Submitted by Nate Turton (Jul 31, 2008)

As soon as I finished the first book in the series, I was anxiously anticipating getting the second. I’ll admit I had my doubts…being a newer fan to the fantasy genre, I wasn’t sure how a female would work in the stereotypical “male spot” of protagonist, so profoundly common throughout the genre. Again, I will admit to you that I was surprised by how well it played out. In real life, gender shouldn’t/doesn’t make a difference. Historically, though, as a general rule in literature, there are very few female adventurous heroes. Batson’s Antoinette was a hard-edged, willing hero, made ready for her quest by quick wit and an already-established area of expertise. The story wasn’t about a girl who became a heroine, it was about a heroine who was committed to honoring her word to the end. The thing that I enjoyed most about the book was that while there were many characters returning to the pages, the story was incredibly different from The Door Within. Different people groups were introduced, and with them, their cultures, each to be appreciated for their individuality and revered for their traditions. I felt that this aspect of the book lent itself to the idea that God sees no colors and values each of his children the same; each one of us should be appreciate for who we are in God’s great creation, not judged by the insignificant traits that make us different. Additionally, the awakening of mind-boggling monsters that need to be thwarted also made for great reading. The characters’ struggle to wrap their heads around what was once thought to be legend, but what turns out to be truth is reminiscent of situations that all of us have faced in life: while no one in our lifetimes have had to face anything like the Wyrm Lord, most of us have struggled with the realization of truth. It was easy to identify with the characters as they began to piece together the truth of what they were up against. I think this book could play a very large role in the life of girls. There is never any inkling of the “I’m just a girl…I can’t do that” mentality that can bind so many young women. It is empowering. If this book were to end up in the hands of a girl who needs an example of a strong, faithful, ready-for-action young lady, it could make a life-long difference to her…Antoinette is the kind of character who can be looked up in that regard. Age recommendations: Children reading the book alone: 11 years Children reading with a parent: 9 years Faith affirming/spiritual message (1-10): 10 – Not only is this book written with action and adventure, it has great examples of a spectrum of spiritual principles. Overall Rating (1-10 scale): 9 – This book is a page turner that has many obvious lessons that the targeted age group need to experience. Would you find this in my personal library? ABSOLUTELY! It has a permanent place in my bookshelf. Would you find this in my classroom library? Yes. It is a great that could possibly empower young ladies to reach beyond that which they don't believe themselves to be capable.

As I said before under the "The Door Within" comment section- this trilogy is fantastic! Thank you for an awesome series for our kids! God Bless, Laurie D. (Keith's wife)

I love this book