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Reviewed by:
  • Ever
  • Katrina Bromann
Levine, Gail Carson; Ever;. HarperCollins, 2008; [256p] Library ed. ISBN 978-0-06-122963-3 $17.89 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-06-122962-6 $16.99 R Gr. 6-9

Trusted fantasy author Levine takes her readers in a somewhat new direction, blending folklore and mythology in a lyrical story of faith and love. Olus, god of the winds, lives on Enshi Rock with the other gods. As the youngest god by centuries, however, he is lonely, and so he moves to Hyte, where he takes up cover as a goatherd among the mortals. While his clever wind takes care of his flock, he falls in love with Kezi, the only daughter of the family from whom he rents his land. When Kezi's mati falls ill, her pado makes an oath to Admat, the one and only god of Hyte, that he will sacrifice whoever first congratulates him if his wife recovers. In order to stop her aunt from doing so, Kezi becomes the human sacrifice, and another petition to Admat earns only a short reprieve. Kezi and Olus have just one month to face the trials that would make him a champion and her immortal, thereby rescuing her from death and ensuring their long future together. Kezi and Olus narrate in the present tense, telling the same seamless story from their differing points of view. Their voices are distinct, but they're also alike in purity and earnestness, which underscores their emotional connection and enforces the sincerity of their bond. Their story, drawn from the biblical legend of Jephthah and a Mesopotamian myth, is steeped in questions of faith and fate: Olus has never heard of Admat, and he struggles to understand the omnipotence of one god even as he supports Kezi's [End Page 390] need for the familiar comfort of her religion; for her part, Kezi begins to question her blind acceptance of Admat's rules. The discourse on religion and the afterlife is genuinely thought-provoking, but Levine avoids offering answers and instead emphasizes encouragement for happy endings. The striking beauty of the warm Mediterranean-like landscape sets the stage for heroic quests and romantic picnics, adding atmosphere to this compelling tale.

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