Griffin Rising

Darby Karchut
Paladin Timeless Books (2011)
ISBN 9781606192108
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 14) for Reader Views (9/11)

“Griffin Rising” by Darby Karchut is the story of Griffin, a teenager who is an apprentice Terrae angel tasked with guarding the mortals of Earth.  For the first several years of his life, Griffin was housebound with a corrupt and evil mentor named Nicopolis.  Nicopolis beat Griffin and starved him unless Griffin and his powers bent to his will.  But then Basil came.  Basil was kind to Griffin and simply trained and taught him how to protect mortals.  Griffin and Basil masqueraded as home schooling father and son.  But Nicopolis wanted revenge.  Will Griffin ever escape the evil influence of his former mentor?
 
As Griffin grew older he practiced for his Proelium, the test that would determine whether he would become a Terrae angel or a mortal, he went on more and more missions to save mortals and hone his powers to precision.  He became adept at his use of his earth and fire powers.  But then, just before his Proelium, he learned that Nicopolis would be overseeing his test.  In a trial by combat, can Griffin defeat his evil and far more experienced former mentor?  
   
The night of the Proelium finally arrived.  Griffin and Basil went to the place where the Proelium was to be held.  The Proelium was a trial by combat between a mentor and an apprentice.  There was a large circle inscribed in the dirt of the floor.  Griffin would start in the center and then need to fight his way out.  His one advantage was that Nicopolis could only use one element.  But during the fight Nicopolis used two.  Will Griffin be able to finish his Proelium successfully and will Nicopolis’ treachery be discovered?
 
I would recommend “Griffin Rising” to people who like stories with characters who are tasked as guardians of Earth.  This book is kind of hard to describe because it doesn’t fall into a specific genre.  It had some action, some supernatural elements, some romance, and some every day life.  The book is the first in a series and left off on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next one.  The book was pretty short and I finished it soon after I started it.

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