SHADOW WARRIOR

by Pat Zettner ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1990

The races of men, goblins, and Old Ones, locked in conflict and misunderstanding, find their common fate fundamentally changed by a young human girl and an outcast goblin warrior. Zorn, a young Danturi warrior--derisively called ""goblin"" by humans--is found wounded by Llyndreth, sister of the warlord who is leading a raiding party against the Danturi. Llyndreth, who is desperately seeking her brother, is fleeing a civil war that destroyed her home; she is aided by Angborn, the last of the original race of Old Ones. In gratitude to Llyndreth for nursing his wound, Zorn leads her and Angborn away from the Danturi, only to be labeled a traitor and sentenced to the Living Death. When both Llyndreth and Angborn volunteer to take his place, an ancient prophecy is fulfilled and to other Old Ones return from their self-imposed exile. It is a little hard to know quite what to make of this--the language is graceful and the story well constructed, but neither the relationships among the races, the attraction between Zorn and Llyndreth, nor the resolution of the ancient prophecy are persuasive. Still, young readers who are powerfully drawn to fantasy will find much to enjoy here, despite an unusually strong need to suspend disbelief.

Pub Date: March 1, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 224

Publisher: Atheneum

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1990

Categories: CHILDREN'S