One more death shouldn’t matter.
In the Roughlands, you can die a thousand different ways. In the town of Cold Harbor, between the cursed forest, the dark cliffs, and the wild and bitter sea: double that amount. But twelve-year-old Toby refuses to accept this when his own little brother mysteriously vanishes from the cellar of their own home.
Even when the search takes Toby to the Thicket, a tangle of slums that Cold Harbor prefers to forget ...and to rumors of demonic magic.
Dark in tone and vivid in storytelling, Children Without Faces holds readers long into the night.
Erik Marshall weaves fantasy and suspense in a dark coming-of-age series that will grip your heart...and keep the pages turning.
Quarter Finalist
Assessment:
Plot: The plot of this story is complex and full of surprises. It begins as a missing persons story and slowly expands to incorporate a smuggling plot and eventually a war for magic powers. As these exciting and dynamic events unfold, they gradually reveal the limitations of the world of Cold Harbor, as well as its magical possibilities.
Prose: The author's prose is lean but effective for the story he tells, and descriptive without being flowery. He makes every word count for the story he wants to share, and his storytelling style is of a very professional caliber.
Originality: There are many tales of heroic fantasy in which good prevails over evil and the young and determined triumph over the adults who scheme to suppress them. The personalities of these characters and the intrigues in which they become enmeshed make this tale seem fresh and original.
Character Development: The characters in Marshall’s novel are both well developed and engaging. Toby, Dani, and the other youthful characters are scrappy and resourceful. Even evil characters compel readers' attention.
Date Submitted: August 31, 2018
