MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY FICTION : Fire in the Star by Kamilla Benko
ABOUT THE BOOK
After a lifetime of being the younger sister--of letting Sophie fight her battles, of following her on countless Experiences and through a fireplace into a magical land--it's finally Claire Martinson's turn to lead. And she'll do anything to keep her big sister safe: resist the wraiths' cold shadows, experiment with new and dangerous magic, become a thief in disguise.
When Claire discovers that "only a queen can defeat a queen," she knows she must steal and reforge the ancient Crown of Arden to stand a chance against the darkness that threatens the world and her family. Because Queen Estelle d'Astora, desperate to reclaim her power, will stop at nothing to gain the support of the four guilds--even if it means killing the last unicorn. Claire will need every friend she's made to help her as the fate of Arden hangs in the balance . . . But the secrets of the unicorns are deeper than anyone could have ever imagined. Does Claire have what it takes to ignite the long-buried magic of this world and wake the fire in the stars? Or will the true salvation of Arden rest on one final and heartbreaking sacrifice?
REVIEW
This intense final book in The Unicorn Quest trilogy does not disappoint. As the story opens, Claire has left her sister, Sophie, and friends behind in Woven Root in an effort to find a way to stop her sister's transformation into a unicorn. But facing off with a deadly Spyden is only the beginning of her troubles as she also seeks the Crown of Arden in an effort to crown a queen to take on Estelle who threatens to become queen again and wipe out the last unicorn. But the Crown is in four pieces and Claire only has three days to get her hands on all four pieces. Complicating matters is the fact that the first piece she finds is a fake. With the help of her friends and allies, can Claire find a way to defeat Estelle and her wraiths and return unicorns to the land?
Benko concludes her series with a bang. The book contains plenty of excitement. I also found the twists and turns to be interesting as Claire and Sophie try to defeat the former queen and save each other. I also enjoyed the twist of Sophie turning into a unicorn, it made for an intriguing story line. I also enjoyed Claire and Sophie and their friends.They made great characters. The series as a whole does a fine job creating a fantastic and interesting world for the girls to visit. With plenty of ethical dilemmas and challenges facing the characters the books move along at a brisk clip making for an entertaining, yet thoughtful read. The themes revolve around difficult choices, friendship, family, and unity in the face of great threats. All in all, a wonderfully enjoyable series about light vs. dark, friends vs. foes, and love vs. sacrifice.
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