Pendragon: #6 The Rivers of Zadaa

After his adventures on Eelong in Book #6 The Rivers of Zadaa, Bobby Pendragon is now on Zadaa. Lets see how it goes...


Here is the summary:


Bobby Pendragon's pursuit of the evil Saint Dane leads him into the dangerous territory of Zadaa, which is locked in a civil war between two rival tribes. As Bobby and Traveler Loor attempt to pacify the region, he begins to realize that he has been transformed by his quest. An exciting fantasy series for readers 12 and up.

This story takes place mainly on a territory called Zadaa. There will be two main tribes here: The Rokador and the Batu. The Rokador live in tunnels underground and are fair-skinned, while the Batu are dark-skinned and live in a sunbathed city called Xhaxhu in the desert. For years, the Rokador have relied on the Batu to protect them from other savage tribes on Zadaa, and the Batu have relied on the Rokador to provide them with water. But the Rokador seem to be holding back the water, causing all the Batu to starve.

The struggle of good versus evil continues as Bobby Pendragon follows Saint Dane to the territory of Zadaa. Saint Dane's influence has fueled the fire of discontent between two warring tribes: the Rokador and the Batu. This is also the territory where the Traveler Loor lives as a member of the Batu. Together she and Bobby must work to thwart Saint Dane's efforts to destroy Zadaa.


But as Bobby pursues Saint Dane, he begins to notice changes in himself. He is no longer a flip kid looking for excitement. He is a young man beginning to see this quest as more than a series of adventures. He is also learning that as a Traveler, he had powers no normal human should have.


Zadaa was narrowly -- very much so --- narrowly saved, and like the other Territories is tremendously improved by the change. The city of Xhaxhu and its underground sibling Kidik merge into a single, very fertile and gigantic oasis, after the underground explodes in water. 


In many ways, "Rivers" is a reworking of "The Merchant of Death". The parallel of two rival tribes being forced by a self-instigated catastrophe to co-operate is unmistakeable. In addition, the Traveler Alder, from Denduron, joins with Bobby, the acolyte Saangi, and Loor for this mission. Just as well, as I see it, is the way Bobby handles his feelings for Loor. Rather than beat about the bushes, he tries to kiss her as a signal. When she withdraws, her explanation is simple; they may love each other, but they cannot be together because an emotional bond would interfere with their interrealitial war for the future of Life. 


Yet by the end of the book, the whole nature of their war has changed. No longer is Saint Dane's plan merely to destroy the civilizations of Halla; now he is mounting a personal campaign to entrap and kill the Travelers themselves. To this end, he attacks Bobby on Zadaa, then puts Courtney Chetwynde in danger while at the same time making himself a science partner with Bobby's acolyte, Mark Dimond. Later in the game, Saint Dane's wrath is out of control, to the extent that he slays Loor outright. But he evidently has not counted on the Traveler dependence of Need; Because Halla needs Loor, Bobby is able to heal her. Although no idea how that healing stuff works.

The dialog is now reaching a level of Good. You can sense Bobby's feelings towards Loor in this one, if you read the others you may have already. Bobby has grown up and is begining to show it. Still a teenager? Yes But now sounds older and more responsible? Yes. He thinks about his old life and knowing now he will never go back to that.

But i'll say it again it is a great time killer but not exactly appealing to me. Although book 2, 3 and 4 were my favourite so far.

Genre :      Fiction, Young Adult, Coming of Age


Publisher: Simon & Shuester


Rate:              4/5 (really liked it)