Fun, imaginative fantasy with an unusual world and unique characters. ( )

This is the first book in the Farwalker’s Quest trilogy. It ended up being a good fantasy story that starts out a bit slow and then ends a bit slow. I did enjoy the characters and some of the events that happened in the middle. Nothing is really resolved in this book though. Honestly I didn't care enough about the story to continue reading this series.

This book is set in a post-apocalyptic world that has a very traditional fantasy feel to it. At the age of thirteen kids take a test to find out what their lifelong devotion will be. For example you could be a Treesinger (talk to trees to learn info) or a Healtouch (a healer and caretaker). Ariel is desperate to be a Healtouch like her mother, but none of that matters after two strangers kidnap her over an ancient dart device she finds.

I thought the whole story started out really slow and was pretty bored. The friendship between Zeke and Ariel is cute but their town-life is kind of lackluster. Things pick up pace a bit once Ariel is kidnapped and I enjoyed this part of the story. In this portion Ariel finds out more about what she is and how to use her abilities. However the ending was pretty slow again and I ended up just wanting the book to be done.

There’s a lot in here about friendship and family and using your resources wisely. This book is just the start of the adventure, nothing is really resolved by the end. To be honest by the end I just didn’t care enough about the story or characters that I even really wanted to know more.

Overall this is an okay book with some interesting elements. The backstory to the world is interesting and some of the abilities the characters have are also intriguing. The pace of the story is a bit slow and I was disappointed in how little was actually resolved in this book. I would tentatively recommend this to fans of adventure fantasy. This is one that kids may like more than adults. ( )

Ariel and her best friend, Zeke, are ready for Namingfest, a day when they choose one of the twelve trades and are tested to become an apprentice. When Ariel and Zeke find a telling dart, a long-lost magical artifact from the past once used to send messages, they decide to try to figure out how it works on their own. Before they can determine its message, however, two Finders appear in search of the dart, and they are forced to hand it over. Ariel, however, has a feeling the dart is meant for her, and unfortunately, so do the Finders. When she fails her Namingday test to be a Healtouch, they are sure that Ariel has another purpose, one linked to the telling dart, and they kidnap her. With Zeke secretly tracking the party, Ariel‰ÃƒÂ›Ã‚ªs quest to find the source of the dart and her true purpose has begun.

I enjoyed this one. The characters are all well-rounded and believable, and one of the strengths of the book is how Ariel, Zeke, and Ariel‰Ûªs self-appointed taciturn protector, Scarl, come together as a close-knit group. Scarl ended up being my favorite character, actually, because of his complexity (and what a well-suited name for him, too). Ariel‰Ûªs world also has an imaginative history. It‰Ûªs a world struggling to find itself again after a terrible blinding disease that crippled several generations in the past, and as such, much of the old knowledge is lost. There are forces that wish it to stay lost, believing that rediscovering old knowledge will cause bad history to repeat itself, but others see that this leads to stagnation from which their society will not recover. Villages no longer have the means to communicate with each other, and as no one travels, new knowledge is not disseminated. Ariel, as a Farwalker, has the ability to change this, though slowly. It has series potential but, thanks to an epilogue, doesn‰Ûªt rely on another book to complete the story. I had thought it was intended as a stand-alone (because of the epilogue) but Sensel‰Ûªs web site says a sequel will be coming in 2010, and she mentions a third book also, so I guess not. I will be glad to read the next one when it comes out. I hope it has lots of Scarl.
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Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com

When Ariel and her best friend, Zeke, find a magical artifact, their lives are changed forever.

Soon they are on a dangerous journey to discover where the artifact originated. In the process, they discover their true callings and forge an unlikely friendship.

Filled with adventure, surprises, and great characters, THE FARWALKER'S QUEST guides the reader one exciting step at a time into a fantastic trip through Ariel's world.

This book has common fantasy elements of a magical artifact and a heroic quest, but Sensel writes in such a refreshing, original way that this book is far from cliche.

I loved THE FARWALKER'S QUEST! From the very first line, I found myself striding into Ariel's story and loving every step. I couldn't stop walking (and sometimes running) until I reached the last page, and even then I wanted to go on. This is a book I will enjoy stepping into again.

I am especially intrigued with the concept of the Blind War and would love Sensel to guide us back to this time in a new adventure. ( )

It took me awhile to get totally engaged in this book, but once I got in, I could hardly put it down. The main characters are distinct and well-rounded. They are also true heroes, enduring great suffering with courage and humility. As in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, the personal rewards are not worth the pain and loss. But these characters are working for the greater good, which is a powerful message. ( )