Animas: Legacy of the Claw by C.R. Grey

Hot Key Books, 2014. ISBN: 9781471401299
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Hal breathed in deeply, as if to steel himself against the words. He leaned in close to Bailey's ear. Then he said them, the words that hurt Bailey like a physical blow, like nothing but the truth could do: 'You have no Animas.'
Twelve year old Bailey Walker is different to every other kid at Fairmount Academy: He is the only one with no Animas. He thinks he is nothing special. A nobody.
But when the late King Melore's daughter, Princess Viviana, starts to threaten the safety of Parliament and the people, Bailey and his Professor Tremelo, team up with each other and discover life-changing secrets and revelations that could threaten Viviana's power and throne.
C.R. Grey has done a spectacular job of capturing the character's thoughts and feelings without writing in first person. As Legacy of the Claw is her first book I am positive her future in the world in writing will be a great one.
I would recommend this novel to people of any gender, 12 and above as there are some scenes where violence is used. I would also recommend this book to people who enjoy fantasy novels and The Golden Compass as the theme is very similar.
Jazmin Humphries, Year 7