Prophecy by Ellen Oh (review)

Seventeen-year-old Kira guards her young cousin Taejo, the crown prince, secretly protecting their small kingdom from demon attacks even as her lone female-warrior status, fierce fighting style, and strange yellow eyes have rendered her a virtual outcast. When an invading army headed by someone with the power of the Demon Lord threatens all Kira has sworn to protect and unexpected traitors appear amongst the king's top advisors, Kira and her cousin must flee; their only chance to save themselves and their kingdom is to find the Dragon King's lost treasure, mystical stones that control the elements and release fearsome dragon spirits. The girl-warrior story retains its usual ability to entertain, and the pacing is certainly fast enough to keep readers from getting bored. Unfortunately, this is a highly derivative title, which, aside from its Korean cultural references and occasional vocabulary, offers little to differentiate itself from the crowd of similar works. Clunky writing rushes readers from one action scene to another without stopping for breath, and there's no underlying motivation or character development. Regardless, readers who enjoy the comfort of familiar tropes and those who like their girl-power adventures with an Asian flair in the spirit of Goodman's Eon (BCCB 2/09) may wish to follow Kira as she fights for family and country.