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Tara Duncan and the Spellbinders

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Though only twelve years old, orphaned Tara has developed strange telekinetic powers that allow her to bend space and levitate others high above the ground, as if they are lighter than air. Her two best friends, Betty and Fabrice—often the victims of Tara's uncontrollable abilities—are the only ones who know about Tara's secret. Even her grandmother and caretaker, Isabella, doesn't have a clue. That is until Tara learns that she is a spellweaver, descended from a long line of powerful magic-wielders born on the planet OtherWorld. Forced to flee her Earth home when Magister, the Master of the Bloodgraves, attacks, Tara escapes to OtherWorld, where she finds loyal friends and learns about her mysterious powers. But when Tara discovers that her mother is alive and being held captive by Magister, will she be able to save her?

Tara Duncan is an inspiring heroine, whose adventures and personal struggles will captivate readers already hooked by fantasy adventures and characters like Harry Potter. This is the first installment of the Tara Duncan series—an epic adventure full of magic and bravery that is sure to cast a spell on young readers!

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    • Kirkus

      April 15, 2012
      An adventurous preteen encounters inter-dimensional portals, magical powers and mysterious parentage in this overstuffed first book of a bestselling European fantasy series. When masked Bloodgrave wizards attack her grandmother's mansion, 12-year-old Tara'tylanhnem (Tara) Duncan enters a world of magic--or, rather, many worlds, connected by Portals and inhabited by various fantasy races. No longer safe on Earth, Tara seeks refuge and an education in OtherWorld, at the Living Castle of Travia, under the tutelage of the dragon-wizard Chem (short for Chemnashaovirodaintrachivu). Tara accepts her new circumstances calmly--aided by frequent exposition dumps--even when she learns the truth about her parents' disappearance and her grandmother's severity. Endowed with boundless if unpredictable powers, but fearful of harming her family, Tara cautiously studies magic with a motley crew of students. In less than a month, she makes friends, garners inexplicably hostile enemies, travels and uncovers more of her heritage. Unfortunately, the swift resolution of an absurd parade of life-threatening situations lowers the suspense, and the protagonist feels more a product of wish-fulfillment than character development. Perhaps an effect of translation, the language is awkward--it seesaws between formal and colloquial, quaint phrases like "I'll be darned" and "Good grief" abound, and rhyming magical spells sometimes have an uneven meter. However, the author's royal background (she is the crown princess of Armenia), her clear affection for high fantasy and her subtle sense of humor may keep readers engaged. High fantasy for middle-schoolers who just can't get enough of it. (Fantasy. 10-14)

      COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      July 1, 2012

      Gr 4-7-Twelve-year-old Tara Duncan has hidden her telekinetic powers from all but a few select friends. After overhearing a mysterious conversation, she confronts her grandmother and learns that her guardian has been keeping her identity as a powerful spellbinder a secret. She also learns that her mother, whom she believed to be dead, is actually being held in a fortress on the magical planet of OtherWorld. Tara doesn't have long to dwell on this new information, as her house is attacked by the evil Bloodgrave leader and she is soon whisked away to the Living Castle of Travia for her own safety. She quickly makes friends and learns more about her powers, despite her hesitation to use her often-uncontrollable magic. It becomes clear that apprentices have been disappearing all over OtherWorld and she, too, seems to be a target. With her new friends at her side, Tara is determined to both rescue her mother and find out who has been kidnapping the young spellbinders. As the first title in a fantasy series, there is much to learn about spellbinders and OtherWorld. Unfortunately, the story is often hampered by awkward exposition in both the narrative and dialogue. Tara is likable, as are her friends, and though there are missed opportunities for development of her character, readers will admire her stubborn nature and her bravery.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL

      Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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