Happenstance Found

Starred review from January 5, 2009
Catanese (the Further Tales Adventures) dazzles in the first of the planned Books of Umber series by wittily subverting genre tropes. Happenstance, a boy with strange green eyes, wakes up in a cave with no memories of who he is or anything about the fantastic world in which he lives. He soon encounters Lord Umber, an adventurer who seems familiar with our world as well as his own, and his two companions—a brute cursed to be forever truthful and a one-handed artist and archer. En route to Umber’s home, they discover that Hap can see in the dark, leap many feet in the air, speak numerous languages and go without sleep. As the group attempts to learn about his origins, they’re forced to confront a supernatural assassin and secrets from Umber’s own mysterious past. Catanese packs a lot into the book: rich characterizations (Umber, who turns out to be from another dimension, suffers from depression and wishes he had his meds), well-choreographed action sequences and genuinely surprising twists at the end. As auspicious start to the series. Ages 8-12.

November 1, 2011
Gr 5–8—-When Lord Umber revealed to Happenstance his origins in the hope that he would be able to travel back to Earth and prevent its destruction, Hap's life suddenly became hugely important. Hap is struggling to control his powers, but attacks from a rogue Sorceress, a power mad war monger from Umber's world, and a monster hunting him leave Hap too distracted to fulfill his destiny. To succeed in saving his new friends and Umber's old world, Hap must abandon his feelings for those around him. Without emotions weighing him down, Hap becomes a full Meddler and begins the final journey that takes him from his friends, but saves millions of lives. Years later, Hap and Umber reunite to revel in Hap's successes in this fantastic conclusion (2011) to P. W. Catanese's riveting fantasy trilogy. The author again raises questions about morality and the depths of friendship, and does it with compelling characters and wonderful world-building. Narrator Richard Poe holds listeners' attention effortlessly. Embracing Hap's confusion, fear, and distress as he learns what is necessary to save Umber's world, Poe easily evokes our sympathy. Fans of the previous volumes will be satisfied with this conclusion. Libraries circulating "Happenstance Found" (2009) and "Dragon Games" (2010, all Aladdin) should consider this a necessary purchase.—"Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT"

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