Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite

Owen Black has created a first-rate young adult fantasy in "The Realms of Animar". Teenage Thane lives and goes to school in the village of Avryndale in Animar where everyone is called a polymorph for they have two forms, one human and one animal. The teacher at Thane's school is Lady Trussil who can morph into a bird, an Avian. When seven new students arrive at the school, Lady Trussil has Castor demonstrate for them how he turns into a beaver. Thane's father, Avryn, helped establish Avryndale five years before in such a way that life could be peaceful, but when Lady Trussil takes her students outdoors to play around and "morph", one of the students, Larissa, spots a vulture watching them from a tree. Lady Trussil knows it is an exceedingly bad omen. Then Thane and his friend Javan witness an attack by hyenas as more vultures descend from the sky, killing Dugan the giraffe. Could Fatalis, the Alpha Lord of all carnivores, want to kill Avryn and the people of Avryndale? And why?

"The Realms of Animar" is a highly well-written fantasy that young adults everywhere will love reading again and again. The setting, the characters both good guys and bad, and the plot line are totally believable even as characters "morph". All the characters are fascinating and well-developed. The dialogue is authentic. All these make "The Realms of Animar" a book that will not be easily forgotten. Highly recommended!