The Warrior Heir
by Cinda Williams Chima
Jackson Swift (Jack) has always had a normal life in the small college town of Trinity, Ohio. The only difference between the 16-year-old and his fellow classmates has been the star-shaped scar on his chest and the medicine he is required to take daily. Strange events begin to take place, however, after Jack forgets to take his medicine one day. When a rival named Garrett Lobeck tries to start a fight with Jack during soccer tryouts, Jack defends himself --- sending Lobeck flying across the soccer field.
Then his strange but cool Aunt Linda pays an unexpected visit to Jack and his mother, Becka. Aunt Linda decides to take her nephew/godson on a road trip to look up some of their family's genealogy. Jack invites his loyal friends Will and Fitch to join the expedition. What is supposed to be a tedious fact-finding mission turns into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, when the three guys discover that Linda is being stalked by a man looking to steal a family heirloom. Jack suspects that there is more to his aunt's story, but decides to help her locate the sought-after heirloom. The three friends get more than they bargain for during a night of digging around an old cemetery when they are attacked shortly after Jack uncovers a medieval sword that contains remarkable powers.
The road trip changes everything for Jack, and the truth about his heritage is slowly revealed. His Aunt Linda is an Enchanter and Jack is Weirlind, a member of an underground society of magical people that has been ruled by the feuding wizarding houses of the Red Rose and the White Rose for centuries. The feuding houses determine who rules the Weir and its magical artifacts by playing the Game, a deadly tournament in which each house sponsors a Warrior to fight for their supremacy. Unfortunately for Jack, he is unique even by Weir standards and is a prime target as each of the houses scout for a new player by any means necessary. Fortunately for Jack he has some help on his side, which includes his old friend, the knowledgeable caretaker Nicodemus Snowbeard, and the mysterious new assistant principal Mr. Hastings, who teaches Jack the ways of the Weir and how to use the powerful sword called Shadowslayer as defense against known and unforeseen enemies.
Soon Jack is off to England, where he is thrown into a high-stakes chase from Dr. Jessamine Longbranch --- a wicked person who helped saved his life years before ---- and the Roses. Perhaps the most daunting challenge of all for Jack will be remembering who he really is underneath it all.
Links:
Author's Site: www.cindachima.com
NoveList Page: http://web.ebscohost.com.oh0248.oplin.org/novelist/detail?vid=3&hid=115&sid=4e0bd86f-ef0f-41fb-a545-60c98cf33554%40sessionmgr107&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92ZWxpc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d
Comments (2)
Hickoryteam said
at 1:42 pm on Mar 9, 2009
Jack is the main character. He is the protaganist. He has internal and external conflict.
Dr Longbranch is the antagonist, she causes jack's problems.
Mr Hastings helps teach Jack to control and use his powers
Fitch is Jack's friend who gets dragged into the fight
Will is also Jack's friend who gets dragged into the fight
Snowbeard is a wizard who looked out for Jack since he was young
Linda is an enchanter and Jack's aunt who intoduces him to the magical world
Becka is Jack's mom
Loebeck is Jack's enemy on the soccer team
Ellen is Jack's love interest who is secretly a warrior also, who has to fight Jack in the end of the story
TeenXTreme said
at 9:46 am on Apr 1, 2009
The novel opens fairly slowly as Chima has to go through a great deal of exposition to set up her tale. As it goes on though, it gets quite engaging. Although it can be somewhat predictable at times, Chima's style makes the book worth reading. Go get it. Today.
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