Ever the Hunted

October 10, 2016
Not long after the death of her father, a renowned bounty hunter for the king of Malam, 17-year-old Britta Flannery is arrested for poaching and sentenced to death herself. When Britta is offered her life in exchange for tracking down her father’s murderer, she accepts but is shocked to learn that his alleged killer is Cohen Mackay—her father’s apprentice, her best friend, and her first love. Britta’s quest takes her to the neighboring kingdom of Shaerdan, home to female magic-weavers known as Channelers, as well as Britta’s unknown maternal relatives. Debut author Summerill makes use of familiar story elements—avenging a parent’s death, a potential betrayal by an estranged first love, a main character with unrealized power—but incorporates them into an richly described world populated by engaging characters. The mystery of who killed Britta’s father is disappointingly transparent, but Britta’s grit and tense interactions with Cohen make her journey to find answers gratifying. Plenty of questions remain in the final pages, setting the stage for the next book in the Clash of Kingdoms series. Ages 12–up. Agent: Josh Adams, Adams Literary.

September 15, 2016
On a quest to save her life by finding her father's killer, a teen girl discovers conspiracies between kingdoms on the verge of war.Outcast Britta Flannery, distrusted in Malam because her mother was from neighboring enemy country Shaerdan, has no income source and is about to lose her father's land back to the crown after his death. He, the king's bounty hunter, has been murdered. Caught poaching, Britta's given a choice: instead of execution, she can use her tracking skills to bring down her father's killer, revealed to her as Cohen Mackay, her father's former apprentice and her best friend--whom she secretly loves. Devastated, she agrees. Soon, though, her mission to find her father's killer takes her over the border into Shaerdan, where she learns a lot more about magic (forbidden and punishable by death in Malam--Britta herself has a secret ability, telling truths from lies), her family, and the dark power drawing the two countries into conflict. All characters seem to be white. Archer Britta is a familiar type of heroine, and the majority of the predictable plot twists happen right on schedule, but the writing quality is good. The strong climax sets up a cliffhanger for the sequel, which will not be unwelcome. Though not terribly innovative, still a solid choice for fantasy readers who prefer a large helping of adventure with their romance. (Fantasy. 12-18)

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November 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-Britta Flannery is an expert tracker and hunter, but after her father's death forces her to hunt on the king's land, she is arrested for poaching. As an alternative to execution, Britta is offered a deal: find the man who killed her father and she will be pardoned of all wrongdoing. The teen sets off with a trio of the king's guard to find Cohen McKay, who is assumed to be her dad's murderer. He was also her father's apprentice and remains the only person Britta has ever called a friend. This debut fantasy offers an engaging quest through a well-developed new world. The mystery elements keep the plot moving at a steady pace, and the narrative is punctuated with occasional action sequences. The heroine, an outcast from her society, is the best developed of the characters, with much of the novel devoted to her internal monologue. Fans of epic fantasy quests, such as J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," Christopher Paolini's Eragon, or Kristin Cashore's "Graceling" trilogy, will love this outing. VERDICT This series opener is a must-purchase where epic fantasy quests are popular; an additional purchase everywhere else.-Jenni Frencham, Columbus Public Library, WI

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