Review by Booklist Review
Deeply connected to the earth, Fer grows up learning about herbs and their healing properties from her grandmother. Grand-Jane has worked hard to protect her granddaughter, but her homey magic cannot keep Fer from accidentally opening the portal between the human and fairy worlds. Once opened, Fer tumbles into a dangerous world of alliances and treachery. With the help of a puck, whose own loyalty is deeply divided, she attempts to discover the truth about her parents' fate and the identity of the Lady who rules the land. Out of her element, in a world with different rules than her own, Fer must rely on her wits, strong character, and knowledge of herbs to see through enchantments, discover the truth, and heal the land. Prineas writes a rich, engrossing tale that is hard to set down. She weaves ancient lore into a modern story full of danger, magic, and complex, engaging characters. Hand this to fantasy readers who enjoy a strong female character and a touch of mystery.--Harold, Suzanne Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-8-In this fantasy adventure, young Fer feels that she doesn't belong in her world. When she rescues a magical boy who can turn into a dog and hears the beckoning of the Way, a path into another realm, she decides to try to discover what might have happened to her parents, who have been "gone from this world" since she was a baby. Despite her grandmother's fears, she enters a land that is ruled by a powerful and dangerous huntress, the Mor, and populated with strange creatures and humans that can morph into animals. Along her journey, Fer discovers her healing powers and inner strength; she also learns about her parents and her family's connection to this enchanted, perilous place. The story has a steady pace and solid character development. The description-rich writing provides an excellent sense of the how the characters experience their surroundings, and the setting of this unnatural realm is intricately woven into the plot. An appealing and empowering tale.-Molly M. Collins, Burlington Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
When Jennifer (Fer) opens the Way to a fairy world and a boyish "puck" comes through, wrongness and unending winter come through as well. Fer must go through the Way and confront the Lady who holds the puck in thrall in order to set things right. A slow pace allows this gentle tale steeped in nature and herb lore to unfold magically. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
(Fantasy. 10-14)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
