LitPick Review
The Amber Crane follows the life of Peter Glienke, an amber craftsman apprentice during the Thirty Years' War in Stolpmende, Germany, in the year 1644. One fateful day, Peter discovered two pieces of amber on the beach and decided to keep them. His actions violated the law, which forbids locals from even walking on the beach, let alone picking up or keeping amber. This incident marked the beginning of new experiences for him. Peter began having vivid dreams which felt real set in about 300 years into the future. He now lives in the real world and the dream world. In the dream world, in the year 1944, there was also an ongoing war known as World War II . Peter met Lioba, a girl running away from her enemies, the Russians. He often meets her in odd and dangerous situations where he had to do what he can to help her. While he prepares for his upcoming apprenticeship examination, Peter has to deal with the challenges he faces in both worlds.
Opinion:
The characters in this story are well developed. I took a liking to a few characters amongst which are the main characters, Peter and Lioba. Peter is a risk-taker, strong-willed and daring, who longs to be free from the restrictions imposed on the people of Stolpmende. His ability to juggle his apprenticeship, family issues, and the dream world while maintaining secretiveness about the amber in his possession during such trying times is commendable. He is ambitious and grows to be a responsible person. Lioba, the girl Peter meets in the future, is a strong and determined person who cherishes her family and longs to be with them again. She's capable of holding her ground against her pursuers, which is commendable. Her ability to let go of her treasured possession when necessary is noteworthy.
The author did a really good job putting together an intriguing storyline. The transition from the real world to the dream world was flawless. There is a glossary of terms containing names of people and incidents related to the war etc. at the book's ending, which helped enhance the understanding of events mentioned in the book. One example is The New Tower where people who were accused of witchcraft were held and executed in the 17th century; this explanation helped me understand how terrible it must have been for the accused. The unique and detailed writing style with vivid descriptions of places, people, and events made the book more like a historical fiction novel than a fantasy novel. In both worlds, there were ongoing wars and the terrible state of the locals was clearly described. The book also has several twists and turns which keeps readers anticipating what happens next. I was on edge at those instances where Peter was almost caught having amber in his possession.
Although The Amber Crane has a remarkable storyline, I'd rate it a 4 out of 5. It has a few typos which weren't enough to disrupt the story's flow but could be a bit puzzling. In particular, the part of the book which talked about Master Nowak's (Peter's master) children, five children were mentioned initially yet four children were stated subsequently. The book also has a rape incident which may be quite unsettling for readers sensitive to such content. Overall though, I'd recommend this book to lovers of history, adventure, and fantasy novels. It's a great read.
