MASSON, Sophie The Crystal Heart Random House, 2014 313pp $18.99 pbk ISBN 9780857982070 SCIS 1666646
Kasper Bator is honoured to become a tower guard; the elite force dedicated to preventing the escape of a powerful witch. When he learns the identity of the witch he is forced to choose between keeping his promise to his country or staying true to his own morals. Along the way he falls in love and learns about betrayal and sacrifice.
This gently paced and enjoyable fantasy-love story is set across two rival kingdoms. Chapters alternate between Kasper and Izolda, the princess of a rival kingdom. The story does meander quite a bit as the love of the characters unfolds, but when things begin to go awry it is interesting to see the alternate viewpoints of each character. Unlike some books with alternating points of view, there are still surprises to be revealed as the story develops. Recommended for secondary readers.
Teacher’s Resources are available on the publisher’s website.
reviewed by Christian West
