Book Details:
Book Title: The War of Words by Amy Neftzger
Category: YA fiction, 330 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Fields of Gold Publishing, Inc.
Release date: March 3, 2016
Content Rating: PG (No cursing, but some violence (a few battle scenes)
Book Description:
Sometimes there's no better way to understand reality than through fantasy, and the best way to find truth may be in a book - if you can find the right one.
Battles against darkness, a quest for truth, and a search for the book that no one can read are all part of the fantasy adventure in The War of Words. As an evil sorcerer wages war by using mysterious shadows and seeks to gain control by confusing the residents as to what's real and what isn't, the fate of the kingdom rests in the hands of Kelsey and Nicholas.
As the youngest officer in the king's army, Kelsey fights the evil sorcerer s shadows on the battlefield as she explores the kingdom searching for the key to winning the war. Nicholas, a young sorcerer in training who is mastering his craft, discovers how the right words can change the course of the future.
Explore an enchanted maze, uncover the power of words, and learn about friendship in this whimsical tale.
My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani
As a book lover and a writer, I love words. I love discovering new words and I love the way different words can convey different things in different languages too. So I was eager to read the fantasy adventure of a quest for truth and a search for the book that no one can read. The book cover portrays a whimsical scene and in several ways it was, with an interesting cast of characters that propelled the story forward.
Kelsey and Nicholas are the main characters in the story but they work together from different scenes with Kelsey a soldier fighting the shadows in the enchanted forest and Nicholas learning magical elements at the castle. Kelsey was my favorite character for she is strong, courageous and smart, but she is also vulnerable to her own self-doubts. She teams up with Eric and her friends from past adventures to try to stop the spell of the sorcerer that jumbles words and communication so that people misunderstand each other.
This is a well-written middle-grade novel that is sure to please fans of the genre. It is good versus evil with plenty of lessons learned along the way. The battle scenes occur with shadows who are not humans and the greatest battle of all with the sorcerer taught the best lesson of all, that words can be used as a weapon and sometimes it is better to be silent. Brilliant!
There were comical scenes and Newton, the gargoyle eating machine was cute and added an element of fun to the story. There were gems of truth scattered throughout the novel that I appreciated, such as this interchange:
"I love the optimism on the shores of youth, where time hasn't yet eroded faith," Moss said with a sigh.
"Time is the wave upon the shore. It takes some things away, but it brings other things," Nicholas replied.
This is the third book in The Kingdom Wars series, and although it can be read as a stand-alone novel, it would be better for the reader to begin with the first book The Orphanage of Miracles, where we are first introduced to the characters. The second book is The Orchard of Hope. These are classic tales much like that of C.S Lewis.
Amy Neftzger is a talented writer and master storyteller, filling her stories with adventure, magic, inspiration and important lessons learned in an entertaining way.
About the Author:
A few of her favorite things include traveling, books, movies, art, the Oxford comma, and gargoyles.
Connect with the author: Website Twitter Facebook
Enter the Giveaway!
Thanks for the very nice review! Much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Amy! You have a wonderful imagination.
DeleteI love words too. A great review thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win this book because I enjoy C.S. Lewis. Thanks for your thoughtful review.
ReplyDelete