Betwixters: Once Upon a Time

Cantu, Laura C. Betwixters: Once Upon a Time. Book 1 of the Betwixters series. 278p. ISBN 978-0-9885-8519-5. Available at FIC CAN on the library shelves.

Noah’s move to England from the United States was not without difficulty, but he has adapted fairly well to his new environment. In English middle school, he made quick friends with always full of himself Ethan and best dancer and quick-witted Skye but is often the target of bully Gunther and his cronies. Noah’s father worked for the NSA, and is now involved in a secret project, which forced the family to move. Noah’s mother, who is Chinese, is very supportive of Noah and his aspirations.

Their town abuts the Dark Wood, a forest reputed to be haunted and the scene of a grizzly murder eight years ago. Noah’s father has made him promise never to enter the forest, but when Noah, Ethan and Skye are chased by Gunther and his crew, the only way to escape is to leave the school through the forest. As they go deeper, the environment changes and they can feel it become oppressive. They run in the man who owns the forest, whom they nickname Scaretaker and who warns them away from the dangers that lurk nearby. Skye, meanwhile, discovers the most amazing creature: Neevya the faerie, who comes from another realm and has unwillingly stepped through a portal to the human world. Stuck in an iron trap, Neevya has been infected by iron poisoning and must find the way back home soon, or she will die.

In a race against time and with enemies occupying the forest, Noah, Ethan, and Skye will need to outwit their parents, their bully, and the Scaretaker to deliver Neevya back to her home and save her life. Can they find the portal before it is too late?

The Hobbit

Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. 2001. 330p. ISBN 0-618-16221-6. Available at FIC TOL on the library shelves or as an eBook on Overdrive.

Bilbo Baggins leads a life of contentment in his very comfortable dwelling under the hill in Hobbiton. A hobbit of means, Bilbo enjoys good food and time with friends. On a beautiful morning, he greets Gandalf the wizard, a human, who just happened to be passing through, with a good morning. Gandalf questions whether it is a good morning, or whether Bilbo meant it as a question, confusing the hobbit who promptly retreats back to his hobbit hole. Gandalf realizes he has found his hobbit, and marks Bilbo’s door. Thus commences Bilbo’s adventure to the Lonely Mountain and back.

That night, thirteen dwarves present themselves at Bilbo’s house and eat all of his food. They reveal that Gandalf told them to meet here, and that Bilbo is to accompany them as a burglar for the purpose of infiltrating the Lonely Mountain, the dwarves’ ancestral home, and fight the dragon Smaug, who conquered it over a century ago. Bilbo is not the adventuring type, but he soon finds himself on the road. Along the way they encounter trolls, elves, goblins, shapeshifters, spiders, more elves, and the men of Laketown. Bilbo manages to acquire a weapon that glows when goblins and orcs are present, as well as a strange ring that allows him to become invisible. He acquired this ring from a creature named Gollum who dwelled in the depths of the Misty Mountains.

Freeing the mountain from the dragon takes some work, but the death of Smaug leads to several competing claims on the Lonely Mountain, all backed by armies. Five armies meet on the plains by the mountain, and though not a fighter, Bilbo is nonetheless involved in the conflict. Peace is finally achieved, but at the cost of the deaths of many a dwarves, who are now tight friends of Bilbo.

Returning home a rich hobbit due to his share of the treasure but a changed one due to the hardships of the adventure, Bilbo discovers with astonishment that his cousins thought him dead and have proceeded to auction off his possessions and his home.

The Hobbit introduces the world of Middle Earth and provides several details that become important in the Lord of the Rings. Fans of fantasy will love the worldbuilding Tolkien performed and will cheer Bilbo on as he manages time and again to overcome the odds placed before him.

Adventure Time, Vol. 1

Corsetto, Danielle and Meredith McClaren. Adventure Time, Vol. 1. 2016. 120p. ISBN 978-1-61398-180-1. Available as an eBook from Overdrive.

