Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com

Sixth-grader David Stanhope and his eighth-grade sister, Amanda, are reluctantly going to spend summer vacation in a broken down cabin in the woods. They live in a suburb of Chicago, and they would really rather not go to the cabin, but they are resigned to make the best of it. As they search the attic to gather their camping gear, they run across an old trunk that bears investigation. The trunk produces family heirlooms, and among them is a wonderful ruby pendant. The kids' mom, Susan, puts the necklace on, but then when she tries to take it off, it sticks to her forehead; David, Amanda, and Susan are instantly transported to a strange new world inhabited by creatures they have never before seen.

They discover that they are in Abraxas, which is a different world that exists parallel to their own earth, or Terra, as the Abraxans call it. It seems that many years ago the two worlds were one, but were split apart. They meet the rulers of Abraxas, and discover that they share mutual ancestors.

An evil magician named Adrian the Deceiver needs their ruby to complete the Stones of Abraxas...five gems having magical powers and held together by a golden shield that will give him the power he needs to rule both worlds. He is prepared to employ extreme measures in an attempt to recover the jewel. David and Amanda are the only hope of Abraxas and Terra keeping the ruby from Adrian and his horde of magicians with their evil agenda.

K. Osborn Sullivan has invented a medieval-like world in this riveting fantasy that is populated with compelling, fully-developed characters. The centaurs are among my favorites, but all of the characters have personalities that shine through. STONES OF ABRAXAS is a very entertaining story, and you will want to come back to it again and again. It will leave you wanting to read more about this exciting fantasy world. Watch for HEROES OF ABRAXAS, book two in the Abraxas Pentagram, coming soon! ( )

http://www.sfreader.com/read_review.asp?book=1209 ( )