Six eerie moons float in the sky above the earth, each radiating a force that those on the planet below can call upon to perform incredible acts of magic. But when Brinn is discovered to have no magic of his own, the boy is condemned to die and flees. Pursued at turns by puritanical humans and twisted monsters bred on the moons themselves, Brinn must discover his own talent before he can at last confront his enemies and overcome their tremendous powers.
Got this some time back and, as part of the continual "digital pile lessening," finally got to it. First and foremost, this is not a book for mature readers. This is geared more toward junior high and high school. Were I that age again (sigh), I might have given this four+ stars. However, as I am now, it's definitely three.
Brinn is born on a world where the overwhelming majority of inhabitants inherit some sort of magical power from one of the six moons in the sky. When he turns 16 and is presented to his village (along with several others) to have his magic brought forth, nothing happens. He is a "nothing," which is punishable by death. Chased, Brinn escapes from his village and sets off to try to find his magic. Along the way he meets several characters, both good and bad, and discovers things about the moons, the people around him, and himself.
There is a lot in this book that is good. Brinn's quest and growing understanding are good lessons for people who are contemplating their place in the world. What does it mean to be "different" or not as "gifted" as someone else? And what about those who have these special gifts? Are they truly any better than someone without them? They are good questions. And, again, back in the day I would have enjoyed them. Today, after I've already answered most of them...
From my current perspective, this book is just too transparent. Many characters lack motivation for their actions, Brinn is incredibly obtuse and naïve, and the resolution is nowhere near fully satisfying. From my current perspective. From my junior high or high school self, I would have enjoyed this book a lot. I might still have had a few issues with the ending, but they would not have bothered me nearly as much.
For younger readers (12-18 or so), this is a decent book and worth the read. For older readers, there are better options out there. Good, but not great.
This book was an extremely engaging piece of literature and quite original! The story line kept me very engaged and the characters, relationships, and plot were well thought out and written. The story flowed quite well and, for once in a review, I can also praise the editing and grammar of a book. I didn't notice even a slight problem during my leisurely read.
The details of this story are new and unique to me with moons being the source of magic and those magics providing very unique skill(s) for each individual, including culinary skills. The ambling chefs were such a treat to read about! The only thing I would liked to have seen was a bit more information in an epilogue that wrapped up things with Brinn's family and the ambling chefs. It may have been the author's intention to leave a bit of the story open-ended (which is perfectly fine and an author's prerogative) but a bit more closure to those areas of the story just would have been the "icing on the cake." A romantic interest and relationship also would have been the cherry on top of a lovely read! ;-) I would love to see a continuation to this story that might include some of this... *ahem* hint, hint LOL
Regardless of my personal preference for what I'd like to see added to the story, this is a great read all on its own - just the way the author intended it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction.
If one moon on Earth causes lunacy, what do six moons cause? This book attempts to answer that question as Brinn tries to find his place in the world. The story begins with Brinn on the run. He has no magic, and no moon to call his own. Escaping his execution, he joins traveling chefs as a kitchen hand, boards a trading ship, and lives in mines. A coming of age story, the plot of this book reminds of A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony. Brian's unpredictable adventures reminds me of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.