The Stone of Sorrow

February 15, 2020
A fantasy set in a magical version of ancient Iceland. Runa is an apprentice runecaster who is assigned by fate to follow her beloved sister, Sýr, in a perilous journey to refresh the powers of the magical moonstone in the sacred moonwater pool during the red moon's eclipse. At first it seems that everything is against Runa. She has eye problems, suffers from apparent panic attacks which impede her actions, and hates runecasting. When Runa's village is attacked and set on fire by enemy Jötnar warriors under the influence of the evil sorceress Katla, who kidnaps Sýr, Runa is forced to take on the mission to rescue her sister and recharge the moonstone. In the process, Runa combats insecurity and loneliness and discovers her own strength. She forms an unlikely alliance with Einar, who is half human/half elf, and Oski, a damaged Valkyrie who is referred to as "they." The trio moves through space and time to conquer evil and restore life and order to Runa's community. The ending hints at a sequel. Carter (The Unbroken Hearts Club, 2019, etc.) acknowledges her Icelandic grandmother as the inspiration for this story. Runa has white hair and pale skin; her sister has dark hair and brown skin (signaling elven heritage). This fast-paced, engaging narrative with succinct, sometimes funny dialogue will be particularly validating for girls who may have insecurities about their own strengths. An appealing story for readers interested in fantasy and myth. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)

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March 9, 2020
In this fantasy series opener by Carter (The Unbroken Hearts Club), spirited Runa Unnursdóttir, 17, undertakes a rescue mission to save her sibling and the lives of her fellow villagers. Raised by her older sister, Sýr, since their mother’s death, Ru suffers from eye problems and feels isolated from and excluded by her peers. Though Sýr is a skilled runecaster, and keeper of the magical moonstone that brings prosperity to their village, bad luck plagues Ru’s own attempts at rune magic. Nor is the moonstone as useful as it once was: its powers are weakening, and Sýr must leave to refresh it in a magical ceremony. When Sýr is kidnapped after a neighboring village attacks, Ru enlists the assistance of a Valkyrie and a half-elven enemy to win back the moonstone and save her sister. Though the novel’s setting in a magical alternate Iceland results in evocative atmospherics and cultural references, expository prose hampers pacing and character development progresses abruptly: the protagonist transitions too quickly from expressing deep-rooted insecurities to aggressive confidence. Empathy is a major theme, and a queer relationship and a nonbinary character are inclusive additions to the novel. Ages 12–up.

April 1, 2020

Gr 6 Up-Runa has always felt strange and different. Growing up in the shadow of her powerful runecaster sister, S�r, has made her differences all the more evident: snow white hair, pale skin, watery twitching eyes, and subpar abilities casting runes. She falls prey, often, to a fainting sickness, during which she has visions; and as the visions threaten to overwhelm her, only digging her nails into her palm restores her to the present. When a powerful witch from a neighboring clan attacks the village, poisoning or killing almost everyone and kidnapping S�r, Runa must build her confidence and her skills as she journeys to win back the moonstone that will help save her people. Carter blends Norse mythology with elements of a classic quest to save the day. Runa's travel companions, a half-elf and a fallen Valkyrie (who, while a part of an entirely female-identifying group uses they/them pronouns without explanation or clarification), round out the cast of characters. This first installment of the "Runecaster" series is rife with threats and danger, but there are also many themes that seem right out of Frozen or the Marvel universe. Readers will want to root for Runa and her sister, but it's difficult to fully invest in such two-dimensional characters. VERDICT Sensitive topics such as disabilities and self-harm are somewhat overpowered by clunky storytelling and Runa's consistent self-deprecation and self-doubt. Strictly an additional purchase.-Erica Deb, Matawan Aberdeen Public Library, NJ

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