Peaceweaver

Gr 5–8—At the end of The Coming of the Dragon (Random, 2010), young Rune is crowned the successor of King Beowulf. As a token of peace from a neighboring kingdom, Hild, the king's niece, is offered to him in marriage. Rather than picking up where the last book left off, this companion volume begins with Hild living in her own kingdom without knowledge of Rune or the marriage proposal. She is a spirited girl who has her own ideas about how to improve and strengthen her kingdom. Not only does she have the ability to see people for who they really are, but she also has dreams and visions of what the future holds. These abilities seem like gifts until she impulsively kills one man in defense of another and is forced to leave her home. Under the pretense of weaving peace between warring kingdoms, Hild is sent out with a delegation of men to make the long journey to Rune. Along the way, her quick wit, determination, and visions keep her and her entourage out of danger despite monstrous creatures and a treacherous path. Barnhouse has woven a fantasy that is full of bravery, adventure, and magic. Hild is a real heroine; she is as strong willed and beautiful as she is entitled and selfish. The pacing of the story remains steady throughout with a nice balance of the protagonist's introspective struggles combined with nerve-racking suspense. A thoroughly enjoyable read.—Elizabeth C. Johnson, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, WA