Tallow

Karen Brooks (author)

Woolshed Press, Random House, Australia: 2009; 404pp

ISBN: 9781741664355

Genres: adventure, fantasy

Issues: differences, ethics, identity, relationships

In a canal-crossed city close to a mysterious, haunted boundary called the Limen, the orphaned Tallow is raised and trained as an apprentice by Pillar, a candlemaker. Into this somewhat humdrum and often miserable existence comes Katina, a stranger who has knowledge of Tallow's past as well as the forbidden lore of the Estrattore.

Katina is determined that nothing - and no one, including the dreadful Morte Whisperers - will stop Tallow from achieving the destiny foretold by the Bond Riders who rescued the child. But Katina cannot always be there to mentor Tallow and the youngster's growing confidence and experiments soon puts the household at risk.

It is a time of enormous change for Tallow, who not only develops a remarkable skill in candlemaking but makes new friends and discovers the complex nature of relationships in all their many varieties. Love is not a simple emotion and moral issues are rarely black and white. In a world filled with both wonder and danger, can Tallow find the path that leads to safety as well as the greatest good?

This beautifully crafted novel from Karen Brooks, with its complex storylines and characters, promises an enthralling series ahead. While seamlessly incorporating the archetypal characters so essential to successful fantasy/adventure, the narrative has a freshness and intensity that will appeal to gifted readers experienced in this genre. It is wonderful to find a character-driven novel written for children, where the story is often more important. Here every narrative event flows directly from the character at its centre; the event could not occur differently because the choice that drove it was the only one that character could make, the only choice that reflected their identity and maturity. This applies equally to minor as major characters, which adds to the complexity of the novel yet ensures that the text is remarkably concise. Highly recommended for all lovers of fantasy or adventure, but particularly so for gifted readers.