Sanctum: Guards of the Shadowlands, Book 1

Gr 10 Up—What is more important, what you need or what you want? Lela has been through hell and back; literally. After a failed suicide attempt and a stint in rehab, she re-enters society and is saved by beautiful and popular druggie Nadia. A neglected child, Nadia deals with her depression with a variety of pills and subsequently kills herself. Plagued with grief and recalling her short time in hell, Lela is killed and travels from the beauty of heaven to the Suicide Gates of hell to save her friend. Along the way, she is met by demons, giant guards, and the dreamy Malachi. With limited time, Lela must challenge the depths of hell to save her friend. Narrator Amy McFadden expertly nails the emotions and accents of the characters. Strong language and themes of depression, suicide, and abuse make Fine's novel (Amazon, 2012) more suitable for older listeners. Sanctum will have an active fan base and listeners will be eager for the sequel. Purchase where Cassandra Clare's "The Mortal Instruments" books are popular.—Amanda Schiavulli, Finger Lakes Library System, NY