Category: fantasy

Author: Joanne Lécuyer
Illustrator: Max Courville
Publisher: Baico Publishing
Genre: Children / Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-926945-02-6
Pages: 70
Price: $14.95

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Julianne is a good witch, living in the magical forest of Ennyar with her cat, Magicus. She can communicate with the creatures of the forest, and she lives a simple and peaceful life. But one day the king sends his knight to see her about a journey through Ennyar, and Julianne discovers an unusual egg on her way back home.

This egg is important to the forest, and Julianne is entrusted with its care. But how can she complete her mission on her own? She will need to enlist the magical beings of the forest to help her.

The Witch, the Cat and the Egg is a gentle tale of a sweet girl and her friends who always want to do the right thing. The forest is a magical and safe place, and no danger ever lurks. But a dilemma, other than the care of the egg, might have added a deeper dimension to this story, creating some tension and drama. Overall, though, this story portrays really good and caring characters, and leaves the reader feeling that magic is possible in her own life.

Bergers Book Reviews spent some time chatting with Joanne Lécuyer. Please be sure to read what she has to say!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Gary Goldstein
Publisher: Frogshadow Press
Genre: Children / Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-615-35837-6
Pages: 268
Price: $16.95

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In the first Mythfits book, we were introduced to Cuspers – Mythfits who aren’t born in their true shape, but transform sometime later in life. In A Spell of Nine, we find two more Mythfits joining the ranks to help save the world against evil.

A powerful magician craves more and more power, and he’s not going to let anything stand in his way. So when he teams up with a talented fashion designer, the two begin to control the minds of the people who wear their clothing. A shopping mall turns into a sea of zombies, and the newest Mythfit, Wilt, is called on to stop him.

In the meantime, the Mythfit elders, including Ms. Link, huddle together to decide the fate of magical transformation, trying to lock the Mythfits in their human likenesses forever.

In the first Mythfits book, much of the story was told from an adult perspective, and in this one, it’s even more noticeable. I never connected with any of the children, since the story bounced around too much, never staying with any one character for very long. I also felt too much time was spent in explaining things readers already understood from the first book, which slowed down the pace.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author & Illustrator: Monroe S. Tarver
Publisher: Wizarding World Press
Genre: Children / Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-9723936-5-2
Pages: 112
Price: $6.99

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Imagia, the elf princess, has no friends. While others play in the forest, she is being groomed to be queen of the kingdom, and spends all her time studying with different teachers. One day an unexpected opportunity allows her to slip outside the palace walls. She meets a fluttery, Flutterwalk, and they play for hours with Imagia’s magic pearls. But the evil queen, Baddora, is watching in her scrying bowl, and sends one of her spies out to bring Imagia to the Green Towers.

Baddora has read a prophesy of three magic pearls, which when brought together will grant ultimate power. She holds one, and she believes Imagia has one, also. The third belongs to Treewind, the wizard. Imagia has no idea of the powers she possesses, but she finds out as she attempts to free herself from Baddora’s evil clutches. With the help of Treewind and Flutterwalk, she manages to escape.

Imagia and the Magic Pearls is the first in a series of the Tales from the Mapmaker, and features an all black cast of characters. This is a fun fantasy, with interesting creatures and a scary mission. The illustrations are beautifully done, with bright and unusual colors. But there were a couple of story points that didn’t quite work for me. Imagia ran off without giving any thought to where she was going, when she ended up at Baddora’s castle, which seemed odd. I was also disappointed that Treewind rescued her, rather than Imagia using her own wits and imagination to escape. Overall, though, this is a nice story with a happy ending.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: T.K. Reed
Publisher: iUniverse
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-4401-2751-9
Pages: 166
Price: $11.95

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Mathew and Sue are playing in the forest when a strange man approaches. When he begs them to come with him to help save the Great Wolf, Quasar, they are quick to agree. Now they have only twenty-four hours to collect the things he needs to break an evil spell.

Accompanied by Sir Wilfred, the man from the forest, the children visit magical places and solve puzzles to retrieve the necessary items. But they have no idea what form of chaos the breaking of the spell might bring.

Mathew and Sue are kind children, willing to help out a being in need. But I never felt a real kinship with them, since their personalities were not fully revealed. They seemed to solve the riddles a little too easily, going quickly from one puzzle to the next.

I would have preferred a little more information early on about Mathew and Sue’s family life. Although the author jumps right into the plot, I would have understood their mother’s absence a little better had this been explained earlier in the story. I also found the presence of the “revolutionaries” confusing.

Troll-speak and the various creatures they encounter give Quasar and the Eye of the Serpent a magical feel, as does the glowing orb that becomes an important part of their quest. But a little more character development would enhance this fantasy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger