5/5 Stars
If you've been following the blog for very long (granted, I haven't been posting much recently, so maybe it would be more apropos to say, "if you've perused through my archives"), you've likely noticed that I'm quite the fan of Wayne Thomas Batson. He seems to find the right blend of dread, mythicalness, and high adventure to incorporate into his fantasy works. Curse of the Spider King, authored by him and Christopher Hopper, is no exception.
This middle-grade to YA novel centers on several young people in the present day. Unbeknownst to them, however, they have unbreakable ties to the fantasy world of Berinfell-where elves face off with swords against the dreadful Spider King. Soon, they're caught up in a quest to save a world that none of them even knew existed.
The resulting tale is one of intrigue, urban fantasy, and self-discovery. While there are many, many characters to follow, the authors do a good job of differentiating the characters and their abilities. The prose occasionally reminds you that this is intended to be a book for younger audiences, but overall doesn't get in the way of the rich worldbuilding and otherworldly adventure. I truly look forward to reading the next installment in the series.
Recommended for readers who enjoy fantasy novels set for a younger audience that focus on world-traveling and self-discovery/coming of age. Some Christian elements are alluded to.
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