (even though she already had a grasp and he had to notice) so he falls into the marsh. There is conveniently another sound nearby so the dragon's rush off and don't hear Niko splash. Niko isn't grateful and instead annoyed, saying he could have handled it himself.

Then Niko's hawk shows up, named Topaz, and Niko warns her not to touch him because he is a bird of prey. But Topaz loves Aurora and even starts cooing. Does Aurora have a history with birds? Or any animals? Not as far as we know.

This entire scene was contrived to introduce two characters and make it so Niko would see her value but it makes him look stupid and arrogant.

Why do we have to tear down Niko just to show that Aurora has value? Aurora may be doubting herself, but I highly doubt that Niko really believes he can do it all alone. We just don't see inside his mind. Last we checked, he was shocked and terrified.

When Aurora is later revealed to be the Protector, you might use that to justify everything. But again, we don't need to tear down Niko, in order to show Aurora's usefulness.

I wouldn't call Aurora a Mary Sue yet but she is definitely in that territory. And her feeling bad that Niko doesn't like being protected by a girl, doubting herself and crying later, doesn't negate that. .

AURORA'S GIFTS-VAGUE SPOILERS

Aurora has many abilities. In the start of the story, she moves an item with her mind. Not long after, a secretive woman shows up and Aurora suddenly has a vision upon making skin contact with her. And when she does the cards for Castor Le Croix, she is about to make up words to tell him when she suddenly blurts out a prediction without meaning to.

When Niko breaks down and refuses to leave the bodies of friends, she takes her fear and pushes it into him so he can see it. It's kind of unclear. But then she sees his memories, where the deceased woman and man helped raise him.

On another note, Niko is finally useful after this. He uses his knowledge of a secret passageway that he used earlier to help him and Aurora escape. Now back to Aurora.

After this, she uses the “power of the spices” to summon fire from the smoke so her and Niko can escape the Dragons. Then she uses her knowledge of the forest and the constellations to guide Niko.

She saves Niko from the Dragon, Jah, by jumping on him.

WHO DIED?-SPOILERS

When Niko returns to Castle of the Seven towers he finds the dead bodies of Ruah and Mal, an older man and woman who helped raise him and take care of the castle. Niko is then seen holding a blue robe with a crest on it.

Later on, Aurora says she is sorry about what happened to Lord Amber. It was only then that I realized he had indeed, died.

In the only scene that Lord Amber was in, there a sentence revealing the color of his robe and his crest. Which I completely forgot. It wouldn't have taken much effort for him to say his master's name, as he did of the two servants.

It felt like a mistake to write what would be a very important and personal scene for Niko...and then write it from a disconnected third party, like Aurora.

Later, Walker meets an old man with torn up, blue robes. So Lord Amber never died. And there was no body for Niko to mourn over. But why didn't the authors point that out? Why didn't Niko search frantically for the body? Wouldn't he want to know where it was?

ENTER, WALKER

The modern day character, Walker, is introduced in the prologue. But isn't shown again until about halfway through the story.

I have to admit, I actually forgot about him. He ends up in the training camp of the novices who wish to be Dragons (he comes out of a secret passage there). He tries to explain he isn't supposed to be their but the instructor refuses to believe him, seeming to have a beef with him.

It didn't really make sense to me. If the Dragons are so elite, wouldn't they have a list of names of who had enlisted? Or are they so hard up for novices that they won't let anyone leave who wanders in? Or are they supposed to be a secret, so they can't let him leave? That would make sense, but it's never revealed.

AURORA AND NIKO SEPARATED

When Aurora and Niko find a sailboat, they fall asleep. When Niko wakes up first, he drags the boat to shore. He is still resentful of having a girl as a protector. He wanders off for a few minutes, and then gets kidnapped.

He ends up with the Novices. Apparently some recruits for the Dragons are kidnapped. Maybe since they are no longer supposed to exist? It would explain why the guy in charge is so awful to Walker and doesn't care if he says it's all a mistake.

But it does beg the question, why didn't Walker take someone aside (who could talk) and ask if they wanted to be here or why they were? One could have easily explained he was kidnapped. And then the confusion would be eradicated. And later on, all of the pages are excited to become dragons. If some were kidnapped, wouldn't there be less enthusiasm?

NIKO & WALKER

For the first time in the series, Niko is useful. He remembers advice that Lord Amber gave him. It's kind of vague, more about philosophy than fighting but it helps him get the red stone back from a bully. He uses more philosophy to find a secret passage. It isn't believable but at least Niko has a purpose.

CALLIOPE-SPOILERS

When Aurora is feeling bad that she lost Niko, a strange being shows up, that seems to be a spirit. She calls herself one of the sisters of Kuxan-Sunn. Turns out she lives between worlds and can see the future. She explains that the New Lord of Time has been summoned.

She tries to explain the “eternal present” which is the past and present combined, as to why Aurora is more powerful than even her (kinda Mary Sue-ish). She says to beware others like her (but not why) before she disappears. Also to remember her dreams. So Aurora thinks back to her recent dream of the empress and her baby.

THE BLACK ASHA

A huge horse is captured from the desert and brought into Black Rock (the training camp). Another novice explains the story about the five black Ashas, mares who followed the Lords of Time into battle.

I didn't mind the idea of another part of the myth nor a rescuer for Walker. What bothered me was that there was no set up. I wish I had learned of this myth earlier. Maybe from Aurora and Niko, so Walker could be confused about the horse and their relationship but the reader would know. Instead of instantly knowing she was his rescuer, when she is calm with him.

SECRET WARRIOR?

After Walker manages to mount the mare, he gets taken to a room where he is interrogated. Apparently, because he can ride a crazy horse, which is a secret skill, he must have other secret skills. Secret fighting skills. So his superiors proceed to beat it out of it.

The General just kind of looks stupid. What would have happened if they had chopped off his head? So much for secret skills.

After almost killing him, they punish him by making him serve dinner and warn him they will be keeping an eye on him.

CLARITY

I find there are a few spots of the story that lack clarity. I already mentioned the one about Lord Amber's cloak, but there not being an actual body but that doesn't get pointed out. I honestly just assumed it was lazy writing.

When it is revealed that he is alive, it's not because the man introduces himself to Walker, but because he has a slashed up blue cloak.

I understand not wanting to spell out everything to your reader but I never felt it was making me think. It just made me confused. Because I missed the one sentence that would have clarified it for me. Even if I hadn't missed it, why couldn't Lord Amber tell his name to someone as important as a summoned Lord of Time?

SENSE OF DIRECTION

For the most part, Aurora and Niko are just trying to get away from the Dragon that is hunting them. They have no set plans. Aurora follows the stars to take them to a river. They find a boat. Niko goes missing and Aurora meets a spirit who says to remember her dreams. Which means the Empress. She never points out where she must go.

It just shows her arrive in the city, which is where the Empress lives in her palace. She hopes she isn't too late. There isn't any planning, by the way. We just cut off and end up with her in some sort of waiting room in the palace, hiding. You would think we would see her sneaking in, or telling some lie, but we don't.

COINCIDENCES-SPOILERS

After Aurora is still hiding in the palace, Castor Le Croix and the Empress happen to walk in. She figures out this Empress is a fake and one of the Sister of the Kuxan-sunn (because of her eyes). But Le Croix doesn't know this. So Now Aurora knows a secret, because she snuck into the right room. Because the story calls for it.

But lots of things seem to merely happen because the story calls for it.

Walker overhears exactly why he was brought to this world, that he is a Lord of Time. Because of this, he later knows that the Asha is here for him, after the others explain the myth.

Walker and Niko learn that the wrong name has been put in the box that chooses a regent. Not through any investigation on their part, but because they overhear a conversation.

Aurora walks into a huge city for the first time and just happens to run across the man who murdered her mother. Who just happens to be apart of a gang that keeps on eye on the port. Which happens to be the way she entered the city with a boat. Which happened to have a royal sail on it. I can believe almost all of this, except when she runs into her mother's killer. That was too much.

And the Emperor happens to die the moment that Le Croix threatens Aurora with execution, so all hell breaks loose and she sneaks out through the crowd. And then she happens to end up in the chambers where it's announced who the new regent is. She gets the imporant plot information (not like she couldn't have learned it later as it would have been announced) then runs. I understand she has to be in the palace in order for her to get caught but she could just have easily overheard this news being spread.

CLIMAX-SPOILERS

Walker faces a temptation to give his stone away, with a promise he will be sent home. After overcoming it, he awakens Niko and prevents him from dying. Aurora gets arrested and taken to Black Rock.

CONCLUSION

The story wasn't exactly original but I have no problem with that.

When it comes to the characters, both Aurora and Niko have distinct personalities and start off as quite likable. Unfortunately Aurora dominates the first half of the story, while Niko trails along, mostly helpless and without any redeeming qualities.

