About the Book:
*Review Contributed by Rachel Feeck, Staff Reviewer*
In this quest tale reminiscent of Lloyd Alexander, young Bok is summoned from his village and almost by fate selected by the princess to join an important mission. This not-always-so-merry band includes a grumpy sorcerer, the alluring princess, her lover, grizzled guards, and Bok, a small-town healer. In the midst of the investigation, Bok discovers new abilities that indicate secrets in his family or the broader kingdom, and in addition to fighting off ne’er-do-wells, he must choose whether those revelations will define him or if he will commit to walking his own path.
Although the story utilizes many familiar patterns, small details give it a fresh twist. Bok the blacksmith’s son is actually a trained healer and rather unaccustomed to swords and fighting. Avantil, a charming noble, is quick to befriend Bok and proves an erstwhile ally to the whole questing party, even after they’ve had disputes. And although a royal summons take Bok from home early on, his family remains a guiding light through his darker thoughts, and the adventure concludes with them all hale and whole.
This story’s strength lies in the characters, and I soon became fond of this band of questers. While there’s hints of romance, friendships come first. And when friends and lovers quarrel, they stick by one another to move forward, and they all stick together when it really counts. Other things to love are the spooky magical blight, and the colorful, alliterative names for swears and spells.
Although Bok is nineteen, and the others around his age, the story seems to welcome younger teen readers with simple naming and language. People belong to the Ruling Class or the Serving Class, for example, and the use of words like “boyfriend” might seem out of place for high fantasy.
I believe this book is currently a standalone, but it leaves the door open for further adventures. (Update: Keep an eye out for The Queen’s Daughter, a sequel starring Princess Isabella, coming December 2026!)
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