NZ
Writer
Anna
Mackenzie
Donnel’s Promise
Longacre 2014
$19.99pb 364pp
ISBN 978 14 7755 3546 1
Themes: Fantasy/
Medieval times/ Sequels/ Strong female heroines
It is not necessary to have read the
prequel Cattra’s Legacy in which the
brave and beautiful heroine Risha discovers she is the rightful heir to the
kingdom of Havre but I found having a background was helpful. Now that she has
returned to Havre to take up her mother’s throne Risha becomes bored with the
court gossip and politics and sets off on a tour with her handsome guard
captain, Nolan, and her mother’s cousin, Ciaran but an ambush on the way sets
in motion a life-changing series of events. Clear succinct writing make the book a pleasure to
read although for some teenagers the fast moving adventure and action alone will
carry them along - and EVERYONE will be hoping for a third title. Some memorable word pictures have stayed in my
mind. This is from the prologue: A gust of wind
carried the harbour’s briny tang up the slope and wove it through the hot scent
of sun-crackled herbs and mountain pines. (and does this seem particularly poignant as it is only 3 degrees outside as I write this?)
Year 8 up/ Age 12 up
No comments:
Post a Comment