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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Work of Tremendous Imagination and Great Devotion, February 28, 2008
This review is from: Seabird (Paperback)
Seabird is a work of high fantasy which will appeal to aficionados of the genre who appreciate tales that recount the struggles, failures, and triumphs of reluctant heroes.
Teenager Cara Marshall is the reluctant hero of Seabird. Plucked from a predictable life of summer vacation at the local beach, younger sibling to baby-sit and game arcade dates with her boyfriend, Cara is suddenly and inexplicably transported to the distant and less technologically sophisticated world of Narenta. And from the moment she arrives nothing is predictable. Cara finds herself alone in a weird and wonderful landscape filled with strange, exotic creatures and a race of bird-like people that call themselves the Young Ones who believe that Cara, whom they call "the Outworlder," has been sent by their God, Alphesis, to deliver them from the evil of the Daetaga, a trio of ancient life-destroying sorcerers. When all her efforts and repeated pleas to be returned to her own world fail to convince the Young Ones that she is not the hero they think she is, Cara sets out on her own to find a way home.
And so begins her great and arduous journey. On her trek across Narenta she soon discovers that not only does almost everyone she meets know more about who she is and why she is there than she does, but also that she is being pursued by forces whose only objective is to destroy her. Along the way Cara is both betrayed to her enemies, the Shadow, and aided by wise and noble enchanters and the courageous and spiritually evolved Seabirds, servants of the Light, who selflessly give themselves to her protection and guide her to an understanding of her destiny and of the mission only she can undertake and complete.
Cara learns, often as a result of great personal loss, what it means to give of oneself to serve a greater good - for almost without realizing it she comes to accept her strange destiny - and to seek victory over evil in the face of devastating odds, to face fear, death and the unknown with fortitude and courage born of faith, even though there is little hope of survival.
The first third of Seabird moves forward at a leisurely and exploratory pace, but action-loving readers shouldn't despair. As the plot begins to unfold the story picks up momentum and moves relentlessly forward with plenty of conflict. both physical and magical, as battles and inter-personal struggles are waged across Narenta until the story's powerful conclusion.
Seabird is a work of tremendous imagination and great devotion. With good humor and a light touch Ms. Thompson quietly asks the reader to consider what his/her own response might be if suddenly and irretrievably "put to the test." It is a book well worth your investment of reading time.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Narenta--the New Narnia, May 27, 2008
This review is from: Seabird (Paperback)
The Pevensie children are no longer the only ones being pulled away from their lives on Earth in order to set things right in another world. Meet Cara, a typical self-centered and shallow teenager. After purchasing a unique seabird pendant, she finds herself suddenly pulled out of her own world and into Narenta, into a society where everything looks rather medieval and the people are expecting an outworlder to come to their aid. They are all convinced that Cara has been sent by Alphesis, their Lord, to perform a deed that only she can accomplish. Cara is convinced that it's a mistake, and the only thing she wants to do is go home. Unfortunately, the more she tries to run from this task and find a way home the more she becomes embroiled in the danger of the Tumult. Some very nasty Demons (daemagos) are quite intent on killing her, no matter what her own intentions.
This is an engaging tale of high fantasy, one that Young Adults in particular should enjoy right from the beginning. At times it is humorous when Cara tries to communicate using typical teenspeak in a world that doesn't get all the expressions and slang. But that is only a small element of this novel. It is brimming with action and adventure, lots of battle scenes, but also some brilliant scenes filled with the life-altering experiences that Cara undergoes internally. Themes of light and Living Water weave their way throughout the tale, as do honor and the Joy of Obedience. This will teach some lesson painlessly; in fact, if you don't tell them there are any lessons, the teens won't see them coming! Characters have a great deal of personality, individual personalities so deep and unique that you'll feel like you really know them before the story is over. It's not all happily ever after and pie in the sky either. I highly recommend it. If you're looking for some summer reading material, please consider this one.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Must-Read for C.S. Lewis Fans, April 29, 2008
This review is from: Seabird (Paperback)
Fans of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia might have found a favorite new author. Seabird, the debut novel by Sherry Thompson, is reminiscent of Lewis's classic series in terms of the rich fantasy world the author has crafted, the teen protagonist, and the strong religious subtext.
The story centers around Cara Marshall, a teenager who is magically transported to the land of Narenta. Cara, selfish by nature, is told that she has been chosen as a champion who is charged with fighting the evil that threatens the land. Convinced there has been a mistake, and not at all interested in being a hero for these odd strangers, Cara sets off to find her way home. Circumstances and experience eventually take her in a different direction and, aided by a small cast of Narentans and some talking seabirds, Cara takes on the mantle of champion.
The strengths of this story begin with the mystical quality of the world. Narenta is mysterious and inviting, but also threatening and frightening. Thompson paints memorable pictures of many locales. The reader truly feels that he or she has been dropped into the middle of a tangible world. The religious themes are strongly present, but the book is not preachy and it reads like a secular book. Characterization is another strength, with Cara completing a visible character arc- something that is frequently lacking in contemporary fantasy.
Some might find the "black and white" presentation of good versus evil to be a negative. The bad guys are bad because they're bad and the good guys are good because they're good. Readers looking for a George R.R. Martin/Joe Abercrombie type story with all characters being varying shades of gray will find Thompson's traditional approach off-putting, but those who enjoy the CS Lewis type of story will be right at home.
Seabird, the first book of the Narentan Tumults, is a must-read for CS Lewis fans, and promises to be an enjoyable story for those who like traditional fantasy.
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