Fantasy Fiction, Teen Fiction - Girls & Young Women, Teen Fiction - Fantasy
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Overview
In Alosha, Ali Warner discovered that she was not an ordinary teenager but actually Queen of the Fairies. Through seven terrifying trials, Ali reclaimed her magical powers and managed to defeat an elemental army that was preparing to destroy the Earth. At the same time, she took possession of the Yanti, a mystical talisman whose powers she has barely begun to understand.
Now Ali searches for her missing mother in the elemental world. Accompanied by an African youth she meets on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and by the troll and leprechaun who are her faithful companions, Ali faces new dangers at every turn.
Attacked by nearly indestructible creatures born of a nightmare, a wounded Ali and her friends are rescued by a young dragon, Drash, who vows to accompany them to the mysterious Crystal Palace, the center of Fairy power. There Ali learns that the elemental world is on the verge of destruction at the hands of a sinister being known only as the Shaktra.
Back on Earth, Ali's two closest friends, Steve and Cindy, investigate the beautiful and bewitching Sheri Smith, head of a video game company, who seems connected to the Shaktra. Too late, Steve and Cindy discover that she is not a woman at all...
In the elemental world, Ali helps transform Drash into a mighty fire-breathing dragon. With his help, Ali is able to travel to a secret ice cavern hidden on a kloudar, a massive island that orbits through the elemental heavens. There Ali discovers the true relationship between humans and the elementals and the hideous nature of the enemy she must face. For Ali’s quest will not be complete until either she or the Shaktra is dead.
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Editorials
Children's Literature
In an obvious nod to Tolkien, Christopher Pike presents the story of Ali Warner, a teenager who discovers that the weight of several worlds rests squarely on her shoulders. In Alosha, the first book of this trilogy, Ali finds that she is not only a precocious teen, but also the Queen of the Fairies in an alternate realm accessed atop a local mountain. She manages to save Earth from an invading "elemental" army from this alternate realm in the first book, but, as in all second books, much remains a mystery, including the whereabouts of her mother and the identity of an evil force known only as the Shaktra. This second book follows Ali as she leads a motley crew of characters—including a leprechaun, a troll, a dragon, and an African boy named Ra—into the elemental world to find her mother. It also follows two of Ali's human friends, Steve and Cindy, as they investigate some disturbing e-mails sent by Ali's mortal enemy, Karl Tanner. What they find could ultimately save Ali—or destroy her. Without getting into the plot twists, suffice it to say that this little trilogy has an epic scope and Pike's storytelling is refreshing, fun, and slightly familiar as it draws on the adventure fantasy popularized by Tolkien. Ali and her human counterparts are flawed and interesting, and the other characters are well drawn and charismatic. I especially enjoyed Farble the troll and Paddy the leprechaun, who are both funny and loyal to the point of annoyance. Like all second books, the story resolves very little, which conveniently leaves the reader begging for more. This is a keeper for a number of reasons, but primarily because it begs young readers to employ their imaginations in avery real way. 2005, Tor/Tom Doherty Associates, Ages 12 up.—Tom Jones
VOYA
The Shaktra is about as uneventful as a bowl of vanilla ice cream with sprinkles on top. It may be better than the unadorned scoop of just-plain-vanilla, but it is nothing to yell skyward about. Chock-full of stereotypes (elementals, leprechauns after gold, high fairies, dark fairies, etc.), and easy reading will make this book appealing to the masses. I prefer less predictable high fantasy, like The Essential Bordertown or any of the Xanth novels. VOYA CODES: 2Q 4P M J (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2005, Tor, 366p., Ages 11 to 15.—Shane Bell, Teen Reviewer
Book Details
Published
April 1, 2010
Publisher
Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
Pages
336
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781429914413