Gr 4--8--Tor Luna has always known how his monotonous life will go. In his home on Emblem Island, people are born with their lifelines written on their hands and an emblem (a gift) on their skin. Tor's leadership emblem and smooth-fated lifeline motivates him to ask the wish-gods on New Year's Eve for a new power. Instead, Tor is cursed with a wicked marking that drastically shortens his lifeline. Teaming up with his best friend Engle and clever classmate Melda, Tor begins a journey across the island in search of the one person who can change his fate, the Night Witch. Aster kicks off a new series encompassed in a Latin American myth-based world. The story line is embellished with excerpts from The Book of Cuentos, Emblem Island's ancient text, to expand on the islanders' lore while subtly foreshadowing future events. The vibrant detail given to each village Tor travels through (like a phosphorescent jungle or formidable Amazonian giantesses) provides rich scenery that is a delight to imagine. Embedded in Tor's cross-island trek are a multitude of life lessons, such as accepting failure, asking for help, practicing humility, and finding honest people. Discerning readers may spot the final twist early, though this won't dampen the ending as it unravels. VERDICT A fast-paced island adventure with enough quirks to entice most young fantasy readers.--Emily Walker, Lisle Lib. Dist., IL

New Year's Eve has finally arrived on Emblem Island, and for 12-year-old Tor Luna, it means an opportunity to wish away the leadership emblem he so deeply loathes. Amid the annual festivities, Tor casts his wish to the wish-gods in hopes of a new emblem--a marker on one's skin--that will grant him the power to become a water-breather, forsaking the leadership path forged by his Chieftess mother. Alas, his wish backfires when he awakens the next day cursed with a shorter lifeline instead. It's the Night Witch's mark, a black eye marked upon his skin. Now the young boy must travel across Emblem Island to confront the wicked Night Witch and reverse the curse. With two companions--Engle, his comically brave best friend, and Melda, an intelligent, cunning girl--Tor embarks on an adventure charted in The Book of Cuentos, a collection of folklore based on the various enchanting, cruel inhabitants--Emblemite and beast alike--of Emblem Island. Aster's debut includes the fruitful elements of a riveting tale: lovable characters, thrilling heroics, and villainous fiends. What sets this series opener apart is the author's exquisite use of real Latin American folktales to broaden her fiction, bolstering the particulars of the world she creates here. Pages from The Book of Cuentos fill the gaps between each chapter, providing island lore for flavor and context. Tightly paced, Tor's adventure concludes with a promise of more to come. Worthy of every magical ounce. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

On Emblem Island, people are born with marks on their wrist that represent their powers and lifelines on their palms that show their fate. Tor Luna bears a leadership emblem, meaning he'll follow in the footsteps of his mother, but he wants more than the boring future that his flat lifeline predicts. On New Year's Eve, Tor wishes for a different emblem, but he wakes up the next day with a curse instead. With the help of two friends, Tor embarks on a quest woven with color and magic to find the fabled Night Witch and break his curse. Aster takes readers on a journey across Emblem Island, a land bursting with fantastical creatures and ancient stories inspired by Latin American myths. Despite some flat characterization, Aster balances a fast-paced plot rife with hair-raising action and snippets of Emblem Island folklore, offering a story about sacrifice and risk-taking that's great for young mythology fans, and ending with the promise of a thrilling sequel.

Tor Luna, 12, was born with a leadership emblem; the "two purple rings around his left wrist" signify that he will someday lead, just like his chieftess mother. Hoping to become a water-breather, instead--swimming is his great joy and source of calm--he wishes on the New Year's Eve bonfire; during the yearly celebration, anything can happen. Instead of a changed emblem, though, he's struck by a witch's curse, one that cuts his lifeline, and his friends', to a single week. To find the fabled Night Witch and break the curse, Tor, sharp-eyed Engle, and natural leader Melda venture through the most dangerous, magical regions of Emblem Island, using a volume of old stories, The Book of Cuentos, as their guide. Debut author Aster takes inspiration from Colombian folklore to craft a rousing series opener that's both fast-paced and thrilling. As her protagonists face off against a host of horrors, they learn the value of friendship and explore the possibility of changing one's fate in a world where destiny is predetermined. Excerpts from Tor's Book of Cuentos grant further insight into the vividly built world's monsters, legends, and cautionary tales. Ages 8--12. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary. (June)