Sam’s Quest for the Crimson Crystal
Author: Ben Furman
Publisher: Black Hawk Press, Inc.
Rating: 
Reviewed by: Cheryl C. Malandrinos
An entertaining and exciting read awaits young adult readers in Sam’s Quest for the Crimson Crystal by Ben Furman.
Samantha Mae Costas (Sam) is not your typical heroine. Her small size and thick glasses have made her the butt of many jokes and her asthma attacks are embarrassing and difficult to control.
When Prince Buznor pleads with her to come to Innerworld, Sam discovers she’s a legend. She must push aside self-doubt and fear to find the Crimson Crystal so she can save the Awokian people from elimination.
Sam’s Quest for the Crimson Crystal is a fun read. Young people will easily relate to Sam’s feelings of self-doubt and how she deals with her asthma separating her from her friends when she can no longer participate in soccer. And this is part of what makes Sam’s role in Innerworld so delightful. She is thrust into a battle that tests her limits and is forced to reconsider everything she believes about herself.
In addition to Prince Buznor (Buzz), Sam meets a host of interesting characters along the way: Captain Gorn, who has trained all the soldiers and who is a good friend of Buzz and his family; Kryton, the leader of the dragonflies who can communicate with Sam; and Raptor, a bird who also has reptilian features, along with an eclectic group of others. Many friendships are forged along the journey, and Patch, Sam’s trusted and faithful canine companion has such a strong personality that you would swear he was human.
With Sam’s Quest, Furman has created a fun new world for fantasy lovers to explore.
A terrific, satisfying, and entertaining story that will leave you begging for more. I eagerly anticipate the release of the next book in the Sam’s Quest trilogy.
the book rack 
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Thanks for the book review and for hosting the first of the Sam’s Quest trilogy. I’ll check back periodically to see if there are any questions to be answered. Again, thanks much!
Ben
What an imagination this author has! I love it!
Glad you liked the review Ben. I really enjoyed this book and I’m not even a big fan of fantasy novels. Can you talk about one of the other characters from the novel? Just give us a low down on who he or she is.
Good luck with the tour.
Cheryl
You bet, Cheryl,
Kryton, king of the combat dragonflies, is at the top of my character list. The Awokians from Innerworld use irridescent blue dragonflies much like calvary. They are matched against the stronger, heavily armored, more brutish black charger wasps that are ridden by the war-bent Zogs. In open air combat the dragonflies’ speed and agility negate the strength advantage of the wasps — they can hold their own.
Kryton is a maverick, inclined to do the opposite of what his rider directs. Even though he’s the largest and most powerful, the Awokian soldiers pass him by to reach more docile mounts. As Sam prepares to begin her quest he reaches out telepathically and volunteers to help keep her safe as she makes the perilous journey. Against the objections of all, Sam leaps on Kryton’s back and charges into the night. As it turns out, trusting Kryton was a smart thing to do.
I liked Kryton and Sam couldn’t have asked for a better mount.
Cheryl
Enjoyable read as we go along with Samantha on her struggle to figure out her place in this world – and other worlds!