Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
Helpful Score: 1
Before Scotland, there was Caledonia. Rowan and Fiana are two powerful magicians whose impending love marriage will bring peace and happiness to their people. However, enemies interrupt the ceremony, forcing Rowan to hide inside his wand. Fiana swears to do anything to find Rowan...including using black magic.
Over a thousand years later, among the redwood forests of modern-day California, twelve-year-old foster child Cullen Knight stumbles across an odd-looking stick of wood. Life is harsh on Cullen: his foster family treats him with no love, and he is bullied in school for his diminutive size and young age. When he picks up the wand, however, the spirit of Rowan also occupies Cullen's body, coming out in times of trauma or stress. And Cullen's life is changed forever. Will he be the one to reunite Rowan with his fiancee, and save Fiana from the grips of evil?
To start, this book will not be an easy read for what can only be called the "Harry Potter" generation. Despite its uncanny similarities to Harry Potter--the cruel foster family, the magic, the protagonist's isolation from "normal" school society--ROWAN OF THE WOOD does not have the easy engagement and attraction of Rowling's series. The writing is often heavy and stilted; adults will be able to appreciate it more.
Once you get past the often amateur-sounding writing, however, the result is a decent fantasy story that runs between two time periods. Fiana's trek through magical time is interesting, and Rose does a good job of painting the harsh realities of middle school, a place where bullies lurk. I would recommend this for parents with kids who enjoyed Harry Potter and want to read similarly styled books.
Over a thousand years later, among the redwood forests of modern-day California, twelve-year-old foster child Cullen Knight stumbles across an odd-looking stick of wood. Life is harsh on Cullen: his foster family treats him with no love, and he is bullied in school for his diminutive size and young age. When he picks up the wand, however, the spirit of Rowan also occupies Cullen's body, coming out in times of trauma or stress. And Cullen's life is changed forever. Will he be the one to reunite Rowan with his fiancee, and save Fiana from the grips of evil?
To start, this book will not be an easy read for what can only be called the "Harry Potter" generation. Despite its uncanny similarities to Harry Potter--the cruel foster family, the magic, the protagonist's isolation from "normal" school society--ROWAN OF THE WOOD does not have the easy engagement and attraction of Rowling's series. The writing is often heavy and stilted; adults will be able to appreciate it more.
Once you get past the often amateur-sounding writing, however, the result is a decent fantasy story that runs between two time periods. Fiana's trek through magical time is interesting, and Rose does a good job of painting the harsh realities of middle school, a place where bullies lurk. I would recommend this for parents with kids who enjoyed Harry Potter and want to read similarly styled books.
Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed Rowan of the Wood (Rowan of the Wood, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com
I really enjoyed reading ROWAN OF THE WOOD. It is the first in a series and I can't wait for the next one to come out.
It starts with two Celtic wizards, Rowan and Fiana, on their wedding day. They have been waiting for this day for many years. Once they are married their power will double. Just as they have been declared married, a band of Christian invaders attacks the ceremony. Fiana manages to escape to the otherworld but Rowan, through magic, seals himself in his wand.
Now we go to modern day. Cullen is a foster child living in Northern California among the Redwood trees. He has survived losing his family and is now living in an abusive foster home. What he loves most are the Redwoods which are behind his house and his fantasy books, especially The Hobbit, which had belonged to his father.
In one horrific scene his foster father makes him burn all of his fantasy novels. That one scene was very hard to read.
Well, Cullen then finds a strange sort of wooden wand and out comes Rowan. He had been trapped there for over a thousand years. But he and Cullen are one person. Rowan can only come out when Cullen is scared or threatened.
Fiana has also returned, but she came back a hundred years after the incident. She has been looking for Rowan for thousands of years. In order to stay young and beautiful she has made a deal with dark magic - and she has turned evil!
All of this makes a fantastic and believable read. The love that doesn't really die between Rowan and Fiana is powerful. The loneliness of Cullen and his love of doing what is right is wondrous. I loved this book and anyone who loves fantasy will love it, too.
The authors have gotten this one right and I highly recommend it.
I really enjoyed reading ROWAN OF THE WOOD. It is the first in a series and I can't wait for the next one to come out.
It starts with two Celtic wizards, Rowan and Fiana, on their wedding day. They have been waiting for this day for many years. Once they are married their power will double. Just as they have been declared married, a band of Christian invaders attacks the ceremony. Fiana manages to escape to the otherworld but Rowan, through magic, seals himself in his wand.
Now we go to modern day. Cullen is a foster child living in Northern California among the Redwood trees. He has survived losing his family and is now living in an abusive foster home. What he loves most are the Redwoods which are behind his house and his fantasy books, especially The Hobbit, which had belonged to his father.
In one horrific scene his foster father makes him burn all of his fantasy novels. That one scene was very hard to read.
Well, Cullen then finds a strange sort of wooden wand and out comes Rowan. He had been trapped there for over a thousand years. But he and Cullen are one person. Rowan can only come out when Cullen is scared or threatened.
Fiana has also returned, but she came back a hundred years after the incident. She has been looking for Rowan for thousands of years. In order to stay young and beautiful she has made a deal with dark magic - and she has turned evil!
All of this makes a fantastic and believable read. The love that doesn't really die between Rowan and Fiana is powerful. The loneliness of Cullen and his love of doing what is right is wondrous. I loved this book and anyone who loves fantasy will love it, too.
The authors have gotten this one right and I highly recommend it.
