I just finished a book entitled "Avielle of Rhia" by Dia Calhourn. Though it is basically for young people (teenagers), it is riveting tale of the journey of self discovery of the protogonist, Princess Avielle of Rhia. Through her, the readers will be able to pick up the dangers of discrimination, of demonizing a people as the enemy, of how God (or in this case, the Goddess) is light and love; and that it is us who turns to evil and not God who sends the evil to us.

The cover of the book gave this summary:

"With her silver skin and silver hair, fifteen year old Princess Avielle of Rhia resembles her Dredonian great-great grandmother who practiced evil magic. Everyone in Rhia expects Avielle to turn evil, too. Shunned by those around her, she feels unloved and unable to love others. In addition, she fears that Rhia will go to war with Dredonia. The enemy kingdom suffers under the rule of evil wizard-priests: the Brethren of the Black Cloaks. They have made impossible demands on Rhia, and the king and queen have refused to acquiesce.

One terrible night, the Brethren attack, killing the royal family and hundreds of others. Only Avielle escapes. She must keep her identity secret, however, since the Brethren want to kill her. While hiding among the common people, she learns that she has a magical gift for weaving. But will this gift, rooted in her Dredonian blood, lead Avielle to the same evil that possessed her great-great-grandmother? Or will it help her free her people from further attacks?

Avielle embarks on a dangerous journey, risking everything as she descends into the midnight of her soul and discovers her destiny."

It is definitely a very good story with excellent but eccentric characters besides Avielle. And the storytelling is also very engaging. I truly recommend it for it addresses, indirectly, what we are now being confronted with almost everyday...especially the young people....the discrimination and the demonisation of people different from us. Take for example the Afghans, what comes to mind is firstly Taliban and Al-Qaeda. But we forgot the hundreds of thousands of ordinary Afghans who like the rest of us are struggling with their daily lives, struggling to rebuild their wartorn country, of the family responsibilities thrusted upon the widows and the orphans.

There are many passages in the book that I like, but this one is particularly striking:

"The weaving showed hands clasped together: brown, black, white, and silver. Hands that were rough, hands that were smooth, hands that were young, hands that were feeble, old, big, and small. All were raised. And in the center, two brown hands held up the silver bowl of the Goddess used in the Sacrament of Love."

Do go to your library or the bookshop and read it.

Cheers,

Sid