The Reader

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 Book Review:


“This is a must have for all those who value a good read with genuine character growth, mystery, unique world building, adventure, unyielding bonds of loyalty, and pirates… A fresh, diverse fantasy.”

-         SLJ starred review

 


I just finished “The Reader”, a debut novel from American author Traci Chee. What a start to her writing career! The book has adventure, mystery, magic, and romance. Most of all though, it swirls. Times, places, and characters flow in and out of the narrative like waves, leaving one perplexed and curious. As I worked my way through the story, I kept asking myself, “where are we headed and what is happening?”. Then in the last few chapters, the currents and back-eddies flow together, and the water runs clear and quick. After some four-hundred pages of exciting confusion, the resolution is a satisfying relief.

Garnering eight Best Book of the Year awards upon its release, “The Reader” is an impressive kick off to the “Sea of Ink and Gold” series.

Recommendation – for fantasy fans who love fresh, new, and pleasurably challenging content, give “The Reader” a try. It’s worth the effort.

 

Mr. Wedel

 

Author – Traci Chee

Publishing – Penguin House, New York, 2010

Genre – Fantasy

Pages - 437


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