Darkbeast (review)

Each child born in Duodecia is bound to a darkbeast, a creature that takes away their so-called bad emotions, like anger and fear, and helps them obey and mature. Unlike other children, however, Keara has come to love her darkbeast, Caw, and when she is instructed to kill the raven on her twelfth nameday (children must slay their darkbeasts as a rite of passage), Keara refuses and flees her family home. That act of rebellion has the Inquisitors hot on her trail, but she manages to find refuge by disguising herself among a group of traveling actors; unfortunately, when the troupe puts on a controversial play, Keara once again must escape with Kaw. The book's unusual premise is sure to draw readers, and the intriguing, medievalesque world with just a touch of magic will both entrance fans of fantasy and satisfy those who prefer their stories more grounded in reality. Keara's dilemma will feel familiar to readers who have struggled to hold onto the security of childhood, who have failed to meet the expectations of grownups, or who are bewildered by the actions of people they trust—in other words, everyone. The plot suffers from a few logical missteps, particularly in the seemingly wise troupe leader's continuous stoking of the Inquisitors' ire, but mostly this is a thoughtful, magical tale with a message that kids on the cusp of adulthood will find comforting.