Review:
"The heroes' personalities are defined by their harsh environments, but they reach beyond those limitations. Fantasy heroes who can save only themselves and their loved ones are a welcome change from the usual."-- (02/15/2011)
"Gee's writing is taut and visceral...The Limping Man, himself, is a unique and chilling figure. In him, Gee has succeeded in creating a memorable villain...Recommended."-- (02/25/2011)
"[A] thrilling stand-alone third volume...The Limping Man is a truly creepy villain, and Hana and Ben make an intelligent, daring pair."-- (03/01/2011)
"Gee's short sentences and plain, concrete names...give this the quality of myth or fable--which indeed it is, about the limitlessness of human greed for power, as well as the refreshing gentleness of an ego-less people who live cooperatively, and co-equally, with their environment. Strong--even topical--concepts and quick, vivid characterization, along with straightforward prose, make this dystopic trilogy accessible and engaging."-- (06/01/2011)
"Gee's dark descriptions come into play here and inform his narrative. It is not just the representation of evil (the Limping Man) but the evil itself...that must be dealt with. And Gee has his protagonists bring it all down with ragged cunning and dogged work on the side of justice."-- (04/01/2011)
"This series conclusion shares characters and history with Salt (2009) and Gool (2010, both Orca), but stands well on its own. As in earlier volumes, Gee deftly creates heroes, villains, and his unnamed world with spare brush strokes. In particular, he offers a humble heroine to whom readers may easily relate. This book should please fans of the earlier books as well as readers who enjoy characters who succeed by virtue of their heads and hearts."-- (08/01/2011)
"Fans of the dystopian series and genre will devour this quick read."--Tri-State YA Book Review Committee (09/01/2011)
From the Back Cover:
Hana ran through the broken streets of Blood Burrow. The smell of burning followed, sliding into her mouth as she gulped for air. It was as damp as toads. She would never wash herself free of it, and never stop hearing the women scream or wipe out the memory of the Limping Man. "Mam," she cried as she ran. Mam's smiling face, her shrewd eyes and careful hands, Mam bringing food and finding shelter and teaching her, always teaching, and always loving and always there-and Mam who had swallowed frogweed and was dead. The Limping Man holds all who come near him in his psychic web, making them bow down and serve his cruel will. When Hana's mother chooses to swallow poison rather than die in the great witch-burning in People's Square, Hana flees the burrows before she too is taken. Deep in the forest she meets Ben, son of Lo, and together they set out on a dangerous quest to destroy the Limping Man before his evil consumes the world. But first they must discover the secret of his power.
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