The Waterless Sea

July 1, 2005
Gr 5-9 -Fresh from defeating the evil sorcerer, Samis, novice priestess Calwyn and her band of loyal friends embark on a mission to the Empire of Merithuros. There they hope to rescue the kidnapped children whose chantment (power worked through song) skills are all that keep the magical Palace of Cobwebs from crumbling. The second book in the trilogy by Kate Constables (Scholastic, 2005) probes deeper into the relationship between Calwyn and Darrow, the man she rescued from being sacrificed to the Goddess. Darrow's mysterious upbringing and how he came to wear the ruby ring that once belonged to Samis are presented through flashbacks. Kimberly Farr's melodic voice enhances the strong characterization and lyrical language of the story, drawing listeners ever deeper into the group's quest and the conflict between good and evil. The effectiveness of the background music varies -sometimes complementing the reading, at other times distracting from it. Who will master the Nine Chantments of the separate lands of Temaris? Calwyn or Darrow? Fans will have to wait for the final installment of this skillfully written and masterfully presented trilogy to learn the answer to that and other unresolved questions. -"Cindy Lombardo, Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia, OH"

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