Synopsis

Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives. They live in a beautiful valley with their parents and little brother. They invent games, explore, and listen to the stories told by their father. 

But during a visit of the mysterious Lady Glen, disaster strikes, and the two young rabbits are forced to flee for their lives, leaving the only home they've ever known. Wolves and raptors pursue them as they travel down the river with their rescuers—their uncle and cousin. After a trek up the mountain, and heroics from each, they meet friends, enemies, and learn about their family's dark and horrible history, and how it is connected to the downfall of the past golden age.

Heather and Picket transform from children to heroes of The Cause—the fight for freedom from tyranny of the Preylords and their King, Morbin Blackhawk. 

And his allies.

"The Green Ember Burns.
The seed of a new world smolders.
Healing is on the horizon,
But a fire comes first.
Bear the flame."

Analysis

For me, this book definitely deserves some credit for creativity. The plot twist truly caught me by surprise, and even now, after knowing it for six years, this book is still a delight to read. I don't think there were any noticeable clichés, and the feel of the book is fresh, new and exciting, with excellent pacing.

This book scores top marks for wholesomeness. The element of evil was clear and defined, and although the characters struggle with guilt and doubt, they find their way in the end. I also enjoyed some symbolism similar to Narnia. For instance, there is savior portrayal, sort of like Aslan. There are followers who are his friends, like the four children—especially Lucy. There are also traitors, like Edmund. The evil must be defeated, though there would be forgiveness if they turned back from their wicked ways. I loved the figure of her father: his relationship with their mother, him trying to protect them, and saddened by the past and what he couldn't change.

The author definitely uses the language of the book to clearly portray what is going on. The characters feel alive with their separate problems and personalities, and the tension, stakes, and relationships are well depicted. 

I saw the depth and development in the changes of personality in the characters as they grew inwardly. The changes are subtle enough that you hardly realize they're almost a completely different person until you look back and gasp because you barely recognize them. Another profound element of the story was Heather's doubt. The enemy had planted in her doubt of her father, and everything seemed to point to his guilt. But when tested, she trusts him.

The significance of this book touched me. The whole of this points to the biblical story, Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, and the triumph of good over evil.

Rating

This, my standard book to which all others must be compared, is firmly given four and a half bookwyrm bingos!