THE JEWELS OF VALONIA

Gareth and Rachel are 12-year-old twins whose sibling rivalry and bickering is perfectly captured by narrator Karen Savage. The annoyance and indignation so innate to “tweens” comes through loud and clear in a fantasy that has Arthurian legends colliding with contemporary country life in England. The children’s journey through space and time leads to their discovery of their true destiny and a family history they never knew. Although Savage relies on her vocal abilities alone to create each character, in the final moments of the story a special effect is used for Argante, the Lady of the Lake. Rather than being jarring, it works perfectly to sustain the mood the author has created. G.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2012]