by Terry Brooks
A dark fantasy that involves a young girl with a special gift which can be used for good or evil and her battle to choose the right side.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Andrew
About Jennifer Andrew
Terry Brooks writes a suspenseful and mysterious fantasy novel that has you sitting on the edge of your seat. I was glad to see that the book wasn't very thick because I couldn't put it down. I practically had to read it from cover to cover since I was absorbed by the writing on each page.
This story is centered on a young girl named Nest Freemark who has the ability to see forces in the dark. These dark, shadowy forms are called Feeders and they have the ability to change the minds of humans and force them to act upon their fears which makes them vulnerable to the Feeder's will. She also has the ability to make things happen with just a look. Her fierce and intense glare destroys the Feeders when she looks right at them and into their soul. Unsure of what they are made of or where they came from she knew that they travel at night and in dark places, which most evil things do. Only she has the power and magic to stop them.
With a little sylvan friend from the forest named Pick, she takes on the responsibility of protecting the people she grew up with in the little town of Hopewell, Illinois. As a track runner, she routinely makes her run through the forest almost every night so she can keep her eyes on things. Built with a runner's body, she is fast and agile, which makes her a perfect candidate for the role as guardian.
Now in walks John Ross to the town of Hopewell. He is a Knight of the Word. A savior and devout fighter, he travels from town to town seeking evil to destroy. Impeded by a limp, he makes his journeys supported by an ancient cane and travelling with scarce supplies and little belongings.
With magic of his own, he comes to see Nest Freemark to understand her special gift and how it has developed over the course of her young life. His curse is the ability to see different paths of the future. He had to travel to the small town because of the knowledge that he holds of Nest's future and the two very different paths that she could follow. She is vulnerable enough to follow either of the paths that he has envisioned and Nest has the capabilities of becoming either good or evil. Unfortunately, John Ross has been given the sight of both of her futures. Depending on the events that develop over the next few days, John Ross has to be there to make the hardest decision of his life if Nest ends up making the wrong choice.
The author makes you feel for the two main characters in the story because they both have a hard part to play. After really getting to know young Nest Freemark, John Ross doesn't know if he will be able to do what he must if she makes the wrong decision about the use of her magic. Nest goes through a lot of self-discovery and finds out secrets about her family that doesn't come out until the introduction of John's character.
Click here to buy this book, or read more about it at Amazon.com: Running with the Demon
Copyright © by Jennifer Andrew, 2003
Reviewed by Jennifer Andrew:
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