Bennett, Holly. Redwing.

Bennett, Holly.   Redwing.    Orca  201p  $12.95      978-1-4598-0038-0 2012  jr/sr            VG          Fantasy    

After the death of his family from the plague, grief-stricken Rowan makes a subsistence living as a wandering musician.  When he teams up with Samik, who is on the run from an evil warlord, music and magic mix in a satisfying fantasy.

Orca seems to be branching out.  This medieval sword-and-sorcery novel does not fit the usual high-interest, low-reading-level realistic-fiction mold, nor does its length at 201 pages.  The story is more about friendship, and is more sword than sorcery.  Although Samik has the Sight and therefore "sees" that Rowan's sister Ettie is always with him in spirit, the plot ramps up with Samik's flight from the warlord.  And yet, the story is more Rowan's than Samik’s, as he learns to deal with his grief and craft a life for himself without his family's support.  Suspense ramps up throughout the novel and the climax is compelling.

A note of warning: there is a kiss between the boys on the beach.  Readers who do not read past that point will think there is a homosexual relationship.  This is resolved in the final chapter, when Samik is reunited with his father and sails away, while Rowan stays behind and wonders about his feelings for the girl Shay.  All in all, this is a great story about friendship and adversity.    

     

Friendship-Fiction, Fantasy                             --Pat Naismith