As for relationships, Aurora and Niko spend the most time together. Their tension is mostly brought on by Niko not wanting her help. He never gets over his pride to appreciate her.

The relationships that should be important, such as Niko and Lord Amber, and Aurora and Titi are in short supply. We get one scene with Lord Amber, and are only told about Titi.

Plot wise, the story relies upon lots of coincidences. Every important plot point is overheard by the main characters who are always hidng in shadowy halls nearby.

And lastly, sometimes there is a lack of clarity which I honestly took to be lazy writing, rather then clever or cutting through unnecessary scenes (which I think it was sometimes intended).

It's not a terrible story, but it's not good either.

I give “Circle of three” two stars.

Book Review: "The Cry of the Icemark" by Stuart Hill

SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY

Thirrin, the princess of Icemark, spends her days as she likes (usually learning how to use new weapons) until rumors of war surface. Suddenly she is thrust into the position of a diplomat as well as a warrior. Along the way, she befriends a warlock with no forseeable magic as well as werewolves, cat beasts and vampires.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Thirrin is a princess and an only child. She is portrayed rather inconsistently throughout the story. Said to be incredibly smart, but without much interest in her studies and only at home when she is practicing her fighting skills with other fighters. It's revealed when she meets Oskan that she is arrogant and condescending. But she never seems to realize this and apologize. So development is rather out of the question.

Oskan was brought up by his mother, who was a witch. He lives a relatively secluded life in the woods, which is where he meets Thirrin and her party. It isn't made clear that he has any special powers, as he merely uses knowledge of herbs and medicine to tend to an injured man. That is how he earns Thirrin's respect.

Maggiore has been Thirrin's tutor since she was a small child. He believes in her completely. But he seems to have appeared out of thin air, as there is no reference to his past. Was he married and did he have a family? I have no idea.

Redrought is the king of Icemark. Unlike his daughter, he can't read, so he made sure she knew how (it isn't explained why he never learned, as you would think it was essential). He is described as having foxlike guile and amazing fighting power. I believed the latter, just not the former. He came across as more of a joke to me, who just happened to have muscles.

WILL THE REAL THIRRIN PLEASE STAND UP?

I mentioned before how Thirrin is a confusing character that often times makes no sense.

In the beginning of the story, it is said she is naturally shy but can pretend to be charming and smart (even though Maggie thinks she is actually very smart). But it's clear throughout her encounters with Oskan and the vampires that she has little acting ability. She even admits to herself she only just learned the skill of keeping her thoughts to herself, hardly the admittance of a skilled actor.

Yes, she turns on the princess attitude, but for the most part, that seems like the real her. She spends the majority of story starting fights with Oskan. Why wouldn't she try acting charming when she believes that Oskan is a powerful warlock and a great ally? That would have actually made their relationship interesting.

Also, she randomly experiences thoughts and feelings that come from nowhere. She is leading her people away from the city when she suddenly wonders if she cares about any of them.

The questions leaves as fast as it comes and I was left wondering if Thirrin would ever add up to one, consistent character. Or just a bi-polar one.

NOW BACK TO OUR NORMALLY SCHEDULED BREAKDOWN

Throughout the story, Thirrin will do amazing things or have great pressure thrust upon her, only not to realize it until way later. Then she has a five minute breakdown, then goes back to normal. Rinse and repeat.

I wouldn't mind the idea of a breakdown (but the timing could have been better) if it hadn't been so repeative and if she had actually confided in someone.

Everytime she freaked out, I kept thinking, you just realized the fate of your country depends on you, only right now? The more she did it the more it felt less believable.

And if relationships were to develop, she should have gone to Maggiore, her long time teacher and mentor, or she should have gone to Oskan. She doesn't even confide her doubts to him until much later in the story, and then it's a rather exhausted and sarcastic comment. For once she is too tired to be angry with him. It hardly feels like a trust has developed.

And when she should react in a panic, she doesn't. Ever. When a bear charges her and her men she doesn't freak out at all. She acts, then calmly wonders if she can defeat a huge bear on her own.

Has she done this before, or something? In reality, she should have panicked, questioned her own skills and thought she was going to die. Like a normal person in a crisis. Unless she is a skilled bear fighter, and they just forgot to mention that.

But she hunted a werewolf, remember? Except she never got close enough to one to realize that they could think like humans do. So there goes that idea.

And when she enters her first real battle, it's said that all fear has left her. But she never actually experienced any fear. Unless the author forgot to add that part.

THIRRIN THE MARY SUE?

Thirrin never fails. Not once. The most that happens is that she struggles with a task, then she succeeds. She wins over the werewolves with no effort. She wins over the vampires after she feels humiliated. She wins over the cat beasts with her amazing swordsmanship.

I think the author thought making her struggle slightly before achieving every goal would be enough to make her relatable and likable. When in reality, it just made her annoying. Why do I care if she keeps feeling inadequate when she keeps succeeding at everything?

Also, I felt disconnected from her. But I can't fully call her a mary sue thing, because I felt detached from every character. And with a story with an omniscent point of view (randomly jumping into different characters' persepectives) that's quite a feat. Or maybe that made it worse, since Thirrin isn't our consistent narrator. And the author makes a point to never let us in her head in key moments.

In one moment near the climax, Thirrin scolds Oskan for him acting like she cannot understand the sufferings of her soldiers. She says if they mess up, they just get flogged (I guess most won't die or anything) but if she messes up, lots of people will die. So she is the one who he should feel bad for.

That was probably the worst bit of dialogue in the entire book. Thirrin came off as a spoiled child who thought of no one but herself. And in response to others' suffering, got offended that hers wasn't put first and foremost. It was the most narcisstic thing I had ever read. I felt like I was reading a politician's speech deflecting blame.

MOSTLY DUMB OR NAIVE?

What is mary sue-ish are the times that everyone else is made to look dumb, so Thirrin can look smart. For instance, when a werewolf is brought into the banquet hall in chains, only Thirrin notes the collar he is wearing is that of the werewolf king (I thought we just learned that werewolves can think, how do we now know they have a king? Whatever). How did no one else see that?

She insists they make an alliance with the Land of Ghosts, but no one else could think of that? Are there no advisors to the king? What would make a child smarter and more experienced in diplomacy?

When people question if the werewolves are trustworthy, Thirrin “burns with a hating rage”. Because, how dare anyone question her decision to blindly trust a being that she has just met and a group of beings she knows absolutely nothing about? Of course he is a perfect ally, because Thirrin is never wrong.

In another scene, an older man loses his wife and wishes to mourn, instead of lead. Thirrin goes into a frenzied lecture, reminding him of his responsibilties and how important he is. Luckily he realizes how stupid he was and how wise beyond her years, that Thirrin is. I am sensing a pattern here.

The vampires attempt to trick Thirrin into signing a treaty that they rewrote, because they think she is too stupid to read. That's the extent to their intelligence it seems. It came off as cartoonishly dumb.

And when her wise, elder tutor stupidly says he wishes he could have glory in battle, she has to inform him that there is no glory in battle. Luckily she is fourteen and he is just an old guy who has been teaching her since she was a toddler.

THIRRIN'S FIRST BATTLE

Thirrin goes into battle and after winning, suddenly starts sobbing. She takes in the dead people and realizes they are dead. Apparently she can just shut down like a robot. Must be all of her wartime experience. Except she has none.

If the author had wanted us to feel sympathy for her, he should have had Thirrin feel this in battle. She should have froze up or hesistated before a fight and had to be saved (she hadn't killed any one before this, only facing a bear and hunting a werewolf she thought was an animal). Or she took a life only to realize what she had done after.

But her reactions are always at the wrong time, or completely random, disconnecting her from the reader, who expects Thirrin to be a relatable teenager in at least some aspects.

A WELL LEARNED PRINCESS?

Remember how Thirrin is the first in her family to learn how to read? And how she thinks of herself as intelligent and enlightened? Well apparently she doesn't know any words in any foreign languages. Because when she is asked to provide proof of foreigners, she can't do it. This makes no sense at all. Unless she can barely read and has low intelligence, it's impossible that she wouldn't have been introduced to other languages by Maggiore.

INSTANT LOVE

Another mary sue quality is the instant respect and admiration she earns from everyone (except the vampires).

Right after she commands they let go of the werewolf king, we learn that the werewolf is impressed with her. Even though as far as we know, he cares nothing for humans, which is why he didn't have any communication with them.

He later comes to Thirrin's defense when the vampires are making fun of her. He even thinks how much he admires her...even though they have spent no time together.

We get the same thing from the leader of the cat beasts. We get told through their thoughts, that they admire Thirrin and are very close to her. Even though we never see this closeness occurring.

EQUALITY NOW!

