Tallow: Curse of the Bond Riders, Book 1

Gr 9 Up—One night outside of the edge of the hysterical border between countries called the Limen, a cloaked rider gives a newborn child to a candle maker to raise. Pilar, the candle maker, disguises the rider as a boy and uses her as his apprentice because if the government of Serenissima, the Venice-like city in which they live, were to find out about her, they would be killed. Tallow, as she is called, is an Estrattore, a creature that can extract human emotion and use it in unique and often helpful ways. As Tallow grows, the danger mounts because there are many who want her and her strange power. She is also being hunted by the Morte Whisperers, creatures who are as cold as death itself. Tallow must survive and fulfill her true destiny, a prophecy that would change her world forever. Brooks's intoxicating tale (Woolshed, 2010) is brought to life by Eloise Oxer. From beautiful chanting at the beginning of each disc, listeners are led into this intricate and beautifully realized world. While Oxer does make a few missteps by giving many of the characters around Tallow very strong Italian accents while Tallow has none, her sinister reading of one of the villains is especially good. Fans of historical fantasies won't be disappointed.—Necia Blundy, formerly Marlborough Public Library, MA