Slaves of the Mastery: Book Two in the Wind on Fire Trilogy

The people of Aramanth are finally free of the Morah, the evil power that controlled them for generations. But a ruthless attack by soldiers from a distant land destroys the city, and its people are driven off as slaves. During the invasion, Kestrel and Bowman are separated for the first time in their lives. Bowman becomes a slave of the Mastery. Kestrel escapes, then sets off to avenge the enslavement of her family. As the twins embark on their parallel adventures, their mother's prophetic dreams reveal their true identity and their dangerous fate. Bowman's mind power and Kestrel's fierce spirit are soon joined once again to fight for the freedom of their people.

Gr 6-9-A masterful sequel to The Wind Singer (Hyperion, 2000). The city of Aramanth, having experienced five years of peace, is attacked and its people, including Bowman Hath and his family, are taken as slaves to the city of the Mastery. The 15-year-old's twin sister Kestrel is separated from them, but eventually meets up with Bowman, and they use a combination of magic and cunning to overthrow the Master. Political intrigue, magical power, and quiet humor will keep the pages turning as readers follow the adventures of the heroic twins, but at the heart of this tale is an exploration of slavery, freedom, and destiny. Bowman's struggle to convince his people, who are well treated and content, that slavery is inherently evil is truly chilling, while his sibling's dealings with the desire, greed, and na‹vet‚ of Very Important People can be hilarious. Every character, from sensible Kestrel to the larger-than-life Master to a cat that is determined to fly, is compelling and full of life. Readers won't need to have read the first book in the proposed trilogy to fully enjoy this one, but they will certainly clamor for the third.

Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Continuing the Wind on the Fire Trilogy, which began with The Wind Singer, William Nicholson follows heroes Kestrel and Bowman when they become separated in Slaves of the Mastery. A psychic connection binds the twins and eventually draws them back together as they fight the evil powers that have taken over their homeland.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 7-12. Despite its length, this reads quickly, and like the Wind Singer (2000) it has some splendid battle scenes. That said, the story of the twins Bowman and Kestrel, and their city of Amaranth, with all its citizens made slaves by the Master, is an astonishing mishmash of lore, myth, and magicking. Kes and Bo are separated early on, and she becomes the companion of a sorely ignorant princess who knows only how to be beautiful. The slaves are kept docile by occasional public burnings, and entertainment comes in the form of a kind of gladiator/cockfight/sumo dance. The story does thump along, with a simplistic cosmology: "Master, all that I do, I do for you." Readers in it for the yarn spinning may not be overly concerned about the lack of depth or imagination, and there's plenty left to resolve for book three. GraceAnne DeCandido
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