Thirrin decides the fact that a small group of her soldiers are elite and more skilled than most is a bad thing. She wants everyone to be trained equally. Which is probably the silliest and most naive thing anyone could want. But because Thirrin can't make mistakes, it all works great.

In reality, the majority of soldiers would fail, suddenly pushed far beyond their limits. They would resent Thirrin for making them look stupid and the elite forces would resent her for not appreciating their skill and their sacrifices (and assuming everyone could be just like them).

No doubt they had formed a relationship with the King and had proven their skill only now to be told they're existance is mean. This would have been a great chance for Thirrin to make a mistake, admit it, and grow as a character. Perhaps forming a relationship with an elite soldier. She would learn that everyone has a role, and the importance of a hierchy (which she should already know, because she is royalty).

OSKAN'S USEFULNESS

When Thirrin meets Oskan she learns that he is the son of a witch. But when she inquires if he can do magic, he has no idea what she is talking about. He can interpret weather patterns, use herbs for healing, and knows the language of the werewolves. So we learn right away, he doesn't know any magic. Eventually we learn he has visions, but they are usually vague.

Not that he doesn't have value, just not much to do with magic. He does end up revealing that the towns folk have nothing to fear because the enemy calvary is a day's ride away (for some reason he didn't decide to share this even though it was obvious to Thirrin that everyone was still afraid). He just knows, so I guess that's magic.

He ends up being well spoken and a diplomat, calming down the fleeing people of Icemark as well as persuading the vampires to help. I found those skills rather unlikely and tacked in, so he could keep being useful (not that the other nonmagical skills weren't already useful). This young man spent his life in seclusion, living in a cave in the woods with his mother. Just where did he learn his great people skills? His lack of tact with Thirrin when refusing to notice her status as a princess would say otherwise.

It would make more sense for there to be other characters that Thirrin could confide in or have them offer advice, like the weaponsmaster, who we learn has been training her for three years. Or a fellow warrior, that she admits are the only people she feels comfortable with. Oskan seems to have been forced to fill rolls that don't make sense for him. He carries a huge responsibilty, that should belong to a group of trusted advisors instead.

And yet Thirrin seems to believe he is a powerful warlock before she has any evidence.

OSKAN THE CHOSEN ONE?

In order to remind you that Oskan is an amazing warlock (who has vague visions that don't help much) he ends up being called a chosen one by a group of powerful witches. Thirrin tells the reader all about their history that she didn't bother mentioning until now.

But neither Oskan nor Thirrin take them seriously and I was left wondering if I wasn't supposed to either. In fact, they don't even discuss it. I was left confused, wondering what the point of it all was. Oskan should have either been annoyed or confused. Maybe worried. The last thing I expected was him to make light of it. He is not a lighthearted character.

Also, his character is almost as inconsistent as Thirrin. As I mentioned above, his skills don't really make sense. As for his personality, because of his lack of backstory, we don't really understand his motivation. During a huge fight with Thirrin, Oskan suddenly thinks he can use his amazing powers for “glorious selfishness”. Because his mother said he had to choose light or dark, eventually. But nothing has seemed dark in him at all and suddenly he is as dramatic as a cheesy villain. He had been selfless until this moment, even though he knows no one nor cares for the people of his country (he hasn't had any relationships with anyone his whole life, besides his mother, remember?)

Also, there is another moment where he goes crazy when he thinks he is going to be left behind. It is as if he suddenly has another personality. But instead of being scared by his irrational behavior, Thirrin is impressed. He came off as nuts to me. But I suppose it's just another case of an inconsistent character, just like Thirrin.

MYTHS COME TO LIFE

Thirrin eventually learns that the Holly King and the Oak King (characters in nursery rhymes) are real people. She is in awe over this, for about a page. Then she goes back to yelling at Oskan.

Speaking of Oskan, he, on the other hand, explains that they have always existed and he has always known about them. He just never bothered to tell anyone this amazing fact. Or maybe he and his mother were always secluded so he didn't know they were thought to be a myth? It's never explained.

In reality, Thirrin should be rethinking her whole life. If nursery rhyme characters are real, what else is? And why has no one else known about this? Thirrin never bothers to ask anyone, not even Oskan. She should be confused about who he is and why he knows such secretive things. But instead she ignores this huge question mark, standing right next to her

Was Oskan's mother a great witch with power so amazing that mythical beings revealed themselves not just to her but her son as well? And was he too dumb to realize no one else knew they were real?

They merely appear because the story calls for Thirrin to accomplish amazing things, without earning them. And to show Oskan is amazing, without ever doing anything to prove it. If his mother was the true cause of this revelation, then she should have merited more than a paragraph of the story.

THIRRIN & OSKAN

Most of the drama between Thirrin and Oskan is brought on by Thirrin's sarcasm and defensive nature. But it's hard to tell if that's really her or her pretending to be a princess. Maggieore says she can be charming when she is not trying to be a princess, and it's made clear when she is trying, as in when she first takes tea with Oskan in his home. But even before that she is sarcastic towards him.

I also didn't get why she had to rely on him alone when it's said that she gets on well with the warriors in her castle. Shouldn't she have a few friends, or at least people she respects and trusts?

There is a time where she admits to herself she trusts him, but doesn't know why. Unfortunately, this is missing a chance to actually develop a relationship and ask actual questions of Oskan. How did he know about mythical beings? That could be an actual conflict, if Oskan was keeping a secret. But this is forsaken for boring arguments where Thirrin always ends up in the right anyway. I think there is only one time in the whole story where she is wrong.

MAGGIE & THIRRIN

Maggiore is introduced being frustrated with Thirrin, but not because she is unskilled, merely that she hasn't revealed her skills yet. They are portrayed as being very close but we are merely told this. Nothing is shown. When they are separated and then brought back together, Thirrin acts like a little girl, reminding us that she is close to Thirrin. Because we wouldn't know otherwise.

THIRRIN & HER FATHER

In the beginning we learn that Thirrin wishes to earn her father's respect and gratitude. She also feels guilty when he notes that she only comes to see her when she wants something. Whatever the relationship could have been, it doesn't have the chance because her father is in less than half of the story. But since it isn't clear who Thirrin is exactly, perhaps the relationship couldn't have ever been anything other than shallow anyway.

For instance, when Thirrin is out with some soldiers they hunt down a werewolf. He attacks her and she fights him off. When she tells her father he doesn't seem overly concerned, which is odd, seeing how she is his only daughter and the heir.

So one would think that Thirrin is independent and a skilled fighter. And yet the whole story is about proving herself. She already seems kind of amazing. What's really to prove? And who to prove it to? Maggiore already thinks she is great or will be soon. Her father isn't in the story long enough for her to prove anything to him.

MODERN WORDS AND ANCIENT PEOPLES

Thirrin says she doesn't believe in the superstitions of her people, as she is rational and scientific. But according to her, she was the first in her line to be taught to read. I am guessing in her world, the idea of Queens and Kings were just starting. It would make sense that they would still be holding onto traditions of their culture. And yet Thirrin dismisses them all.

Perhaps this was so she would have an arc, because when she meets all sorts of beings that she doesn't even believe in, she could change. But she never alters in any meaningful way. She just says, "Oh! Those are real. Wow. That's amazing." Then she forgets about them.

I feel these truths are revealed in order to show how amazing Thirrin is. As Maggiore points out, he learns all of these secrets because of her.

Then we come to the enemy, a group of people so secluded and ignorant, that they don't believe in things like vampires and werewolves. How can this be? Have they never left their country? Have they never been invaded? Do they have some amazing, huge wall that no one can get through? I have no idea. They just believe in science. Like in Nacho Libre.

Thirrin's people have met with vampires and witnessed werewolves often enough. But they don't have any evidence to share with these guys and no one else has ever bothered either.

I found this unbelievable, nor did I think such an ignorant people stood a chance against beings they didn't even know existed. Thirrin again, uses the word “science” to explain why they are so stupid.

Later Thirrin inquires about the cat beasts and their creation myths. And yet according to her, mythical beings exist. But she knows that the cat beast's story is indeed a myth.

I wish the author would stop inserting modern terms into a culture that is supposed to have just been learning to teach its royalty to read and write. There was no science in ancient times like there is today. They did not even have the word. Nor did pagans consider others' stories to be myths, but not their own. When an ancient people were conquered, the foreign gods were added to the worship list. And yet modern ideas are forced awkwardly into the story.

CARTOONS IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

There are a few scenes scattered throughout that feel weirdly cartoonish. The fact that Redrought has a pet kitten that he hides in his beard is one. His fluffy slippers are another. And apparently there is a fat, old elf who brings present around Yule. So he is the precursor to our Santa (don't tell Saint Nicholas). I found it weird that adults and thirteen year old Thirrin would believe in a gift giving being that no one had ever seen.

Thirrin sends a messenger to the invading army to blow a raspberry. For some reason.