Based on the television animated series of the same name, this graphic novel tells the story of Finn and his trusted best friend Jake the dog, who has the ability to transform into anything he wants. Finn likes the Fire Princess, but having a relationship with a being who is able to ignite anything on fire just by touching it can be difficult at times.

Finn’s soul is kidnapped by a powerful being, Jake and the Fire Princess must team up so they can free him. Unfortunately, the path to freedom is littered with puzzles that need to be solved, and to the Fire Princess every solution involves burning down the door and moving on to the next challenge. Only, one of the challenges involves traveling down a lake filled with … water. Can the Fire Princess manage to control her fiery impulses long enough to discover a solution that does not involve fire?

Brisingr

Paolini, Christopher. Brisingr. Book 3 of the Inheritance series. 2008. 763p. ISBN 978-0-375-82672-6. Available at FIC PAO on the library shelves.

In Eldest, Murtagh reappeared as a dragon rider under the control of their enemy, King Galbatorix. Eragon and Saphira now find themselves at the center of events affecting Alagaësia. Having nearly been defeated by Murtagh and Thorn on the battlefield, Eragon knows he is hopelessly outmatched against the magical skills of the king. He will need more training in order to gain enough strength to overthrow Galbatorix. Fortunately, the Varden was able to win the battle in the end, and now Nasuarda and her troops are on the offensive, moving deep in the Empire.

Hoping to save Katrina, Eragon and his cousin Roran set out on Saphira to Hellgrind, the Ra’zac’s lair. Discovering the fell beasts and their parents, the trio triumph and dispatch the monsters, rescuing Roran’s love in the process. Unfortunately, Eragon finds that Sloan, Katrina’s father, is a prisoner of the Ra’zac. Having been rendered blind and tortured, the butcher is in bad shape, but Eragon knows he cannot be both judge and jury on the penalty he should suffer. He lets Roran and Katrina escape on Saphira, while he rescues the old man and sends him on a quest to seek shelter in the land of the elves.

Trekking back on foot, Eragon is reunited with Arya, who departed the Varden to meet up with him when Nasuarda learned what had transpired at Hellgrind. Together they travel back to the Varden. There Nasuarda sends him out to travel to Farthen Dur, the dwarves’ capital, to convince them to elect a king and support the Varden’s efforts. Saphira, meanwhile, stays back and runs patrols in the sky to let the Varden and its supporters believe Eragon is still with them.

Following the election of King Orik and his support to the cause of freedom, Eragon travels back to Ellesméra to meet once again with his teacher, Oromis. There Eragon and Saphira finally discover Galbatorix’ secret of collecting dragon heart of hearts. Filled with the consciousness of a dragon before he or she died, these items are powerful magic and the evil king has been drawing off them to oppress the people of Alagaësia.

With Roran fulfilling several dangerous missions for the Varden, and with Eragon, Saphira, Oromis and Glaedr heading back to the various battlefronts, the fate of an entire continent rests in the efforts of this motley crew.

Eragon tries to uphold the oath he made to save Katrina from King Galbatorix, while being pulled in different directions by the needs of the Varden, elves, and dwarves--all of whom need his help and strength to overcome the tyranny of the king.

Nimona

Stevenson, Noelle. Nimona. 2015. 266p. ISBN 978-0-06-227824-1. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

The kingdom has been kept safe from supervillains by the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics, who enforces actions against vigilantes and villains alike. Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin is the posterboy for the Institution, beloved by all and always ready to serve and protect. Lord Ballister Blackheart trained with Goldenloin many years ago, but following a joust he lost an arm to the good knight. Ever since then he has vowed revenge on Goldenloin and on the Institution.

When Nimona shows up on his doorstep, Blackheart doesn’t know what to do with her. She looks way too young to be a sidekick. Soon, however, he realizes that Nimona is a shapeshifter who’s very interested in villainy. He takes her on, and together they plan to bring down the Institution, for it is in fact not so much concerned to protect the kingdom as to rather control it. Nimona is useful and determined, but her lack of villainous etiquette means many civilians are getting hurt. As Blackheart’s plan moves forward, casualties are mounting and he learns more about Nimona and her dark past, he realizes that Nimona powers and abilities come at a cost that might exceed what he’s willing to pay.

