A long, foggy mountain valley is filled with nothing but silence. Four forms can be seen moving through a light snow, their feet, paws, and wings barely touching the hard ground before them. The opening two sentences of this first fantasy novel by new young writer, Skyler Smith, gives a glimpse into the imagery she uses to build the scenery, characters and story for Partal. The characters are compelling and have great personality that is amazing for any author, especially a young one. Partal takes the reader through a tale of harrowing experiences as the four main characters travel from the only home they have ever known to a large city. This is a great story for any age reader. Look for the second book in this series to follow next year.
This is a wonderful book by a young writer with the potential to be the author of her generation. The book was well thought out and has incredible characters that draw the reader in and keep the pages turning to see what happens to them next. I can't wait for the second book!