The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

Review by Rachel

The Hourglass Door is a fun young adult fiction book. The book is about high school senior Abby who is finding her routine to be a little suffocating. Enter Italian foreign exchange student Dante with stunning good looks and mysterious air and Abby gets the shake up she’s been wanting. As Dante’s secret unfolds she finds her life will never be the same again.

I enjoyed this book. It was a light read and the plot had a Twilight-esque feel to it (for me that is a good thing). I connected with and came to care about the characters. Despite a few predictable things and some slow spots I felt the author overall did a good job of drawing the reader into the story and keeping things suspenseful. As a girl I appreciated the romance but thought it was done tastefully so that even those less-inclined to such could still get through it. The language is clean and the romance stays appropriate throughout. I would enjoy reading a sequel which possibility is left open by the ending.

Far World: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage

Review by Susan

J. Scott Savage has created a wonderful tale of adventure, magic and fantasy in Farworld: Water Keep. The story centers on young teenagers Marcus and Kyja, both misfits on different worlds who have a mysterious connection to each other. Marcus has learned to use his wits and some unusual talents to defend himself against bullies. Kyja struggles as a nonmagical child in a world where magic is a way of life. In a time of great need, Kyja rescues Marcus and brings him from Earth to Farworld. In an adventure on both worlds, they fight against the evil Dark Circle with the help of Master Therapass, Kyja’s wizard mentor, and begin a quest to seek the help of the mythical elementals: water, land, air and fire. Their journey to Water Keep is fraught with peril and triumph as they discover hidden talents and the power of loyalty, kindness and sacrifice.

Following Harry Potter, there has been a wave of excellent young adult fantasy, including the best-selling Fablehaven series and 13th Reality. Farworld incorporates several familiar fantasy themes and patterns woven together in an appealing tale that leaves you wanting more. Fortunately, the second volume in the series, Farworld: Land Keep, is due to be released in September.