1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
On the spell-crossed Phaer Isle, teenage Xemion dreams of being a great swordsman. When he finds a blade-shaped stick, he fashions it to look like a real sword. Knowing that the laws of their cruel Pathan conquerors would require a death sentence for possession of such an object, his friend Saheli demands he destroy it. He agrees, but insists on performing just one sword ceremony. When his mastery of the weapon, a skill long forgotten, is witnessed by a mysterious man named Vallaine, the two friends are invited to join a planned rebellion. At first they refuse, but when a sadistic official discovers their transgressions, they are forced to flee their home and embark on a dangerous journey to the ruins of the ancient city of Ulde, where rebel forces are gathering.
Armed with only their wits and the painted sword, they face Thralls, Triplicants, dragons, rage-wraiths, and a host of other spell-crossed beings. As they approach the Great Kone, source of all spell-craft, Saheli's fear of magic and Xemion's attraction to it bind them in a crossed spell of their own — one that threatens to separate the two forever.
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
July 26, 2014 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781459708280
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781459708280
- File size: 638 KB
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Accessibility
No publisher statement provided -
Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 1, 2014
Gr 8 Up-This novel is set in the thoroughly fantastical world on Phaer Isle, home of Xemion and Saheli. Xemion sets a series of events in motion when he pretends that a stick-shaped sword is real and executes a long-forgotten, and outlawed, sword ceremony, which his friend Saheli (a girl), witnesses. When the wrong person also witnesses this ceremony, Xemion and Saheli, along with a few others, flee to the city of Ulde, where rebel forces are conveniently also gathering. Convenient plot mechanicisms aside, readers may find that the pacing of The Paper Sword is uneven-at times furious and at times languorous for the lavish world-building and character flashbacks. Only Xemion is well developed in this first book of a series; Saheli, while a main character, remains essentially a mystery. Where Priest excels is in his stellar construction of this visionary world and his enviable, sophisticated writing style. One almost forgets the confusing plotlines, especially toward the end of the book-almost.-Amanda C. Buschmann, Atascocita Middle School, Humble, TX
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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