Sign of the Crescent

by Debbie Federici

Teenagers are mysteriously disappearing in Tucson, Arizona, and other cities. One night, seventeen-year-old Taryn nearly becomes one of them when a revolting, unearthly creature attacks her. The touch of a Zumar warrior should render her unconscious, but Taryn has the strength to fight until a young man with a sword comes to her rescue.

This is how Taryn, an orphan with Ménière's disease, meets Erick, a Haro Knight from another world. His job is fighting the Zumar who are kidnapping and enslaving oldworlders (Earth people). It is forbidden for Erick to socialize with oldworlders, but he can't ignore the strong attraction between them . . . and Taryn seems different from other Earth people. When she's abducted by the Zumar and taken to their evil sorcerer leader, Taryn is confronted with shocking truths that explain her strange dreams and special powers.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Teen, Fiction, Magic, Science Fiction Fantasy

312 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2005

About the author

Debbie wrote her first young adult book, ASTA, after having an incredibly vivid dream where she sprouted wings and flew! ASTA was supposed to be a faery, but then she told Debbie she was a pagan witch. Honestly, these characters just won't behave the way you plan for them to! Asta's currently tucked away, awaiting a rewrite since she changed her mind on who she is, but Debbie hopes she'll be in the mood to get to saving her world soon!

Debbie has written four fantasy books for young adults with the L.O.S.T. series co-authored with Susan Vaught. All books are available on Amazon.com and from Llewellyn Worldwide.

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of the YA fiction that I read is really well done - heavy themes, deep questions, lasting characters. It's what I hope for in any book I pick up, but sometimes when you write for 12 year olds and non-readers, this isn't going to happen.

If you're looking for a light read with lots of action and plot, I totally recommend this book, and would dissuade you from reading the rest of my review, because it's not particularly flattering. Plot and action this book has - so in that respect it's pretty fun and worth picking up.

Unfortunately, Federici's inventive plot doesn't get the kind of accompaniment it deserves from character development. Erick's speech is so stilted and "old world" it comes off as a mockery of what it is supposed to emulate, which makes reading his portions painful. Taryn seems pretty one-dimensional as well. She has three main moods: "I'm boy crazy!", "I'm scared to turn evil!", and "I have to be strong!" The endless, saccarine declarations of eternal love made me want to puke (we get it, you're soul mates, move on already).

Also, I wasn't sure what the point of giving Taryn Meniere's disease, and furthermore, not explaining it very well. If you're wondering what it's all about, here's a link: Meniere's disease Basically I was hoping that it would take on some kind of significance in the other world and give her super powers or something, but it didn't. Oh well.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was really hard to get into. I wasn't snagged until around page 100 / the start of part two. At the beginning, I kept skipping over Erick's parts to try to move the story along. The middle section was pretty good--it redeemed the story a bit. Then the ending? Left hanging for a sequel that never happened.... All in all, worth the fifty cents I picked it up for.

[Yuiko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got bored with it ehh

[John Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite bits of semi-cheesy dialogue (both spoken and thought), the story is an interesting one, great for fans of parallel world adventures with plenty of action and adventure

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a slog at first but it picked up in the middle. The ending did not snag me as much as L.O.S.T

[Kayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars purely for nostalgia bc I read this book as a young teen and loved it, but it definitely didn't have the same charm for adult me.

[Chelsea Yoquelet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trash but an almost good kind of trash.

[Natasha McNeely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sign of the Crescent is a book my grandmother gave me years ago. Admittedly, when I read it back then, it confused me and I could not quite understand what was going on.

Fast-forward to the present day.

Now that my mind can comprehend the words, I have read the book multiple times and enjoy it thoroughly. The book follows interesting characters in an intriguing plot that mixes new with old, and powerful with the weak. As you progress through the book, you learn more about what happened as rules are broken and secrets unveiled.

Readers will be drawn into the story and left with the urge to keep reader - to visualize more of what happens after the final climax.

This Fantasy novel takes what could have been a cliché and turns it into something more. Debbie Federici did well to keep readers interested and make things understandable, despite there being a fairly large cast later in the novel.

My only problem with the book was that at times, the pace slowed to a crawl. At those times, it was only the intrigue that kept me going - the need to know what would happen and how things would end.

