Search - The Fall (Seventh Tower, Bk 1)

Quite exciting and interesting story. Left me intrigued to find out what happens in the rest of the series.

Australian fantasy author Garth Nix (well known for his novels Sabriel and Shade\'s Children, both ALA list picks) has joined with Lucasfilm to launch a six-book fantasy series about Tal\'s world, of which The Fall is the first installment. Packed with excitement and wonderfully weird creatures like the living sea of Selski and the hungry, one-horned Merwin, Nix\'s latest tale will enchant readers. Containing elements of The Golden Compass and the Harry Potter books, The Seventh Tower is an epic fantasy not to be missed. (Ages 11 to 14) --Jennifer Hubert

Enjoyed it, even though it seemed to be written for young adults.

Young Tal lives in the Castle of the Chosen. His world is always shrouded in darkness. For warmth and light the people rely upon magical sunstones. But not everyone has sunstones. Only the upper classes, the Chosen, have them and those who don't are forced into servitude.
Tal and his family used to have a sunstone. But one day Tal's father vanished and with him went the sunstone. Without the sunstone, Tal and his family will become members of the servant class known as Underfolk. Plus Tal's mother is ill and so it is vital that they acquire a sunstone. Tal tries his best to win one but fails. He feels his only choice is to try to steal one. But in the process he runs afoul of an evil spirit and is tossed out of the Castle and into the wild countryside beyond, a place he knows nothing about.
There he meets a warrior girl, Milla, who also has ambitions of her own. Together they undertake a journey back to the Castle, a journey which will test them and enlighten them and in which they just might find out what they are really made of.
First in the Seventh Tower series, this book is full of action and adventure and is sure to enthrall young readers (it's aimed at ages 9 and up) as they follow Tal and Milla in their struggle to survive and to accomplish their goals.

It is a good start to the series. Tal begins his adventure. He really cares about his family.