Review Detail

The Kaavl Conspiracy by Jennette Green

The Story:
When Methusa of Rolban is framed for the murder of her friend, she must do everything to clear her name and to avoid the harsh penalties for the crime. But what she uncovers runs deeper than she could have imagined.

The Characters:
Methusa is in training to become a Kaavl, a warrior with strong mental prowess. When we meet her, she is kind, though spirited to the point of recklessness. This rashness is developed throughout the book to show Methusa’s growth. This comes after several hard lessons and despite the character's reassurance she’s learned from these lessons, her actions occasionally tell the reader otherwise. Never-the-less by the time Methusa reaches the book’s climax, we are happy to see her listening. Some minor inconsistencies in character do not detract from the reader’s ability to care for the main protagonist.
There are plenty of minor characters to get to know and each is presented well. Methusa’s parents appear quite calm about the fact their daughter is all but on death row. I liked the premonitions of the mother, and the cool reasoning of her father.
One of the strengths of this book is that the antagonists are multi-faceted and emotionally tangible. We are able to empathize with each antagonist and hope they will choose the right path. In fact, as the story progresses an initial antagonist becomes a friend. A theme in this genre not commonly seen, and a solid message to young readers that life is not just love and hate.

The World:
Kaavl Conspiracy is set in an epic fantasy world with three main settlements. We get the sense of a mysterious offshore presence who is controlling the antagonists from afar. No doubt this story thread becomes more prominent during the tetrology. It is one an example of the unpredictable and complex plot in this novel.
The concept of kaavl adds excitement to the plot as the main character tries to progress to the next level of kaavl. Methusa participates in contests in scenes which will hold any reader riveted.
The imagery of the world’s set up is clear and the character and place names are fitting for the world. It is challenging to visualize how the kaavl strips and traps work, and what the clothing worn by the various races looks like, though we get strong imagery of each location’s state of poverty or wealth. Rolban’s settlement first appeared to me as an above ground village beside a mine, however the Author later explains the town is a series of tunnels and caves. The bush, the animals, the feel of kaavl, and character's features are effortlessly depicted. In particular, I liked the use of Methusal’s twin to describe Methusal’s appearance.

The Readability:
Jennette Green’s style is straight-forward, exiting and easy to read. From the mid-way point there is no desire to put the book down as the plot unfolds. The amount of time spent in Rolban at the beginning while Methusa is investigating slowed the pace considerably, and Methusa’s lessons and her reactions generated a faint repetitive feel at this stage. It is clear though—upon continuing—the prior scenes are the calm before the storm.
This copy is professional and would be suitable for 13+. It contains a few difficult words and concepts, perfect for challenging the young adult age group.

Final Verdict:
A riveting concept, and an ending which will have you on the edge of your seat.

Favorite Quote:
“Discouragement felt like a dead weight around her neck. And yet why had she expected anything different?”