A DEATH IN THE FAMILY-SPOILERS

Redrought ends up dying in battle, and we see his battle. I have to admit I found the battle dull but that's not my main issue. My main issue is the fact that I barely knew him so when he died I felt nothing. I almost would have rather had not known and had to find out with Thirrin. My other issue is later on, we get shown the afterlife. A valkyrie comes to Redrought to take him to Valhalla. There is no mention of norse mythology in any other part of the story. It felt completely out of place.

SHOW, DONT TELL

Like I mentioned before, other characters tell the reader how much they love and admire Thirrin but we never see any relationship forming. Same with Maggiore. The only attempt made at a relationship is Oskan.

King Grimask steps forward to defend Thirrin from the vampires, explaining to the reader how much he has grown to admire her. Even though there have been zero scenes of this happening. We just have to take his word.

At her father's funeral, we zoom far away when Thirrin breaks down crying, so we can know how strangers will never forget the sight of her. It's as if the author has no idea what is important to the reader. So we can never properly bond with Thirrin. We just keep being told about her.

THE MATRIARCHY

When everyone enters a neighboring country, Maggie notes that no men are in power. And all of the people worship goddesses, not gods. He think's that strange but then says: “everyone seems happy so it's okay.” Which is the weirdest reaction I have ever seen.

It should have made him question his own country's system (which I guess was a patriarchy but is now willing to be led by a girl). It would be normal to be skeptical and wonder just how woman do all of the leading but the men do all of the fighting and dying. How would that kind of system function? How are the men treated in comparison to the women? How did this system form? But the studious educator doesn't bother thinking these questions let alone asking them.

WORLD BUILDING

There is an attempt made at building Thirrin's world throughout the story. I admit, I found most of it dull because I never cared for Thirrin or Oskan. And If I didn't care about them, why would I care for their world?

For the most part, it feels like the author thought of cool things like, vampires, werewolves and talking cats and threw them all in there without any thought to their backstories and the fact that these cultures should have all had a huge intermixed history.

Instead the cat beasts are creatures the Icemark people have never met. The Oak King and the Holly King were just discovered. We just learned the werewolves can think (and therefore must have an actual history and culture) and the only creatures we know about, the vampires, come off as cartoonish.

Even the witches come out from thin air to tell Oskan that he is a chosen one. He has no idea what that means and neither does Thirrin. Because the author didn't bother setting up this idea.

Later on, I learned there were cannons and pistols. So, it's like an ancient pagan world before Christianity but also like the 1600s. It feels like a hodgepodge of things were thrown together without any rhyme or reason.

INSIDE THE ENEMY'S MIND-SPOILERS

We get whole chapters from the enemies view. I am not sure what the goal was. I suppose it was to introduce the villain, otherwise we wouldn't see them until the majority of the story was over.

Even so, they come across as shallow, power hungry villains with no rational reason to invade. They are just the bad guys. They think Thirrin is dumb. And even when Thirrin miraculously defeats the general in a one on one fight, they decide that means that the people must all be killed. Because they are too hard to rule over? I guess. The author works hard to show you that the bad guys are bad, and that's basically it.

I didn't need to wonder if the bad guys were bad, I just would have liked them to be less cartoonish. Who knows, maybe once Icemark made a mistake and wronged them? Maybe they are lacking in a resource and feel they have no choice but to invade? Maybe they were slighted long ago and decades of resentment has finally led to a leader willing to go to war? Maybe there was a misunderstanding? Or...they could just be bad. So Thirrin could have an enemy to defeat and look good by comparison.

OSKAN'S MOTHER

Oskan's mother passed away, leaving him the home and his skills. But I honestly can't recall if they mentioned how long ago she had passed. Oskan didn't seem to be too upset about it. Perhaps he had finished mourning her passing, long ago.

His relationship is mentioned sporadically with minimal details throughout the story. You would think Oskan might have some mixed feelings about his upbringing. After all, he never met his father and his mother never told him who he was. Maybe some anger issues or having to forgive his mother's careless nature?

Oddly enough, Oskan came across as only slightly curious about his father, who he had been told wasn't a human. That's it. What could have been a huge part of his character is ignored. We never learn who his father is and by the time the book was done I didn't care. Why should I? If Oskan barely gave it a passing thought, why should I?

CLIMAX-SPOILERS

In the final battle, Oskan decides to try summoning lightning, because Thirrin asked him if he could. And even though he never has and was never taught how to do so, he tries anyway. He fries himself but is healed by a woman that Thirrin takes him to.

CONCLUSION

The story wasn't original, but it wasn't a bad idea. A young princess has to rise to power during wartime and lead her country, gathering allies and meeting fantastic creatures.

The main problems are the shallow characters (some with no backstories at all, others with bare bones that the author seems to forget to expound upon) and their nonexistant relationships with one another.

There is also the inconsistent portrayals of Thirrin and Oskan and the constant telling about relationships that have formed, without ever seeing them happen.

And of course, Thirrin's Mary Sue-like nature at getting everyone to like her instantly and never failing at anything (but at least she feels bad sometimes).

And then there are the plot holes. Like Oskan knowing about magical creatures, but never mentioning this to Thirrin, and Thirrin never asking him how he knew them and why.

Thirrin believing that Oskan is a powerful warlock, without ever seeing any power other than vague prophecies and vague feelings about stuff he just knows.

And a young man who grew up with his mother in a cave becoming a well spoken diplomat who is willing to risk his life for a country that he doesn't even call his own. Because Thirrin is just that amazing (he forms no relationships with anyone else).

And a princess that has been tutored from a young age but doesn't know one word in a foreign tongue. As well as important information that no one bothers to mention until the last second.

I give “The Cry of the Icemark” a half a star.

Book Review: "The Seeing Stone" by Kevin Crossley Holland

SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY

Arthur is a second son, living in medieval England and wanting nothing more than to be a squire. When Merlin gives him an obsidian stone, suddenly he has visions of another time and another young man named Arthur.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Arthur may wish to be a squire but he is better at reading and writing than swordsmanship and archery. He respects and admires his father and enjoys his lessons with the Priest, Oliver.

Serle is Arthur's big brother. He has a grudge against Arthur for unclear reasons.

Aunt Alice is quite kind to Arthur. He confides in her often. She is married to Sir Stephen and is the stepmother to Grace.

Merlin is an old man who has been a friend of Arthur's family for a long time. He doesn't share much about himself or his beliefs with anyone.

Oliver is Arthur's teacher and a priest who teaches him reading and writing.

PACING

A major problem of the story is that there is no sense of urgency. The story has no real pattern of where it's going either. The story goes back and forth between our Arthur and the Arthur in the magical stone that Merlin gives him. But that doesn't increase the pacing at all.

SERLE & TANWEN-SPOILERS

Arthur sees Serle and a servant girl, Tanwen together a few times and later on it's revealed that Tanwen is pregnant. Eventually she is taken away to the have the child in private while Serle has to do penance. We never see Serle and Tanwen talk about things we just know that their unhappy. All Serle says is that he doesn't know what he wants, and that his father wants Tanwen sent away.

This would have been a good time to make Serle a sympathetic character. He could have expressed regret at what he did to Tanwen (ruined her life). And anger at his father for not letting him marry Tanwen and make it right. But the relationship, and the whole event is depicted shallowly, as though we are strangers watching all of this from afar.

MERLIN AND ARTHUR

Arthur has known Merlin since he was born (he showed up soon after), but they don't come across as close. Merlin is rather mysterious, never explaining anything in detail, including what he believes. He has secret conversations with Arthur's father and generally stays a vague character throughout the story.

ARTHUR & SERLE

Serle is rather rude to his little brother, even though Arthur tries to stay out of his way for most of the time. Arthur does try to gain his trust, after seeing Serle with Tanwen. But Serle brushes him off angerly and Arthur is left wondering why. He is only a page, and may never be a squire. Serle is a squire, older and stronger than him.

Earlier, Arthur notes that Serle only pretends to like him when other people are around, and that he tells on him to their mother. But since she favors him, she does nothing about it.

Another incident, is when Arthur helps Gatty with farm work and Serle gets angry at him, saying a page shouldn't humble himself. He also bullies others into lying about Arthur, blaming him for making a mess with pig's blood.

Eventually Arthur asks why he hates him so much and he calls him a Cuckoo who pushes out the real son, but that he is stronger and won't be pushed out. None of this makes sense, because tradition says the firstborn son inherits the most. How is Arthur a threat? And why is Serle so insecure?

ARTHUR & GATTY

Gatty is a servant girl and a friend of Arthur's. They have a slight relationship. Serle is mean about something and Arthur doesn't defend her. But later when she saves his little sister, they kind of make up. There isn't much going on, unfortunately. So I had a hard time feeling invested in anything.

