Children's Literature
Two seemingly unrelated stories intertwine in this compelling fantasy adventure. The first story tells of a boy who is the only one to survive his kingdom's destruction. In the second story, young Prince Rashko is single handedly trying to keep his family's castle from being overtaken by a shady character named Baron Temny. It seems that Rashko is the only one smart enough to realize that Baron Temny is not the friend that he pretends to be. Rashko, seeking guidance and advice from the village wise man, learns how his destiny is magically linked with Pavol, his ancestor who survived Temny's attack hundreds of years ago and went on to create the rich and peaceful kingdom that is Rashko's home today. This captivating novel has all the elements of fantasy including dragons, sword fighting, talking animals, fairies, and hidden treasures. Bruchac is an award-winning author who has written over seventy books for middle readers. In this novel he incorporates Slovak vocabulary into the text which greatly enhances the story's mystical atmosphere. Reviewer: Denise Daley