Moon Chosen

August 1, 2016
In this sprawling epic fantasy, set in a postapocalyptic world where the destruction of civilization led to giant mutated insects and deadly fungal blights, several tribes compete for resources with little understanding of and empathy for their rivals. Mari, the product of a forbidden union between the Earth Walkers and the Companions, inherits the traits of both—the ability to heal through the power of the moon, and the potential to bond with a specially bred dog. Always on the outskirts of the Earth Walker tribe, Mari is reluctant to embrace her destined role as Moon Woman, or healer. When a Companion attack scatters Mari’s tribe, she has to accept unlikely allies from both sides of her heritage. Cast (the House of Night series) conjures up an intriguing world full of constant danger, but the rules are ill-defined: for instance, it’s never fully explained why Earth Walker women suffer from depression if not healed regularly, while the men devolve into savage rapists. An obligatory romantic subplot and cliffhanger ending may leave readers unfulfilled, despite engaging characters and a fast-paced narrative. Ages 12–up. Agent: Meredith Bernstein, Meredith Bernstein Literary.

The lives of three disparate young people collide in this post-apocalyptic fantasy.Eighteen-year-old Mari should succeed her mother as the healer of the matriarchal Earth Walkers but for her father's blood that also courses through her veins, a secret that the blonde, pale-skinned girl and her dark-skinned mother go to great lengths to conceal. Twenty-three-year-old blond, pale-skinned Nik, who hails from a rival people known for enslaving Mari's, should become Sun Priest of the Tribe when his father retires, but he has yet to be chosen as a Companion by a canine. Dead Eye, a 21-year-old mutant Skin Stealer, is a rebel, a self-proclaimed God with gruesome vision for the future of his people. In this series kickoff, Cast weaves together the stories of Mari, Nik, and Dead Eye, offering readers a new fantasy world steeped in magic that's grounded by a hodgepodge of tropes ranging from Greek mythology to New Age mysticism. The intersection of Mari's and Nik's stories dominates the hefty novel. Readers will enjoy watching these two characters, who share a palpable chemistry, come into their own. Dead Eye's story is far more disturbing, portending a darkness that will become more prevalent in future installments. While Cast is a bit heavy-handed spelling it out for readers, at its core this is a story about embracing and finding strength in difference. Though skin is vital to the story, modern racial categories do not seem to exist. Cast's fans should find much to be pleased with in this new venture. (Fantasy. 14 & up) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Mari, child of a Moon Woman, is also secretly the daughter of a man from the enemy Tree Tribes. If the Clan knew her secret, they would kill her, so Mari's mother keeps her disguised and teaches her how to channel the moon in order to heal. Nik, heir of the Tree Tribes' Sun Priest, is on a desperate quest to find a missing Companion canine when he sees a girl, who appears to be from the Moon Clan, channeling the sun. How can it be? Their paths cross again when, after Nik is injured in a scavenging raid, Mari pulls him from the river and heals him. Nik knows her skills could save the Tribe from the deadly Blight, but will he be able to convince her to help when the Tribe has so many of the Moon Clan enslaved? The two groups will be forced to work together if they are to escape the looming threat posed by the deadly Skin Stealers-but there's no precedent for it and no guarantee Nik and Mari will be able to convince the others before it's too late. While many fantasy series style themselves as epic, this one may actually be worthy of the description. The thoughtful pace, careful world-building, and inference skills it demands of readers render it best for older teens. VERDICT Fantasy lovers who are fans of Cinda Williams Chima's "Seven Realms" novels will fall in love with Mari and Nik.-Elizabeth Friend, Wester Middle School, TX

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2016
Grades 8-11 Cast's series starter brings together numerous popular elements: young people learning to control their magical powers, a postapocalyptic United States with dangerously decaying cities, tribes whose perceived differences cause them to fight and enslave one another, and (wait for it) a star-crossed romance. It may be formulaic, but in Cast's hands, it's also addictive. Eighteen-year-old Mari, daughter of Moon Woman Leda, has been hiding her origin all her life. Her father was a Companion, part of the Tribe of the Trees, which enslaves Leda's people, the Earth Walkers. Companions have animal allies, like familiars, that remain with them all their lives. Meanwhile, a third tribe engages in bloody sacrifice and torture, menacing their own people as well as Earth Walkers and Companions. Mari, despite her mixed heritage, is chosen as an ally by a young pup, and must decide which path of her heritage to follow. Magical rituals and plentiful backstories of the tribes set up the series for future titles, with the pace building as stories and characters from the three different tribes intertwine. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Best-seller Cast is getting three tribes' worth of promo: a six-figure marketing campaign including a tour and 500,000-copy market distribution.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)