The Crystal Run
ISBN13
9781444927054
Review published
24/05/2016
By Reviewer
Alison
Star Rating
By Author / Illustrator
Sheila O'Flanagan
Age range(s)
11+
Review
The Crystal Run is the first teenaged novel from bestselling adult author Sheila O'Flanagan and the fantasy story - the first in a possible series - comes packed with adventure and twists. While escaping from school bullies, Joe finds himself transported to a different world, Carcassia. He is in a training centre for 'Runners' - trained athletes who travel into the enemy territory of Kanabia to place crystals that will keep Carcassia shielded. Mistrusted as a spy, Joe is then sent to accompany one of the Runners, Kaia, on her journey to place a precious 'power crystal'. However, Kaia is ill-prepared for her journey as Kanabia has changed and betrayal is at play. For Joe, this means he may not be able to use the crystal's power to return home. But he also needs to save Kaia; for Runners, the end of the race means death. The focus of the story is the relationship between Kaia and Joe as they get to know, and like, each other and discover their own inner strength in this strange world in which they find themselves. O'Flanagan has produced a nicely paced fantasy adventure set within a beautifully realised world that will have plenty of appeal to teenaged readers. While the story is completed at the end of the book, Joe and Kaia's journey is not and I for one look forward to seeing where they are taken next. 400 pages / Ages 11+ / Reviewed by Alison Hall.
