Snow, Fire, Sword

Masson, Sophie

ISBN 10: 006079092X ISBN 13: 9780060790929

Publisher: Eos, 2006

Synopsis

On the island of Jayangan, old beliefs and magic exist side by side with new pop songs and motorcycles. . . .

Adi is a fisherman's son, proud to be studying with the greatest of traditional sword makers. Dewi is the daughter of a healer, curious about the world beyond her quiet village.

Neither Adi nor Dewi is prepared for the sudden violence that transforms their lives. Both are propelled into an epic battle in which even the mystical spirits of Jayangan are threatened and helpless.

Charged with a desperate quest to find the mysterious Snow, Fire, and Sword, Adi and Dewi know only that if they fail, their beloved homeland will fall to an evil shrouded in impenetrable darkness. Can two children of the modern world succeed where the most powerful and ancient spirits cannot?

Set against the backdrop of a mythic Indonesia, Sophie Masson's gripping fantasy will leave readers breathless.

About this title

About the Author:

Sophie Masson was born in Indonesia and grew up in France and Australia. She holds a master's degree in French and English literature and is fluent in both languages. Ms. Masson is the author of numerous young adult fantasies as well as several adult novels. This is her first book for HarperCollins. Ms. Masson lives with her husband and children in Australia.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 6-8–This novel, which draws on Indonesian myth and is set on a fictional island, is exciting and action-packed. Dewi and Adi are sent on a quest to find Sword, Fire, and Snow in order to vanquish an evil sorcerer who is trying to destroy all that is good in Jayangan, including the old gods and nature spirits. These spirits are virtually powerless against him and depend on the young people's courage and determination. From sinister black-clad motorbike riders, the hantumu, who are servants of the sorcerer, to a jinn personified as a red-haired woman with blotchy skin and a strange voice, to a cave painting of a huge lizard that comes alive as an indigenous nature spirit, the story is packed full of unusual mythological creatures, seen in a contemporary context. Masson sets up tensions within the three religions of Jayangan, one of which, Mujisal, appears to be a thinly disguised version of Islam. The villain is, of course, defeated by the young people, aided by Fire, Sword, and Snow. While the general theme–that tolerance and understanding will triumph over intolerance and cruelty–appears throughout, the apparent connection between the strict Pumujisal sect and fundamentalist Islam ultimately forces readers to see the book on a more straightforward allegorical and political level, which diminishes its power. However, the story will be enjoyed by fans of fantasy adventure.–Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City
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About this edition

• Publisher: Eos
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 006079092X
• ISBN 13: 9780060790929
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 368