Stray

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 11, 2014

Review

This is the first book of the Four Sister Novels. Princess Aislynn, with the help from her fairy godmother, has been able to hide the magic inside her and stay on the designated path for her status until tonight, the ball of her possible betrothal. When her adviser pushes her too far, she reacts magically which changes her path, her promise of happily ever after and the requirements she must live under. As she makes new connections while in training as a fairy godmother plots, rumors and dangerous magic are revealed. Aislynn is a strong main character who must overcome not only her own out of control magic tendencies, but must seek out which rules of conduct to follow and which people to place her loyalty. Sussman has placed all the normal fairy tale elements in a dystopian type fantasy world where all women seem to naturally have magic that needs to be contained. Dreams become reality, forbidden love blooms, magic is misunderstood and brambly dark forests with evil persons abound. The story has just the right amount of tension and suspenseful evil to draw in new readers to fantasy and fairy tales. A map in the front of the book, illustrated by Peterschmidt, provides a additional understanding of the world. The ending leaves an opening for the planned companion book.

Overall Book Score: excellent