written by Harriet Klausner on 07/09/2004
The Secret of Shabaz
Jennifer Macaire
Medallion Press August 2004, $12.99, 313 pp.
ISBN 1932815090
For seventeen years, Tania and her grandfather, the elf Birchspring, lived at Castle Storm as servants to Lord and Lady Enguarand. The castle was once a mighty stronghold, but during the last two centuries the owners let it decay as the world has been at peace. Rumors sweep the land that a new Dark Lord has arisen in the North. Sir Rengal comes to Castle Storm to tell them that Lord Yalinka of Tattinggil is raising an army to defeat the necromancer; he wants one of Lord Irenstone's descendents to enlist for the cause.
Tania learns that Birchspring is not her grandfather and that her father was the first Dark Lord who married her mother; her mom died to defeat him. Their horse Shabaz is a unicorn who gave up his horn to transport the elf and Tania two centuries into the future because that is what her mother wanted. Tania masquerades as a boy and enlists in the elfin and human army in the Golden Forest. It is only when she is injured and sent to Lord Yalinka to recover does she discover the truth about her parents and the new Dark Lord.
This young adult fantasy will also appeal to all fans of Tolkien and Terry Brooks. Jennifer Macaire is a very visual writer who writes entire scenes that come alive in the mind's eye. THE SECRET OF SHABAZ has magic, romance and a bit of mystery imbued into the storyline so it will appeal to a variety of readers. This reviewer would like to see more books starring Shabaz, a unicorn who is prepared to give up his life to keep the world safe.
Harriet Klausner
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