Book Review: Farworld Water Keep

Farworld Water Keep
by J. Scott Savage

From the back cover:

Other people may see thirteen-year-old Marcus Karnenas as an outcast and a nobody, but he sees himself as a survivor and a dreamer. In fact, his favorite dream is of a world faraway, a world where magic is as common as air, where animals tell jokes and trees beg people to pick their fruit. He even has a name for this place—Farworld.

When Marcus magically travels to Farworld, he meets Kyja, a girl without magic in a world where spells, charms, and potions are everywhere, and Master Therapass, a master wizard who has kept a secret hidden for thirteen years, a secret that could change the fate of two worlds.

But the Dark Circle has learned of Master Therapass’s secret and their evil influence and power are growing. Farworld’s only hope is for Marcus and Kyja to find the mythical Elementals—water, land, air, and fire—and convince them to open a drift between the worlds.

As Kyja and Marcus travel to Water Keep, they must face the worst evil Dark Circle can throw at them—Summoners, who can command the living and the dead; Unmakers, invisible creatures that can destroy both body and soul; and dark mages known as Thrathkin S’Bae.

Along the way, Marcus and Kyja will discover the truth about their own heritage, the strength of their friendship, and the depths of their unique powers.

Marcus and Kyja both suffer from what their individual worlds would consider disabilities. Marcus has physical limitations while Kyja believes she has no magic.
They both feel out of place in their respective worlds, and like most teenagers, they desperately want to fit in. But they don’t. It’s because they don’t fit in that they can become such highly identifiable characters and the story is so powerful. I love that Savage showed two visibly flawed characters overcome their obstacles, find inner strength and courage, and work to save Farworld.

Savage creates an interesting and detailed world complete with scary, creepy characters. The Unmakers are just plain creepy.

Readers will definitely enjoy the trip through this fantastical world with the underlying message that we all have magic inside us.

Farworld Water Keep will be available in stores in September.

Learn more about the author, J. Scott Savage, and his other books.