Green Rider, by Kristen Britain

When Karigan G’ladheon runs away from school in Selium, all she is worried about is getting to Corsa before her father finds out she was suspended. She’s not exactly worried about him finding out, she just wants to explain to him what really happened before he reads the Dean’s letter. But along the way her plans take a strange turn. She comes upon a Green Rider (a messenger of the King) and while he is dying he makes her swear to take the message he is bearing to the king. Unsure of what is really going on, Karigan swears to take the message to Sacor City. With his last breath the Rider tells her to ‘beware the shadow man.’ Karigan now faces more trouble than she ever expected when she ran away from school. Forces of evil seem to be gathering in Sacordia, and most of them are after her and the message she carries. It seems impossible that she will ever make it to Sacor City, but the horse of the messenger and the brooch she carries are more than they seem, and it is no bad thing that they are. Karigan did not know what she was getting herself into, but she soon finds out. Oh she finds out very quickly.

Kristen Britain is a relatively new author. As such she’s got some rough edges in her writing and places that could be improved, but that only really matters to nitpickers like me. It is so easy to get swept up in the world she creates that it is just better to enjoy the ride. That was not an intentional pun, but it’s funny anyway. Green Rider is full of interesting characters, thrilling adventures, beautiful sights: all great elements of a classic fantasy novel. Karigan is a spunky girl who is very easy to relate to. She is neither of the ‘great hero’ or ‘poor farmgirl’ mold. She is neither supernaturally quick nor annoying slow to understand what is going on. She feels very real. It is a difficult balance for authors to make, but it is delightful to see.

If I were to explain Green Rider in vague readerly terms, I would say that it is a semi-light book. So many dark and serious events happen that it cannot be a ‘light’ book, but the writing and overall tone of the book cannot be described as ‘dark.’ When I think of it I get happy feelings, but that means nothing really. It just means that I like the book. There are no really terrible scenes in it that should be kept from the eyes of younger teens, and I am very grateful for the sex that does not take place. Call me old fashioned but I do not see the need for very graphic descriptions of sex in a book that would be just as good/better without them. If you don’t need it, don’t have it. And graphic sex is rarely ever needed. I find Green Rider a very refreshing and enjoyable read, and I can imagine it as a light spring rain. Kristen Britain is certainly an author worth keeping an eye on, and I certainly will.