Halo
When a family of centaurs find a human baby, Halo, washed ashore on the beach, they have no idea who she is or where she came from but they raise her as though she were their own child. She is happy amongst the centaurs, but a chance encounter with human fishermen causes her to be abducted and brought to the mainland. This begins an adventure that spans Ancient Greece from Sparta to Athens and beyond. Halo tries to find her way back to Zakynthos and her family but there is war brewing across Greece and tensions are high. She quickly learns that if she is to travel freely and survive in the male-dominated society then she must disguise herself as a boy. She also begins to question who she really is and the meaning of the strange tattoo on her forehead. Who were her parents and what became of them?
Like the author’s previous novels, Halo mixes reality and fantasy in an engaging way. The differing city states of Greece are well drawn and historically accurate. The main theme of the novel is one of equality for women. The folly of war is also explored, as Halo finds herself caught in the middle of conflict and befriended by people on both sides.This is a fast-paced adventure story with many twists and turns – shipwreck, kidnapping, war, plague and slavery. In places it feels a little overlong and episodic, but overall it is an engaging story with likeable characters and enough drama to keep readers of 9+ engrossed. Bonus points should be given for the recipe for baklava and instructions on how to make a bow and arrow.
