The Cracked Mirror

November 15, 2008
After a promising opening volume (dystopic government, plucky teens, rebellion), Keaney switches gears with volume two, which features angels and demon-like possession and sadly lacks any character or world development. Dante and Bea, separated and captured at the end of the trilogy opener, journey back to the rebels in order to continue the fight and to set the scene for the final book. The story lurches forward by means of awkward contrivances: A plane with a dead pilot appears just when escape is necessary; secondary characters are all willing to help Dante or Bea for no discernible reason; Dante suddenly has a guardian angel to give answers and push his understanding of Odyllic Force. Oh, and Dante has a twin brother (surprise!) who falls afoul of one of Dr. Sigmundus 's experiments and becomes a wolf-like creature able to track Bea and ravage the P úca. Indeed, Dante 's brother and guardian angel are all that propel the story. Muddled, confusing and poorly paced, with a shocker ending, this might sate fans of the first volume but won 't win new ones. (Fantasy. 12-16)

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May 1, 2009
Gr 6-9-This second act in a dystopian trilogy follows young Dante Cazabon, who has escaped from the evil clutches of the mysterious Dr. Sigmundus, the tyrannical ruler of Gehenna, where people 14 and older are given a drug that renders them docile and unable to dream. Life is horrific for those few who still dream, as they are treated as criminally insane. Dante enlists the help of elderly Malachy Mazotta, supervisor of a cemetery, to find his friend Bea and reconnect with the rest of the Púca (a resistance group). During his adventures, the boy gradually learns how to call upon the power of the Odyll, a realm of pure energy, in order to move inside dreams and outside time. He also knows that this special ability comes only with great personal sacrifice. The danger increases as Dante and his friends are tracked by deadly Gallowglass, a seemingly invincible once-human creature, and brought face to face with their enemy. Brief, action-packed chapters make for a quick read. Readers will want to begin with "The Hollow People" (Knopf, 2007) to get a handle on the characters' stories and the many abstract concepts relating to the Odylic Force. With themes that address good versus evil and demonic forces at work, this suspenseful series reads like Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" (S & S) and "Midnighters" (HarperCollins) series combined."Corinda J. Humphrey, Los Angeles Public Library"

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