Katie W Stewart

A story for younger children which I enjoyed very much.

The Dragon Box

Amazon.com The Dragon Box

My review -

This is a children’s story about James, a boy who takes part in what seems to be an adventure game, conceived by and featuring his elderly neighbour Mack. In the game, he meets characters who very closely resemble people he knows in real life. Mack assures him that he is safe and he can quit and exit the game at any time. He carries a device with a red button in his pocket for this purpose. The story takes the form of the traditional ‘quest’ tale with James being sent to search for three seemingly impossible things to bring back to the witch, Khalana. Although Mack could tell him the answers, he encourages James to work things out for himself.

This is a lovely, fluent story which will appeal to the sense of adventure in all children. There is often a real sense of danger and we are relieved each time James succeeds. I’m sure I’m not the only reader who was enchanted with the little dragon on the cover, which James called Ben. A book for younger readers will often fail to keep an adult’s attention but this was a splendid story, beautifully told. What more do you need to encourage young readers to become old readers?

Katie W Stewart

This is the sequel to the wonderful Treespeaker.  It's thoughtful imaginative and gripping enough for any age.

Song of the Jikhoshi

Amazon.com Song of the Jikhoshi

My review - 

This book follows Treespeaker, but with a lapse of 12 years.  Jakan, erstwhile Treespeaker for his tribe (the one who is in contact with the spirit of the forest) is now the chief elder.  His adopted son, Zanarr, is displaying frightening talents.  He is a sorcerer and the members of the tribe are afraid of him.  His foster father trusts him and tries to teach him to use his powers wisely.  Zanarr feels inadequate to the tasks he is burdened with (as do we all!) and only wants to be liked by his peers and accepted by his people.  There’s great Evil abroad in the forest, following an earthquake, and Jakan, in his attempt to follow the good path, is in danger of losing both his sons.  This is the age old story of good and evil, played out largely in the home of a forest dwelling, peaceful tribe.

This story has great depths, dealing as it does with feelings of inadequacy, fear of letting down those we love, fear of harming others with our strengths or abilities.  Katie Stewart’s writing is always clear, uncluttered but remarkably evocative and descriptive.  Her forest is there before me, her characters feel like people I know.  She’s got a great talent – and she designs her own covers too!  Excellent!

Katie W Stewart

I read this story in a couple of sittings.  It's excellent - and it makes you care.

Treespeaker

Amazon.com  Treespeaker

My review -

This is a fantasy tale for Young Adults, but people of that age pull no punches and neither does the author. Jakan, the Treespeaker, is one of a tribe of forest dwellers and through his gifts he can discern the will of Arrakesh, a forest spirit. Someone arrives within their community with the intention of cutting down the forest and enslaving the people. It's not an uncommon theme and was effective in Avatar, for example. Here, it's handled extremely well and touches upon human emotions and motivations with which young adults are just coming into contact, though they will deal with them as older adults too! We feel the greed of the interloper, the unfairness of what happens to Jakan, the disempowerment of the Treespeaker and the helplessness of his tribe. On the plus side we meet with loyalty, friendship, an urge for the common good, and I'm always happy to 'meet' a wise older woman - I like a good role model!

Katie W Stewart has an excellent writing style. It's clear, engages the reader in the subject and makes the characters feel real. I found that I cared about Jakan and his family and about the fate of the forest. I loved some of the other characters he met too, including the little girl who helped him when he was injured. If you're a lover of a good fantasy adventure story, enjoy some deeper things to think about than just orc and mage wars, and appreciate some good quality writing, this is absolutely the book for you. I enjoyed it hugely!

Katie W Stewart

Kaie writes fantasy for Young Adults but doesn't write down to them.

Mark of the Dragon Queen

Amazon.com  Mark of the Dragon Queen

My review -

This book, written for Young Adults, had this Old Adult completely in thrall. I enjoy fantasy fiction and this, with its magicians, dragons, crystals, had the lot. It was imaginative, the story moved along at a good pace and I was drawn in from the beginning. There was some lovely use of language in here too and the characters were exceptionally well drawn. I found them believable. Good people can be saccharine if not allowed to have some flaws but these were great characters, warts and all.

I love a book whose author's passion for the story pulls me in. I can't abide blandness. This tale explored many deep emotions, anger, fear, suspicion, jealousy, love, hope, despair and loyalty. It pulled no punches in regard to its younger readers. I enjoyed every minute of this book and was sorry when it ended.