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Oct 17, 2012Borrobil rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Within the first chapter of this book, I was in love. I'm a huge perfectionist when it comes to literature but there isn't a thing I would change about this novel. This series is probably one of the best fantasy series of my generation. Alexa Daley is one of the best heroines I've ever come across. The author doesn't try too hard to make her ironic, a flaw in most heroines’ construction. A lot of authors try too hard to make their heroines ironic or unique to appeal to the easily-bored, individualistic mindset of the modern world. The result is an empty husk. A lot of authors also have to drop hints to show the characteristics they are trying to establish, or directly state that their characters are ironic or unique. But the character’s actions don’t show the attributes they claim to have. Alexa is a curious soul who loves adventure and a bookaholic. She is mischievous but lovable. The author gives her little imperfections; she’s occasionally disobedient, breaks things from time to time. Also unlike a lot of heroines, little emphasis is placed on her looks. In the two books I have read, the author spends one paragraph describing her looks. He just describes her as short, skinny, with sandy-colored hair in a braid. He just describes her, not saying whether or not she is ugly or attractive, because he knows that is not relevant. Alexa doesn’t spend a lot of time thinking about her looks. She cares more about learning, being with those she loves, and finding adventure. In a lot of other books I’ve read, the authors put a lot of emphasis on the characters’ looks. Even the ones that are supposedly “plain” receive a lot of praise for their looks and worrying a great deal about their appearances, using their looks to manipulate others. This is no message to be spreading to young girls. I wish there were more heroines like Alexa out there. There are an abundance of bad openings out there. One of them is immediately jamming the first chapter with tons of action, names and concepts in a ham-fisted attempt to grab the reader’s attention. Carman understands the importance of suspense, though. He understands that plot and setting must be fully developed. He gives away little clues to the action to come, urging the reader to read on. Instead of relying too heavily on mythology, the author creates his own mythology. The plot was not predictable, the ending was unexpected.