Relic

August 15, 2013
Plot trumps characterization in this Wild West fantasy. When mysterious attackers burn their hometown, survivors Maggie Davis and her younger sister, Ella, seek refuge in a nearby town. Local law enforcement assumes the burnings are Apache attacks against relic-mining communities, as the Apache culture views relic use as religious desecration. Relics are the expensive fossils of magical creatures such as dragons and goblins, and they give the wielder access to the creature's residual magic. When a few Apaches--including the one who rescued Maggie and Ella from their town's fire (the first of Maggie's many rescues)--are captured, Maggie must solve the mystery before they are executed. While local nuns take in little Ella, Maggie needs employment--preferably not as a prostitute. She only barely finds a position at the local saloon when its young, handsome owner--alvar Castilla, the wealthiest man in town--invents a hostess position for her. She befriends a showgirl/prostitute with a heart of gold and flirts with a heroic cowboy while avoiding a controlling stock villain. The text often tells readers that Maggie is strong, yet more often than not, other characters must push her along through the plot. The ending demands a sequel, but only readers willing to forgive slipshod characterization for the innovative worldbuilding will look forward to it. Simplistic characters undermine an exciting, creative fantasy world. (Fantasy. 14 & up)

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January 1, 2014

Gr 8 Up-A fantasy-filled alternative U.S. history title set in the Colorado Territory in 1867. Sixteen-year-old Maggie's parents never returned from a trip to town, and her older brother just died in a fire from which she and her younger sister barely escaped with the help of an Apache teen. Maggie and Ella end up in a small town populated by prospectors. Relic prospectors. Fossilized unicorn horns, the bones of kraken, bits from griffins and werewolves, and trolls are buried in the mesas all around. People who are rich enough to own relics (like hacienda boss Alvar Castilla) or talented enough to harness their magic (like Moon John and Maggie) can gain advantages such as fire-starting or invisibility. Highly dangerous shadow relics are forbidden by law, but that doesn't mean they aren't available on the black market. Maggie takes a job as a waitress in a saloon and makes friends with Adelaide, a fancy dancer and occasional prostitute. She meets Landon, a cowboy who steals her heart, and she wonders about the fate of the Apache who saved her life. The writing can be predictable (hearts "burst," eyes "plead," feet "are rooted," and emotions "choked back"), but the story has enough inventive action and romance to keep teens interested. The ending offers a reveal that practically guarantees a sequel. Offer this one to older fans of Patricia C. Wrede's Thirteenth Child (Scholastic, 2009), another fantasy-filled alternative U.S. history. Fans of Westerns will enjoy the frontier atmosphere, if they don't mind the occasional appearance of ghost coyotes and magical goblin belts.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX

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September 15, 2013
Grades 7-9 After losing their family in a freak fire, 16-year-old Maggie and her younger sister are looking for a home in the dusty western town of Burning Mesa, whose chief industry is mining the bones (relics) of ancient magical creatures, such as sirens, kracken, and sphinx. Maggie is hired by the local hacienda owner and discovers that he is linked to the fires, which are being blamed on the Apaches, fires that continue to threaten the lives of innocent people. Collins' fantasy is a creative riff on the classic western, complete with dance-hall girls, evil overseers, and well-dressed gentlemen from the East. The turns of phrase and dialogue also contribute nicely to the horse-opera feel. Native Americans are represented respectfully for the most part, with the exception of a few stereotypes, such as wise Indian. The audience for this book is wider than you might suspect; mildly steamy scenes should make this of interest to high-schoolers in search of gentle reads that nonetheless have a strong love story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)