3 out of 4 stars
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This book lives and breathes words! Puns abound in this well-written children's fantasy novel. The War of Words by Amy Neftzger is the third book in the Orphanage of Miracles series, a fact I wasn't aware of at first. Although each book in the series can be read on its own, the books do involve the same central characters throughout. Since I haven't read the previous books in the series, it took me awhile to get into the story. In addition, there is hardly any background to what happened in the previous two books, thing which muddied the waters a bit.
Enter a world where magic is real, words are the real source of power, and truth can make a difference. The book is set in a fantasy realm, and the reader is plunged right into the middle of a conflict against an evil sorcerer. A kingdom is under a spell of confusion, a spell that prevents the people from seeing reality clearly, and only the truth will set it free, literary. A power-mad evil sorcerer is hell-bent on conquering the kingdom, and his weapons of choice are distorted words and shadows fighters. Our young protagonists Kelsey, the youngest officer in the king's army, Nicholas, a young sorcerer in training, and their friends must thwart his evil machinations to save the kingdom from doom. The story follows their quest for truth and freedom.
This is a good book for younger readers. It's got talking animals, a living gargoyle (my favorite character), children protagonists, an evil sorcerer, an enchanted maze, adventures galore, and clash between good and evil. The author takes what could have been a straightforward tale of the fight of good versus evil, and turns it into something more - a lesson in self-discovery and acceptance of the darkness that lives inside us all. There's also an overarching theme of the allure of power and the responsibility that comes with great power.
The story had a slow beginning for me, and I wished it had gone at faster pace in some scenes. The plot gets bogged down at times from an excess of dialogs and repetitions of words. Also some of the characters felt a bit underdeveloped due to lack of sufficient backstory, so I found it difficult to relate to them at first. That aside, I found the synopsis original and creative, and the book was fairly easy to follow along. Although I struggled a bit through the first half, I loved the second part. Everything flowed better in the second half, the plot moved full steam ahead, and I couldn't put the book down. The world-building is fairly good, and it is as intriguing as its occupants. The book is packed with unforgettable characters and moral messages, and the author weaves vivid images and important life lessons into this whimsical tale.
Overall it was a fun read which I enjoyed, so I rate it three out of four stars. Under Amy Neftzger’s deft touch the unbelievable becomes believable. Talking animals, words turned into weapons, a scar showing emotions, all seem perfectly plausible. I enjoyed the clever use in the story of words and puns, and found the whole thing original and refreshing. I would recommend this book for grade school children and young adults. It is fun, quirky, innocent and highly original tale.
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The War of Words
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