I, Spirit Kin

Frances Evlin

7/15/2004

Review by Molly

Upon the death of his parents by the gray clads, Gage son of Allett is driven from his childhood home. Despite his SpiritKin ethic of non-violence, Gage pledges to hunt down his parents' murderers and kill them. As a half breed Spiritkin/Solith he is no longer welcome in the Solith township. Gage possesses the unprecedented and singular capacity for reading lights/auras, effect the behavior of animals, and can set fires with his mind.

Taking the last of pencyls to the local lord, Gage is not surprised to be cheated on the price, but what can he do? Setting out alone he hopes to reach the homeland of his mother and find acceptance. Before long Earl Randle appears and Gage is given the care of the two foster sons of the royal. Daveith and Breen prove to be a bit of handful for the courageous Gage. At last the village is located and the boys are hidden from the gray clads. But trouble continues to follow them.

The death of Daveith is a blow to Breen and Gage before the pair join forces to help train local unskilled men in the art of warfare. War is not an option, the gray clads leave no alternative. A well with a secret hiding place, attacks, ships loaded with combatants, and dogs who carry messages all figure in the tale. A springtime visit to Earl Randle at Merrestone Manor offers a pleasant surprise as does the realization that a supposed fellow combatant is not all as first appears. A royal marriage and the birth of royal twins bring happiness to a lonely pair.

On the pages of I, SpiritKin, writer Frances Evlin has crafted a fascinating tale filled with magik, challenging experiences, craftiness, treachery and forceful motivations. The reader is drawn into the tale from the opening lines when Gage is forced out of his home. Reader interest is maintained right down to the last paragraphs when the war is won and life can at last become quiet owing to the excellent choice of words, milieu and story line offered by talented writer Evlin.

Evlin's characters portrayed in I, SpiritKin are absorbing, well fleshed, and plausible. The amicable are likeable folk the reader will cheer on to victory and the unlikeable are ones the reader will enjoy detesting, cheering against and dismiss in defeat. Reader interest is held fast in this finely crafted tale set against a backdrop of sights, fragrance and action of mediaeval days.

A sure winner for the target audience of young adult to adult aficionados of 'moderate' fantasy. The tale has enough action to satisfy most, but does not contain the gory or dark of the darker venues. Excellent choice for middle to high school level libraries, home library and gift for readers aged 13-older who possess good reading skills and enjoyment for a gripping tale well told.

You can find more about this book at The Writer's Exchange .