By Marianne Curley, 2005

ISBN 0747574332

Grade 7-9-A sequel to The Named (Bloomsbury, 2002), with ample introductions to characters and plot developments from that book. Lathenia controls the forces of the dark while her brother, Lorian, fights with the Named, nine ordinary humans with extraordinary gifts, to stop her. In this book, Arkarian, one of the most powerful of the Named, has been abducted and imprisoned by Lathenia in the furthest reaches of the Underworld.

Isabel and Ethan, ordinary high school students by day and Guardians of Time by night, decide to attempt a rescue, joined by Isabel's brother Matt, newly Named but still untested and untrained in any special gift. Meanwhile, various combinations of the Named carry out several missions, visiting medieval France to protect the child who will become Arkarian's mother, and ancient Rome to prevent injury to Octavius, future emperor. Plot action dominates this story, with awkward attempts to add romance to the tangled relationships among the main characters.

The novel is poorly written, with sentence fragments and awkward constructions popping up throughout. There is an incongruous use of knees and fists by characters who can send energy bolts from their fingertips, but it does give Isabel ample practice in using her gift of healing power on all the broken bones and bleeding wounds. Ultimately, several loose ends are tied up, but new questions arise that will presumably be addressed in the next installment of this series.

There is enough action and excitement here to keep nondiscriminating readers involved, but little else. Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.

All rights reserved. Gr. 7-12.

In this sequel to The Named (2002), Isabel and Ethan, two of the Named sworn to fight the time-disrupting Order of Chaos, continue to battle against their nemesis. They are joined in this story by Isabel's brother, Matt, who is new to the secret Guardians of Time. The mission of the trio is to find their kidnapped mentor, Akarian, who has been sent to the underworld, a nightmarish realm full of bizarre creatures and unknown dangers.

As in the previous novel, there is plenty of swashbuckling action with lively, believable characters who wrestle with their consciences as they face tough decisions about friendship, loyalty, and commitment. Matt's struggle to adjust to the difficult life of a Guardian makes for an intriguing subplot. The story stands well on its own, but readers familiar with the first book will appreciate this imaginative, suspenseful novel even more.

Ed Sullivan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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