Review: Another success from Posner!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 8, 2012
This latest installment in The School of the Ages series hits the ground running!  Simon and Goldberry both face life threatening situations from the very start. Posner shares more of the history for Simon and his family as well as the Tinker's and Archer's families and connection. We find new friends as well as new enemies, all the while getting more in depth with some of the other characters we've come to know and love. Corby Crow is sarcastic as ever, Avery kicks some serious ass and Robbie shows his "romantic" side.In a fight for their lives Simon and Goldberry, along with their friends and teachers, must face off against their most formidable adversary yet. When the threat is revealed friendship and trust are tested, lives are lost and changed, forever. When the dust settles who will be left standing? Will the sacrafices that are made along the way be worth it in the end?What I love most about Posners writing is his ability to bring so many diverse characters, cultures and beliefs together in his story and make them all realistic and relatable.I have described this series in the past as Harry Potter but, not. The magic is mind/body/soul not with wands but Simon, much like Harry, is very young and brilliant; and forced into dark situations with dire consequences, putting not only his life but the lives of his family and friends at stake. Recently reading another review for this series I saw it described as YA LOTR.. I'd have to agree with this summation as well. I was reminded of a line from LOTR while reading this book "Courage Merry, Courage for ourselves, Courage for our friends." It could have been a line for Simon and Dr. Archer.I give this book 5/5; another success from Posner!  If you liked Harry Potter and Lord Of The Rings, you are bound to love this series as well.  But that's just my two cents................