I liked the historical aspect of this story and how it chronicled the characters over time, along with the myths and legends that have carried through the ages. The characters were well defined and their paths very clear. But, I was a little unsure about the sexual tone in the book with the adult characters when the central character is a 12 year old kid. Parts of the book seemed geared toward more of a young adult or adult audience. For my second #writeconnect post, I read Rowan of the Wood, a YA Fantasy by Christine and Ethan Rose. Young Adult is totally out of the normal scope of reading for me, and even as a kid I was reaching for the bigger “grown-up” books on the shelves. However, I do love a good story, especially one that emphasizes the importance of discovery, good self-esteem, and the love of books, and Rowan just so happens to fit the bill.Kindle edition only $0.99!I try to approach each book I read without expectations, to let the story and prose and the author’s vision guide me rather than some idea I had about the book beforehand. Sometimes this is hard, especially for a recovering Book Snob. I didn’t expect to like Rowan of the Wood in the way I would like any other “serious” book, and I expected to have to dumb-down my vocabulary a little and accept that the book was primarily written for children. (Sorry Christine and Ethan.) For the record, I was wrong.Rowan of the Wood is a first-rate story with consistently entertaining and endearing (and fearsome and adorable and abhorrent) characters, an interesting plot full of twisty goodness, and plenty of fifty-cent words that’ll keep young readers on their toes. The first of a series of five books* written for age 9 and up (the Roses have a healthy share of adult fans, as well), Rowan of the Wood is a fun and adventurous tale, combining all the best elements of a moral story (the importance of honesty, right and wrong, self-esteem, and an overall tone of hopefulness that belies the futility of Cullen’s dreary situation) and the action and wonder of a good, immersing fantasy (witches and vampires and ancient magic and WOW THIS BOOK IS FUN). You can read a full synopsis here and there’s a link to free chapters at the bottom of this post.If you have kids or are a reader of YA, or if like me you’re trying to expand your reading repertoire, Rowan of the Wood is a great addition to the bookshelf. I give it four stars. The sequel, Witch on the Water (which I did not have time to read for #writeconnect), appears equally entertaining.*Three of the five are currently unreleased, but projected dates are available at RowanoftheWood.com, along with fun stuff, free sample chapters of both available books, and info about the authors. You can also follow Christine and Ethan on Twitter and Facebook.
What do You think about Rowan Of The Wood (2009)?
This book was amazing. It, at times, while seeming predictable, caught me off guard many times.
—Tyron
I think this is a great book! Watch out Harry Potter! I can't wait for the next one.
—Wvfrazier
I enjoyed this book as I love reading books in the fantasy genre.
—minujunior
