The Last Enchanter

Gr 4–6—Apprentice enchanter Marcus Frye is not destined for the quiet life. He's a simple village boy at heart, but his brother has just become king (following the suspicious death of their royal grandfather), and he's seeing alarming visions. In this fantasy trilogy in the tradition of Lloyd Alexander's "The Chronicles of Prydain" series (Holt), Marcus is once again on a quest. His actual objective seems to change with regular frequency, but whether trying to save his brother; bickering with his friend and sometime crush, Lael; or coming to grips with his complex powers, Marcus is an engaging hero, flawed and friendly; however, clunky plot twists and overly explanatory passages may make the book challenging for some readers to sustain interest in the larger outcome. It suffers from second-in-a-trilogy syndrome; it feels more like a bridge than a fully realized journey. Still, fantasy enthusiasts will appreciate the simple writing, the sweet nobility of the characters, and the goofy adventure.—Katya Schapiro, Brooklyn Public Library