The Night of the Solstice

A not particularly distinguished volume of "young siblings save world" plot, with 3 sisters and a brother, who are brought in to rescue a sorceress who can keep the evil sorcerer from destructive word domination. Good on them. The sisters show some distinctions of personality and a bit of development, the brother is a cypher. There is an amusing sequence when they find the sorceress.

For a teen fantasy novel that was published originally in 1987 this novel does a fair job of sounding like it was written much more recently. It has a similar tone to many of the teen fantasy novels that have flooded the market in the last couple of years, even though it refrains from containing any latent romantic themes and focuses instead on protagonists who are brother and sisters. Having been re-released after the success of the Vampire Diaries tv series (and re-release of the novels) this book is sure to bridge some of the teen readers who love vampire romance novels into the fantasy genre.

Really enjoyed this and looking forward to reading more in this series. I find LJ Smith's books a bit hit-and-miss but this is nice - different storyline from most, and interesting. It held my attention all the way through once I'd passed the beginning. Recommended to any who likes children's adventure stories or magic!

The problem with reading books intended for younger audiences is that it can be very hard to put ones mind back to the age group the book is intended for. As such, my adult mind was saying things like, "They actually expect the 'doll under the bedcovers' trick to actual fool parents?" and, "Does anyone not know how to solve that trick/riddle/game?" at regular intervals while reading Night of the Solstice.

The writing style was nothing special. It didn't stand out as particularly amazing or particularly bad. However, that wasn't necessarily a drawback, as sometimes with books the writing style can actually detract from enjoyment of the story being told, whether the style is good or bad, and in this case I could just move with the words show more and see the story unfold instead of being wowed or disgusting with phrasing or horrible copyediting. Not sure if that's a bonus. Let's call it a neutral point, but still one worth commenting on.

The story itself was quite interesting. A group of siblings discover that magic is real and that they need to save a sorceress in order to stop a bunch of people from another world punching through the fabric between worlds and causing all kinds of chaos. Not sparkling original, I'll grant you, but still fun, and there are a thousand and one ways that story can be told in an entertaining fashion. Mixing some Celtic mythology, the hidden history of this world, and playing around with some fantasy elements to make a creative and interesting setting was pretty well done here, and I like the effect. The world the children end up in isn't overly analyzed or picked apart, it isn't glorified or put down. It just is. And so much was glossed over because of the pressing needs of the questing kids, but that in itself lends a bit more magic to the Wildworld. You can't help but wonder what you're not seeing.

For those who enjoy a good mid-grade fantasy, or for those who have or who know children who'd enjoy a good epic fantasy quest, I do recommend this book. For most, though, this book is a take-it-or-leave-it kind of book. It kills some time on the bus, but ultimately my life wasn't changed by reading it.

Won't stop me from reading the sequel, though! show less

I actually really liked this book. The story is simple, but the characters are very likable. It makes a good/easy read. I recommend for elementary or middle school aged.

The Good Stuff

* Magic, sorcerers, flying serpents, talking foxes and lots of adventure!
* Intriguing bad guys/gals
* Wonderfully real and interesting characters
* You won't want to put it down
* Reminded me a little of Lion Witch and Wardrobe without the religious imagery. Not really the story but the way the children worked together. Very real sibling relationships.
* Fantastic opening that really grabs your attention and draws you into the story
* Looking forward to the next book in the series "Heart of Valor"
* Great epic fantasy quest for the younger set

The Not so Good Stuff

* A wee bit predictable, but just a wee bit
* Again irritated by the fact that the parents are useless and out of touch

Favorite Quotes/Passages

"Yes, you! Why show more do you think I have wasted all this time recounting the history of Wildfolk? For my own amusement? I need help, and you four have able bodies and fair to middling minds. Or so I thought."



"You are responsible for what will happen to you next, you are the creator of your own future."

"Do you think Morgana would let me trade in my Kryptonite for a dirt bike?"

What I Learned

* That I would love the ability to talk to animals
* I much prefer YA fantasy novels to those written for adults

Who should/shouldn't read

* Pretty much anyone who likes to lose themselves in a story
* The darkness/violence may be a little much for younger readers
* Thinking my neighbors daughter is going to love this

4 Dewey's show less

nyeaa..it was just alright..i just couldnt help but get somewhat irritated every once in a while because the main characters didn't seem believable to me..compared to the kind of books i've read in the same genre and age bracket, this one appears to still have a lot of catching up to do..the kids are so hopeless most of the time and their adventures on the other side of the mirror were so tame and short...the author didnt seem able to properly convey the nuances of whatever situation the kids were in..however, that notwithstanding..i'm still willing to give it another go by continuing to read the sequel to this, in the hopes that it might improve..but i still cant help but feel that these books were written out of an attempt at creating show more a moneyspinner, rather than from the passion of adventure.. i'm sorry if it seems harsh, but there it is..thats my two cents show less