Originally a web comic, Nimona and Blackheart’s tale is engaging and provides a different look at villains being the “heroes” of the tale. Blackheart’s dark castle is balanced by the colorful sceneries of the town. Blackheart, Goldenloin and Nimona share similar characteristics and their relationships become complicated as the story progresses. Fans of fantasy and of villains will appreciate this tale of destruction and redemption.

The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories

Pratchett, Terry. The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories. 2017. 256p. 235 mins. ISBN 9780062653116. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

How annoyed would a witch be if her vacuum cleaner was mistaken for something other than her mode of transportation? What if small people build a submarine and ended up floating all the way to the sea? What if a random encounter for directions turned into an airship adventure of a lifetime? These tales and more fill the pages of this humorous book. A total of fourteen different stories, some of them featuring recurring characters, showcase the light fantasy settings Pratchett was well known for, including his exploration of the Old West … of Britain, meaning Wales, time travel both back a few hundred years and all the way to the time of dinosaurs, and the tales of fantastic creatures including trolls and gnomes.

At age seventeen, Terry Pratchett sold his first story. While a journalist for a local newspaper, he continued to write and improve his craft. The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories feature fourteen of his early tales, which have been experienced minor updates. The audio version is well engineered and feature sound effects that enhance the narrator’s delivery of voices and setting. Fans of Pratchett’s work as well as light fantasy will enjoy these tales of wizardry and magic.

Prisoner of Ice and Snow

Lauren, Ruth. Prisoner of Ice and Snow. 2017. 280p. ISBN 9781681191317. Available at FIC LAU on the library shelves.

Valor is ready to do anything to help her twin sister Sasha. Even if that means making an assassination attempt on Prince Anatol so she can be condemned and sentenced to the ruthless Tyur’ma prison. For that’s where her sister has been sent after she stole a delicate musical box that was intended to cement an alliance between their country of Demidova and the neighboring nation of Magadanskya. And Valor knows that her sister will not be able to survive without her help.

As daughters of royal advisors, Valor and Sasha’s arrests bring disgrace on their family. Valor has a plan, however. She has seen her father’s old maps and knows there is a tunnel beneath Tyur’ma that leads straight to the Royal Palace. All she’s got to do is find her sister, steal a key, and escape with her from the inside of the prison, a feat no one has successfully accomplished in the 300 years’ existence of Tyur’ma. Unfortunately, Valor was not counting on the harsh and treacherous environment imposed by Warden Kirov, head of the notoriously cruel Peacemakers, guardians of the prison.

Now inside the ice walls, Valor finds herself struggling with her captivity. The lack of food, the lack of sleep, the cold, and the overwork is rapidly wearing her down. She knows that Sasha is more delicate, so these conditions must be even harder for her. As she plans her escape, Valor will have to turn to others to help. But with so many spies and criminals surrounding her, whom can she trust?

A well crafted fantasy novel about a place of ice and cold, readers will enjoy discovering how Valor surmounts the struggle to free her sister and prove her innocence.

The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart

Burgis, Stephanie. The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart. 2017. 242p. ISBN 978-1-68119-343-4. Available at FIC BUR on the library shelves.

Life as a dragon can be very exasperating, especially when you have older siblings. Aventurine is tired of being hidden in the mountain by her parents. Her mother and grandfather have informed her on occasions too many to count that she can’t leave the mountain for it is dangerous out there, and humans could harm her. Only when her scales have thickened enough to protect her from most every bullet and magic will she be allowed out. But that’s in about a hundred more years, and she’s had enough playing with her older brother, who is more interested in reading human books anyway. Plus, Aventurine has an older sister who has left the mountain years ago, and she’s just so perfect that Aventurine can never compare in the eyes of her mother.

