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Critics' Opinion:
Readers' Opinion:
First Published:
Oct 2005, 256 pages
Paperback:
Aug 2006, 272 pages
Book Reviewed by:
BookBrowse Review Team
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A bold, original fantasy that conjures up a land of magic and menace as Merle and Serafin begin a journey to unimagined realms in the extraordinary world of Dark Reflections. Ages 12+.
In Venice, magic is not unusual. Merle is apprenticed to a magic mirror
maker, and Serafin -- a boy who was once a master thief -- works for a weaver of
magic cloth. Merle and Serafin are used to the mermaids who live in the canals
of the city -- beautiful creatures with hideous mouths that split their faces
from ear to ear -- and to the guards who patrol the streets on living stone
lions. Merle herself possesses something magical: a mirror whose surface is
water. She can reach her whole arm into it and never get wet.
But Venice is under siege by the Egyptian Empire; its terrifying mummy
warriors and flying sunbarks are waiting to strike. All that protects the
Venetians is the Flowing Queen. Nobody knows who or what she is -- only that her
power flows through the canals and keeps the Egyptians at bay.
When Merle and Serafin overhear a plot to capture the Flowing Queen, they are
catapulted into desperate danger. They must do everything they can to rescue the
Queen and save the city -- even if it means getting help from the Ancient
Traitor himself.
Kai Meyer's bold, original fantasy conjures up a land of magic and menace as
Merle and Serafin begin a journey to unimagined realms in the extraordinary
world of Dark Reflections.
Translated into English by Elizabeth D. Crawford.
Chapter 4: Phantoms
Have you ever looked into it?" Junipa asked next morning, after they'd
awakened to the sound of Eft's ringing the gong in the hallway.
Merle rubbed the sleep from her eyes with the knuckle of her index finger.
"Into what?"
"Into your water mirror."
"Oh, sure. All the time."
Junipa swung her legs over the edge of the bed and looked at Merle. Her
mirror fragments flared golden from the sunrise behind the roofs.
"I don't mean just looked in."
"Behind the water surface?"
Junipa nodded. "Have you?"
"Two or three times," Merle said. "I've pushed my face in as
far as possible. The frame is pretty narrow, but it worked. My eyes were
underwater."
"And?"
"Nothing. Just darkness."
"You couldn't see anything at all?"
"I just said that."
Thoughtfully Junipa ran her fingers through her hair. "If you want, I'...
Set in a mythical late 19th Century Venice, this is a series that would appeal to readers aged about 12-years or more, who are able to keep track of multiple story threads and enjoy books by the likes of Diana Wynne Jones, Tamora Pierce or Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials etc)...continued
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(Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).
Kai Meyer has published many books in Germany (I believe his total is in the region of 45 titles, some for adults, some for children), but his most successful have been the three volumes about the orphan girl, Merle, which have been translated into 16 languages, most recently English. In Germany, all three volumes have been on sale for a number of years and there are even plans to make a 26-part TV series based on the books; but an English translation of the first volume was not available until last ...
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