Review: Great Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 8, 2014
The Skinwalker's Apprentice is a great novel for fans of fantasy and the the supernatural. It got me highly excited for the upcoming series, and it is cool to have a prequel that actually comes before the actual books. The novella gives a taste of what will come, and I definitely enjoyed it. I mean, even the title is cool. Plus, I like my fair share of magic in reading.The dual point of views worked beautifully in the story, especially because of the difference in time between them. Margo's story added a bit of historical fiction, another genre that I can't get enough of.Margo is an excellent character, and it isn't only because she lives in the nineteenth century. She is smart, brave, and really cares about her family. She is a bit of an optimist, even when she isn't coming from the best of situations. All of these qualities are admirable and allow for easy connection to her as a character. In addition, Emerald was a great character. Much closer to modern times, she brought magic into our world.Although at times she seemed a bit self-absorbed, it only arose from her loyalty. She's a funny and witty teen rebel, which is always fun. Even the more minor characters of both storylines like Charlie and Goody stood out. (They also showed some diversity in YA, which is fabulous.)Despite both plotlines were enjoyable to read, I found myself getting more involved with Margo's story. It may have been because - in this novella, at least - the stakes of her chapters were higher. From when she started the apprenticeship, I kept reading, eager to find out what would happen next. Emerald - despite being a great character - had flat chapters in comparison. Another thing I loved about Margo's section is how dark it got. I've always been a fan of the dark side and it is awesome to be pleasantly surprised with the appearance of a good villain. Which this novella has. The whole idea of skinwalking on its own is so wonderfully horrific that the pages in which it was explained were my favorites of the novella. I loved getting this glimpse into the dark side of magic.The Skinwalker's Apprentice was an intriguing read to the finish, which was enough of a cliffhanger to keep me itching for the series to come. A good choice to satisfy the thirst for a fun fantasy with plenty of enchanting magic and darkness.