  | Full Text Reviews: Bulletin for the Center... - 02/01/2012 Zardi (short for Scheherazade) is just about to turn thirteen when the sultan of Arabithia kidnaps her older sister, Zubedaya, as punishment for her father’s treason, threatening to kill the girl in ninety days and to return to do the same for Zardi. Disguising herself as a boy and joined by her best friend, Rhidan, Zardi finds her way onto the ship of Sinbad with the intention of finding a magical item that will allow her to save her sister and possibly oust the sultan for good. The journey is fraught with danger, and the days fly by as Zardi and her fellow pirates battle storms, end up on snake-infested desert islands, clash with mechanical giants, and outwit tricky djinn only to discover that their tale doesn’t end with Zubedaya’s salvation. The Middle Eastern overtones here make this a refreshing addition to the mostly European-oriented genre of middle-grade fantasy, and Richards borrows heavily from the Arabian Nights and various Arabic folktales to offer up a strikingly vivid setting populated with awe-inspiring creatures. Once Zardi joins up with Sinbad, the adventure comes fast and furious, and although the characters are mostly two-dimensional, the action-packed plot makes up for any blandness amidst the sea-faring crew. Whether readers are familiar with original Scheherazade or not, the quick pace and high-seas adventure make this widely appealing and may in fact send some readers to the 398s to check out what else her tales have to offer. KQG - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. School Library Journal - 02/01/2012 Gr 4–7—Thirteen-year-old Zardi's life in the city of Taraket at the mouth of the Tigress River was one of peace and happiness surrounded by a loving, influential family. But when the Sultan kidnaps her beloved older sister to serve as his latest storyteller, a position that only lasts 90 days, after which the storyteller is brutally killed and a new one "recruited," Zardi must find a way to overthrow the evil ruler and save her sister. Zardi and her best friend, Rhidan, an orphaned boy of mysterious origins, throw their lot in with Sinbad and his crew of pirates and scoundrels and set sail to find the Windrose, a fabled amulet believed to have the power to aid them in their quest. A plethora of magical creatures from Middle Eastern and Aegean Sea cultures populates this novel—djinn, Cyclops, rocs, dragons—creating a bit of a mash-up, but swiftly paced writing, appealing characters, and action-packed scenes carry the day. This first novel in Richards's trilogy will appeal to fans of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson" books (Hyperion).—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
 |