Curse of the Night Witch (Emblem Island #1)
by Alex Aster (Author)
A fast-paced series starter perfect for fans of Aru Shah and the End of Time and filled with adventure, mythology, and an unforgettable trio of friends.
On Emblem Island all are born knowing their fate. Their lifelines show the course of their life and an emblem dictates how they will spend it. Twelve-year-old Tor Luna was born with a leadership emblem, just like his mother. But he hates his mark and is determined to choose a different path for himself. So, on the annual New Year's Eve celebration, where Emblemites throw their wishes into a bonfire in the hopes of having them granted, Tor wishes for a different power. The next morning Tor wakes up to discover a new marking on his skin...the symbol of a curse that has shortened his lifeline, giving him only a week before an untimely death. There is only one way to break the curse, and it requires a trip to the notorious Night Witch.
With only his village's terrifying, ancient stories as a guide, and his two friends Engle and Melda by his side, Tor must travel across unpredictable Emblem Island, filled with wicked creatures he only knows through myths, in a race against his dwindling lifeline.
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Publishers Weekly
Tor Luna, 12, was born with a leadership emblem; the "two purple rings around his left wrist" signify that he will someday lead, just like his chieftess mother. Hoping to become a water-breather, instead—swimming is his great joy and source of calm—he wishes on the New Year's Eve bonfire; during the yearly celebration, anything can happen. Instead of a changed emblem, though, he's struck by a witch's curse, one that cuts his lifeline, and his friends', to a single week. To find the fabled Night Witch and break the curse, Tor, sharp-eyed Engle, and natural leader Melda venture through the most dangerous, magical regions of Emblem Island, using a volume of old stories, The Book of Cuentos, as their guide. Debut author Aster takes inspiration from Colombian folklore to craft a rousing series opener that's both fast-paced and thrilling. As her protagonists face off against a host of horrors, they learn the value of friendship and explore the possibility of changing one's fate in a world where destiny is predetermined. Excerpts from Tor's Book of Cuentos grant further insight into the vividly built world's monsters, legends, and cautionary tales. Ages 8-12. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary. (June)
Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
School Library Journal
Gr 4-8—Tor Luna has always known how his monotonous life will go. In his home on Emblem Island, people are born with their lifelines written on their hands and an emblem (a gift) on their skin. Tor's leadership emblem and smooth-fated lifeline motivates him to ask the wish-gods on New Year's Eve for a new power. Instead, Tor is cursed with a wicked marking that drastically shortens his lifeline. Teaming up with his best friend Engle and clever classmate Melda, Tor begins a journey across the island in search of the one person who can change his fate, the Night Witch. Aster kicks off a new series encompassed in a Latin American myth-based world. The story line is embellished with excerpts from The Book of Cuentos, Emblem Island's ancient text, to expand on the islanders' lore while subtly foreshadowing future events. The vibrant detail given to each village Tor travels through (like a phosphorescent jungle or formidable Amazonian giantesses) provides rich scenery that is a delight to imagine. Embedded in Tor's cross-island trek are a multitude of life lessons, such as accepting failure, asking for help, practicing humility, and finding honest people. Discerning readers may spot the final twist early, though this won't dampen the ending as it unravels. VERDICT A fast-paced island adventure with enough quirks to entice most young fantasy readers.—Emily Walker, Lisle Lib. Dist., IL
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV012030 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | General
JUV022000 - Juvenile Fiction | Legends, Myths, & Fables | General
