Moonkind

January 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-In this conclusion of the trilogy that began with Winterling (2012) and continued in Summerkin (2013, both HarperCollins), a poisonous curse called the stilth is oozing through the magical realms, spreading stillness and rot wherever it goes. It stems from the fact that young Fer, part-human Lady of the Summerlands, asked that all Lords and Ladies swear an oath to remove their glamories. The Forsworn have defiantly kept this masking magic, which not only makes them beautiful but also causes them to resist change and desire power. Meanwhile, Rook, Fer's tricky friend, and the Puck brothers have found a powerful and dangerous antidote to the glamorie in the form of a giant spider's web. What Rook does with this antidote causes the fragile trust between him and Fer to finally snap. After the Forsworn spirit Fer away to a remote, magical island, only Rook can rescue her-and only Rook and Fer together can save the realms, not to mention Fer's human grandmother. Fer's fierce determination to deal with the consequences of her actions meshes with Rook's realization that Fer is every bit as important to him as his brothers. This creates a tension that keeps the pages turning, even as the stilth threatens to destroy the world. Fer's refreshing humanity and Rook's exasperating but charming trickiness add humor and warmth to this fine fantasy.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2013
The finale to a low-key middle-grade fantasy trilogy falters under the weight of earnest moralizing. Fer is now the true Lady of the Summerlands, oath-bound to serve her people. But there are other Lords and Ladies who would rather rule than serve, and by forswearing their oaths to remove their mesmerizing "glamories," they have brought a deathly sickness to their realms. Only the half-human Fer can stop the spreading curse of the "stilth," and that will require trusting in Rook and his brother-pucks--whose very nature is to lie and betray. The magical lands are small and contained, drawn with exquisite attention to detail, which makes the creeping ruin all the more horrifying. Fer remains a likable heroine, having outgrown much of her earlier naivete while retaining her compassion, bravery and unwavering sense of right and wrong. Rook is an appealing foil as he struggles with unexpected feelings of friendship and loyalty. Unfortunately, the remaining characters are barely sketched, with their personalities changing to serve the convenience of the plot. Too many fortuitous twists and nick-of-time rescues drain the narrative suspense, and the climactic confrontation is less inspiring triumph than wince-inducing bathos (spoiler alert: All you need is love). Still, in a genre overstuffed with grim dystopias and angst-y Chosen Ones, there's pleasure to be found in a quiet, gentle--if excessively well-meaning--adventure tale. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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January 1, 2014
Grades 5-8 Fer and Rook return in this conclusion to the series that began with Winterling (2012) and Summerkin (2013). In Summerkin, Fer bound the other fairyland Lords and Ladies to an oath to remove their glamories, but many were unwilling. Now they are forsworn, creating the stilth that spreads to all the lands, slowing time and bringing death. As part-human, Fer is the only one capable of creating change and saving everyone, but she needs Rook's help. Can she trust him? Are they even friends? The plot is somewhat bogged down with explanations of stilth and contemplations of loyalty, trust, and friendship but the pace picks up slightly by the end.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
Having defended her claim to the Ladyship of the Summerlands in Summerkin, Fer faces a deeper challenge: Lords and Ladies who swore to relinquish their glamories have broken their oaths, and Fer and puck Rook must save the land from the creeping sickness that results. High magic, faerie charms, and a gratifying friendship subplot give this adventure an otherworldly heft.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)