Nina of the dark by Ken Catran
HarperCollins, 2009. ISBN 9781869506650
(Age 11+) Recommended.
A gripping fantasy called Nina's Saga is told by Bard the
Restless. A slave called Nina is the
heroine. She is the one who must
overcome the darkness and the multitude of evil creatures which
threaten to
kill her and her companions, a thief and a giant, for she is a thumb
hurter. The plot is dense with unusual
creatures and the Rut army wanting to outwit Nina and her allies. The
plot moves swiftly for Catran uses
imagery beautifully and the poetry foretells the coming battles. Nina
becomes an awe inspiring leader who
rejects the treasure and finds Lightskin, a costume of silver chain
mail which
fits her perfectly and Brightsong, a sword with a red-braided hilt and
ruby set
scabbard, damaged but with no pommel stone. The minor characters are
strong and believable and add to the
intensity
as the drama unfolds. There is scope for
a sequel.
Sue Nosworthy