Forging the Sword

March 1, 2007
Gr 6-10-Jiaan, Kavi, and Sorayathe three young Farsalans attempting to wrest their fallen nation from the conquering Hrumare back in this final installment of Bell's trilogy. Invoking the name of the legendary Sorahb, they lead the tiny, ill-trained army, organize the peasants, and practice magic as taught by the mysterious, desert-living Suud. The sword that they forge represents both their discovery of the secrets of Hrum steel as well as their ability to create a new, unified Farsala. The young people work according to their particular talents, learning to cooperate and to forgive past transgressions. Primarily, they learn that the world is not a place of black and white, but grayenemies can be noble and supposed friends can deceive. How one proceeds in the face of that knowledge is the main thrust of this novel. Readers who enjoyed the earlier adventures will be happy to see this epic to its conclusion, but the book does not stand on its own. No attempt is made to recap any previous information. The seamless interweaving of the ancient heroic poem of Sorahb into the downfall of Farsala gave the first novel depth, and its loss is heavy in books two and three. Purchase where the earlier titles have a following."Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2006
Bell brings the Farsala Trilogy to a rousing conclusion, replete with fierce battles and nerve-wracking incursions into enemy territory by the young heroes who are fighting to save Farsala from becoming part of the Hrum Empire. The author maintains the complexity of her main characters and the intensity of the story line: the Hrum have only a few months, according to their self-imposed time limit, to conquer Farsala or depart the land. An edge-of-the-seat finale for the trilogy's readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)