Review by Deb. Back to all Isobelle Carmody Book Reviews [hr][/hr] Angel Fever is Isobelle Carmody’s first foray into the land of Quentaris, a fantasy series developed and edited by Michael Prior and Paul Collins. The series is made up of stories from a number of different writers, but set in the same world and share some characters. Isobelle Carmody’s story fits well into the land of Quentaris. The characters are well formed and interesting. Quentaris is joined to other worlds by means of travel through Rift Caves; tunnels and caves in the rocky cliffs to the North of the city. All kinds of beings, including humans, monsters and mythical beasts travel though the Rift Caves to deal with the citizens of Quentaris, to take slaves and to travel though to other worlds. Rift Guards guard the city from travellers and Rift Guides find the way to and from the Rift Worlds. In Angel Fever, Eely dreams of becoming a Rift guide but being overlooked by everyone and considered simple minded and plain, she works instead in the Pauper’s Market soup kitchen. Waiting for her sister Cora at the Rift House one afternoon, Eely hears a distress call from a nearby Rift Cave and goes to investigate. There she finds an ‘Angel’ being attacked by a Harpy. The rescued ‘Angel’, Nonaerom, is distressed at the loss of the Wingstone, a mysterious crystal stone that feeds on beauty. Knowing that his people cannot survive without the Wingstone, Nonaerom enlists the help of the Roofies and other Quentarans in finding the stone, not realising that the stone is looking for more than mere physical beauty. The character of Eely, a girl who is overlooked by most (a misfit you could say), is a very good example of how people treat those who seem to be different from them. The story shows how perceived looks and intelligence can be deceiving, though in a local context. A winged man, for example, is expected to be different but a sister or neighbour is not. This is not the only form of discrimination in the story. The roofies consider those who stay on the ground to be beneath notice and those who live and work under the ground to be worse. Isobelle's insight into what constitutes 'beauty' gives the reader much to think about. Her characters find that they need to change their thinking about what is beautiful and how they treat those who are different and her readers might very well be encouraged to do the same. Angel Fever is suitable reading for all ages. [hr][/hr] Back to all Isobelle Carmody Book Reviews