Rue just keeps surprising me. Flynn, Hazel and Po totally charmed me in Book 1. Flynn, heir to her mother’s position as High Priestess, has finally come into her magical powers. But she is impulsive so needs her ever loyal friend Hazel to try to keep her out of trouble. Notice I said “try” as sometimes neither Hazel nor Flynn’s falcon Oturu can manage Flynn. And sweet Po realizes that he is totally smitten with Hazel and is making her something special. But there’s a new guy in the kingdom that has caught Hazel’s eye.

At the end of Book 2 Flynn battled with bad girl Magdalena. Flynn sustained an injury that has consequences throughout Book 3. As the ultimate battle between light and shadow near, Flynn, only a young girl, feels the tension. She knows only she can fight this battle. Only she can reunite the kingdom.

I wish I could get inside Rue’s mind to learn how she develops this imaginary world and makes it so vivid for the reader. This is a world with moas (flightless birds, like you saw in “Avatar”), falcons that communicate with their handlers, and faeries. Oh, how I love spunky Zip. And of course there has to be an old witch – Pounamu, who is a good witch. But there are plenty of evil ones lurking around. Like the previous books, these are great for Middle School age and a greatly light entertaining read for adults.

Now, bring on Book 4! ( )