The pages of this book are well done. At the beginning of each chapter there is a beautiful tree illustration. As far as fantasy books go, this one is readable and easy to follow. I don’t usually like fantasy at all, but I would put this one up there with The Reader, that I reviewed earlier this year, as one that you can just start reading and easily follow along without wondering about the genesis of the fantastical elements.
Bristal thinks she is just an orphaned kitchen maid, but early in this story discovers that her fate is tied to something much more powerful. Legend has it that if you can find the mystical pond surrounded by trees and survive a baptisms of sorts, then you must be one of the infamous elicromancers; an ancient breed of immortal magic beings. Bristal is kidnapped and dunked in the water because her kidnappers are suspicious of Bristal’s ability. What she discovers from this baptism is that she is in fact an elicromancer, capable of transforming into animals and a master of disguises. Now she is tasked with deciding between immortality and protecting mortals, or follow the magnetism of her power to unknown terror.
There is violence and war along with doses of classic tales interwoven into this story. Savvy readers might recognize elements of Cinderlla, Sleeping Beauty, and even Jane Austen. If your readers are okay with violence, this book is fine for middle school.