Tanequil

Part Two of Brooks's trilogy finds the young Pen still looking for his aunt as the forces of evil continue gather around her. In their quest for power, her enemies have cut a deal with dark forces of which they have little understanding. Narrator Paul Boehmer brings a formal style to this book. He relies primarily on changes in pitch and tone in portraying the many characters, particularly to create contrast, as between Pen and the trolls and the ancient tree whose gift the prophesy has told him he must have to save his aunt. Boehmer's pace is strong and steady as he moves toward the cliff-hanger ending. J.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

May 15, 2005
Brooks begins the second episode of his "High Druid "trilogy with young Pen Ohmsford persevering in his Tolkienesque quest to free his aunt Grianne from her imprisonment in the Forbidding. Pen and his companions endure hardship and danger to reach the ancient tree Tanequil, which holds the key to Grianne's rescue. New characters and newly introduced old ones race to another cliffhanger that leaves those who survive in worse trouble than when they started. While not overly original, this fast-paced adventure has likable heroes, despicable villains, and an easy prose style. Paul Boehmer's performance elevates a standard epic fantasy into a fine audio experience that will leave listeners impatient for the final segment. Appropriate for both adult and young adult audiences and recommended for collections that include fantasy fiction. -Janet Martin, FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Pinehurst, NC

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.