The Riddle

Gr 8 Up—The second volume (2006) of Alison Croggon's quartet is much darker than The Naming (2005, both Candlewick). Maerad the Fated One continues to learn about her unique bardic powers. Pursued by both Light and Dark, she and her mentor, Cadvan, flee across Annar in search of the elusive Treesong, an ancient power prophesized to defeat The Nameless One and restore balance to the world. Their quest leads them to the realm of the Winterking, powerful Elemental and ally to The Nameless One. To find the answers she seeks, Maerad must confront this formidable enemy and must also battle the darkness growing within. Just when hope seems lost, Maerad makes a startling discovery: the Treesong may have been with her all along. But her quest doesn't end here. Croggon is a natural-born storyteller with a flair for exceptional character development. Maerad and Cadvan leap boldly from the pages, and even minor characters possess an uncommon depth. Her beautifully descriptive and poetic writing is reminiscent of fantasy master J.R.R. Tolkien. Narrator Eloise Oxer articulates all this to perfection. She gives distinct voices to each character, speaks the Annaren and Dhillarearen languages as though they were her native tongue, and vividly paints the world Croggon has created. A must-have for fantasy fans.—Alissa LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI