SECONDHAND CHARM

Berry’s romantic fantasy teems with action, suspense and a bit of boy-next-door romance. In her small village in the fictional Kingdom of Pylander, Evie Pomeroy enjoys a reputation as a healer. She longs to travel beyond her village and eventually become a physician. While the dashing King Leopold III is visiting the village, Evie saves the life of his chancellor of the exchequer and is rewarded with a full scholarship to the University. Most of the plot centers on Evie’s mishaps while traveling to the royal city and her role in thwarting a plot to assassinate the king. The story’s main appeal is the discovery that she is a serpentina, endowed with both healing powers and a magical protector called a leviathan, a sea-serpent–like creature that can alter its size and speak with her telepathically. Evie’s companion throughout is the handsome journeyman stonemason Aidan, whose interest in her will become more than friendship. A cast of strong secondary characters rounds out this mix of humor, light romance and mystery. An entertaining read—guaranteed. (Fantasy. 10-14)