The Mask of Tamirella is a young adult novel set against the savage backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world, where technology is virtually non-existent. From the debris of a Great War, a caste-like society has arisen, a chain of tribal communities overlooked by Elders and their artefact hunting people. Across the broken landscape, in subterranean excavations known as ‘digs’, the Finders and Strikers sift through the rubble of the Great War’s aftermath, seeking to unravel the mysteries of the past.

To this end, sixteen-year-old Caitlanna Mullen, not yet elected to position of Finder but eager to realise her late father’s dreams, steals the Mask of Tamirella from another nearby community (called ‘sanctions’) and as a result puts her own people in jeopardy.

As punishment, the Elders send the orphan Caitlanna and her guardian Marjordan on a perilous journey through mutant forests and the much-feared Rotted City, where the diseased ground threatens death at every step. Caitlanna heads toward another hazardous dig site and the promise, upon a successful return, of attaining the desired position of Finder.

Several interesting characters join Caitlanna on her travels, including Quinpatrik, the man that she secretly loves. However, by sanction law, Caitlanna cannot officially consummate these affections until she has first attained adulthood.

The Mask of Tamirella sets an agreeable pace from start to finish, and there are many surprises along the way, including thrilling encounters with dagbeasts and mutants, while strange revelations about the enigmatic Mask and the shadowed secrets of history whet the reader’s appetite for more. Yet it is Cait’s longing for the grown-up Quin that forms the backbone of this novel.

Dana Davis handles her theme of adolescent yearning with genuine sensitivity. The magic of this tale lies in the straightforward narrative and the authentic, witty dialogue. A subtle humour threads through the interaction between the characters, and each individual has a distinctive ‘voice’, which is delightfully consistent during the story. Caitlanna is a convincing teenager, and on the whole, all the characters are well realised and the various scenes easy to imagine. The vaguely science fiction atmosphere never overwhelms the plot, but neither does it become so faint as to be ineffectual, and there is a core of realism to this story that lends it a certain gravitas.

To jaded adult eyes, I found the novel an engaging, thought provoking and enjoyable read. One expects that a young adult audience will find The Mask of Tamirella enchanting, informative, and empathetic toward teenage relationship issues, while also being a wonderful adventure story.

JwBennett 2007