First, let me say how
absolutely amazing this cover is—and not just because I have a current crush on
aquamarines. This would definitely jump off a shelf at me.
I have read most of CarolRiggs YA books. Though I normally go for a deeper literature type of story, I
like to occasionally mix it up with a fun YA adventure, and Riggs delivers.
When I read the first chapters of The Grassy Sea, I was taken back to my recurring childhood dream: I could
breathe under water! Oh, how I loved those dreams. To this day, I love being underwater.
I know this has nothing to do with the story, but isn’t that what fantasy
fiction is about—stirring the imaginative spirit within us?
Lyndra of Biresk, the
main character, is one I could relate to more than any other character Riggs has
created. Though her others have been bold and brave, this young girl is pushing
the boundaries. Abandoned at birth, she feels as though she doesn’t fit in and
that the people of her village look down upon her for her differences. She wants to know why life must “be that way.”
She isn’t willing to go along just because it’s what they’ve always done. She
wants something more. She wants to be her own person. And mostly, Lyndra wants
people to love and accept her for who she truly is.
Life is routine for
Lyndra. There are daily duties to perform, and everyone has their place in this
structured society. It is harvest time, and Lyndra has chores in the orchard. She
wasn’t supposed to be on the beach. But if she had been doing her work, she
wouldn’t have witnessed the abduction of seven of her village’s men by the gilled
people—green-skinned beings who can breathe underwater. Even though Biresk has
a peace treaty with the Grassiens, tensions are high between the villages. On
top of that, there is a wicked sickness spreading in Biresk that has already
killed many of her people.
This adventurous story
takes Lyndra across the Grassy Sea where she witnesses a life quite different
from her own—a life of luxury instead of duties. A life where you can be who
you want to be. Lyndra struggles to bring peace between the two villages and
resolve a decades-old event that caused the unrest.
There are some great lessons
to be learned from this tale of determination and perseverance. Can I say the
Grassy Sea isn’t always greener on the other side? Sorry. I couldn’t resist; this story also taught me to be true to myself.
Riggs descriptive
writing is lovely, and her characters are unique and richly developed. Though
the target audience for this book is probably young teens, readers of all ages
will enjoy this story. The pace is excellent, the tension high, and there are
many twists along the way. The ending wraps up wonderfully. I can picture this
story as a 3-D fantasy in the theater.
You can read the first chapter on Riggs' website. I highly recommend (5 stars) this
book to young and old.
