The Bell Between Worlds (The Mirror Chronicles)

November 1, 2014
A preteen with a hidden heritage runs from slavering Ghorhund and into the arms of his destiny when a huge bell that few can hear summons him to a parallel world.Urged on by mysterious allies and hotly pursued by a giant black dog, Sylas is transported from a modern slum to another realm where the land looks the same but the people have a different history and practice four different kinds of magic. There, he falls in with the nearly exterminated adherents of the Fourth Way, which cooperates with nature rather than forcibly altering it like the other three, and becomes the object of a massive hunt by legions of bestial creatures made by Thoth, last and foulest of the ruling Priests of Souls. Why? Because according to an oblique prophecy, if Sylas can find his Glimmer, his other-world counterpart, he may reunite the two sundered planes. Along with folding in missing parents, coded writings, giant eagles and other comfortably familiar elements, Johnstone rarely breaks from a single storyline in this opener for (inevitably) a planned trilogy. Moreover, with the exception of one character playing a double game, he neatly divides the large supporting cast between warm, loyal, charismatic good guys and malformed, malign baddies. Stay tuned. Tailor-made for readers who prefer their coming-of-age fantasies thick, straightforward of plot, and unencumbered by complications or moral conundrums. (Fantasy. 11-13)

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December 1, 2014

Gr 6-10-In this promising series opener, 12-year-old Silas Tate lives with his uncle, as he's been told that his mother had died. Silas, an introverted and imaginative boy, leads an uneventful life until the day he walks into an unusual shop and meets Mr. Zhi. The mysterious shopkeeper gives Silas a book containing an ancient code and reveals that the boy's mother is in fact still alive. Here the novel, which starts off slowly, picks up in pace and complexity. Silas is later awoken by the sound of a bell that only he can hear. He is chased by a giant hound but manages to take refuge under the house-size "Passing Bell." Silas soon discovers himself in another world-one that is strange yet familiar. He meets the Suhl people and learns that his "Other" world is actually a mirror image of this new one. The boy also discovers that he possesses magical powers, which he uses to decipher prophecies from the antique book and to fight against the horrific Ghor, who have hunted the Suhl for generations. The story concludes with a daring escape and many questions left unanswered concerning Silas's and his mother's connection to the Suhl's world. Using rich language and imagery, the author's extensive world-building will appeal to fans of fantasy and make them eager for the next book installment. He includes several imaginative elements, such as the concept that people have another half to themselves in the other world called a "Glimmer." Because of its intricacy, hand this fantasy-adventure to confident readers.-Sherry J. Mills, Hazelwood East High School, St. Louis, MO

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