Even with the issue in pacing at times, this is a book I gladly recommend to anyone interested in a good fantasy story that takes a new approach on the already known.

Pick it up if you have the chance. You won't regret it.

[Cathleen Ash]

Taryn’s dreaming asleep in her foster family’s home. She dances in the light of the crescent moons. The ever trusting and loyal lion walks by her side she wraps her fingers in his thick golden mane. Then… a cruel voice Ta’Reen-come! Its time!Come Ta’reenSo this is a dream? Taryn wonders sitting up groggily. She absently runs her fingers crescent moon birthmark on her arm. Ta’reen – outside Now!Taryn shivers at the evil, the power the compelling command of the voice and walks through the hall. Eryck and cole walk the streets of Tucson from a world far far away. As new worlders they've been sent back to stop the civil sorcerer from stealing childeren from the ao world.
A portal appears down the street, humoning, and a Zumerian worrior steps through. Eyrck and cole watch the girl try to run, but the worrior cathches her easily. Let me go Taryn screams wrenching her arm free. Eyrc walks up behind the worrior beheading him with one stroke of his runed sword. A tingle shoots up his arms he grabs the girls arms, wild and feel of energy.
He uses old world magic to get her to forget this ever happened, but doesn't realize she will daydream horribly, of this night, or that the two of them, somehow, are fated -across worlds-across time-across a magical abyss.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very creative fantasy, where people from Neworld go back to protect those on Oldworld (Earth) from an evil sorcerer. It gets tricky when one of the protectors falls in love with a girl from earth.

I really liked the story and the twists, but was dissapointed in the ending. It was as if the author was trying too hard to leave it open for a sequel that was never written. The writing style also was a problem for me, as it was first person present and really got in the way of the story telling.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teenagers are disappearing from Tucson and other cities in the Southwest. One night Taryn almost becomes one of them when she is grabbed by a monster. She is saved by Erick a Haro knight from another world. He erases Taryn's memory of the event but he can't erase her from his memory. He can't resist the urge to return and see her again. Then she is captured by the servants of the evil sorcerer Synomea. He must gather his fellow knights and defeat Synomea to save his world and his love. A well told tale full of excitement, adventure, and romance. Boys and girls alike will enjoy this story.

[Paula Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has everything I like in a book. There was romance, suspense, other worlds, traitors and conflict. I really enjoyed the writing style of Debbie Frederici. The MC, Taryn, was strong but yet weak at the same time. Taryn lives in present time. Teenagers are disappearing nightly. Knights from another world and time are struggling to save them. This story revolves around Taryn and a knight known as Erick. Many adventures ensue. The struggle between good and evil is a major theme is this book with plenty of twists. I rate it a 4.5/5.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this when I was younger a few times. Just one of those type of books I would read when I felt in the mood for magic and gallant hero's, without the completely useless damsel in distress. I'm giving it 5 stars for the impression it left on me growing up. Would like to re-read it to see what I'd think of it now :)

[Katrina Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pleasantly fantastic book. I loved everything about it and wouldn't have minded if it was turned into a sequel or trilogy. In a way, I wished Debbie Federici would write more books, period. This is the only one I have found that she has written.

[Mimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

What an ending! I'm guessing there will be a sequel? Or was that an open ending? Anyways, getting through the first part was torture. The writing just wasn't for me and the romance is just, what the hell. Things got better though. All in all, it was okay.

[Bodea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good. I didn't take to it like I did the L.O.S.T series, but it has it's own charm. I'd pick it up from the library if you up for a light read.

[Valerie Mabrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book and it was a descent read. The story is a bit predictable though with no real twist or turns.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lame. Not nearly as good as when I read it in high school. Or perhaps because it is so poorly constructed compared to Tamora Pierce's books, which I just read previously.

[Margot Fallen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I WANT A SEQUEL! I thought this book was great. Very creative, very cool. It has romance, adventure, magic, and twists galore. Love that it takes place in arizona.

[Sorina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book!!!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this book so much. As soon as I finished all I could think was When is the sequel coming out? There still isn't one to my knowledge which is my only complaint about this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A recommendation from dear friend, Tig. Another book that did not disappoint! Couldn't put it down...