Warrior

February 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up- Warrior continues the saga of Kira, the fierce demon slayer introduced in Prophecy (HarperCollins, 2013)-a fantasy adventure novel set within an alternate history of feudal Korea. In the previous title, the protagonist obtained the legendary tidal stone that controls the seas and defeated the evil shaman who had infiltrated her kingdom. However, she couldn't prevent the deaths of her parents and her uncle, the king of Hansong. Without their leadership, the kingdom is thrown into chaos, and Kira must continue her quest for the two remaining treasures in order to fulfill the Dragon King's prophecy and bring peace to her land. In this installment, the teen attempts to retrieve a legendary jeweled dagger from the clutches of a dragon while continuing to serve as bodyguard to her nephew, the crown prince. The female warrior remains a compellingly rich character who learns to follow her instincts, trust others, and forgive. Her conflicted feelings about the attentions from two very different suitors add an interesting romance plotline, without deterring from the main story. This is an action-packed adventure with a fresh batch of terrifying enemies, surprise attacks, and unexpected allies. Realistic dialogue and an exciting pace make this a page-turner. Warrior is sure to satisfy Prophecy fans and win over new devotees.-Sunnie Lovelace, Wallingford Public Library, CT

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2013
In the sequel to Prophecy (2013), demon slayer Kira searches for a second ancient treasure to protect her cousin and her homeland. Only days have passed since the Iron Army, led by Kira's uncle, King Eojin, defeated the Yamato invaders and liberated Hansong. Unfortunately, their triumph is short-lived: Assassins murder Eojin at a royal banquet, fracturing the fragile alliance that had united the Seven Kingdoms under one leader. To defend her cousin, Prince Taejo, from those who contest his claim to the throne, Kira embarks on a quest with her most trusted companions to find a jeweled dagger, the second of three magical treasures mentioned in an ancient prophecy. Their action-packed journey provides ample opportunities for Kira to demonstrate her fighting prowess and explore her growing feelings for the handsome, haunted Jaewon. Unfortunately, the brisk pacing doesn't entirely compensate for the stock characters and the weak worldbuilding. It's difficult to understand Kira's strong senses of duty and loyalty when her most important relationships feel perfunctory. Meanwhile, though Oh weaves many details from Korean history and folklore into her story, her inconsistent prose--which veers from contemporary snark to stilted formality--prevents her from establishing a convincing sense of time and place. A run-of-the-mill quest fantasy, despite its uncommon setting. (glossary, map; not seen) (Fantasy. 13-16)

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December 15, 2013
Grades 7-10 Seventeen-year-old Kira, girl warrior in a mythic fantasy world, continues to protect her cousinthe young boy destined to rule the Iron Realmagainst demons and political intrigues. In this second episode of the Prophecy series, the plot continues to build quickly through high-tension scenes of battle with half humans and warriors. Meanwhile, Kira is beset by revelations about the people around her, a formerly rejected suitor proves his worth, and a new friend moves from carefree companion to love interest. Though it is not quite as smooth at the outset as the first volume, readers will still be impatient for the next episode.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
In this sequel to Prophecy, Kira has to collect the second mystical item in her quest to stop the demon lord, all the while protecting her young cousin who is the true heir to the throne. Tight plotting balances Kira's personal growth with lots of action. Despite flat secondary characters, fans of traditional fantasy quest narratives will find plenty to enjoy.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)