Relic Master: The Dark City (Relic Master #1)
by Catherine Fisher

Summary
Raffi and his master are Relic Hunters in an age when Hunters have become the hunted. The Order has crumbled and the Watch is tracking down those that are left and making them disappear. The few remaining members of the Order are deep in hiding and Raffi and Galen are unable to rest or let their guard down as they search for lost relics. When they’re summoned to a small settlement to examine an artifact, they know danger may await them but Galen seems to be looking for trouble these days. Instead of a relic, the Relic Master and his apprentice are given a new mission, and so they set off for the lost city of Tasceron. But Tasceron is a dark (literally!) and foreboding city with dangers lurking around every corner. Will Raffi and Galen be able to find the mysterious Crow and make it out alive, or will their efforts be in vain?

Review
Set in a bleak dystopian future, The Dark City is filled with magic, chaos and intrigue. Anara is different from our world in almost every way, but Fisher has crafted the Relic Master universe in life-like detail, making it easy to imagine the harsh but beautiful landscapes and the sinister yet magnificent city of Tasceron. At first, almost everything in Anara is shrouded in mystery. The reader is left wondering what The Watch is, what the relics do, and where the mysterious powers come from. As the story unfolds, little pieces of information are slowly revealed that shed light on the many mysteries. When the story ends, a lot is left unexplained but I believe this is intentional, and these answers will come in the following installments of the series.

The characters in The Dark City are interesting, especially those that enter the story a little later on. The main characters (Raffi & Galen) are likeable, if not overly unique, but the mystery surrounding Carys is one of the more compelling plots of the novel. And I couldn’t help but find the Sekoi very charming and charismatic. It’s refreshing to read a YA fantasy novel that doesn’t revolve around romance or a love triangle, and yet still focuses on the development of relationships between the characters.

The Dark City provides a satisfying ending while still setting up the next books in such a skilful way that the possibility of what’s to come is hard to resist.

Verdict
While The Dark City was an enjoyable read, I think the real meat of the Relic Master story will come in the three following novels, when more answers are revealed.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

The Summer of Permanent Wants
by Jamieson Findlay

Summary
It’s hard to be different, especially for a child. 11-year-old Emmaline has suffered an illness that’s left her unable to speak, and as a result she doesn’t get to spend much time with children her own age. So when her Gran invites her to spend the summer sailing the Rideau Canal on a floating makeshift bookstore, Emmaline is thrilled.  This could be her chance to have an adventure and be a part of something bigger than the isolated world in which she spends her days.  While her parents are reluctant to let her travel so far and so long without them, Gran convinces them it will be a good thing for Emmaline. Gran’s true hope is that breaking away from her usual routine will help Emmaline rediscover some of what she has lost.

Review
Written in beautifully flowing and descriptive prose, The Summer of Permanent Wants is a quirky, youthful adventure that touches both the fantasy and non-fiction worlds. Each chapter in the novel is its own standalone story, but they all come together to tell a bigger tale. And just as summer builds giving us one exciting experience after the other, each story in The Summer of Permanent Wants is more captivating than the last!

Canadian author Jamieson Findlay has used the familiar landscape of the Rideau Canal and the towns that populate its banks as the setting for this tale of exploration. It was a pleasant surprise to recognize many of the places that Emmaline and her Gran visited during their voyage, making it that much easier to imagine oneself as a witness to their escapades.

The characters that populate the stories are unique and eccentric, created with just the right mix of imagination and believability to keep young readers intrigued. We get to spend a lot of time inside Emmaline’s mind, and learn a great deal about what it’s like to struggle with something so confining as a language impediment.

Verdict
The Summer of Permanent Wants is sure to capture the attentions of the young explorer in all of us, but especially children with a sense of adventure.

Read an excerpt from The Summer of Permanent Wants!

 *This book was provided for review by the Publisher.