It's been a bit since I picked up a true, middle grade fantasy...as in one that heads into another world with magical creatures and the like. Today's read takes two characters from very different worlds and places them in...if I understood this correctly...a possible war between worlds. This book released in paper format last year but is, now, coming out in ebook and audiobook formats. The reviews have been pretty good, so far, so I'm curious to see how exciting it truly is.
Settle back into those chairs because we're heading into adventure pure! (I hope)
THE CURSE OF THE SILVAN OAKS
by Georgia Channon
Pushkin Children's Books
Middle Grade Fantasy
223 pages
ages 8 to 12
COMING SEPTEMBER 1st in Ebook and Audio Versions!!!
All is not well in the kingdom of Silvanland. An ancient feud between Queen Titania and King Oberon has turned into a merciless war, and a deadly curse festers in the sacred woods.
When young Prince Cory is kidnapped by Oberon's ruthless soldiers, the Silvan forces think all hope is lost. But fate has other plans. In the mortal world, hidden away in an old oak tree, there lies a portal. And through this portal a girl called Oli will soon fall. Her arrival in the magical land will change everything...
Thrown together unexpectedly, Oli and Cory find the fate of the Silvan kingdom now rests on their shoulders. Together they must escape the clutches of the wicked Queen Hellebore and travel to the very ends of the magical kingdom on a dangerous quest. They will face ruthless monsters and old, wicked magic, and will find help in the strangest of places.
The Curse of the Silvan Oaks is the sensational debut novel from author Georgia Channon, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It is a richly imagined, multiple perspective fantasy novel, set in the opulent fairytale world of Sacromund. With echoes of the great fantasy classics such as The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, this feast of a novel is sure to delight any reader looking for a magical new read.
When young Prince Cory is kidnapped by Oberon's ruthless soldiers, the Silvan forces think all hope is lost. But fate has other plans. In the mortal world, hidden away in an old oak tree, there lies a portal. And through this portal a girl called Oli will soon fall. Her arrival in the magical land will change everything...
Thrown together unexpectedly, Oli and Cory find the fate of the Silvan kingdom now rests on their shoulders. Together they must escape the clutches of the wicked Queen Hellebore and travel to the very ends of the magical kingdom on a dangerous quest. They will face ruthless monsters and old, wicked magic, and will find help in the strangest of places.
The Curse of the Silvan Oaks is the sensational debut novel from author Georgia Channon, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It is a richly imagined, multiple perspective fantasy novel, set in the opulent fairytale world of Sacromund. With echoes of the great fantasy classics such as The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, this feast of a novel is sure to delight any reader looking for a magical new read.
MY TIDBITS
With the atmosphere of epic fantasy, this tale dives into danger and magic with two characters to root for.
Oli is as normal as normal can be, so when she falls through a portal in a tree to find herself in a magical land, it's the last thing she expected to have happen to her. Then, there's Prince Cory who has been kidnapped by enemy forces as his kingdom faces the wrath of an evil queen. Together, the two set out on a quest to save Prince Cory's kingdom. But with dangerous monsters, evil intentions, and magic involved this is going to be more than just a difficult task.
If I had to compare this to a tale, I'd say it carries whispers of Narnia...but I say this with a broad reach. The world building in this book is rich. Very rich. The author adds details to bring the scenes and characters to visual life. This isn't done in a information drop, either, but rather filters in as necessary to create a smooth connection with the story flow. There are also quite a few characters and aspects involved. While Oli and Cory are the main characters and heroes of the tale, they are by no means alone. There's a huge wealth of personalities, creatures, and individuals, who play a role in the adventure and quest. From this side, the book leans toward the higher end of the intended age group and will delight fantasy fans with the imagination, intrigue, and world details. At the same time, other aspects run lighter. The magic and other rules aren't well laid out in comparison, and the vast amount of characters in less than 300 pages means that there is less development on that end. This side snuggles in nicely to the middle grade audience and leaves space for the adventure to unfold.
Oli and Cory draw in with their determination, forming friendship, and heart. Both are easy to root for as they try their best to overcome the impossible task. Readers get to know both as the chapters flip between their points of view. Other characters, however, aren't forgotten as the chapters switch to other perspectives as well. This helps the tale gain needed insight and stay compact, but also takes away from needed time with Oli and Cory, leaving them feeling a bit light, at times. The tale moves along quickly to keep readers in the pages and speeds toward the end. It will be interesting to see if a book two since there are enough open strings to latch onto, but this ending satisfies as well.
Fans of rich world building are sure to enjoy this one.
No comments:
Post a Comment