Sacred Scars

I don't know why I like this series so much, but I do. Each chapter switches between two different characters seemingly centuries apart. Connected through magic and circumstance by knowing the story of Hahp, you know the story of Sadima. Or so you think.

Since time switches with each chapter you know that Somiss & Franklin are wizards at the school that Hahp struggles at so it is frustrating reading Sadima's trials because you feel you already know how it ends, it doesn't matter. But it does! After Sadima runs away from Somiss & Franklin with the orphaned boys she finds happiness with the boys for awhile living on a farm, but inevitably Somiss finds them. The next thing you know, and the first thing Sadima remembers she's awake on the docks of South End with no memory of her life before awakening and hair that grows not longer than her eyelashes.

And I think that's really when Sadima's story begins. Hahp continues to struggle at the wizard school forming a unsteady alliance with his mysterious roommate Gerrard and eventually with the remaining four boys, Luke, Levin, Jordan & Will. Determined to destroy the school, but not leave any of the other boys behind Hahp begins to grow into a better person than he was in the beginning.

I would get frustrated when a chapter ended and I had to move onto the next character because I was so entrenched in whichever of the two I was just reading about, but then, a few paragraphs into the next chapter I would be enthralled all over again. Kathleen Duey builds this story with so much suspense, drawing out every detail without ever once being boring. I don't know how she does it, but I hope she continues! I can't wait to read the next book...so sad I have to wait so long!!