The Legend of Aranrhad

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Category:	Fiction
Author:	Geoff Anderson
Publisher:	ideas4writers
Price:	£6.99
ISBN:	9780950111610
Pages:	248
Reviewed in issue:	7

This spiritual thriller for teens is more exciting and better written than The Da Vinci Code. The plot is more plausible as a convincing back story has been thought out, and is referred to in the text. The characters are well-drawn and we feel immediate empathy for Carys, the main character. There is a touch of irony here and there, and the full-of-fun Bethany brings a welcome relief from the heavier elements of this story.

If there are any faults, one which Anderson’s story shares with Dan Brown’s, is that perhaps the action takes place in too short a time period. The readers may like a slower build up and more time to savour the mystery. Occasionally, also, the language slips and the characters do not speak in their true voices. The narrative voice occasionally addresses an adult rather than the child for whom the story is written. Not to worry, Harry Potter occasionally does the same, and that has done JK Rowling no harm.

Anderson continues to imitate the rich and famous by weaving as skilfully as Rowling into his story several references to legend and religious books. The theology of the piece is convincing. The cover is suitably dark and mysterious, and the picture entirely relevant to the plot.

This book retails at £6.99, which is perfectly acceptable for a book which is 248 pages long. I hope there will be another one out soon.

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