Random Reads
Teen Book Reviews by Anne Keller
Almost as good as the Harry Potter Books
Hollow Kingdomby Clare Dunkle
This novel is the first in a trilogy by Clare Dunkle. I'm not a big reader of fantasy (except Harry Potter) but this book completely captivated my attention. Sisters Kate and Emily are orphans who have come to live at Hallow Hill with their great aunts. One day, the sisters encounter the goblin King Marak who is determined to kidnap Kate and make her his wife. Emily goes missing and Kate believes that Marak is the culprit. In exchange for her sister's freedom, she agrees to wed Marak which involves going underground, "never to see the stars again." In the beginning, Marak appears sinister and evil but later comes across as caring and devoted. It reads sort of like Beauty and the Beast with a full list of supporting characters that add flavor and adventure to this wonderful novel. Readers will admire Kate for her ability to adapt to married life underground and cheer her for standing up to her new husband. Dunkle is able to use her craft of storytelling to deliver a truly outstanding novel.
The Safe- Keeper's Secretby Sharon Shinn
Damiana is a safe-keeper in a small remote village. Her job is to listen to people's secrets and then keep them to herself. On the night she goes into labor, a mysterious visitor drops off a new born baby and Damania agrees to raise the child along with her own. The years pass and the siblings, Reed and Fiona, grow into teenagers. The family is close knit and they have a unique extended family involving friends and neighbors. Throughout the years, it is alluded that Reed may actually be the illegitimate son of the King. The ending is somewhat surprising when the truth is finally revealed. Damania eventually grows ill and they must deal with her impending death. The novel is rich in plot and character development. While not a Harry Potter by any stretch of the imagination, it is a great worthwhile read that will draw many readers into the thick and fully developed plot line. The Truth-Teller's Tale by Sharon Shinn
This is a companion novel to The Safe-Keeper's Secret. Eleda and Adele are identical twins and people have a hard time telling them apart except their mother and their best friend Roelynn. Eleda is a Truth-Teller meaning she is compelled to always speak the truth. Adele is a Safe-Keeper, she hears people's secrets and carries the burden of never telling them. Their parents are inn keepers and Roelynn's father is a wealthy merchant who wishes Roelynn to marry Prince Darian. The twins keep busy by helping their parents run the Mira, Mirrorby Mette Ivie Harrison
Mira's mother trades her to a witch for firewood. She becomes the witch's second apprentice since the witch already has one who calls Mira sister. The beautiful sister teaches Mira how to extract magic from dying creatures in order to become more powerful. Eventually, the witch dies and the sister betrays Mira by turning her into a mirror. The magical mirror, Mira, is left for 100 years until she is discovered by a peasant girl named Ivana who is running from her past. The mirror convinces Ivana to take her off the wall and they journey into the world. Mira's true intention is to gather enough magic so she can transform herself back into a person. Eventually, Ivana and the mirror hook up with a merchant and his daughter Talia. Ivana and Talia form a strong friendship which teaches Mira about love. The secondary characters in the novel almost become primary characters for their story almost overshadows Mira's. The characters are all unique and fully developed and the reader will be pleased with the transformation that Mira's character goes through. Eragonby Christopher Paolini
Christopher Paolini was a homeschooled teen when he wrote Eragon. Many readers compare the novel to JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Eragon is a peasant boy when he finds a strange stone that actually turns out to be a lost dragon's egg. Eragon adopts the dragon, Saphira, and he discovers the creature's great intelligence as they bond together. Eventually, his family is destoryed and Eragon begins a journey of vengenance that is transformed along the way. The novel is actually the first in the Inheritance trilogy. Paolini was only fifteen years old when he began writing Eragon. The book was wildly successful and fans have eagerly awaited the second installment. Although I didn't think it was as good as Harry Potter, fans of Tolkien will surely embrace this book by this promising young author.