Water Keep (Farworld #1)

Author: J. Scott Savage
Goodreads Rating: 3.91
Pages: 419
Format: ARC from BEA13

           When Marcus magically travels to Farworld, he meets Kyja, a girl without magic in a world where spells, charms, and potions are everywhere, and Master Therapass, a master wizard who has kept a secret hidden for thirteen years, a secret that could change the fate of two worlds.           Even though thirteen-year old Marcus Kanenas is confined to a wheelchair, he sees himself as a survivor and a dreamer. In fact, his favorite dream is of a world far away, a world where magic is as common as air, where animals tell jokes, and where trees beg people to pick their fruit. He even has a name for this place----Farworld.            But the Dark Circle has learned of Master Therapass's secret and their evil influence and power are growing. Farworld's only hope is for Marcus and Kyja to find the mystical Elementals----water, land, air, and fire----and open a drift between the worlds.            As Kyja and Marcus travel to Water Keep, they must face the worst the evil Dark Circle can throw at them----Summoners who can command the living and the dead; Unmakers, invisible creatures that can destroy both body and soul; and dark mages known as Thrathkin S'Bade.            Along the way, Marcus and Kyja will discover the truth about their own heritage, the strength of their friendship, and the depths of their unique powers.

             When I picked up this novel, above the synopsis on the back cover there was a quote that said, "Its humor will entertain younger readers, and the characters are intriguing enough to hold up a story that owes much to the Harry Potter Series" - Booklist. I have to agree with that statement one hundred percent. This novel shared a very similar format to Harry Potter. Although it wasn't as well-written, it was still a fantastic novel especially to a Harry Potter fan. I think it could become a series as great as Harry Potter if it were to be made into a movie.
              The way I read this novel was very choppy. I would read a chapter, then stop; then a couple hours later I would read another chapter, then stop again. I wanted to know what happened, but I couldn't keep myself immersed in the novel. Small conflicts were solved throughout the novel, but once one was solved, another would appear. The author kept me interested enough to make me want to go back to the novel, but nothing major was ever solved. I assumed the main conflict was going to be solved at the end of the novel. I had high expectations, I thought it was going to be a five chapter climactic showdown, so I would want to know what happened when he cut me short. The way the author wrote the ending made me want to know what was going to happen next. The author did leave me hanging. However, the ending was just resolved, nothing shocking happened, the main characters just solved the problem and started off on the next adventure. The ending was extremely suspenseful and I was at the edge of my seat to see what would happen, but when it did, I wasn't surprised.
              The connections between Earth, Farworld, Kyja, and Marcus are incredible. I absolutely loved the way the author connected all the different elements of each character to create one huge cycle. One character I really enjoyed reading about was a skyte named Riph-Raph. Although he was not mentioned in the synopsis, I thought he was an amazing character that should me included more often in the sequels. He was humorous, and an interesting character to think about. Kyja was an phenomenal character who was such an in-depth girl. She was kind, brave, and she wasn't afraid to follow her heart. I think she is a very good role model to any girl who reads this novel because she is a powerful female character. She was running for her life, and she stopped to give a homeless woman clothes and her own money. She put her own life on the line to safe, not only Marcus, but Riph-Raph and this girl who she didn't even know from certain death. She is an extraordinary character who added to the incredible story line. The main character Marcus was an average character, he was incredible none the less, but compared to the other characters, he wasn't as interesting. He has a huge heart and many talents. He knows what it's like to be bullied for being different, but he never let it slow him down. Even with a disability, he was able to do extraordinary things many people who are not in a wheelchair would dream of doing. All the characters were amazing and very diverse.
              Four words to describe the quality of the authors writing was phe-nom-e-nal. The descriptions of the setting and the creatures throughout the novel were so vivid, I could clearly picture what each character would look like in real life. I can't even put into words how incredible the descriptions were in this novel. It felt as though I was transported into the novel and was there with the characters. If this novel was made into a movie, there would be no problem deciding what each character would look like.
               I would recommend this novel to anybody and everybody. No matter what your age might be, you will love this novel. There is some violence, and the vivid descriptions might frighten six or seven year olds. However, the vocabulary used in the novel is difficult at certain chapters, but nothing a nine year old can't read. I would rate this book a 9.5 out of 10 and I am searching everywhere for the next novel hoping I can get my hands on it as soon as possible.