Press
Reviews of Northlander:
"Peril and prejudice threaten a young healer-in-training in this promising fantasy. Although Southlings are treated with open contempt in the Northlands, a surreptitious plea for their help brings teenaged Ellin, the narrator, and her learned father over the border to heal the desperately ill Northlands king. Against their wills, Ellin and the king’s five grown sons find themselves liking each other, and Ellin discovers that she can talk with them mind to mind. She also comes to realize that her unusual gifts extend to psychic healing and to the ability to control the actions of others. Giving Ellin a lively character and the resilience to survive physical dangers and devastating personal losses, Burden places her in a conventional, wellordered setting, supplies a sturdy supporting cast and—an unusual touch—replaces the customary sorts of villains with people who resort to violent deeds out of innocence or good intentions. Although billed as the series opener for Tales of the Borderlands, this stands alone so well that it’s hard to see what’s coming next." —
John Peters, Booklist January 2008
"The author’s careful attention to everyday details builds a richly believable fantasy world with a medieval flair. A strong heroine, Ellin matures as the narrative progresses. There is plenty of action, danger, and page-turning suspense, and issues of prejudice and persecution are well handled. Science-fiction fans will appreciate the threat of mind control as a weapon. A satisfying ending with a hint of future romance will have readers eagerly awaiting the sequel. " –
Quinby Frank, Green Acres School, Rockville, MD, School Library Journal, February 2008
"Northlander is a great introduction to a potentially great series. The first book establishes Ellin as a character and introduces the conflict between Northlander and Southlander. We listen as Ellin presents her story from her point of view, and so we are privy to her private thoughts and musings. She is challenged to grow personally as she faces threats to her family and eventually her kingdom..." -
Fantasybookspot.com
"...I have to say that "Northlander" is a great book that I will put on my favorite list for sure. Ms. Burden is an awesome author that knows how to "pull" you into the story with the first paragraph." -
Reader Views Kids
"I was surprised, over and over again, by plot twists and character development and changes in perspective (both the characters' and mine) brought about by learning more and more about the situation. As I enjoyed the surprises so much, I'm not going to talk about what happens. But I will say that there is a newly-discovered talent shared by unlikely allies, a big battle, a group of traveling outlaws, the birth of a horse, and some time spent in a dungeon. It's a story that deals with prejudice, but also with the reasons behind it and the ways that people can overcome it. I'm very much looking forward to Book Two." -
Bookshelves of Doom
"Burden displays exceptional skill in simply stated characters and scenes that leave the reader room for imagination. The book is well-written and feels like a real, believable story throughout... Less than five percent of the books I review make it to our personal bookshelf –
Northlander is one of the books that have found a home there." -
Curled Up With a Good Kid's Book
"I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and recommend it to all who have found themselves on both sides of a drawn line. The characters are easy to identify with, and the plot rich and relevant. I will be keeping an eager eye out for Book Two." -
Teens Read Too
"There's a lot to like about Northlander. Rich world-building and interesting characters are only the start. It's a moving, layered fantasy with many unexpected plot twists. Ellin is a wonderful character; the present tense gives her first-person narration an immediacy that allows us to see her develop as she grows in understanding. But more than that, author Meg Burden pulls off a difficult feat: she gives the five sons of the king, including the twins, distinctive personalities. It would be easy to fall back on cliches in creating a group of siblings like that - the brainy one, the leader, etc - but Burden gave each character depth and ongoing development." -
Wands and Worlds
"Readers will love Ellin, and be on the edge of their seats at the choices she must make. A taut and suspenseful tale from new author Meg Burden, this is a
hugely satisfying beginning of the Tales of the Borderlands series, and readers will be anxious to read more." -
Readers' Rants
