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Moving Target (Moving Target, Book 1) by Christina Diaz Gonzalez (2015)

2/8/2021

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By Piranha T.

Cassia Arroyo still thinks she’s normal the day her dad pulls her out of school and tells her they’re leaving the country. Cassie has been a lot of places and done a lot of things—Rome is just the latest of many homes—but this is definitely new. In the rapid car ride which follows, all he tells her is that someone wants to kill her before he’s injured and hospitalized, leaving Cassie alone in Rome, with no idea who she can trust and who might be a potential assassin.

Following her dad’s instructions, Cassie finds Brother Gregorio, an elderly monk who tells her all the secrets her dad never did. The car chase through the streets of Rome is only one event in a story which has been unfolding for the past two hundred years. He explains that there is a magical spearhead, called the Spear of Destiny, which can alter fate itself. And Cassie is one of only a few people who can use it.

Unfortunately, an organization known as the Hastati believes that the spear is too dangerous. They meant to hide it, but thirteen years ago, it disappeared. Their solution? Kill everyone who can use it. And Cassie is their next target.

Cassie doesn’t plan on sitting around, waiting for the Hastati to murder her. She figures that if she finds the spear and gives it to them, they won’t care about killing her anymore. With the help of Simone, her sarcastic best friend, and Asher, Brother Gregorio’s cautious nephew, Cassie sets off on a search across Italy, from crumbling cities to powerful fortresses and beyond. But there are more secrets than Cassie knows. And most of them aren’t pleasant.

Can Cassie find the Spear of Destiny? And even if she does, will it be enough to save her life?

​Moving Target is a fast-paced fantasy novel full of twisting plotlines, brilliant characters, and nefarious enemies. It’s set in a modern world, and Christina Diaz Gonzalez does a beautiful job of staying in that spirit, even with a story full of ancient lore and mystical objects and cities straight out of fairytales. I also love her use of the backdrop of Italy. Cassie is a great main character who feels like a normal kid, despite the dangerous story she’s in the center of. The supporting cast is also brilliant; I particularly like the conflict between Simone and Asher. This book is full of action and plot twists and is perfect for readers who love fast-paced fantasy. I recommend Moving Target to readers ages eleven and up. 

Note: If you enjoy Moving Target, check out both our interview with the author, Christina Diaz Gonzalez, and the sequel, Return Fire​, which we loved! 

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