The Fiend and the Forge

Children's Literature - Jeannine Stickle

The third book in Neff's engaging and imaginative "Tapestry" series is the best yet. In this book, the malevolent demon Astaroth has gained control over the world, leaving Rowan Academy, the home of twelve-year-old Max McDaniels, mostly untouched. Still determined to defeat him, however, Max ventures outside of Rowan and sees the horrors Astaroth has unleashed on the rest of the human population, and Max and his friends plot and fight hard to undermine him in a series of adventures which culminate in a huge battle with the most dangerous demons, including Astaroth himself. In this novel, this unique and imaginative fantasy series truly comes into its own. As in the previous books, the story combines history, mythology, and elements of science fiction and fantasy in a complex and sophisticated way and includes a host of interesting and complex characters and plenty of action to keep readers engaged. The book's length may be daunting to some readers and it is true that, though all the episodes are interesting, they do not all advance the story. However, readers who are not intimidated by the length at the outset are not likely to mind superfluous plot points. There is enough explanation of the back story that readers may start here, but they may want to start at the beginning of the series anyway to savor it as long as possible. This book is recommended for public and school libraries and will be enjoyed by both male and female middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy, from casual fans of the genre to those who enjoy works with particularly rich world-building. Reviewer: Jeannine Stickle