Another side story involving her has to do with the boy she wishes to marry, Jankin. His father is accused of stealing and has his hand cut off (I have no idea if this was a common practice or a practice at all). Arthur worries about her future. How will Jankin's father provide for him? And now his and Gatty's betrothal will be broken.

Again, I wanted to be more invested. But I knew little to nothing about Gatty and less about Jankin. I felt this was supposed to be a big part of the story. And maybe it could have been, if Gatty and Jankin had received more than a few pages in the story.

CULTURE SHOCK

It's made clear that this world is different than the readers' world without being ham handed.

Arthur may ask questions, but for the most part, he accepts how the world is. He isn't a twenthieth century child thrown into a historic/fantasy novel. Which I appreciated.

Oliver provides exposition for what Arthur's world is like. Even if some of his views came off as cartoonishly explained. It wouldn't be hard to show that religious people in Arthur's day believed that God judged those who rejected his teachings differently than those who didn't. Because Christians, for the most part, believe the exact same thing today.

Oddly enough, Arthur casually mentions to the reader that he knows his father hits his mother sometimes. It took me by surprise. Was I supposed to believe that hitting your wife was normal in Arthur's time? Because he didn't give it any thought and it's never mentioned again. It may have been the author trying to point things out to the reader, as if to say, “See how bad it was? Aren't you glad you didn't live in that time?” Because it wasn't essential to the story at all.

There is also a discusion about the Crusade and reasoning about it. Unfortunately it's a vague, some of our enemies are more honorable than our side, kind of thing. No real questioning as to why it is happening, and if it is justified.

I appreciated the attempts and diving into these issues, but unfortunately, they all came across as shallow attempts to explore deep subjects.

WEALTH & POVERTY

When Sir Stephen comes to the Manor, there are various trials that happen. One is a woman whose livestock was eating Arthur's father's hay. She excuses her behavior and explains she needs to make a living. Her cattle need to eat. She criticizes the whole system she was born into. And says that they all came from the same parents (Adam and Eve) but Sir Stephen and wealthy and she is poor. She also adds that he couldn't be wealthy if not for the peasants.

It was incredibly bold, and unfortunately, felt random. I had no idea who this character was (this is her one appearance). This scene was interesting, but felt like it only happened so Arthur could have an internal struggle about moralty (that never goes anywhere).

He wonders if there is some way so that poverty could end. He also wonders if people were allowed to steal, if everyone would do it. And if order would break down.

THE OBSIDIAN STONE

About a quarter into the story, Merlin gives Arthur a stone. Not long after, he sees a vision of a King, who Merlin later reveals is King Vortigern, who was King after the Romans left but before the Saxons fought the English.

We see King Arthur lust after Lady Ygerna, eventually disguising himself as her husband and having a child with her. Their son is sent away into foster care.

ARTHUR AND HIS FATHER

Arthur respects his father, who is in a powerful position and is quite wealthy. But he still tries to convince him to let him be a squire (he wonders if he father doesn't want him to be one). As it seems the man doubts his skills.

They have a few interesting conversations throughout the story, usually having to do with Arthur wanting to be a squire. Once, his father tells him doing what is right and what you want are not always the same thing (referring to Arthur wanting to be a squire for Lord William and not Lord Stephen).

When his father has to judge and sentence a man that is accused of stealing food, Arthur is left upset. While when he judges a woman who has stolen hay, leaves him conflicted.

EQUALITY

Arthur and his teacher, Oliver end up discussing equality. Oliver says some are firstborn and some are not, but we are all equal in God's eyes. Arthur is confused, and says people are not equal, because some are wealthy and some are poor. This leads to Oliver explaining how they need a King, and he needs Knights, and they need farmers and so on.

But when Arthur asks if the Muslims are equal to the Christians in God's eyes Oliver tells him no (all Christians are equal to him). This confuses him and he says he knows a man named Sir William who does not agree.

This short conversation was one I found interesting. I wanted it to manifest into action and conflict but it only resulted in some inner turmoil from Arthur.

THE GRAVESTONE-SPOILERS

Throughout the story, Arthur's baby brother Luke is in bad health. Eventually he passes on and a gravestone is to be made, but his father wrote the wrong number, calling him his fourth son, not his fifth (there were previous infant sons who died).

This is the first hint that Arthur isn't a son by blood (as well as the mysterious conversations between Merlin and Arthur's father. The other hint is that Arthur's father seems to have plans for him that he won't speak of (which is why he isn't sure about Arthur being a squire).

ARTHUR & GRACE

Arthur's cousin is named Grace, and he believes their parents wish them to marry when they come of age. Unfortunately she is not in the story very much so they don't really have any relationship. So when something is revealed about Grace, making their marriage impossible, it had little impact on me.

MERLIN'S BELIEFS

Merlin says he believes in “nine Spirits” but doesn't define just what they are. He seems to think he can believe in them as well as Christ, but since he never defines what they are, we can't side with him or the others, who call him a herectic.

CLIMAX-SPOILERS

Both Arthurs discover their true identities, one becoming a King, the other becoming a squire and going on a crusade. Turns out our Arthur was adopted and his real father is Sir William, an immoral man whom he destests (but he isn't in the story much so I didn't have any reaction to this news).

CONCLUSION

The story suffers from two big problems, a lack of urgency and direction. If I had to explain what the story is about I would struggle. Arthur has visions about another man named Arthur, who is more interesting than him (only at first) but that doesn't say much. He wants to be a squire but his father doesn't seem to think he would be good at it.

The characters have the beginnings of personalities but unfortunately, they never develop because we never learn that much about anyone. Not Oliver, not Merlin, not Gatty and not Serle. The same goes for relationships. There was some potential with Arthur's relationships with Merlin, Oliver, Serle and Lady Alice. But it never went anywhere.

On a positive note, I did like some of the conversations that Arthur had with Oliver and his father. And the incident involving new taxes being announced was interesting as well.

But all of these interesting thoughts and any inner turmoil that Arthur experiences never actually results in anything. They were philosophical musings. No conflict with his father. No conflict with Oliver. Nothing.

I give “The Seeing Stone” half a star.

Book Review: "Endymion Spring" by Matthew Skelton

SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY

While Blake is spending time in Oxford while his mother does research, he ends up coming across a strange book. Eventually he learns that this is no ordinary book but one with a magical history that goes back to Gutenberg. And someone is desperate to take it from him.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Blake Winters is an average boy who dislikes school and reading. He worries about his parents and thinks they may be separating. He tries hard to please his mother while at the same time has a hard time trusting her. He also has a strong desire to have something of his own, and not to share with his sister.

Duck Winters is the younger sister to Blake. She too worries about her parents' relationship. She doesn't share most of her feelings with her brother. Apparently she is really smart, I say apparently because it wasn't apparent to me. But I was shown Blake's annoyance about it.

Juliet Winters is Blake's and Duck's mother. She is doing research for her new book in England while trying to keep her children out of trouble.

Diana Bentley is the wife of Giles Bentley. Both are members of a historic book society.

Prosper Marchand is an Oxford professor who seems to be interested in Juliet.

Jolyon is a professor at Oxford who has knowledge of Endymion Spring.

Endymion is the young apprentice of Gutenberg in the 1400s.

PACING & ENDYMION

The story starts in the 1400s and introduces an apprentice to Gutenberg named Endymion. He ends up meeting Fust and getting to know that man's apprentice.

Normally, jumping back and fourth between two stories helps with the pacing of a story. We cut off one with a cliffhanger, and go the next. The pattern continues throughout and the reader is left feeling breathless. That doesn't happen in this story and I found the story slow.

Unfortunatly, after reading the introduction, I assumed these characters were done. They fell flat on the paper and I had no interest in them. So surely any other discovery regarding these books would be revealed in the present.

Wrong. We go back multiple times and each time I was left bored. Endymion was less interesting in every way. Not that Blake was written great, he just had my sympathy with his worries about his parents.

BLAKE AND DUCK

Blake and Duck are the two main characters (besides the flashback characters). I also think their relationship was supposed to be the most important. Even more so than the relationship between Blake and his mother.

But the main conflict between them is that Blake isn't as smart as Duck, so he is jealous. He still cares about her. And I think that love was supposed to push the climax. But Duck's intelligence isn't used that much (she comes up with pretending to have to use the bathroom and finds a collapsable bookshelf), and no past experiences are shown to explain Blake's jealousy. So the relationship feels shallow.

We may not know what past experiences that Blake has had with Duck, but it is clear how he feels about her. Blake is protective of the book he found, and has to point out that it is his, and not Duck's. He says the paper dragon he found is his as well, and has nothing to do with her. Also that Endymion Spring chose him and not her.

There is one scene where Blake says she is dumb to keep wearing her raincoat, like she has since their parents had a big argument. Because it won't save them.

