Singer in the Snow

SINGER IN THE SNOW by

Category: Fantasy

Age Recommendation: Grades 9+

Release Date: 10/20/05

Publisher: Viking

Reviewed by:

Rating: 5 Stars

In this inventive and well-told fantasy, Marley creates a world bound by ice and snow, where the daily ritual of quirna

is all

that keeps its residents from death. Those who create the ritual are called Singers, their ability to channel their

Gift - a psionic

power - and create warmth carefully trained at the Conservatory before they are sent out into greater

society to serve. Emle

is training to be a Singer, but while her technical skills are perfect, she can't control her psionic

power. Frustrated and angry

at the unreliability of her gift, she wonders what she'll do with her life if she can't become

a full Singer.

When she's sent to a holding named Tarus to help interpret for Mreen, a new Cantrix with a great gift but without the

ability

to speak, it may be her last chance to master her gift. The novel deftly switches between Emle's point of view,

and her

struggles to not be jealous of Mreen's greater gift, and that of Mreen, as she struggles with the great

responsibility placed on

her shoulders in assuming her new position at Tarus, and with her shame over the

circumstances of her birth. When Emle and

Mreen arrive at Tarus they step right into a difficult situation with the

apprentice hrussmaster, Luke, who is trying to protect

his little sister, Gwin, from their abusive stepfather.

Marley unfolds a story that is rich with internal conflict, as each of her characters has to discover their own strength

and path

in life, and yet keeps a quick pace. Not strongly action-oriented, her novel is more about her characters and

the decisions

they face. By focusing on three central characters she can touch on many of the themes of adolescence;

searching for

meaning, struggling with the new responsibilities of adulthood, and knowing when to stand up for

yourself, thus giving readers

a lot they can relate to. Though this book is set in a world she has written in before, it can

be read on its own even if you

haven't read the others in the series.

Singer in the Snow
by Louise Marley