Reviewed by: SingleEyePhotos
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words
Availability
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store
Author:
Marilyn
Peake is the author of several novels in both the adult science fiction and
children’s/YA fantasy genres. She has won several awards and honorable mentions
for her writing. The Fisherman’s Son
is the first book in a trilogy. For more, visit Marilyn’s website.
Description:
His mother
newly dead, his father an alcoholic, Wiley O’Mara retreats into his own world.
Given a golden cup with an enigmatic verse engraved on it by an otherworldly
apparition, he begins a quest for a lost world and to save its prince.
Appraisal:
This is
definitely a YA fantasy. The writing is smooth and simple. Short, declarative
sentences are used. There isn’t a lot of character development or depth. The
world is very much our own, with the faerie element only occasionally
intruding. Yet it’s not overly simplistic. The story has all the classic
elements of the Quest with an unlikely hero, an otherworldly intercessor,
monsters, talking animals that help the hero, and a drowned kingdom.
Wiley is a
character that many middle-grade readers will relate to. He’s a good guy in a
hard world, at the mercy of a frequently absent father and the goodwill of
neighbors. When no one else is around to help him, he takes matters into his
own hands, and shows character beyond his 12 years. The faerie cup provides him
with an avenue of escape. Eldon the dolphin and Beluga the white whale fill
quasi-parental roles, helping Wiley learn self-confidence and courage.
Since this
is the first book in a trilogy, it does leave unresolved questions and threads
of the story, though the ending is not a cliffhanger, per se. Based on the
storyline of the first book, it will be necessary to read all three books in
order to get the complete tale.
FYI:
I would
judge this book to be intended for the younger members of the ‘YA’ demographic.
Teens and adults may find it just a little too simple and uncomplicated for
their tastes.
Format/Typo Issues:
None
whatsoever. This was excellently formatted for the Kindle and I did not notice
any typos.
Rating: **** 4 stars
1 comment:
Hi, SingleEyePhotos,
I recently discovered a spike in sales for my publications on Amazon, including a spike in sales for my novel, THE FISHERMAN'S SON. Next, I discovered that you had reviewed THE FISHERMAN'S SON here on this Blog and on Amazon and that Big Al had favorably reviewed three of my short stories. I'm sure there's a connection with the increased sales, and I'm absolutely delighted! Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
Post a Comment