Fall of a Kingdom By: Hilari Bell Published by: Simon Pulse Year of Publication: January 2005

1. Fall of a KingdomBy: Hilari BellPublished by: Simon PulseYear of Publication: January 2005 Katherine Jenkins

2. Introduction This story begins in the fictional kingdom of Farsala. It’s a kingdom ruled by deghans, or lords. Soraya, a 15 year-old deghass, is preparing to be sacrificed. Her father, a notable war commander, sends her to live with a small family in the desert. During her stay there she meets a tribe Suud, desert people. The oldest woman, Maok, teaches her the magic of seeking and finding the souls of rocks, fire, and storms. While Soraya is in the desert, the Hrum attack Farsala. The Hrum are a ferocious empire that has conquered half the known world. Will Farsala be able to fight off the Hrum? What will Soraya do with her new magic powers?

3. Protagonist and Antagonist • The protagonist is Jiaan. Who is the illegitimate son of a deghan. For this he is teased by the other boys his age. • The antagonist is Fasal. He is a young deghan who has trouble bowing to the authority of others.

4. Central conflict In Fall of a Kingdom, Kiva is a peasant and a peddler. He goes from town to town selling his goods, pots and jewelry plated in gold. Kiva helps to hide Soraya, but then he’s captured by the Hrum. Will Kiva tell the Hrum everything he knows? How will the Commander respond when he discovers his capture?

5. Minor Characters • Patrius- A very kind and honest Hrum officer who befriends Kavi and tells him the laws and ways of the Hrum. • Commander Merahb- Soraya and Jiaan's father and commander of the Farsalan army. He hides Soraya and scarifies himself for the kingdom.

6. Minor Character • Fasal- A young deghan who doesn't get along very well with Jiaan. One of the few deghans to survive the battle with the Hrum.

7. What the critics said!! :D • I actually quite liked this book especially because of the two different story points of Kavi and Jiaan, how one is trying to bring about the fall of the old ways because of personal reason, and one works to maintain them for reasons equally personal. I like the interplay between the characters, as well as the offset between the Hrum and the Deghans, and as a whole the only short fall of the book in my opinion was Soraya. even in the end with her new found surprise, she still acts like a vengeful brat, and leaves me only hoping that she can shape up in the next to books, but on the whole I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you enjoy books in the vein of Mercedes Lackey and R.A. Salvatore. ---Goodreads

8. What the critics said!! :D • This is a great series of books. There is great character development. I really enjoyed them. ---Goodreads Author • The plot is interesting. The story, revolving around Jiaan, Soraya & Kavi, is well written without loosing the thread of continuity anywhere. Its fiction which skirts around the boundaries of fantasy but doesn't touch it (not in this novel anyways). I enjoyed reading it. ---Goodreads Author

9. What do I say?? :3 This is a very well written novel. It appeals to my imagination and reason. While reading, I’d ask myself what would I do in their shoes? How would I react to that comment or command? I would recommend Fall of a Kingdom to anyone who enjoys fictional adventure and imaginary places.