Review: A well-crafted, fast-paced fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 16, 2012
When two Redcaps, ugly little creatures with gruesome faces, enter Jack's bedroom with evil intent, he is forced to flee, with the help of his faerie mentor Puck. Thus begins an adventure from which he will never return. But that's okay with Jack because his parents think he is a good-for-nothing lay-about who will never amount to anything. The first stop on his odyssey is the village bonfire celebrating Midsummer's Eve, where he encounters his classmate, Steph. Much to Jack's surprise, Steph can see Puck, for on this particular evening, the veil between the Fairie World and World of Men is thinnest.Steph shelters him for the night, but he is clearly still in danger. This time when he flees, Steph goes with him. Oh, and they also pick up a brownie named Tom who has been hanging out, unseen up until now at Steph's house. Through woods, up rivers, across bogs and into crystal caves, the foursome flees, not just from Redcaps, but from huge black dogs and underground monsters with oily black tentacles. Unbeknownst to Jack, while he is fleeing his enemies, he is also moving towards his destiny.The story is a well-crafted, fast moving fantasy sure to appeal to young readers of this genre. I recommend it to all middle grade fantasy lovers.