Friday, December 10, 2010

Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell

On the same day that Kelsa buries her father, she encounters a strange boy named Raven. Raven is a shapeshifting spirit who needs her help. The earth is suffering from a deadly tree virus and can only be healed by a human with special magic. Kelsa is not sure she is the right person for the job, but agrees to go with him because staying home with her depressed mother doesn't sound any better. So Kelsa and Raven set out on a long road trip, complete with amazing sights, an angry biker gang, and a little self-discovery.

At the start, this book was good. It captured my interest and introduced me to the poor, hurting Kelsa. I liked the mostly average world, with innovative bits such as floating cars and com pods subtly thrown in. Surprisingly futuristic and yet very understated. Kelsa had a tricky relationship with her mom that most teen girls will be able to identify with. However, as the novel went on, the plot became rather tedious. There were magical elements added that didn't make any sense and yet Kelsa was perfectly accepting of them and seemed to know exactly what to do. The long chapters created little time to relax from being chased and made for a tiresome read. And Raven's constant bashing of humans killing the earth felt too preachy to be enjoyable. I would have been willing to overlook some of the hard-pressed message if there was something redeemable in Raven, like a love interest. But there was none. This may make reader's turn away from the story early, but those who read to the end will find an exciting, action-packed ending.

Overall Rating: 3 Stars

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