Water Keep

From Goodreads:    Other people may see thirteen-year-old Marcus Kanenas as an outcast and a nobody, but he sees himself as a survivor and a dreamer. In fact, his favorite dream is of a world far away, a world where magic is as common as air, where animals tell jokes, and where trees beg people to pick their fruit. He even has a name for this place-Farworld.

When Marcus magically travels to Farworld, he meets Kyja, a girl without magic in a world where spells, charms, and potions are everywhere, and Master Therapass, a master wizard who has kept a secret hidden for thirteen years, a secret that could change the fate of two worlds.

But the Dark Circle has learned of Master Therapass's secret and their evil influence and power are growing. Farworld's only hope is for Marcus and Kyja to find the mythical Elements-water, land, air, and fire-and convince them to open a drift between the worlds.

As Kyja and Marcus travel to Water Keep, they must face the worst the evil Dark Circle can throw at them-Summoners, who can command the living and the dead; Unmakers, invisible creatures that can destroy both body and soul; and dark mages known as Thrathkin S'Bae.
Along the way, Marcus and Kyja will discover the truth about their own heritage, strength of their friendship, and the depths of their unique powers.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a fun adventure!

-    I want to live in a world of talking animals, especially ones that tell jokes.

-    I really enjoyed this.  The characters were fun and very believable.  I think Marcus was such a realistic teenage boy.  His doubts and uncertainties were something every kid could relate to.

-    Kyja was a lot of fun.  I loved her confidence and determination. She was such a great asset to the story.  She also brought Riph Raph into the picture, and he was a lot of fun.  I loved the parts where she was so fascinated by every day things.  

-    There definitely needs to be more books to the story, so I'm glad there is more.  I'm excited to read the others.  The ending isn't killer, but the story isn't over.

-    I wish there had been more with the water people.  The cover is a little deceiving. We only get to meet the water elementals towards the very end.  Water is my favorite element, so I really wanted more!

-    I love that this is set in a fantasy world, but it is also set in the modern day world.  They way that this is handled is so creative and fun!

-    I loved the whole misfit theme in the book.  The 2 main characters don't really belong in their worlds, but they are trying their best.  I really think everyone can relate to that on some level. I really love how the characters grow and discover their strengths.

-    The covers on these books are awesome!


My Re-Read Thoughts:

-    I listened to the audiobook this time, and I definitely prefer reading the book myself.

-    The narrator wasn't very good. His voice for all the females is horrible. There was no expression, no emotion, or anything. The guys were fine, but he needs to work on his girl voices.

-    I forgot how fun this book is. Despite the narrator, I really enjoyed the characters and the story.