The Pearl of the Soul of the World by Meredith Ann Pierce

A pale girl is lost underground. She does not know who she is or how she got where she is, just that the torturous pain behind her ear forbids her from learning anything about her. She then meets the last of the Ancient Ones, Ravenna, who gives her a blazing sword and a pearl that contains the knowledge and soul of the world. Ravenna tells the girl that in order to save the world; she must give the pearl of the soul of the world to the horrible Witch. That's the same witch that has brought a terrible drought upon their fragile world. Join this mysterious girl as she journeys to the Witch's Palace and discovers that sometimes, you must sacrifice all you love for a greater cause.

The Pearl of the Soul of the World was an okay book. If you'd like to read it, just make sure you read the first two books in the Darkangel series, or you'll feel just as lost as the girl in the beginning. At some parts, there was a little too much detail that made you want to skip ahead a few paragraphs, and sometimes there wasn't enough. Sadly, the ending was a cliffhanger, and it left me wishing that this was not the last book in the trilogy! So much was left unsaid and explained. The author's style, however, was beautiful and made up for everything the book lacked. You felt the same pain, sacrifice, and love that the pale girl felt. A great lesson awaits anyone who reads it. I'd recommend The Pearl of the Soul of the World to anyone who likes foreign, magical worlds and fantasy.

Reviewer Age: 14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Coatesville, PA USA