So when the opportunity presents itself, Aventurine sneaks out of the mountain to go hunting by herself. This task proves more complicated than she thought it would be, however, and she’s unable to catch prey. Until, that is, she smells a human sheltering in a cave. She follows the scent, only to discover that he’s cooking … hot chocolate. Entranced by the amazing smell, Aventurine agrees to spare the human’s life until the hot chocolate is ready. Unfortunately, he turns out to be a food mage, and as she drinks the hot chocolate, which is amazing and tastes nothing like she’s ever had, she is transformed into a puny human.

Unable to return home (grandfather tried to roast her when she approached the mountain), Aventurine makes her way to the capital of the kingdom in search of chocolate. She soons becomes an apprentice to the cantakerous Marina, whose uncompromising baking and cooking style and her infuriating personality fit perfectly with Adventurine’s own. Soon, she’s learning more about chocolate than she ever thought possible. But the dragons in the mountain have stirred, and they’ve been spotted as far as the outskirts of the capital. And when an entire flight of them bears down on the city, striking panic and fear in the inhabitants’ hearts, only Adventurine can save them all.

Eldest

Paolini, Christopher. Eldest. Book 2 of the Inheritance series. 2005. 681p. ISBN   0-375-82670-X. Available at FIC PAO on the library shelves.

Eragon survived the assault on the dwarven city of Tronjheim but was maimed by Durza the Shade before killing him. Known as the Shadeslayer, Eragon looks forward to heading to Ellesmera, capital of the Elves, to complete his training as a Rider of Dragons. Now that Eragon and Saphira have joined the Varden and with the destruction of his army, Nasuada decides it is time to take the fight to King Galbatorix, he who singlehandedly eliminated the Order of the Riders.

As the Varden moves south to Surda, Eragon, Saphira, Arya and Orik head north to Ellesmera. There Eragon and Saphira discover that they are not the last riders aside from the King. Oromis,  the Crippled Who is Whole and Glaedr his dragon still live in the forest, having hidden themselves from Galbatorix. Together and with limited time, they begin the process of training Rider and Dragon in the art of magic, flying, and fighting.

Meanwhile, in Carvahall, Roran and the villagers are visited by the Ra’zac, who are here to seize him. Refusing to surrender, Roran hides in the forest, but the soldiers accompanying the Ra’zac soon begin making the villagers’ lives miserable. When one of them dies at the hands of a soldier and is returned as nothing but a pile of bones, Roran is so incensed that he leads the villagers in battle against the Ra’zac and the soldiers, and soon the soldiers are forced to abandon Carvahall. Getting ready for a siege, the villagers fortify all access points and wait for the Empire’s assault.

Eragon’s training proceeds apace, but his desire for Arya, whom, he discovers, is the daughter of Queen Islanzadí, soon turns the elf against him, and she departs to return to the Varden. Meanwhile, Roran’s love, Katrina, is kidnapped by the Ra’zac following her father Sloan’s treachery, and with the knowledge that more soldiers is on the way, the villagers soon face a stark choice. Remain behind and be enslaved, or tempt their chance through the Spine to the ocean to secure passage down to the Varden and Surda.

As forces mass on both sides, and with an ally of Galbatorix ready to take the field against the Varden, will Eragon and Saphira’s training be completed in time to save his friends from complete destruction?

The story continues in Brisingr.

A Crack in the Sea

Bouwman, H. M. A Crack in the Sea. 2017. 358p. ISBN 978-0-399-54519-1. Available at FIC BOU on the library shelves.

Kinchen and Pip live with old man Ren, on the outside of Tathenn, the capital of the islands of Second World. When she returns home to discover that her 11-year-old brother has been invited to tea with the governor and the Raft King, Kinchen immediately worries. Pip can breathe underwater and can talk to fish, yet he has the worst time distinguishing between humans. They all look the same to him. For his part, the Raft King rules Raftworld, a large city constructed out of thousands of rafts that float tied together and powered by hydraulics.

