Keeping Kaya-Book of Judan by Nicole Warner
Article by Teresa Ascone
February 7, 2009

From the first page, Chugiak High School sophomore Nicole Warner’s action-filled fantasy novel grabs us and we are drawn her into the world of Yame and his cohorts as they struggle with the eternal contest of good vs. evil. The evil is personified by the cruel and calculating Zain, Yame’s boss and quasi father figure, who is a charismatic leader of a group of henchmen who desire to take over the land of Judan. The youthful Yame, recently orphaned in a horrific attack on his village, struggles with his feelings of loyalty towards Zain who befriends and praises him. The youth searches for his courage as he  tries to understand the conflicts he sees, and is torn by the gradual realization that Zain brings evil to his land. As predicted in an ancient prophesy, Yame meets Kaya, a young girl who shares his desire to save the land of Judan and rescue the villagers from the cruel reign of Zain. Together with the village elders and Zain’s brother, the two young people search for the magic Book of Judan, which holds the power that Zain seeks to complete his takeover of Judan.

Warner relies greatly on dialogue to move the story along, and her descriptive passages transport the reader in the world that she has created. Such tried and true fantasy elements as demons, shape-shifting creatures, dragons, and nymphs bring our imaginations into play; Warner adds a contemporary flavor with the back-and-forth dialogue between Yame and Kaya.

Keeping Kaya: Book of Judan, available at barnesandnoble.com or authorhouse.com, is the first of a series of stories planned by Warner. Book two is already in production and she’s writing the third one in her fantasy series. The fifteen year old Warner began the book as a seventh grader, which shows that she possesses steadfast determination and the drive necessary to complete her ambitious project—a worthy accomplishment for anyone, let alone someone of her age. It’s a pleasure to witness young talent come to fruition in this, her first novel. May there be many more to come.