River Secrets -- Shannon Hale
It's been a great reading week for me: I got to re-visit the Casson family, which is always a joyful experience; I got to meet (and develop big fat crushes on) some new, fabulous John Green creations; and I was able to return to Bayern and Tira, to Isi, Enna, Finn and Razo. All that and it's only Wednesday. Yay July.
Fans of The Goose Girl and Enna Burning will do a happy dance when River Secrets is released. Then they'll finish the book and do more happy dancing. They might even do some happy dancing WHILE they read the book. I did. (Also I did a bit of crying, but it was HAPPY crying.)
River Secrets is the story of Razo, who was a (very) minor character in The Goose Girl and who was originally supposed to continue being a (V)MC in Enna Burning. According to Shannon Hale's Reader's Note, Razo "wormed his way" into a more significant role in Enna Burning. She'd never planned on giving him his own book. But, as she said, he's insistent.
Unlike Isi and Enna, Razo doesn't speak the language of wind or fire. He isn't an amazing fighter like Finn. He's flabbergasted but happy (and yes, nervous) when he's chosen to be one of the few people sent to Tira with the ambassadorial contingent.* Most of his fellow soldiers assume he's been chosen because he's a friend of the queen. Frankly, Razo assumes the same.
But he's wrong. Talone, Razo's captain, wanted him along because he thinks that Razo has the makings of a great spy.
River Secrets is full of action, intrigue and romance. It's classic Shannon Hale -- superb writing, likable characters and a world that I wouldn't mind stepping into. It's set in a whole new country, with a whole new culture and a whole new set of dangers. The magic system is the same -- without giving anything else away, I will say that the title is significant.
*(For those who haven't read the first two books: In Enna Burning, Tira attempted to invade and conquer Bayern. Tira's defeat was mostly due to Enna, who set fire to their soldiers. The people of Tira don't know the identity of the fire-witch who basically killed half of their army. If they realized that she was among them, that she was with the ambassadors... well, it would be bad. I wouldn't suggest reading River Secrets without reading the first two, which you should read anyway because they're wonderful.)
I have to say, that though I loved Goose Girl and Princess Academy, I've had a really hard time getting into Enna Burning.
Posted by: Ali | 20 July 2006 at 12:41 AM
Really? Enna Burning was my favourite! Can't wait for River Secrets :)
Posted by: Jas | 20 July 2006 at 06:18 AM
Enna was quite a bit darker. For sure, Goose Girl had its dark moments -- Isi's horse being a major one. (That was ROUGH.) But so many of Enna's struggles are internal. It's one thing when a powerful person is doing horrible things to the main character -- it's quite another when the power to do horrible things is coming out of and through the main character.
I'm not sure if I made much sense there. Haven't had my tea yet.
Posted by: Leila | 20 July 2006 at 06:34 AM
I liked Goose Girl and Enna Burning. I've recently read Princess Academy, and they're all good! I can't wait until the realease.
Posted by: Na | 20 July 2006 at 11:00 AM
You won't be disappointed. It's super. I just want to know who the fourth book will be about! (There's gotta be one, right?)
Posted by: Leila | 20 July 2006 at 11:10 AM
Leila, DID YOU SEE SHANNONS BLOG???????????????????
Posted by: Erin | 20 July 2006 at 12:37 PM
Yep. Heh. I feel all famous and stuff.
Posted by: Leila | 20 July 2006 at 12:43 PM
i think goose girl and enna burning were both excellent books cant wait till river secrets is out!
Posted by: may | 25 August 2006 at 11:12 AM
Can some one tell me what the vellum says pleaseeeeeee
Posted by: | 08 March 2007 at 05:53 PM
this was a good book, but i still like goose girl better
Posted by: Yoshan | 28 June 2007 at 07:33 PM