The Paper Sword

Gr 8 Up—This novel is set in the thoroughly fantastical world on Phaer Isle, home of Xemion and Saheli. Xemion sets a series of events in motion when he pretends that a stick-shaped sword is real and executes a long-forgotten, and outlawed, sword ceremony, which his friend Saheli (a girl), witnesses. When the wrong person also witnesses this ceremony, Xemion and Saheli, along with a few others, flee to the city of Ulde, where rebel forces are conveniently also gathering. Convenient plot mechanicisms aside, readers may find that the pacing of The Paper Sword is uneven—at times furious and at times languorous for the lavish world-building and character flashbacks. Only Xemion is well developed in this first book of a series; Saheli, while a main character, remains essentially a mystery. Where Priest excels is in his stellar construction of this visionary world and his enviable, sophisticated writing style. One almost forgets the confusing plotlines, especially toward the end of the book—almost.—Amanda C. Buschmann, Atascocita Middle School, Humble, TX