A Perilous Power
by E. Rose Sabin

Set in the same land of Arucadi as her earlier book A School for Sorcery, this promising new author takes us back to a time before the founding of the Lesley Simonton School for the Magically Gifted—a time when an eighteen-year-old farm boy named Les, having recently learned that he is magically Gifted but has no apparent powers to speak of, follows his powerfully magical best friend Trevor Blake to the big city of Port-of-Lords. There the two boys hope to be welcomed into the Community of the Gifted, to escape from the suspicion and persecution of those suspected of magical powers back home. Trevor also hopes to find a teacher to help him learn to control his powers. Les needs someone to tell him what his powers are, if he has any.

But their plans do not get off to a good start. Fresh off the train in Port-of-Lords, they fall prey first to a con-man, then to other calamities. Eventually a cleaning-woman named Veronica finds them penniless and in jail, and rescues them. But Trevor, always reckless and brimming with youthful bad judgment, spurns Veronica’s offer of magical guidance, and through one foolish decision after another, he embroils himself (and therefore his best friend) in the plight of a magically abused girl, the ambitions of a thief who specializes in stealing magical power, and the designs of an evil Adept who wants but one more weapon to seize control of the whole Community. And between Trevor and Les, he seems to have found the weapon he needs.

Here is a fast-paced, action-packed, mind-blowing tale of magical warfare, mortal danger, romance, friendship, personal redemption, and exquisite suspense. What becomes of the two best friends is an issue that gripped me and kept my eyes glued to the page. I expect it to work the same magic on you. Once again, the Starscape label (dedicated to Young Adult SF/Fantasy books of the highest quality) comes through with a tale that I think compares well to the work of Diana Wynne Jones.

Robbie Fischer
Arizona USA

Recommended Age: 12+

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