Title: Grades 5-8 deserve better
Product review: I read this book in advance copy quite awhile ago and was surprised to find that it was actually published, considering how thoroughly wretched it is. Each character is as flat as a cardboard cutout from a comic shop fantasy display, and the dialogue is muddled at best. The plot seems to be some kind of take on "The Pied Piper" padded out with completely pointless action scenes that do nothing to either advance the plot or breathe some life into the protagonists. There is the occasional glint of genuine humor (I can only think of one right now) but these moments are generally buried under what feels to be the trappings of a confused D&D; game inexplicably turned into a book.If you're in the age group this book is marketed at, take my advice: read Terry Brooks, David Eddings, or Kristen Britain and then work your way into more challenging material. Heck, even that Eragon book is better than this.
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