Stealing Death

Carey examines the intertwined natures of life and death in this enticing but problematic fantasy. After 17-year-old Kipp loses home and family (save for his little sister) in a fire, he becomes obsessed with beating death (known as the Gwali) so he’ll never lose anyone he loves again. A deal with a witch allows him to steal the Gwali’s horse and sack of souls (Kwaja), but forces Kipp to remain on the move, avoiding the Gwali and keeping Kwaja from stealing souls while Kipp seeks a way to destroy it. Along the way, he falls in love, battles injustice, confronts his enemies and comes to terms with his family’s death, while discovering the true nature of both the Gwali and Kwaja. Carey (Dragon’s Keep ) tries to explore difficult themes—death, the onset of adulthood and cultural prejudice—but the many ideas introduced aren’t given time to shine. Fairy tale elements and poetic descriptions lend a mythic quality, but stilted language and the sense that the story is stuck on fast-forward, as days and weeks fly by, make it hard to get deeply involved in Kipp’s travails. Ages 12–up. (Sept.)