The Emerald Flame

Gr 6 Up—In medieval Britain, as the Saxon invaders are at war with Wales, Branwen ap Griffith is charged by the old gods, the Shining Ones, with the task of killing the one-eyed warrior and rescuing Caradoc, the god of the wind, to return him to the sacred cave of Merion. Together with her companions, including the part-owl, part-human woman Blodwedd, she fights her way through many dangers. Jones draws on the Welsh myths of the Mabinogion, although this may not be clear to readers. The absence of background notes, together with the use of ancient place-names such as Powys, Brython, and Mercia, may leave readers at a loss when it comes to understanding the historical context of the successive Saxon and Viking invasions of Britain, and the struggle of the local inhabitants against them. While this is a story full of action and rousing adventure, some of it fairly violent. There is also the theme of Branwen's allegiance to the old gods and her struggle with those Britons loyal to the new ones. However, there is no explanation of what this means or why there is such antipathy towards the old gods. The character of Branwen is adequately drawn, and there are some appealing interactions between her and her companions. A major plot twist at the climax is unexpected and nail-biting. However, there are some loose ends, suggesting the possibility of another sequel. Buy where the earlier volumes have been popular.—Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City