The Beast of Noor

THE BEAST OF NOOR by

Category: Paranormal

Age Recommendation: Grades 6+

Release Date: 7/11/06

Publisher: Atheneum

Reviewed by:

Rating: 5 Stars

Miles and Hanna Ferrell live in the country in Ennes Isle, just outside of Shalm Wood. Miles wants nothing more in life

than

to go to Othlore and be trained in magic. He's been studying with the Falconer, but he feels like his teacher is

holding him

back more than he's helping. If only the Falconer would teach Miles a few spells... Hanna just desperately

wants to feel

normal and safe. But between her different colored eyes, the legend surrounding her family, and

especially since the return of

the Shriker, it doesn't look like normal or safe are in Hanna's future.

Stranded in a cave to escape a surprise storm, Grandpa tells them again the legend of the Shriker. He tells them how

the

Shriker used to be a brave and faithful dog, until he ways betrayed by his own master and cursed by death himself.

Now, as

the Shriker, he hunts human prey every full moon. The master who betrayed him, Rory Sheen, happens to be

an ancestor of

Miles and Hanna. Now that he's back the brother and sister won't be safe in the village, and no one is

safe in the woods

once the sun goes down.

When Miles tries to take matters into his own hands, things get more than a little out of control. Suddenly it's up to

Hanna to

save him. Hanna was always the quiet one. The one who stood back and let Miles handle things. The one

who asked for

the happy tales by the fire, because the others scared her too much. Now, she's right in the middle of

the scariest one of

all, and if she ever wants to see her brother again she'll need to find a lot of inner strength, and

quickly.

This is a great, creepy, interesting tale. I don't know how comfortable I would be hearing it at a fire on a dark night.

Granted, I'm a big wimp, but that's only part of the point. It's scary enough for those who are looking for that, but it's

also a

great story, which is what good legends are. There's a fair amount of fantasy, a little magic, personal discovery,

even a

sweet little love story woven in. There's a little bit of something for everyone. Perfect for a stormy, foggy night,

curled up

with hot chocolate, warm and safe in your house.

The Beast of Noor
by Janet Lee Carey