Sign of the Crescent - Softcover

Debbie Federici (Arizona) and Susan Vaught (Tennessee) have worked together for years as writing partners.  Debbie contributes fiction and nonfiction for use in standardized tests.  Susan is a psychologist and has recently published a historical fantasy novel in additon to other short works.

Grade 7 Up–Teens from Tucson are disappearing at an alarming rate so Taryn, a high school senior, and her friend Jen rally at City Hall, hoping to get more of the community involved in solving the mystery. In a parallel world, Zanea, also called Newold, the Knights of Haro know that denizens of Zumar (yet another parallel world) are responsible for traveling through portals to Oldworld (Earth) and kidnapping locals to serve the evil Lord Synomea. Every evening Erick and the other Haro knights enter Oldworld to fight the Zumarians, but it's a losing battle, as the number of kidnappings is increasing. When Erick and Taryn meet, it's love at first sight even though the Newoldian rules are very clear about fraternizing with Oldworlders. When she is kidnapped and learns the truth of her parentage and her ties to Zumar, a happy ending seems unlikely. Overwrought, overwritten, and melodramatic, this book is predictable and shallow. Characterization is nonexistent. Erick and Taryn's romance is rushed and unbelievable, and their various friends are nothing more than names on the page. The different worlds are simply a mishmash of fantasy clichés and the few magic principles included make little sense.–Sarah Couri, New York Public Library
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