The Islanders and the Raftworlders have always been at peace and meet every few years to exchange and trade. People willing to leave their home are welcomed with the other nation. The Raft King, however, is looking for a door so he can return to the First World, where his mother, Amelia, came from, and Pip is the one that can find this door by asking the fish.

Meanwhile, Thanh and his sister Sang are escaping warfare and Communist rule in Vietnam like so many, by boarding a small boat and risking the open sea to make landfall in Thailand, Malaysia or the Philippines. Accompanied by two adults, a baby, and another girl called Mai, they eventually stumble upon a doorway in the open sea held open by a Kraken, and are propulsed in the Second World.

Intermingled in their stories is the story of Venus and Swimmer, two African children who escape from a slave ship and live with a man they name uncle Caesar for a while, before being captured again and taken out onto another slave ship bound for Jamaica. Able to walk underwater, Venus rescues more than a hundred slaves, including her brother and her uncle, and they walk for days underwater before discovering a door leading to a new world.

These three stories all tie in together in a beautifully told tale of hope and redemption. Fans of intriguing fantasy will appreciate the well crafted main characters and the setting of the Second World.

The Frog Princess Returns

Baker, E. D. The Frog Princess Returns. Book 9 of the Tales of the Frog Princess series. 2017. 196p. ISBN 978-1-68119-137-9. Available at FIC BAK on the library shelves.

Previously, Princess Emma, the Green Witch had been turned into a frog and had met Prince Eadric, who had suffered the same fate. Now the two of them are humans again, and are spending time in Emma’s kingdom, Greater Greensward. The two lovebirds’ peace is disturbed, however, when Princess Adara arrives in the royal carriage of Eadric’s parents. Claiming to be a distant relative, it is clear to Emma that Adara is very attracted to Eadric.

At the same time, all is not right in the world of the fairies. Queen Willow, the fairy queen, has disappeared, and three fairies are standing for an election to choose the new ruler of the fairy world. Unfortunately, all three are deeply flawed characters that are not liked by a majority of the other fairies, and they offer drastically different programs towards their relationships with the humans. When local plants become afflicted by electoral logos, Emma is asked by the fairies to intervene.

Taking Eadric and Adara with her, Emma investigates who is behind the plants’ destruction and realizes that it will take quite a bit of effort and magic to track down Queen Willow and restore peace to the area.

Filled with dragons, fairies and magic, this light tale is a perfect read for fans of humorous fantasy.

Eragon

Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. Book 1 of the Inheritance Cycle series. 2003. 509p. ISBN 0-375-82668-8. Available at FIC PAO on the library shelves.

On the large continent of Alagaësia, fifteen-year-old Eragon occupies a very small place in the village of Carvahall, as removed from everything else as one can get. An orphan, Eragon lives with his farming uncle Garrow and his cousin Roran about 10 miles out of the village, in the shadows of the Spine mountains. A foreboding place and rumored to be full of magic, the Spine mountains are left alone by the local residents, but Eragon long ago learned how to hunt and avoid its pitfalls.

Eragon is looking for food for the coming winter during one of these hunts when he comes across the strangest stone he has ever seen. Polished and with different shades of blue, it must be worth a small fortune. He brings it back to the village and attempts to sell it, only to discover no one wants to purchase it because it comes from the Spine. Then one night the stone hatches, and a dragon emerges. Soon, Eragon and Saphira are inseparable friends, but as the dragon grows it becomes harder to hide her.

Agents of the evil king Galbatorix are on the move, searching everywhere for the dragon egg that was stolen from the king. The elf that carried the egg was captured, but not before she transported the egg away. Two of those agents, a mix of bird and men, the Ra’zac arrive at Carvahall looking for Brom, a former dragon rider, but they stumble upon Eragon and begin the chase. Eragon escapes in the Spine, and the Ra’zac kill his uncle Garrow.