What isn't clear is how Duck feels about Blake's feelings. She never addresses them or shows any sign as to why their relationship is less than good. Because of this, their relationship is not well developed.

BLAKE AND HIS MOTHER

For the majority of the story, Blake and his Mother are at odds. Usually Blake wanders off and gets in trouble and his mom is furious. It could have come across as loving but Blake had previously been suspected of messing up books in the library by her. So it comes off as accusatory.

But I didn't really undersand why Juliet thought so badly of her son. Before he admitted to sneaking into the library, there is no mention that he had ever caused any trouble. So I was left confused at her suspicions, expecting a revelation later on, revealing that Blake has been a troublemaker. But none ever occurs.

Later on Blake is given a book only to find out that his mom is making them stay in Oxford longer for her research. She didn't just come out and tell him, instead bribing him with the gift first. His reaction is anger, realizing he should have never trust his mother. Again, I was left waiting for a revelation showing his mother had a history of lying or at least being less than honest. That never occurs either.

BLAKE'S GIFT

Early on its said that Blake doesn't like reading because he can't concentrate on it. And then later on when he gets a book, he holds it, flips through the pages and enjoys the scent of the paper. I thought, why would a boy who dislikes reading revel in the scent of a book? It felt inconsistent with his character, as though the author forgot he wasn't a booklover. It's a small point, but something I noticed.

DUCK AND THE BOOK

Blake eventually ends up losing his book and later finds out that Duck found it and never told him. I didn't understand why. Duck knew that Blake had a strong attachment to it.

She is supposed to be the smarter one, so she should not have felt threatened by Blake (even though they argued about who the book belonged to). Did she feel the need to constantly prove herself because she wanted to prove her worthiness to her parents? I don't know.

As I mentioned before, we never learn if Duck knows why her relationship with her brother suffers. Perhaps she has been this selfish and deceitful in the past.

Lastly, this adds nothing to the story. We get a short amout of time that Blake is anxious about the book and if anything, the story is stalled. If something came from Duck and Blake's relationship, then I would understand this aspect of the story.

THE WORLD-SPOILERS

The Book of Endymion Spring is usually blank but sometimes reveals riddles that predict the future. For the most part I found them vague and uninteresting. Although it does point Blake to a second book, revealing that the two books can be used together. It's called “The Last Book”.

The Last Book reveals words of knowledge and power when a child's blood is taken. The villain in the climax reveals that the knowledge of witchcraft is in its pages and can help them get whatever they want, like money or power.

Fust is in this story and the Faust who made a deal with the devil is mentioned by Juliet. As well as theory her husband had about him being a real person. It sounded interesting, as well as a world of demons ready to cut deals with humans. But we don't get any of that. Nor do we get a main character who has any interest in what Faust and demons being real would mean. What could be a deep mythlogy ends up shallow and uninteresting.

I hoped for some connection between Endymion and Blake when I realized the story was going to go back and fourth between their separate time periods. But I never saw it.

EX LIBRIS SOCIETY

Blake learns of this society at Oxford, where he meets Jolyon who reveals the history of the society and the book of Endymion Spring. Later on he attends a meeting, where Giles Bentley and Diana are. As well as Paula Richards, the Oxford librarian.

BLOOD OF CHILDREN-SPOILERS

Back in the 1400s, Endymion ends up opening Fust's box and getting bitten by the snakes. Turns out Fust needs blood of children and Endymion was tricked into opening it so letters on the paper could be revealed. Peter reveals this and that Endymion must run away and hide the dragon skin since it cannot be destroyed.

Back in the present, Blake reads a poem about the blood of innocents but doesn't understand it until later. But even then, he kind of just ignores it.

PSALMANZER-SPOILERS

Blake and Duck see a weird homeless guy reading a blank book. They assume a connection between him and the book and try to find him (kind of a stretch, he could just be drugged out). They can't, instead he finds them, by leading them to him by his dog.

He introduces himself and tries to explain the riddles. How the power of their book may be passing away. But he doesn't know who the person of shadow is. Later we see a photograph of the founding members of the Ex Libris Society, turns out he was in it too.

THE TRUTH ABOUT DAD-SPOILERS

Early one we learn that Blake's dad remains in another town, and his relationship with his wife is shaky. They have a history of arguing and getting angry and it Blake worries for them. For some reason, he seems to put the blame on his mother, or at least we assume so, since his small interactions with his father seem nothing but positive.

Eventually, Blake learns that the reason they are here and their father is not, is because he lost his job. He has been looking for work while they were gone and Juliet has been working on her research to help take care of the family.

The odd thing is, when the time comes where Juliet reveals this to her son, it is told passively. We jump from the event happening, to being told that it happened. And instead of seeing the look on Blake's face as he hears it or his thoughts of disbelief we just see the aftermath. Seeing how important this matter was to Blake, it makes no sense to not show it in real time.

ENDYMION'S GOODBYE

Back in the 1400s, Endymion finally escapes with the dragon skin. With the help of Peter and his fiance, Christina, they end up sneaking him away during a festival. Endymion is supposed to have a close relationship with these two.

So when they unceremoniously push him and vanish, I was told how upset he was. But I felt nothing because I had never seen any relationship develop. I had merely been told, when the story jumped back to Endymion, that Peter had slept beside his new friend for months and he had become like a brother. That was all.

CLIMAX-SPOILERS

Duck and Blake manage to sneak into the underground libraries, after Duck pretends to have to go to the bathroom. Kind of easy, but I guess they hadn't acquired any skills to get in otherwise. The book leads them on to where they meet the villain. Duck gets taken and Blake has to confront the kidnapper.

THE PERSON IN SHADOW-SPOILERS

Turns out the person in shadow is none other than Giles Bentley's wife, Diana. I honestly had no idea who it would be and had little interest or information that was given to me.

I suppose I got information, like the exposition from Psalmanzer. But no little hints here and there that would point me in any one direction. Besides the bookshop where Giles bought the book that Blake wanted, and the meeting of the Ex Libris Society, there wasn't much interaction between Blake and Diana.

There was Psalmanzer, Jolyon, Prosper Marchand (teacher who flirted with Juliet) and Paula Richards (Oxford librarian). Not too many people to chose from and only Psalmanzer really held any interest from me.

On another note, Diana gave some exposition about Marchand but I didn't have any interest in the backstory of a character I barely knew.

BLAKE'S GUILT

When Duck is kidnapped, Blake feels awful. He suddenly realizes he has been obsessed with his book even after being told that he was putting himself and Duck in danger. To be fair, he did encourage Duck into the darkness that magically appears in the underground library. But for the most part, Duck was all for it. She was even the one that helped him get in and find his away around.

I wish he had addressed just why he was so obsessed with the book. Did he think he had something to prove? Did he want to solve a mystery on his own? Did his jealously of his sister have something to do with this? I don't know because Blake never addresses his reasoning. Just admonishes himself.

CONCLUSION

Blake is likable enough, and I didn't dislike Duck. But neither character felt fleshed out enough. I didn't understand exactly what motivated them either.

I was told that Blake was jealous of his smart sister but I didn't really see why.

I understood that Juliet distrusted her son but I didn't know why.

And I understood that Blake had a rocky relationship with his mom but I didn't know why, beyond a marriage in crisis. So the characters and their relationships were lacking.

The story was average, but it suffered from slow pacing and a lack of of cohesion. I didn't see how Endymion Spring and Blake had anything in common or why they both ended up with the book. I wanted a connection between both stories but they felt unrelated.

Neither Jolyon or Psalmanzer play any clear part of a mentor character to Blake. Psalmanzer could have been interesting but we only get one conversation with him.

I never felt any real sense of urgency, and Blake thinking he or Duck was going to die, and then brushing that off, didn't help things.

I give “Endymion Spring” one and half stars.

Book Review: "The Whispering Road" by Livi Michael

SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY

When Joe escapes from child slavery he knows he can't trust anyone. And it's up to him to take care of his little sister, Annie. But it doesn't help that she acts so strange and yet still seems to fit in better than he does. Eventually Joe has to decide how to obtain what he wants most in life: freedom. And who he can trust.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Joe is both stubborn and proud. He has a strong desire to be independent and free of any responsibility most likely due to the fact he has been abused his whole life. He loves his sister but at the same time hates her.

Annie is quiet and a little strange. She is very attached to her brother due to the fact that he is all she has in the world. She seems meek at times but can be oddly persistant.

Trevor is a traveling man who lives his entire life on the road. He is in the first story and becomes a father figure to both Annie and Joe.

The Little Angels are a street gang that Joe ends up joining. He learns a lot of his skills regarding stealth and theft from them. They are led by a girl named Queenie.

Mr. M is a wealthy man who takes in Joe and makes sure he recovers his health. His motives for doing so are not obvious.

