Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Amazon Barnes & Noble.com Category:  Fantasy Publisher: Tor ISBN-10:  0765302896 Type: Fiction Pages: 318 Copyright: Sept 2002 ISBN-13: 9780765302892 Price: $5.12 (eBook) Tria Tesserell enrolls in the Lesley Simonton School for the Magically Gifted to discover her gifts and learn to use them, but that training involves challenges she never expected. Both apprehensive and excited about her new school—The Lesley Simonton School for the Magically Gifted—Tria Tesserell is nevertheless unprepared for her biggest shock of all: her new roommate, Lina, a shapechanger who assumes the form of a black panther. Impatient with rules and homework, Lina violates school rules by using her power at will and against whoever displeases her. But real trouble is on the brew when Oryon—a class­mate of formidable power but bent to dark purpose—decides to ally himself to evil.  Conspiring with evil entities known as Dire Women, Oryon causes two classmates to disappear … imprisoned in a terrifying world beyond the reach of anyone but Tria. To save them Tria will have to make a journey unlike any she has ever known. A journey into the heart of Evil.       Excerpt Resting on a bed of white satin was a gold chain with a sparkling crystal globe, about the size of a walnut. With a cry of wonder Tria lifted the chain from the box and cradled the crystal in the palm of her hand. Tears filled her eyes as she thought how she’d been cheated of the delight of opening the gift in Wilce’s presence, of seeing his pleasure at her joy…. The crystal warmed, reddened. Tria lifted it closer to her face, stared into it. Within it, white against the surrounding crimson glow, a parchment unrolled and tiny words appeared in smoking black letters. Tria, the message said, don’t try to find me. It is too late. It will lead only to destruction.

I cannot put it into words!!!!
It was.... outstanding!! i really cannot believe that it could weigh your brain down that much, yes i am talkin to you, it's really not!! : 0... I thought it was MUCH better than Harry Potter! Though the only thing that confused me was the part were there were all of these Trias running around. other than that it was great! I have read this book many times and each time i get captured in its pages! I simpily cannot stop reading it! I guess that many people don't get it, because they think on it too much or don't think about it at all. If anyone who puts this book as a 1 star than...either you are totaly MAD, or you dont even try to get the book and rate it little because of your misfortune. Anyway this book is cleverly written and I understand how hard it would be to edge around J.K. Rowling's work, and I think that makes it a good book, i mean the first part people say that it sounded a LOT like HP. But it's not! It had to be clever to make a difference! I LOVED this book I would read it forevermore!
Anonymous

will appeal to the Potter crowd
Tria has resigned herself to working on a farm and marrying a farmer but thanks to the machinations of her mother she is going to the Simonton School for the Magically Gifted. When she first arrives she is very disappointed because it is a run down place with few students. Her roommate is a selfish, conniving and untrustworthy minx who gets out of work duty and sets one boy against another.

Over time, Tria adjusts and even has a date for the mid-winder festival. That happy occasion turns to tragedy when her enemy Oryon uses his considerable powers to send Tria date and his friend into the realm of the Dire Women, dark spirits who dwell in another dimension. Tria has a lot of power but she fears she won¿t be able to learn how to use it in time to save her friends.
E. Rose Sabin is a gifted storyteller whose debut novel will appeal to the J.K. Rowling crowd, as this novel is a teenage Potter-like tale. The protagonist is a thoroughly likable young woman who makes mistakes and learns from them. Her adventures in the school and her interactions with other students make for fascinating reading. It is hoped that this is only the first novel in what could be a great series.
Harriet Klausner