Vowing vengeance, Eragon decides to pursue his attackers as they retreat. Brom accompanies Eragon and trains him on the history of dragon riders and of Alagaësia, as well as on the proper ways of magic and combat skills. Soon the pursuers become the pursued as Galbatorix’ soldiers are intent on capturing Eragon and forcing him to join forces with the evil king. Saved from imprisonment several times by a new friend named Murtagh, Eragon rescues Arya, the elf who carried the egg, but she is dying and in a magically induced sleep. Now Eragon and Saphira’s only hope is to find the Varden, an opposition group fighting Galbatorix, in their secret base before it is too late. But with an army of Urgals, fierce and ruthless creatures, on their tails, will they reach their destination in time to save Arya, and, if so, at what cost?

Peopled with amazing creatures and vivid descriptions, Eragon is fantasy at its best, with magic, dragons, and sweeping vistas. Fans of Lord of the Rings will find themselves at home in the universe of the dragon riders.

The Book of Story Beginnings

Kladstrup, Kristin. The Book of Story Beginnings. 2006. 360p. ISBN 978-978-0-329-65754-3. Available as an eBook from Overdrive.

Lucy Martin and her family are moving from New York City to a rustic farmhouse in Iowa. Owned by her father’s great aunt before her death, the house is in the middle of nowhere with a view of the interstate in the distance. Lucy’s father has lost his job, while her mother works hard as an home-based editor, so moving means not paying rent and a chance for new beginnings. For Lucy, however, it means leaving her friends and the only life she’s known behind. Plus, the house is the scene of Oscar’s disappearance.

Back in 1914, Oscar, Lucy’s great-great uncle disappeared. His sister, who owned the house before she died, swore to her dying breath that she saw Oscar row out to sea in a boat. But how can this be? Iowa is nowhere near an ocean. She spent the rest of her life focused on magic, trying to bring Oscar back. Lucy is intrigued by this mystery, until she discovers that their new housecat Walter is actually Oscar, who has just returned from an island ruled by a Queen who loves birds and a King who loves cats. Oscar discovered the Book of Story Beginnings, where the start of stories can be composed. If the book likes the story, it happens. If it doesn’t, then the story erase itself.

In the process of playing with alchemy, her father transforms himself into a raven which escapes through the window, and a drop from the magical potion hits the cat and transforms it back into Oscar. Now both Lucy and Oscar must work together to find an appropriate story beginning to help them find her father while at the same time resolving all of the other issues Oscar’s careless story beginnings have started.

This is a great story for middle school students and readers who enjoy magic and fairy tales. The characters are realistic and the action is constant. The land of Cat-n-Berd is intriguing and will fascinate. Based on the concept of what happens to characters in your favorite book when the story end, this story itself will enchant and lead the reader to wonder, what are my favorite characters up to today?

Heartless

Meyer, Marissa. Heartless. 2016. 453p. ISBN 1250044650. Available at FIC MEY on the library shelves.

Many books have attempted to explain the Queen of Hearts’ horrible personality in Alice in Wonderland, but none come close to the story of Catherine. As the daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Turtle Cove, she is expected to marry someone from her social class and produce children. But her dreams are of opening a bakery with her best friend, who also happens to be her maid, Mary Ann.

Unfortunately, Catherine’s parents have a different plan for her. They want her married to the King of Hearts, a silly short man who is more interested in entertainment than in governing. Catherine is presented at Court and fears that the King will announce their engagement when she meets Jest, the new Court Jester. Enigmatic and charismatic, and the boys of many of her dreams, Jest quickly steals her heart. Her disappearing cat, Chesire, mars the party and prevents the King from making his announcement. Catherine runs into the garden and stumbles upon Jest.

The party is interrupted when the Jabberwock attacks the Palace. Catherine escapes and returns home, but her parents still expect her union with the King. As their courtship begins, Catherine can’t help but think of Jest. She gets the chance to attend Hatter’s Tea Party, and suddenly her relationship with Jest transforms into a secret courtship.

