River Secrets

From School Library Journal Starred Review. Grade 6–10—Revisiting the world introduced in Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl (Bloomsbury, 2003; Full Cast Audio, 2005) and continued in Enna Burning (Bloomsbury, 2004; Full Cast Audio, 2007), River Secrets (Bloomsbury, 2006) centers around Razo, the small and somewhat unlikely member of an elite band of Bayern warriors. Hostilities remain between Bayern and Tira after a devastating war and the leaders hope that an exchange of ambassadors will help reconcile the two countries. Razo is surprised to find himself part of the contingent that travels with the ambassador to Tira and is soon embroiled in a mystery to discover who is burning Tiran people in order to frame the Bayern. Familiar characters such as Enna and Finn figure prominently, and the introduction of Lady Dasha as a possible love interest for Razo is a welcome addition. This volume can stand alone because enough background information is provided for listeners to become immersed in Hale's fully-realized world. The solid and well-paced narration by Mark Allen Holt is augmented by distinct voice actors for all the characters. This talented cast, headed by Seth Jackson as Razo, brings out the emotion, adventure, humor, and romance of the story. Musical interludes help set and maintain the mood at the beginning and ending of each chapter. This full-cast performance brings this fantasy to life and makes for a very memorable listening experience.—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL END Product Description Razo is baffled when he’s invited to join an elite guard escorting the Bayern ambassador to the country’s enemy, Tira, but his ability to befriend nobles as well as common folk makes him an invaluable asset. Unfortunately, charm alone will not be enough to save the mission when Razo stumbles upon a series of gruesome murders. Review "Hale, whose most recent novel, The Princess Academy (2005), was named a Newbery Honor Book, continues the story begun in Goose Girl (2003) and Enna Burning 2004) in this stirring, stand-alone adventure. . . Hale's accomplished writing will easily pull readers into her vividly realized world. The expertly chosen, often poetic details set and pace the story, and the fully drawn characters, whose dialogue crackles with wit, will point readers to the underlying themes of cultural prejudice and the corruption of power that touch on contemporary political debates. Suspenseful, magical, and heartfelt, this is a story that will wholly envelop its readers."--Booklist (starred)"Hale's portrayal of a group of extremist Tirans for whom war is sacred and putting one's life in peril is honorable connects the story's medieval folkloric setting with today's news in a chilling way. As in the companion books, this high fantasy is rich in detail and lyrical in writing. While it helps to have read the two previous books, River Secrets stands on its own. But fans of the genre will no doubt rejoice in immersing themselves in this magical world by reading all three."--SLJ (starred) About the Author SHANNON HALE’s first novel, The Goose Girl, was awarded the Josette Frank Award, and her second novel, Princess Academy, was a Newbery Honor Book. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.