Great book. Of course I couldn't help but love a main character who is so entranced by the performances of a traveling acting troupe and aspires to join them. I don't know, maybe I'm missing the mark in saying this, but I felt like this was almost dystopian lite. As in, dystopian for 9 year olds. Kind of serious, a little dark. The supposed good guys running the kingdom are actually the bad guys. Looking forward to reading the next in this series. I recommend this! In Keara’s world, each infant is assigned a darkbeast, a creature that takes away all the bad emotions and behaviors normal children have like jealous, hatred, disobedience, and stubbornness. These darkbeasts may be bats, rats, spiders, lizards, snakes, or other hard to love creatures. The creatures provide their assigned child with comfort, advice, support, and freedom from their bad choices, thoughts, and actions. Then, when the child enters adulthood at the age of twelve, he or she must enter the temple of Beastius and murder the darkbeast, accepting adult responsibility for his or her actions from that point forward. The problem is that Keara doesn't hate Caw or find him repulsive, as other children do their darkbeasts. She loves Caw. He is her first and best friend, her adviser, her comfort, and sometimes her conscious when she is trying to decide what to do and how to behave. When Keara's twelfth birthday arrives, she simply cannot kill Caw. Her refusal to kill her darkbeast forces Keara to leave her mother, her home, and the only way of life she has ever known because in Keara's world, she has broken the law. Now the Inquisitors are after her and if they find her, she will be forced to kill Caw and then be painfully and brutally punished. Can Keara escape the Inquisitors? Can she keep Caw alive? Where will she find safety and shelter? Keara's world, its twelve gods and goddesses, and rules she must live by are carefully crafted by Keyes and the mythology of her world is woven through the tales of the Travellers, who go from village to village performing tales of the Twelve. Students who enjoy fantasy worlds, enjoyed Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass, and are interested in a good adventure will enjoy this tale. A sequel, Darkbeast Rebellion, is also available.
What do You think about Darkbeast (2000)?
Meh. The concept deserved an older voice. Too young and shallow for the core idea and worldbuilding.
—soretudo2
Fun, unique middle grade. End left me really wanting the sequel. Glad it's already out. *orders*
—Carrie
The main character was whiny and unlikeable and the book was extremely preachy.
—tyler
this is an exciting full of adventure and fun
—fairy
