The Legend Begins

Carmody (The Gathering) presents the first installment of her saga starring a diminutive half elf-half troll. Little Fur lives in a wilderness in the middle of a large city-an enclave protected by the power of the Old Ones, seven ancient trees. Though humans have cut down many of the grove's ""singing trees"" for their roads and buildings, the Old Ones absorbed the ""earth magic"" that had flowed through the felled trees. Little Fur, a healer of animals and devotee of the ancient trees, is loathe to leave the wilderness for fear of losing touch with ""the flow of earth magic,"" yet realizes she must venture beyond this realm when her friend Crow brings news of humans who are secretly burning trees by night. To prevent the burning of the Old Ones and other trees, and to protect the flow of earth magic, Little Fur must search out an ancient power that is able to thwart the nefarious plan, hatched by the Troll King. Unfortunately, the tale's lumbering pace, unnecessary repetition and intermittently precious prose diminish the impact of Little Fur's quest. The volume's rather gimmicky packaging-a suede-like cover and a belt-like partial dust jacket-may capture kids' attention, but its contents (including amateurish line art) won't compel them to reach for Little Fur: A Fox Called Sorrow, due in February. Ages 6-12.