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The Star Shard (2012)

by Frederic S. Durbin(Favorite Author)

4.15 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0547370253 (ISBN13: 9780547370255)

languge

English

genre

Paranormal Fantasy

publisher

HMH Books for Young Readers

review 1: Cymbrel has been a slave aboard the great moving merchant-city of Rake almost her entire life. In possession of a spectacular voice, her merchant master makes good use of her to entertain people and and pull in crowds to buy and sell goods. But Cymbrel is unhappy in her slavery and yearns for freedom. When a strange Fey child is brought aboard the Rake, a slave much like Cymbrel, she finds a possible ally and a way to at last escape her chains. I think I liked this book more than I expected to. I kind of groaned at the title--there's something about calling a fantasy "the star shard" that makes it feel less original, sort of like when Shannon Hale's book got titled "Princess Academy". It's a title that doesn't really do the story justice, and neither does the cover. ... moreI would have liked some indication of the fabulous moving merchant-city that Cymbrel lives on, or images of some of the other characters in the story.Despite the inauspicious cover and title, the book was actually a very decent and entertaining read. I wound up liking Cymbrel much more than I expected to, and her honest observations and relationships with people feel more real and less "heroic epic" than some stories. This is a character I think middle grade readers will readily relate to and understand.Likewise the villains in the story are less outright evil villains and more people with their own motivations. There are some monsters to be dealt with and thoroughly unpleasant characters, but they all have their reasons and interests rather than being simply nasty for the heck of it. I'm not sure if Durbin plans to go further with this world--there's more than enough meat for another story, but the current story also wraps up nicely.
review 2: Delightful adaptation from the novella Durbin did in Cricket magazine. I really can now visualize the vast Thunder Rake and the characters(both new and old). The idea of a mechanized wagon city mixed with fair folk and magic really made for a lot of fun. I like how all the things came together at the end. Such examples as to the Curdlebree sisters, the cats, and other critters around the Rake. I like how Cymbril feels a sense of loyalty and dedication to helping her friends and (even her enemies at times). She may not likes some, but she wins even the haters' respects. Seems like more though could be said about Brigit's knowledge of our heroine, and the feared Lady Wildhair. Perhaps that part will be for another tale waiting to be told (a sequel maybe?). less

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