Into Battle (2001)

Like the rest of the Seventh Tower series, this is good, quick-paced fun. It's aimed at a younger reading level than anything else I've read by Garth Nix, so I read the whole book in something like forty minutes, but that's kind of nice, sometimes.

It's a bit of a rushed book, though, I think. Tal and Milla are apart for the whole book, so the fun of their interactions is out, and I felt like it totally sped through some really interesting parts. I'm not entirely pleased with Tal and Milla both becoming such important people, either: they're both muddling through, so at least there's that realism, but it seems like a bit too much of a jump.

At least Milla is still her fierce, awesome self, for the most part. ( )

Sustained action rising toward a crescendo
- A little more emotional depth would better match the characters' growing maturity

The fifth in the series. Tal must go to Aenir to enlist the Empress's help, and Milla must lead the Icecarls into the Chosen enclave. The Freefolk, an unknown quantity, nicely complicate their missions and goals.

The action generally alternates between Tal and Milla's stories as each races to complete daunting tasks. The pace is a bit more frenetic and chapters often close on a cliffhanger. Both protagonists come into their own more fully, and the association with the Freefolk suggests what I hope will happen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which is that privileged protagonists must empathize with and promote justice for their society's underclass.
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I can't wait to read the conclusion to this series. Battle is joined and all parties are beginning their end game. Tal embarks on his chosen path to free the Keystone guardians, Milla leads her people in a war against the Shadows, the Freefolk aids the Icecarls to gain freedom from the Chosen and free-willed Shadows invade the Castle. How will it end ? Can the Icecarls and Chosen learn to work together ? Will Tal's mother be able to pass on his message to Milla in time ? How much time do they have before the Veil fails ? Can they restore it ? These and many questions beg to be answered. Into Battle is certainly an exciting read. ( )

One of the elements of writing in this genre that Nix is particularly gifted at is creating original fantasies and worlds. This series is no exception. However, in comparison to some of his other works, especially The Abhorsen Trilogy, the exploration of this world and the characters within is weak at best. The story is interesting because Nix presents the audience with a new mythology, but he rushes through the plot, circumnavigating what could be some really amazing explorations of the world he’s created. As a result, it’s more difficult to imagine this parallel universe and its characters and creatures, and it doesn’t draw the reader in nearly as much as it could.This series breaks one large story into several books, and since each of these is easily around the high 100s and low 200s in page length, Nix could have spent more time giving description, metaphors, and poetic/aesthetic language to flush this world out. This would make everything significantly more engaging for the readers, and ultimately, foster growth and interest in the books, the fantasy, the world, and the characters therein. Ultimately, there’s just nothing to bite into.-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com ( )