Search for the Flaming Chalice
By Robert Shaw Kesler
Paperback: 153 pages
Publisher: Thatcher Forest (1998)
Rated: 4 stars of 5 possible
Search for the Flaming Chalice is an anthropomorphic tale of three martins - Carmen, Alger, and Gilbert - on a quest to find the flaming chalice, which will enable them to unleash the power of the purple stone they carry. The humor, magic and adventure combine to create a delightful and sometimes suspenseful tale that will appeal to fantasy fans, both young and old. The more experienced reader will recognize literary allusions to Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," Shelley's Frankenstein, Rossetti's "Goblin Market," Dante's Inferno, and more embedded within the story. Themes in the novel include friendship, family, courage, persistence, teamwork, and more, which makes the novel not only entertaining for younger readers but also a teaching tool for those a little older.
The main villain of the piece is Attila, an evil sorcerer. I found him a bit weak in characterization, almost a joke at some points and perhaps too easily defeated as well... yet this didn't detract too much from my over-all enjoyment of the story, as too strong a villain would not be appropriate for a children's story.
That said, I hereby give this highly enjoyable tale a strong 4 star rating for being both entertaining and educational. I recommend this book to readers age 8 and up.
This review has been simultaneously published on Amazon.com, Dragonviews, and LibraryThing.
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