The first disturbing thing they notice is the disappearance of the cows, and while they are trying to understand what is happening, Isabel Margaret LaDuke, the “pretty good deer hunter,” and designer of couture bubble bath fashion goes missing. Then it dawns on them: “Behemorphs are back”! Izzy has been taken by a giant and can she prove her bravery for which she is known? She is now in the territory of the monsters, the giants, the shape-shifting creatures in the heart of the Behemorph Territory. She knows that befriending Boone, the leader of the hideous pack that threatens the life of the Groundlings, her own people, could be the only way to get home alive, but this “befriending” soon becomes an attachment that will be difficult to break away from. Meanwhile, there is a battle raging on between her people and the Behemorphs. Isabel’s heart is torn between returning to fight for her people and staying to save the monster. Can she make the choice that will allow her to connect with the values she’s grown up espousing?

The Seasons of a Giant by Pamela Hartley is a thrilling story, a fantasy with awesome characters and a great plot. This is a story driven by conflict and the conflict is expertly handled, right from the start. From the very beginning of the story, the reader is pulled in with the unsettling feeling that Izzy and her parents experience. The disappearance of the cows seems to trouble them enormously, and the reader gets the feeling that something more sinister is going to happen soon, and it does. Pamela Hartley’s writing is excellent, featuring beautiful passages, great dialogues, and poetry. She is able to create a unique culture for the Groundlings and depicts the perpetual struggle between these people and the Giants in the lore of two races. The Seasons of a Giant is a well-crafted fantasy with lovable and real characters. Great plot, wonderful themes, and a heroine caught in a tight dilemma. It is a fascinating read.

The Seasons of a Giant by Pamela Hartley is a fascinating fantasy with the potential to keep readers well entertained, the kind of story that arrests the attention of the reader and has it till the end. This is a great read featuring a strong conflict, a wonderful setting, compelling characters, including giants and monsters, and a heroine who is well- imagined and well-executed.

Isabel Margaret LaDuke is known for her exceptional skills; she is a great deer hunter, a courageous teenage girl, and a designer. Her life is disrupted by a “giant” problem. Their cows have been disappearing for some time now, and it seems like her parents talk about it in hushed voices. It’s a bad sign for Izzy who wants to know what is happening. But her curiosity and courage will lead her to the heart of the enemy land, a place of giants and shape-shifting monsters. She has a plan that will enable her to find her way safely back home to her people — conquer the heart of Boone, the monster. This could be an excellent move, but now she begins to like the monster and it’s at a time when her own people badly need her because they are already at war with the Behemorphs.

Pamela Hartley is a mistress in the craft of storytelling and she knows how to make the reader believe in her characters. Her writing was able to excite my imagination in wonderful ways, transporting me into the conflicted heart of the young heroine. I loved the action, the fast-paced plot, the awesome dialogues, the compelling characters, and the wonderful setting. This is fantasy at its best!