The Raie' Chaelia by Melissa Douthit

When Chalice sets off for Branbury in the middle of the night with her grandfather's instructions, she has no idea of the dangers that await her. The King's men have destroyed her home village of Canton and she is suddenly thrown into a Terravailian world that she does not know. Lost and alone, she is hard pressed to evade the iron grasp of the madman who rules the land. With the help of a friendly Chinuk, an old man, and a book that she discovers along the way, not only does she find true friends and true love, but she also finds her true self and what it means to be the Raie'Chaelia.

Goodreads Summary

The first quality the reader will notice about this novel is the fantasy world that is its setting.  There are kingdoms and magic, the author describes everything in full details; the reader can actually picture the scenes taking place.  The author also details the main character's flashbacks to her life before she lost her family, the reader won't be confused in this novel.

The main character is intelligent, brave, and caring.  She is very easy to get to know and like.  She picks up a few friends on the way to her destiny.  Jeremiah, a protective, kind soul, really appears to love Chalice.  Bunejab is amusing and the one who provides the comedic relief in the story.  Ben acts as a guide to Chalice.

The plot itself is very unique and inventive, perfect for the genre.  The events are fairly fast-paced, there is plenty of dialogue-almost too much.  The characters are the deciding factor for this novel, they can really pull a reader in.  This book is recommended to young adult/teen readers who enjoy fantasy.

4 Stars