The Caller by Juliet Marillier

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Shadowfell series, bk 3. Pan Macmillan, 2014. ISBN 9781742612454.
(Age 13+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. Only when Neryn has been trained by all four of the Guardians will she be ready to play her part as a Caller and help the rebels to topple the evil King Keldec. She seeks out the mysterious White Lady but she is not what Neryn expected and is fast facing extinction. Neryn pushes on, knowing that Flint is in mortal danger of being exposed as a traitor to the King, who has found a Caller of his own, one who is grabbing hold of the minds of the Good Folk of the Kingdom.
Marillier is one of my favourite fantasy authors, whose books I always look forward to reading. It has been a pleasure to read this beautifully written fantasy series, and to follow the growth of Neryn as she progresses from a shy girl to a leader who is prepared to take risks for what she believes in. Not only do her skills develop as she learns from the Guardians, but her self-confidence and ethic certainly also grow.
Marillier's ability to write wonderful fantasy romances is on display in this series. The romance between Flint and Neryn is bittersweet, each knowing that the fate of the Kingdom is more important than being together, and even though they don't spend much time together, their feelings for each other are beautifully described. Flint is such a courageous young man, and as a reader I had to hold my breath as he faced possible betrayal by his team and the King's Caller.
There is plenty of action as Neryn travels across the country to find the White Lady and then finally faces the King and his Caller. Readers who enjoy the quest in fantasy will be satisfied by the conclusion of this series as Marillier wraps up the story in a satisfying way.
The Shadowfell series was written for young adults who are sure to enjoy the well written prose, wonderful setting, and memorable characters. They could then move onto Marillier's Sevenwaters series or The Bridei chronicles written for adults, equally as powerful and memorable.
Pat Pledger