Review: Paladin (Firebrand Book 2) by Sarah MacTavish

Secrets are at the heart of Paladin, Sarah MacTavish’s inspirational work of historical fiction for young adults, and the second book in the Firebrand series.

It’s the spring of eighteen sixty-one. The country’s torn in half by those in the South who don’t want slavery to end and those in the north who find the concept despicable – so when Lincoln calls men to arms, four friends from Dove Hollow, Pennsylvania rise to the call.

Jack, Westleigh and Allison have their own reasons for joining, but collectively they’ve made a pact to protect the fourth member of their group. With her female form hidden in her too-big uniform and her shorn hair pulled under a cap, Saoirse Callahan is determined to prove that she’s as tough and brave as any male soldier. The only problem is, her cover is about to be blown by the unexpected arrival of a hated adversary…

MacTavish has crafted an admirable female protagonist in sixteen-year-old Saoirse. Spunky and fiercely independent, she’s determined to have the opportunities of any man. Born at a time when women were expected to be wives and mothers, she’s unwilling to accept the rigid dictates of her time. Her band of brothers, comprised of wise-cracking Allison, scholarly Westleigh, and fiercely-protective Jack, are never far from her side and are there to keep both Saoirse and her secret safe. Each character adds something special to their relationship with Saoirse and their bond with each other is undeniable, giving the book deep emotion and heart.

The dialogue in Paladin is relatively simple and the narrative thankfully unencumbered by overlong descriptive passages and yet the author’s words effectively resonate and paint vivid pictures for her readers. One can’t help but feel the friends’ aching feet from the endless marches, the bone-weary exhaustion from their neverending drills, the acrid smell of gunpowder as it fills their nostrils, and the soulless eyes of the dead soldiers passed in the aftermath of battle.

Although MacTavish’s telling of the story from various characters’ perspectives is interesting and mostly effective, it also has the effect of dispelling some of what should have been continuously mounting urgency or imminent fear at Saoirse being “found out.” This was an issue in the first novel as well, as Saoirse is the more dynamic character, yet the narrative concentrates on other characters who don’t always add to her story.

Additionally, though this is the second book in the series and doesn’t necessarily need to work as a standalone, it is nevertheless important to create more context and backstory – even for readers of the earlier installment, as readers may need to be reminded of earlier events. In this installment, past events are introduced and spoken of, but not fully explained, which wouldn’t necessarily be repetitive within the confines of a new volume. That said, MacTavish deftly leaves the reader wanting more with a cliffhanger ending that will have readers waiting for the next book in the series.

Ultimately, despite a few minor stumbling blocks, Paladin is a unique and moving novel about this turbulent time in American history that is sure to please fans of both YA and adult historical fiction.