Above the Veil (Seventh Tower Series #4) » (Reissue)

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Fantasy series about the adventures of Tal and Milla in the Dark World--a world shrouded in darkness by a veil, pierced only by the spires of the seven towers. A good choice for fans of series such as Rowling's Harry

Children's Literature

The "Tower" series is a reissue of an interesting experiment between Lucasfilms and the Australian fantasy/futurist writer Garth Nix. Unlike the results of many "packaged" book projects, Nix is a good enough craftsman to retain his voice throughout the sprawling adventures of the two fourteen-year-olds questing on behalf of their separate worlds. Book four of this seven-part epic opens with Tal and Milla trying to escape the Castle through its lower Underfolk levels. This undertaking puts them in the hands of Crow, leader of the rebel Freefolk, and someone else Tal must attempt to trust. As Milla escapes to her Icecarl destiny, Tal and Crow take on the Red Tower and its keystone, which just might hold the answers to freeing Tal's family. The derring-do becomes a little convoluted as the two boys scale the Red Tower's outer walls, poke above the Veil, and contend with monsters and curious alarm systems. Meanwhile, back at the Ruin Ship, Milla and Odris are put on trial for treason. At this point in the tale, readers' favorite characters are likely to be the Storm Shepherds-turned-Spiritshadows Adras and Odris. They are the only ones with a sense of humor! Reviewer: Kathleen Karr