The Valiant

Gr 8 Up—Livingston shifts genres from fantasy set in modern New York City, as in the "Wondrous Strange" trilogy, to historical fiction set in ancient Rome. Fallon, the younger daughter of a Celtic king, sets out on a revenge mission the night of her 17th birthday and is captured by slavers, who sell her to a training academy for female gladiators. As she deals with her new status and the expectation that she will fight (and possibly kill) as a form of entertainment for others, Fallon confronts her feelings about what it means to be a slave and a warrior. After a slow start and some predictable plot developments, the story gains momentum and continues in the dynamic style of the author's previous books. This engaging tale is woven with historical details relating to Celtic and gladiator life. With the exception of Decurion Caius Varro, who seems to fall instantly in love with Fallon, the characters and relationships are well developed. The ending is sudden and leaves a side plot unexplained, but this may be resolved in the planned sequel.