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| Image from Goodreads |
Gallego Garcia, Laura. The Valley of the Wolves. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2006. 247 p. $16.99. 0-439-58553-8.
*translated into English by Margaret Sayers Peden
Dana has grown up on a farm with a very large family, and yet has always felt very alone. Her strange friendship with a boy that only she can see has prevented her from forming relationships with those around her. Still, with Kai, her unusual friend, by her side, she is happy enough with her lot in life. However, when it becomes apparent that Dana has an aptitude for magic, she is whisked away to a faraway academy of sorcery known as The Tower, and begins her training to become a maga. She moves through her lessons with grace, and she steadily gains confidence in her talents. The mystery of Kai's origins still elude her, and she becomes even more curious when she is visited by the image of a powerful female sorcerer who comes to her with a request. In her efforts to learn more about her visions, she may find out more than she originally bargained for.
The Valley of the Wolves is a fast-paced tale of magic with a strong focus on friendship, the love we have for those closest to us, and what we will do to protect them. There are few typographical inconsistencies in an otherwise smooth translation, but readers will nonetheless wait with anticipation to find out Kai's secret origins, Dana's true magical ability, and the loyalties of the mysterious Maestro and Fenris, her fellow student of sorcery. The magical atmosphere is not alarmingly present in the text, but those looking for a Hogwartsian setting may be pleasantly surprised.
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