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Chicken House, 2001 |
Scholastic US, 2002 |
Deep in the Mountains of Midnight is a valley where the sun never shines. There is a way in but no way out, because no one who ventures into the Sunless Valley ever returns. In a world where the slightest whisper can bring down an avalanche, dark crystal is destroying the Singers' power. Can novice Singer Renn and Shaiala, the wild girl who kicks like a centaur, conquer their individual fears and learn to work together in time to defeat the evil of the Khiz?
This book draws on my experience with horses and my love of ancient myths. The half creatures in this story are centaurs - half human and half horse - who have raised the human girl Shaiala after she was abandoned as a baby. When her herd is destroyed and the foals taken captive by the evil Khizpriest, Shaiala is sent to the Isle of Echoes for healing. Everyone thinks she is crazy because she speaks funny and kicks like a wild horse. But Rialle's son Renn, who has inherited his mother's ability to hear half creatures, befriends Shaiala and becomes her companion on their quest to rescue the centaurs.
Read an extract HERE
What they said...
¬ "Reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings" Daily Telegraph.
¬ "Rapidly paced adventure, fierce and costly fights, startling revelations
and cataclysmic set pieces." Times Educational Supplement.
¬ "Haunting and moving... this book poses questions for young adults to think
over, quietly and together." Suzanne Brown, Children's Books in Ireland.
¬ "A brilliant, fast-moving and exciting story... very well written and the
setting is one of the most realistic fantasy worlds I have read in print." Sheelagh Wilson, Times2.
¬ "Crystal Mask is the kind of book where the more you read, the more you feel
involved." cool-reads.co.uk
¬ "A very strong follow up to Song Quest with characters as fascinating as the first book and a really strong dramatic climax. As a fantasy fan, I couldn't put it down..." Sarah Wilkie, National Youth Libraries Group.
¬ "The world is original and detailed, and the characters respond realistically to extraordinary events... Readers familiar with the first book will enjoy revelations about the previous generation." School Library Journal.
¬ "Reminiscent of Tamora Pierce's 'The Immortals and Protectors of the Small' series, this British import will appeal to the same audience." Voice of Youth Advocates (US).
¬ "Crystal Mask is one of the most original and exciting fantasy books I have read... glued to my seat during the entire sitting and read it over and over again." amazon.co.uk 5 star review.