But Jest is on a mission for the White Queen of Chess, and he may have ulterior motives in gaining the heart of the future Queen of Wonderland. With the Jabberwock roaming the land, magical characters infuriatingly putting their noses where they shouldn’t, with murky riddles and with her plans falling apart, Catherine has a choice to make, but will she be able to escape her fate?

Though the ending is predictable, watching Catherine struggle to escape the bounds and propriety of her social background is worth the read and provides the best explanation for the Queen’s ruthlessness. If you’re not willing to suffer the Queen’s declaration of “off with your head,” then you might want to read this book.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Anonymous. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. 2015. 112p. 114 minutes. Available as an eBook and an audiobook from Overdrive.

On this New Year’s Eve, everything is merry at the Round Table in Camelot. King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, the knights, and other members of the court are gathered to celebrate the arrival of a new year with an extravagant feast. The party is interrupted by the arrival of a tall and frightening knight, as big as a giant and completely clad in green. Glancing around at the cowering knights, the Green Knight issues a challenge. Whomever is brave enough to land a blow on him this New Year’s Eve will get repaid by a blow from the Green Knight the following New Year’s Eve at the Green Chapel. Dare any knight demonstrate their courage by accepting this deadly challenge?

To Arthur’s disappointment, no one initially steps forward to meet the Green Knight’s challenge. The Knight mocks the assembled crowd for their lack of bravery, claiming that what he has heard of the Round Table are nothing more than old women’s tales. Sir Gawain, the smallest knight at Court, stands up and accepts the Green Knight’s challenge. Taking the swing this year, Sir Gawain decapitates the Green Knight. The Green Knight, unfazed, picks up his head and acclaims Gawain for a great hit, then tells him to find him next year for his turn at receiving a blow.

As the New Year approaches, Sir Gawain begins his quest of finding the Chapel. Arriving at a Lord’s estate, he joins in the Christmastime festivities, and discovers that the Chapel is but a half-day away. But as the time grows close, and as temptations, both of the flesh and of the company of others increase, can Sir Gawain remain true to his deadly mission and prove to be the honest and courageous knight others believe him to be?

Anonymously written more than a thousand years ago, Sir Gawain's story is a great introduction to Arthurian legends and myths, and will be appreciated by fantasy fans.

Truthwitch

Dennard, Susan. Truthwitch. Book 1 of the Witchlands series. 2016. 415p. ISBN 978-0-7653-7928-3. Available at FIC DEN on the library shelves.

Many of the inhabitants of the Witchlands have strange powers. Known as witches, they control one or more aspect of life, from water to fire to the threads that bind people together. Twenty years ago the nations of the Witchlands agreed to a binding twenty years truce, but this only provided time for leader to re-arm and re-equip their troops and plan new attacks. Nineteen years later, the last months of the truce are ticking by and everyone is ready to head back to war.

Safiya and Iseult are thread sisters, and both of them are also witches. Current residents of Venaza City in the Dalmotti Empire,  Iseult is a Nomatsi, a group of nomads reviled by non-Nomatsi people. She is a threadwitch, and she sees the connections between people as well as the threads that define their thoughts and feelings. Safiya is a domna of Cartorra, a noblewoman of the Empire of Cartorra. She’s a truthwitch, one of the rarest of witches. She can discern truth from lie, a useful power to have when the world is heading back to war. She was sent to Venaza City by her uncle to get her away from the Emperor of Cartorra, but she has done nothing but get herself in trouble, much to her tutors’ dismay.

When Safiya and Iseult attempt to rob the wrong caravan, they become the target of a bloodwitch, a man with the power to smell the blood and the quality of the witchcraft within. Assisted by Prince Merik, a wind witch, Safiya and Iseult must now run for their very lives are threatened, and as war gets set to resume, the two thread sisters will either be the salvation of the continent as predicted by the old Carwen prophecy or its doom.