Review
of Candle Iron by Sally Odgers
This book is
clearly part of a series, set in a world of the author’s making. I have not
read any of the books set in this reality before, and yet had no trouble
immediately feeling at home there. Part of the reason was Lord Merrit, the
heroine’s uncle. He is a wonderfully likeable fellow who, at the start of the
book, is as much of a skeptic as I am. And, as the superstitions he scoffed at came
true, and he was forced to believe, well, so was I. And I didn’t even notice.
By chapter six, I
am in despair over the fate of people I have come to like a great deal. The
Castle of Torm is besieged, its food stores depleted, and a clever lie by the enemy
has ensured that no help could possibly come from outside. And the only person
able to make decisions is Allyso, a fourteen-year-old girl everyone has always
underestimated because she is skinny and small for her age. Surely, the castle
must fall.
And then comes an
adventure that will capture any young teenager. Allyso faces challenge after
challenge, and manages to stay delightful and likeable through trials that
would break the spirit of most of us.
Candle Iron is set in a delightfully described world. The
author’s invented words help to emphasise the differences even while making us
feel at home: words like ‘sunlift’ and ‘spellhound’ and ‘winterwane’. They are
different and exotic, and yet immediately meaningful.
I am a rather old
teenager, but even so, I enjoyed reading this tale of fantasy from Sally
Odgers.
About the
Reviewer
Dr Bob Rich is an
Australian writer, mudsmith and psychologist. He has had three non-fiction
books, a short story collection and seven novels published. You may inspect his
work at http://bobswriting.com/ or http://bobrcih.fictionworld.com/
Background – “Budgie” by Sallyo's Backgrounds.
