Windleaf

The author of Child of Faerie, Child of Light serves up profoundly satisfying fantasy for fans of the genre. Here, 18-year-old Count Thierry of Forretterre rescues the young lady Glinfinial from a hillside beset with violent lightning during a mysterious thunderstorm. Sherman's readers, unlike Thierry, will immediately suspect that Glinfinial is in fact a princess of Faerie. The subsequent adventures--describing how young Count Thierry must rescue his lady love from the magical snares of the Lord of Faerie--are also heavily and recognizably steeped in the lore of Faerie. However, Sherman's vigorous narrative drive, her fascination with the deep forest which figures so prominently in her conclusion and her dry wit raise this novel to fresh levels of reading pleasure and originality. Ages 12-up. (Nov.)