THE TWILIGHT REALM

by Christopher Carpenter ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 6, 1986

Five London friends are drawn from their fantasy game to a parallel world and given new personalities and powers. They defeat the evil wizard responsible, and return sadder but wiser. Teresa, Willie, Paul, Kate and Justin meet at Paul's house for Justin's elaborate fantasy game. Paul's uncle gives them game figurines embodying secretly admired traits. Drawn through a mirror to a twilight world, they take on the powers, appearances, and personalities of the figures. The world is under the rule of the evil Avron Kromar, who keeps it murky and the people in thrall. Aided by wizard Therion, they set out for Madrimar, where they free the prince of the city and his sorcerer, and together they defeat Kromar. Their overlaid personas persist in the real world, causing Kate and Justin to break up and Paul both to declare his love for Kate and to expiate his guilt over an earlier tragic death. Not fully successful either as fantasy or as a coming, of-age tale, the story is predictable, the teen anguish unconvincing, and the mixture poorly digested. Written in a flat prose style, the tale has neither a keen sense of place nor a successful blending of real people and fantasy. A light snack for ravenousfans of fantasy.

Pub Date: March 6, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION