The Immortal Realm (Faerie Path, Book 4)
Grade 6–8—As this book begins, all seems right with the world: The Sorcerer King has been defeated, Tania has returned to Faerie with her human parents in tow, and Cordelia's wedding is underway. But a child falls ill and dies—a seeming impossibility in the immortal land of Faerie. Soon, as others become sick, it is evident that this is not just an isolated incident. Oberon puts the plague victims in an enchanted sleep that can only last as long as he has the strength to keep awake. It is assumed that Tania's parents carried the disease with them into the kingdom, and they are banished, and once again Tania must choose between Faerie and the Mortal World. Meanwhile she must seek the cause and cure of this illness if her kingdom is to survive. Readers with an idealistic notion of fantasy and faeries will be pleased with Jones's romantic depiction of this magical world, and those who have enjoyed the series up to this point will not be disappointed with this latest volume. However, the dialogue is self-conscious and reads like someone's idea of how fantasy should sound. Also, there are some places in which internal logic is abandoned. Ultimately this is a fun story with very little substance.—Heather M. Campbell, formerly at Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, COCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.