Review:
The changeling by Sean Williams
Angus & Robertson, 2008. ISBN
9780732284749
(Age 11+) What would you do if your starving family was prepared to
sacrifice you to get rain for their drought-stricken farm? When Kuller,
a weather-worker, arrived at the farm to lay a charm to bring back the
rain, Ros, influenced by Escher, a voice he hears continually in his
head, decides that he must leave before his blood is shed. Fleeing into
the desert, he learns about a magical force called the Change, and
meets Adi, a girl from a nomadic group. When disaster strikes, and even
powerful mages can't help him, Ros is forced to examine everything that
has happened to him and he returns home to find reasons for these
terrible events.
Williams has created a wonderful imaginative world where
weather-workers can manipulate the heavens, Stone mages have powerful
secrets and grotesque creatures, like the crabblers, drip venom from
their pincers.
I was engrossed with the dry landscape, the stark characters and the
dilemmas that Ros faced and look forward to the two novels that follow.
The dark cover was not as enticing as the story and it may not
encourage readers to pick it up but the story is so taut and well
written that it should be promoted as quality fantasy.
Recommended.
Pat Pledger
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Consulting, 2007