Abel is a man who runs a secret newspaper that prints materials that the government forbids due to its criticisms of them.

STRUCTURE

The story is set up into three parts. Joe finally gets his independence by the end of part one, and when part two starts he joins a gang.

This entire middle section of the story consists of his adventures with the gang, his leaving the gang and then ending up in the care of Mr. Mosley. After that he leaves Mr. Mosley and ends up with a man named Abel. Only when he learns about his sister does part three start.

I can't say that part one is merely an introduction to the characters and their world, because it's far too long to be an introduction. It's sixteen chapters long and 144 pages in.

Neither is part three the climax, more like the aftermath of the plot, as Joe finds his sister and learns about his mother. It's as though the author is reminding us he hasn't forgot these plot points. Even if Joe barely thought of them all through the story.

A SERIES OF STORIES

The story may be set up into three parts as described by the author but it's really set up into an abundance of smaller parts that sometimes feel self-contained.

It goes something like this: Joe meets a person or a few people. He gets to know them; They help or hurt him, or seem to help and then hurt him. Then Joe escapes or moves on to the next person. Rinse and repeat.

To be fair it's not all the same. Both Trevor and Arlin don't ever abuse Joe or Annie. Neither does the Gang, even though the relationships aren't exactly healthy. And near the end, Abel and his coworkers all treat Joe well.

THE PROBLEM OF RELATIONSHIPS

Because Joe meets so many people and then moves on, it's hard for relationships to really form. Most characters he never sees again and often the ones he does see were villains to begin with.

The strongest relationship I felt that he developed was with Trevor in the first story. Joe clearly desires a parent and that made him very likable.

Arlin was a good guy, but I barely got to know him, let alone understand why he would go out of his way for a pair of strangers. I hoped for him to form a relationship with Joe and Annie but he was barely in the story and I felt it was a missed opportunity.

Joe tells the reader he is close to one of the gangmembers but we don't ever see this relationship forming. I believed he felt bad when a few died and others were put at risk, but they still just felt like a group of people, not any individuals.

As for the last story, I wanted Abel to be a mentor character but there just wasn't enough time to learn anything about the character other than the basics. And the the new surrogate parents felt thrown in merely to give the story some sort of closure.

MOST PEOPLE ARE BAD

Before Trevor says goodbye to Annie and Joe, he tells them its better to live on the road, rather than in houses. And that they should stay away from people because they will buy and sell them and teach them to be slaves. Only on the road can you be free.

I suppose he is talking about his own experiences. But this is a theme in the story, that you can't trust most people. Not that everyone they meet is bad, just most people. For instance, besides Trevor, when Annie and Joe get tricked into believing a man is nice only to discover him trying to sell them, a young man stands up for them and helps them escape.

THE TRAVELING TROUPE

Annie and Joe get taken to a group of traveling performers after avoiding being sold as slaves. Annie suddenly fits in, and has a part written for her in a play. She is doted on by one of the woman who treats her like her own daughter.

Joe on the other hand, can't seem to please Old Burt, as he lies about accidentally hitting a horse and gets the stage props stolen when he is supposed to be watching them. And Joe kind of came off as unlikable, treating the horse like he did.

GOODBYE ANNIE-SPOILERS

When Annie's gift is revealed, Old Burt realizes how much money he can make off of her. Joe has had such a rough time with his new life and his jealously of Annie causes him to lash out at her. I admit, I struggled to like Joe in this moment. I understand that characters must have flaws, but Joe's anger felt so out of proportion. It's clear that Annie is a very sensitive child who can't help her gifts, and has been through just as much as her brother.

I kind of wish there had been one incident where Annie actually showed some sort of fault, even just the appearance of one that was actually a misunderstanding. The moment that Joe left Annie behind whlie she was sobbing, I truly hated him. What had she done to deserve this treatment? And the fact that he doesn't much think of her when he is with the gang and with Mr. M didn't help matters.

A GANG OF HIS OWN

Joe finds the Little Angels, a gang who stole props from the troupe. He earns their respect by helping them rescue a member of their gang. Turns out he stood up to a scary woman called the Tally Lady (on accident) after he is sent their by a stranger who was supposed to be helping him.

Joe eventually gets cocky and arrogant. He starts to feel like he should run the gang and that a girl like Queenie shouldn't. So he offhandedly suggests they change their names and that she can keep her name but they'll all change it. No one takes the suggestion seriously. Except Queenie.

Joe awakens in the night to her choking him. I was rather shocked by this, and I thought she would be a threat to him later on. But it never happens. And Joe even jokes, asking if she doesn't like the name change idea.

THE END OF THE GANG-SPOILERS

Eventually the weather gets so hot that the gang members start getting sick. They think it's from drinking water. When one dies and another shows the same symptoms Joe reveals he has money (left over from a previous event). This eventually leads to him confronting a gang boss and accidentally killing him. Queenie tells him he can't stay with them, because they are going back to their old boss and he would just hand over Joe as a way to keep the peace.

THE PROBLEM OF THE POOR

After the gang ends, Joe ends up passing out and waking up in a well furnished bedroom and eventually learns that he has been taken in by Mr. Mosley. He later meets Miss Chitter, who teaches him to read.

Mr. M and Miss Chitter, both very wealthy, seem to think it's up to them to get rid of poverty. Only Joe, who has lived a poor life, understands that this is an impossible task. Also he observes from their behavior, neither of his teachers really care about the distress of the poor. They see them as a mere incovenience to society. A bother that should be fixed, so they can go on unmolested by such depressing thoughts as of how the poor live.

They need to stop them from having babies, and stop them from consuming alcohol. They need to be policed by the upper classes (who of course, could have more children because they can afford it, and can drink because they deem themselves responsible). And since they have all of the political power, it would be the first nanny state not voted into power by the poor.

The conversation's between Mr. M and Joe were actually some of my favorite dialogue in the book. I thought it was insightful when Joe points out that they say “the problem of the poor” and not the “problems of the poor”. It summed up their beliefs.

It may come across as rather blunt and perhaps if the majority of the story was about Joe's experiences with Mr. M, it could have been less so.

FREE SPEECH

When Joe finally escapes Mr. M, he goes to the only place he can think of, the print shop where he looked for his mother. There he gets a job delivering papers as well as place to stay. There he learns about the lack of speech rights. Turns out some ideas are considered dangerous, so they aren't allowed. Apparently all speech isn't free speech if it offends the wrong people.

THE RETURN OF QUEENIE-SPOILERS

Near the last part of the story, Joe runs into Queenie on the streets. She looks thinner and weaker, and is now wearing long dresses like a lady. Joe realizes, without her saying so, that she is a street walker.

He suddenly becomes desperate, telling her she can come with him and leave her life. I was struck with how sad this scene was, especially since I barely knew Queenie as a character. I think the fact that it's not spelled out, but merely implied that she is a prostititute suffering from an illness, makes it more effective. It was one of the few scenes in the story that struck me emotionally.

THE RETURN OF TREVOR

Trevor returns near the ending of the story, setting the ending in motion, revealing that Annie was not with the traveling troupe. Now he has lost both a leg and an eye (wouldn't that have been an interesting story to witness, and not just learn about after the fact?).

THE TRUTH ABOUT MOTHER-SPOILERS

While in the hospital, a nurse asks what his name is, because she overheard it. Turns out that she knew Joe's mother and had a message for him. To be honest I almost forgot about his mother, as it had been so rarely mentioned in the story. I thought, are we really going to finish this aspect? Get a satisfied resolution?

She said she loved them and never stopped looking for them, but she died. I guess it is to be expected. No effort was put to find her, and to actually find her alive and well might be too coincidental. Either way, I didn't care too much.

I get that the author was trying to get Joe to let go and move on (it kind of works with Annie, who chose a new mother) but Joe just never thought about her. It would make sense if his mother abandoning him was the clear reason why he distrusted everyone but this case is never made.

CLIMAX

Joe eventually learns where Annie ended up, in a sanitarium. Joe speaks to the doctor, trying to explain that his little sister is just different. Turns out she has refused to speak to anyone and doesn't even feed herself. Joe visits her but she doesn't respond, so he promises to come back and see her. He keeps trying to bring her back, apologizing about leaving her and hugging her.

NEW PARENTS-SPOILERS

While Joe is working for Abel, he meets a woman who lost her two kids. Turns out they were not Joe and Annie, but the two dead children that Annie saw earlier in the story. This felt contrived to me. Joe goes on a carriage ride, hears a woman saying her babies were taken by Mr. M; So he finds her thinking she meant him and Annie.

I get why he would go find her, it's just her dead children being Annie's ghosts that feels forced. I would have liked if instead, the ghosts had led Annie and Joe to their parents. Annie using the attributes that her brother most hates about her to give them what they both most want (a family) would have been poetic.

