Book reviews: Alyzon Whitestarr, The Sorcerer's Daughter, The Summon Stone, First Light

By Colin Steele
Updated July 22 2016 - 1:13am, first published 11:45pm
Charlie Jane Anders' All the Birds in the Sky combines SF and fantasy in a near-future American setting. Photo: Supplied
Charlie Jane Anders' All the Birds in the Sky combines SF and fantasy in a near-future American setting. Photo: Supplied
First Light, by Erica Wagner, celebrates the life of master British fantasy writer Alan Garner. Photo: Supplied
First Light, by Erica Wagner, celebrates the life of master British fantasy writer Alan Garner. Photo: Supplied
Alyzon Whitestarr, by Isobelle Carmody, returns in a re-edited version. Photo: Supplied
Alyzon Whitestarr, by Isobelle Carmody, returns in a re-edited version. Photo: Supplied
The Summon Stone, by Ian Irvine, who says its characters exemplify the Aussie spirit. Photo: Supplied
The Summon Stone, by Ian Irvine, who says its characters exemplify the Aussie spirit. Photo: Supplied
The Sorcerer's Daughter, by Terry Brooks, is a standalone book within the Defenders of Shannara series. Photo: Supplied
The Sorcerer's Daughter, by Terry Brooks, is a standalone book within the Defenders of Shannara series. Photo: Supplied

Isobelle Carmody, who will be a guest at the Canberra Writers' Festival in late August, completed her mammoth Obernewtyn series last year. Now comes a re-edited version of her 2005 award-winning young adult novel, Alyzon Whitestarr (Ford St, $24.95). Teenager Alyzon finds, after emerging from a coma, that her senses have become greatly increased, particularly her sense of smell. This gift, or is it a curse, allows her to smell evil, especially evil affecting her sister and ultimately her family. Alyzon Whitestarr will certainly attract new readers in a book that reaffirms the importance of family and friendship.

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