Seeker by Arwen Dayton - ADVISABLE

Dayton, Arwen Elys Seeker, 435 pgs. Delacorte Press, 2015. $18.99. Language: PG (0 swears); Mature Content: R (drug use, prostitution); Violence: PG-13 (battles, graphic deaths). 

Tonight is the night. Quin, Shibonu and John have been training for years with Chin’s father, Briac, and Shibonu’s father, Alistair, to become Seekers, protectors of good people from harm. Generations of their families had taken the Seeker oath and now is their time. Once sworn, Quin and Shibonu realize that Briac has evilly twisted the purpose of Seekers. The keys to the Seekers’ power to travel through time and space are two tools: an athame and a lightning rod. John demands it to restore his family’s power, Briac will kill for it to use for evil and Quin has it. Can Quin and Shibonu restore the Seeker’s noble purpose and not be killed?

Gripping writing opens this book and the pace does not slow down. The book’s three main settings evokes three different sub-genres of fantasy: the training in Scotland – medieval/historical; Singapore – gritty realism; and London – Steam Punk with blimps. The weapons are futuristic and the fighting is graphic. A well done fantasy with a sequel, Traveler, due in spring of 2016.

HS – ADVISABLE. SGH – Librarian