Moon & Sun: The Ruby Key: Volume 1

by Holly Lisle

Book Overview

Bestselling fantasy writer Holly Lisle brings us her children's debut with a lyrical, fast paced fantasy for middle-grade readers Mankind is Sunkind And rules by the light; Nightlings are Moonkind, And rule in the night; Or there will be war. Human and Nightlings are never to meet, but when Genna and her brother Dan venture into the old forest at night, they encounter a Nightling slave who reveals a terrifying secret: Genna and Dan's village chieftain...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0545000122
• ISBN13: 9780545000123
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Orchard Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

An exciting new fantasy

"The two most engaging powers of an author," said William Makepeace Thackeray, "are to make new things familiar, familiar things new." In THE RUBY KEY, book one in the Moon & Sun series, Holly Lisle has accomplished both. Drawing on elements characteristic of fairy tales and fantasy novels, and adding inventive touches, this work is sure to engage young readers as it draws them into the original world of the Sunkind and Moonkind, two races struggling for power and peace. It is the night of the offering in the small village of Hillrush. With her father missing and presumed dead and her mother ailing, 14-year-old Genna will make the offering for her family. Every year, in order to keep peace with the Nightlings, the humans offer food, cloth and more to the mysterious creatures who live in darkness and with whom they share an uneasy peace. If the offering is unacceptable or if humans are out after dark, they can be stolen away to the deep forest in which the Nightlings, the Moonkind, reside. Late that night, after the ritual, Genna and her 12-year-old brother Dan venture out and into that dangerous forest in search of the magical tree sap they hope will bring their mother back to strength, save her life and rescue their family from the foul intentions of Banris, who wants to marry her and raise the children, and their younger siblings, as his own. When they tap the tree to collect the sap, they meet a young Nightling. She is friendly and seems to know who they are and much about their family. She tells them the story of Banris and the deal he has made with the evil Kai-lord, Letrin, who rules the Nightlings through fear and violence. Their own deal with Letrin, she suggests, may ruin Banris's plans and save not only their family but their whole village and even the lives of innocent Moonkind. Genna and Dan follow her deep into the world of the Moonkind and are brought face to face with the cunning Letrin. In bargaining with Letrin, Genna and Dan not only embark on the journey recorded in THE RUBY KEY but also set in motion changes that will alter the lives of the Moonkind and Sunkind forever. In the end, it is the characters, especially Genna, who really drive THE RUBY KEY. Genna is likable: brave yet humble, smart yet occasionally overcome with self-doubt, cultivating the strength of a woman but still, in many ways, a little girl. Lisle hits all the right notes with her. The supporting characters, while far less fleshed out, are all compelling as well: Dan is poised to enter manhood and a career as a leader of his village; Yarri is a crafty and fearless figure who has suffered terrible loss; and the cat is by far the most enigmatic and witty character in the book. The villains are scary but with weaknesses appropriately obvious, and there are a few nasty frights lurking in the pages as well. By blending classic fairy tale and coming-of-age themes with a fantasy setting, Holly Lisle gives readers a fun and adventurous book that is though

Captivating!

Though at first glance this book seems like a YA book, it is easily so much more than that. The themes Holly has woven into her magical tale, themes of love of family and community, duty, honor, and compassion know no age limits. You're compelled to read on and on, to find out how three children with the weights of two opposing societies rest on their young shoulders will succeed. Danger lurks around every corner and on every moonroad, but with the help of a snarky cat they keep trudging forward, hoping against hope that their quest is not impossible. To me its part fairy tale, part Spirited Away told in such a way that only Holly Lisle could have written it. You have nightlings, which as Holly describes, sound very much like elegant and mysterious fairies. Then you have audiomaerist or fortune tellers. You have wizards and monsters. You have a quest element, but one that though it does not encompass a whole world, it directly affects two very different societies. You have the mystical object, the Ruby Key, and the prince in hiding. I look forward to reading more about Genna, Danrith, Yarri and the cat in the next books. This world of Moon and Sun is one I'd like to visit again and again.

The Ruby Key opens a door to wonder

Last night I finished The Ruby Key, the new book by Holly Lisle. What a great book, perfect for any young person -- or adult -- looking for a good fantasy. Genna's world is a place that I hope Holly Lisle will return to time after time. Here's the basic plot: The world is divided into day and night, day ruled by humans, night by the nightlings. Genna and her brother Dan discover that their "uncle" has made a horrendous deal with the lord of the nightlings: He has traded the lives of the people of their village for immortality. Genna and Dan make their own deal with the evil nightling lord and start off on an impossible quest to locate a child and return him to the nightlings. Along with them travel an annoying cat -- which is both more than and less than a cat -- and a young, bright nightling. But naturally things aren't what they seem. Genna soon learns that the world is different than she had always been told and that her quest has far-reaching consequences. There are monsters and moonroads (you'll have to read the book to discover what those are) and villains and heroes. You will be both surprised and pleased at how it all turns out. The Ruby Key reminds me of the best of Andre Norton. Genna has resources and bravery that she doesn't even know she does, and this book is the beginning of her journey. I'm looking forward to the next book. By the way, The Ruby Key is gorgeous with a wonderful cover and neat flourishes throughout, a handsome addition to any library. Add it to your library today.