This is the third of Margaret Mahy's books that I have read and I think I can say that it is by far my favourite. I think I enjoyed it the most because the travelling circus gave a unique atmosphere to the story. The fantasia seemed more like a character itself than a setting and it travelled through so many different locations, giving the whole book quite a sense of adventure. I loved the idea of a travelling circus full of many different personalities, all moving together to various places just hoping to find an audience to perform to. This may have been my favourite part of the book. The Fantasia was lovely to read about.Another part of the story that shone out to me was the relationship between Garland and her mother and how they each coped after the death of Garland's father. Both were very powerful characters and they clashed a lot in the story, but beneath that was a deep familial love for one another that nothing could beat. Garland's mother Maddie was strong and dedicated and Garland rightfully felt that Maddie could lead the Fantasia on after the loss of her father. But what Garland didn't always understand is that she was not the only character grieving. Her mother and her father's friends all deeply missed him too and they were just trying to keep going, to do what he would have wanted and keep the Fantasia moving. Garland's hostility towards Yves was also great to read. She thought he was trying to take her father's place, by leading the Fantasia and comforting her mother, and it takes a long time for her to come to terms with the fact that he cared about her father as well and his actions are in the best interests of all of them.
The main character of Garland was very likeable. She was kind but not too soft. She had a great strength and determination that she clearly inherited from her parents and their lifestyle. She goes through a lot in this story and is tested in many different ways, but always fights back, stays strong and takes any adventure that is offered to her. Through this sense of adventure she meets two brothers and their baby sister who claim to be from a very unpleasant future. Their stories all intertwine and, as they travel together escaping evil henchmen time and time again, they face many different unpleasant experiences in their journey. Fake witches, mind altering food, towns ruled by irresponsible children and even communities that had been abandoned since they last visited them. Though the world they're in is very hostile and dangerous as long as they're together and able to perform to an audience then the Fantasia will survive.
The brothers, Timon and Eden are also both great characters. The older brother looking like a prince from a fairytale, but with his own dark secret and the younger who looks like he is an extension of the forest and is able to conjure flowers to fall from the air and the ground to bounce like a trampoline. The boys are determined to change the future they have come from and prevent the evil Nennog from ever taking power but their every footstep is followed by the Nennog's evil henchmen, one human, one that appears human.
Together the Fantasia must fight future evil and current hostility everywhere they go, defeating many challenges and always remaining unified and strong. It was an enjoyable escapist read and I'm glad to have found something of Mahy's that I could enjoy as much as I'm sure the author deserves.
