It deals with orphaned children, an orphanage, a park (a land of wonderful living), dragons, and destroying fires as well as a good king and evil enchanter. So for my mind that prefers stories more realistic, it is a vastly different read and taxes my interest quotient even though it is primarily for children. My thinking is that young children (prior to grades 4 or 5) will be confused and frightened by the imagery in the construct of the story as well as the fearsome characters.
However, much can be gleaned from allegorical stories and the contrast between good and evil. In the first chapter of Tales of the Kingdom story I found it to be beautifully written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the author's style of presenting the boy, the evil Enchanter, and the boy's entrance into the light of the land of growing things. The Caretaker sounds like a jovial character who will lead the boy to Merci. The first chapter promises good writing for the remainder of the book. And I find it capturing my attention much more than I previously thought possible.
On into the story, the boy (Scarboy and later named Hero) faces his greatest enemy which is the same for everyone. (Can you guess what that might be?) I enjoyed the lively character of Princess Amanda. So I believe I'm won over with this unusual read for me and I recommend the book based on the author's writing style, my enjoyment of reading, and the fabulous illustrations,
About the book: Action, intrigue, and danger follow Scarboy wherever he goes, especially in the Enchanted City, where the “imperfect” are cast away and orphans are enslaved. Scarboy manages to escape the evil Enchanter to safety in Great Park, but has yet to confront his greatest fear—and he’ll need enormous courage to conquer it! An exciting series of inspirational stories for kids from best-selling authors David and Karen Mains, the gold-medallion award-winning Tales of the Kingdom offers fast-paced action and exciting storytelling with a enduring Christian message. You'll enjoy the beautiful, full-color multi-ethnic illustrations of these modern fairy tales for kids! These Christian allegories and moral stories teach children of all ages fundamental truths about good and evil, virtues and values, and the importance of trusting God. This children’s chapter book is 84 pages of inspiring stories in durable hardcover binding, enhanced by 12 engrossing illustrations from exceptional Bulgarian artist and illustrator Zhivko Zhelev.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from BookCrash Publicity on behalf of the authors to facilitate this review. Opinions are solely my own and are freely given.
Really nice illustrations in this book.
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