From School Library Journal
Grade 7-10–As the exiled heir to thrones in two kingdoms, Reiffen lives under constant threat of danger from his uncle, King Brannis, who wants to keep his lineage a secret. The 12-year-old prince is faced with an even greater threat, however, when he is kidnapped by a trio of wizards who plan to place him on the throne as their puppet. Subjected to both magical and psychological methods of persuasion, Reiffen must choose whether or not he will be a willing participant in the wizards' scheme. His rescuers, consisting of a dwarf, a shape-shifting bear, and two childhood friends, must travel through the cavernous underground world of the dwarves to reach him. Planned as a trilogy, this first novel is ambitious in its scale, but falls short of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings epic that obviously inspired it. The story is full of hard-to-pronounce names of people and places. The explanation of Reiffen's exile comes too late, and background mythology that would have eased confusion is not fleshed out enough. Instead, too many details are included about the scenery and, as a result, the adventure is often bogged down by description. This book has enough action, imagination, and witty repartee between characters to hold the interest of readers who give it a chance, but they will undoubtedly be frustrated with its many incongruities.–Emily Rodriguez, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Description
Reiffen, only twelve years old, is the true heir to the thrones of both Wayland and Banking. He and his friends Avender and Ferris live in a magical world of talking animals, dwarves, and shape-shifting bears but…he lives with the shame of knowing that no one will ever let him rule these kingdoms, that their crowns will bring him nothing but betrayal and sorrow…and that he is powerless. Reiffen will have only a short life of child's innocence, a brief respite from the trial of impossible adult responsibility, the trial of attempting to finish a task he can never complete.
And then he is shown the nations of his world from the peak of a fortress drear and tempted with fame and fortune and his rightful place on the throne of great kingdoms--his kingdoms. He need only surrender his humanity; kill his loves and he would have his childhood fantasy.
He would be granted great Black knowledge, more furious than anything he had ever imagined. He could desire justice…but would have to kill everything he loved to get it. His prayers would be answered…if only he would sacrifice everything he held dear.
Reiffen's Choice is the first book in a trilogy about innocence and struggle that can only be compared to Eragon and Eldest, The Once and Future King and Raymond E. Feist's Magician. It will be an experience you will never forget.
And then he is shown the nations of his world from the peak of a fortress drear and tempted with fame and fortune and his rightful place on the throne of great kingdoms--his kingdoms. He need only surrender his humanity; kill his loves and he would have his childhood fantasy.
He would be granted great Black knowledge, more furious than anything he had ever imagined. He could desire justice…but would have to kill everything he loved to get it. His prayers would be answered…if only he would sacrifice everything he held dear.
Reiffen's Choice is the first book in a trilogy about innocence and struggle that can only be compared to Eragon and Eldest, The Once and Future King and Raymond E. Feist's Magician. It will be an experience you will never forget.
