Pretty good middle grade fantasy, lots about animals and morals. I dunno, just kind of fell off at the end for me, a little unbelievable ( )

I love Linda Sue Park's historical fiction, but I just can't get into her fantasy novels. I think kids would probably enjoy this book, but I can't get past the writing. Something's off for me. Maybe it's too simplistic. The character's don't feel authentic. I like to feel like I'm in the book and it requires good writing to do that.

The book is about a family of apothecaries who make potions to heal people and animals. Raffa and his cousin Garith are always competing to be the better apprentice. Garith gets his chance to shine when his father accepts a position as Chief Apothecary in the city. Raffa's father thinks they can do more good in the small village where they live.

When Raffa finds an elusive red vine with special healing properties in the woods, he's amazed to realize that it has the capability of making animals talk. The first animal he heals is a bat that becomes his pet, but he learns that if it isn't used properly it can have dangerous effects, so he sets off for the city to warn Garith.

When Raffa meets up with his uncle and cousin, he gets the opportunity to exhibit his apothecary talents for the Chancellor. Once he realizes that the animals are being used as a defense weapon, he decides that he can't use his talents to mistreat animals. It's going to be up to him and his new friends to intervene for the animals.

A decent book for kids who like animal fantasy. ( )

A wonderful book for those kids that like the Hunter series but this is definitely a first in the series and begs for the second installment. ( )

My affection for talking animal characters started with Manchee in Patrick Ness's The Knife of Never Letting Go. Parks has given me another character to love: Echo the bat. Can't wait to read the next installment in this MG series. ( )