Snow, Fire, Sword

October 1, 2006
Gr 6-8-This novel, which draws on Indonesian myth and is set on a fictional island, is exciting and action-packed. Dewi and Adi are sent on a quest to find Sword, Fire, and Snow in order to vanquish an evil sorcerer who is trying to destroy all that is good in Jayangan, including the old gods and nature spirits. These spirits are virtually powerless against him and depend on the young peoples courage and determination. From sinister black-clad motorbike riders, the hantumu, who are servants of the sorcerer, to a jinn personified as a red-haired woman with blotchy skin and a strange voice, to a cave painting of a huge lizard that comes alive as an indigenous nature spirit, the story is packed full of unusual mythological creatures, seen in a contemporary context. Masson sets up tensions within the three religions of Jayangan, one of which, Mujisal, appears to be a thinly disguised version of Islam. The villain is, of course, defeated by the young people, aided by Fire, Sword, and Snow. While the general themethat tolerance and understanding will triumph over intolerance and crueltyappears throughout, the apparent connection between the strict Pumujisal sect and fundamentalist Islam ultimately forces readers to see the book on a more straightforward allegorical and political level, which diminishes its power. However, the story will be enjoyed by fans of fantasy adventure."Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 15, 2006
Gr. 6-9. When 16-year-old Adi brings news of a nearby attack by motorcycle-riding assassins, the father of 13-year-old Dewi suspects the violence augurs threats to all of Jayanga (an island nation closely modeled on Indonesia). En route to warn the sultan, Dewi's father is captured--thrusting the "truehearted" teens into the "eternal struggle" between "dharma and adharma . . . clear sight and blindness." Spurred by a vague prophecy about seeking Sword, Fire, and Snow, the protagonists must sort allies from enemies as they encounter capricious spirits, good and evil jinn, and a cross-section of Jayangan society. Adi and Dewi's separation early in the novel introduces intriguing ambiguity about which character is on the right track, and the stakes are never soft-pedaled, with setbacks--including bloody casualties and spiritual uncertainty--deepening Masson's characterizations. The dangers of religious fanaticism are a strong and, perhaps, overplayed theme, but the sense of a permeable membrane between spirit worlds and contemporary reality will fascinate many readers, as will the shifting images of water buffaloes and motorbikes, villages and cities, and sacred and secular ways. For more fantasies that refreshingly depart from the genre's more typical cultural underpinnings, turn to the Core Collection feature, "Diversity in Fantasy and SF Books for Youth," on p.60.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)