Or maybe Joe could have been skeptical of the ghosts (it isn't revealed if he believes it or not, he is just annoyed with Annie). And this revelation could have made him value Annie and take her more seriously. Instead of just giving her up.

THE PROBLEM OF JOE

I already mentioned the times that Joe comes off as selfish and unlikable. I couldn't help thinking how it could have been handled better. Like actually finding a place where Annie clearly loved being there (that wasn't clear with the troupe) and where she would be loved and safe. He could rationalize to the reader that this was best for Annie, and even lie to her, saying he would be back. We, the readers, could still dislike him for the moment but not hate him completely.

But when Old Burt explains he wants Annie to merely make money off of her and buys her from Joe, it's obvious that this won't be a good place for her. Joe and Annie were slaves, so if anything Joe should be horrified by the offer to buy Annie. And he does seem slightly hesistant, but that is all.

Also, what Joe wants the most is freedom, but why does it mean freedom from Annie? She clearly has a gift, why not think of a way to make money off of her, himself? Like I mentioned before, he could eventually follow her ghosts to his new parents. This could come from him trying to entertain others by using her gifts.

CONCLUSION

The main gripe I had with the story is that it feels like a bunch of little stories that should each have their own bigger story. Because of this aspect, relationships never form between characters that have any depth. I wanted the whole story or most of it to have Trevor in it, to develop a relationship with Annie and Joe. And to learn more about his history.

I would have liked if we had gotten more time with the Little Angels gang, to actually get to know the children.

The last portion of the story, where Joe was working for a newpaper could have been really interesting. If we had a chance to learn about the owner and publisher better. But I only got the bare minimum of who he was.

By reading the Author's notes I understood that he wanted to put many historical aspects into his story, but I felt it would have served him better to pick one (like child slavery) and stick with it.

It could have been a story about surviving on the streets as a gang, intermixed with Joe getting saved by Mr. M. That alone could have carried the story.

Or it could have been a story about a search for their mother, that ended up with a search for Annie, who is valued and kidnapped due to her spiritual abilities.

In the end, I never felt invested in the characters or the story.

I give “The Whispering Road” two and a half stars.

Book Review: "The Ravenmaster's Secret" by Elvira Woodruff

SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY

When Forrest learns about new prisoners in the tower of London, he is surprised to learn one is a young Scottish girl. He realizes she is an enemy to the English King, but as he gets to know her by bringing her food, he wonders if she's all bad.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Forrest takes care of the ravens and has spent his life behind the walls of the tower of the London. He dreams of adventures in foreign lands.

Rat or Ned, as he is named, works for the rat catcher in the tower. He, like Forrest, dreams of adventure. He is crucial to the plot as he assists in the climax. He also allows Forrest to show his likabilty by being able to admit to fault.

Maddy is a young Scottish girl, the daughter of a Jacobite, a rebel who fights to put James Stuart on the throne of England. At first she is guarded, only expressing her anger. But eventually she shares her love of her family and country.

Hugh Harper is Forrest's father and the Ravenmaster. He is sometimes stern and blunt.

Tuck the raven is Forrest's companion. He has trained him to do many tricks.

PACING

The first few chapters introduce Forrest and his family, as well as Forrest's feelings of not belonging. After that we meet Rat and his relationship to Forrest is established. We learn about the prisoners coming and they arrive by page forty-two.

The story doesn't jump right into action, but sets the scene for the reader, letting them understand the world they are entering and the motivations and feelings of the main character. The slightly slower pacing didn't bother me at all. After all, the story is not an action story, but more one of mystery and suspense.

A WOMAN'S JOB

When Forrest is told to hold his baby sister Bea, he is annoyed. He doesn't think he should have to do a woman's job. I was pleasantly surprised to see Forrest portrayed in a realistic way in keeping with his time. Woodruff must not have cared of offending anyone or making Forrest seem unlikable.

HARE HEART

In the first chapter, we learn that there is to be a hanging. It is considered to be a great event, a form of entertainment. There is food and music and a huge crowds. His father seems indifferent to the event, but reminds his son that his mother loves a hanging. But Forrest admits he finds it gruesome, and when the dreaded event occurs, he looks away. This causes other boys to taunt him and cause him “hare heart”.

This a reoccuring theme in the book, Forrest wanting to gain courage. He even says he wishes he was big like his father, instead of small like his mother.

MADDY'S GOD

When Forrest witnesses Maddy praying in the prison, he wonders if God knows that she is the enemy. I thought it was insightful to learn about Forrest's views that God must support the English in all of their endeavors. As if God is English or that the English are the only followers of Christ.

Woodruff does this multiple times in the book, jumping into Forrest's viewpoint that is shaped by his culture.

A WORLD BEYOND

Since Forrest has spent his whole life behind the tower walls, he dreams of a life beyond them. He daydreams of adventure and shares his desire with Ned. This desire softens him to Maddy as he inquires all about her homeland in Scotland.

A TOKEN FOR GOOD LUCK

The first time that Forrest takes a risk is when Maddy asks him to deliver a sprig to her father. It is the only scene where we see Maddy's father. We never see them together but I never doubted their love for each other.

The story doesn't dwell on it but it's clear that under her tough exterior, Maddy is scared and afraid for her father. Mostly, the scene serves to push Forrest towards taking action, he has made a choice: he is risking his life for her.

SAVING NED-SPOILERS

Less than halfway through the book, Ned gets given to Frick by his master, who recklessly bet him in a card game and lost. Forrest knows he has to save his friend, because Frick treats his slaves awful, and they get injured and ill. Maddy learns of his troubles and gives him her gold ring so he can sell it and buy Ned's freedom. But things get complicated when he loses it and when Frick refuses to set Ned free.

THE SCOTTISH RACE

After Forrest hears Maddy singing, he asks why she is there and learns it's treason. But she is young and seems innocent, so Forrest inquires if all Scots are bad people. His father says blood is blood and that they are all low-minded traitors who have no love for England.

It's only when Forrest asks if they foam at the mouth that his mother asks where he heard that. She points out that men inflame hatred in times of war. So she does provide a slight counter to her husband without being out of character for her time.

THREE FRIENDS

While the story is short, the relationship between these characters comes across as genuine. Forrest's only human friend is Rat, but he doesn't even know his real name. He is embarrased by this but is humbled many times, like when he admits there are expectations because of his father, but Rat is a no one. Rat forgives him and realizes the truth of his words. There desire for adventure seems silly but it ties them together.

Maddy starts out as tough and defensive, but slowly melts when she shares about her homeland and her family. She learns to care for not just Forrest, but Ned, who ends up willing to take risks for her.

TUCK'S TRICK

It's Forrest's job to take care of the ravens, and Tuck, the young crow will one day replace the older crow. Forrest spends time teaching him tricks but has never gotten him to speak. But a miracle happens when he depends on him the most, near the climax.

A FAILED ESCAPE-SPOILERS

When the prisoners are being transferred, they all attempt to escape but are killed, including Maddy's father. But Maddy alone is spared, as she is kept from running away. Instead she is sentenced to be executed by guillotine.

MADDY'S ESCAPE-SPOILERS

A plan is set in motion to free Maddy from prison so she can escape being executed. But things go wrong and Forrest has to be more involved than he expected. He ends up distracting them with the help of Tuck and with Ned then he manages to sneak Maddy out.

CLIMAX-SPOILERS

After Maddy escapes, she waits for her rescuer to take her home, but he never shows. Turns out he was late and instead of going to her hiding space, he went to retrieve her from the tower. Ned delivers him to her but accidentally brings an unwelcome guest. With the help of Tuck they escape the intruder. Forrest makes a decision about his future.

EPILOGUE

Forrest has grown up, replaced his father as Ravenmaster of the tower and married and had has children. He recieves a letter from Ned and learns about him as well as Maddy. Turns out that Forrest named his daughter Maddy and Ned got his wish: he had plenty of adventures; He became a captain in the British Navy.

CONCLUSION

Woodruff manages to create a world that accurately depicts a time period of racism and sexism, without making us dislike the characters who live in it. She merely shows how it is, not that it's right or fair. She doesn't step in the story herself to lecture Forrest for his desire to be free from babysitting or Harper for thinking racist thougts towards the Scots.

Forrest, Ned and Maddy are all likable characters with arcs. Forrest develops courage to risk his life for another (while realizing his dream has changed), Ned gains courage as well, and while Maddy no doubt has her own hatred of the English, learns to be friends with two English boys and stand strong under the threat of death.

The climax is full of suspense and even some action. Although I appreciated Forrest having to come to a conclusion about his dream, the choice he made wasn't surprising to me. And Tuck managing to perform a brand new trick did feel very lucky.

I enjoyed the epilogue sharing a rare ending, one where the characters were happy merely to live and be free.

I give “The Ravenmaster's Secret” four stars.