The Hound of Rowan (review)
2007; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 61; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2007.0779
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Utopian, Dystopian, and Speculative Fiction
ResumoReviewed by: The Hound of Rowan April Spisak Neff, Henry H. The Hound of Rowan; written and illus. by Henry H. Neff. Random House, 2007414p (The Tapestry) Library ed. ISBN 978-0-375-93894-8$19.99 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-375-83894-1$16.99 Ad Gr. 5-7 Twelve-year-old Max is understandably startled when he sees a tapestry suddenly coming to life. That, however, is just the beginning: this means he is a Potential, a suitable candidate for Rowan Academy, the school of magic and mysticism, and he has only a few days to decide whether to leave his father and dive headlong into this world about which he still knows little. Of course, he chooses adventure. Once at Rowan, Max and his peers learn that graduates are the last protection the [End Page 150] world has against Astaroth, a brilliant and evil force that has been manipulating humans for centuries and that is now gearing up for an epic battle against good. In the meantime, Max has fighting lessons, mysticism training, and the minefields of friendships and crushes to negotiate. Max's increasing empathy and appreciation for his earnest and vulnerable father, brought about through the struggles and privations Max himself must endure, is an endearing surprise in this lightning-paced, action-focused fantasy. Unfortunately, the special training school, the isolated but magically gifted boy, and the accompanying varied crew of stock fantasy creatures (from ogres to the apparently original but werewolfesque "vyes") is all well-worn territory, and there is little to distinguish this new series. In addition, although one would expect more questions than answers from the first entry in a series, the plot is so complex and open-ended as to be frustratingly opaque rather than enticingly mysterious. Fantasy fans hungry for more good versus evil showdowns with clever boys at the helm may still find plenty to enjoy, however, and Max, flawed but amiable, is a worthy protagonist to try and save the world this time around. Copyright © 2007 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
Referência(s)