Saturday 1 September 2018

The Arc of Light - Mithrandir - A Potential Portal Book

The Arc of Light
Mithrandir
Wind and Fire Publishing
ISBN 9781947844131
eISBN 9781370472383
ASIN B076WXKZD2


No, the authors real name is not Mithrandir, why would it be unless his parents were monster geeks and huge fans of The Lord of the Rings. But he is a minor, and publishing under other names at this point in time. When he wrote The Machine as Oafish Droll, he was only 13, when this book came out he was 15. I read on average well over 100 books a year, so when I say I am impressed by the writing for his age it is a strong indicator. 

I need to note that the two books, with two pseudonyms are closely related. When The Machine as Oafish Droll, came out it was a short story with a promise of a future novel. The Arc of Light is that novel. The prelude in the short story is a version the beginning of the first chapter in the novel. If by chance you have read the short story there are a lot of similarities. It reminds me of J.F. Powers who published a few versions of short stories, that eventually became chapters in books. But the differences were sometimes what was most striking. I found the same when comparing these two works side by side. I would love to be able to ask the author sometime about some of the changes and why. But back to our story.

The description of this novel is:

"Hillsboro was not a normal town. This was a well-established fact, but no one truly knew the depths to which their town's mysteries and secrets went. When a confounding event rattles the community to its core, it sets off a chain reaction that leads five children to discover perhaps Hillsboro's most dangerous secret yet--one that threatens their very existence."

The story revolves around a strange town, a strange man - Ryan Goodell, and a group of school children. There are adventures at home, and a jump across time and space. We follow the children through their adventure and watch them grow closer together. To really bond and become more than friends and acquaintances. The plot is intriguing and keeps you turning the pages. And the epilogue open's up the door to the story going a number of places. But for that we will need to wait and see.  

I think this book is a really good piece of fiction. Considering his age and his second published work, I am even more impressed. This would be a great read for anyone who enjoys science fiction, time travel, or even just a good story. It would be great for younger readers who aspire to be writers to show them it can be done. I look forward to see what he will come up with next, either continuing this story or something altogether different. If you read eBooks give this one a try the price point is excellent and you might discover a new author to follow. If you do not read eBooks it is available in paperback. I gave this story 4/5 stars and it was very close to tipping over to 5. So, give it a read and if inclined leave feed back for this young author. I highly recommend this book.

Books as Mithrandir:
The Arc of Light

Books as Oafish Droll:
The Machine -Potential Portal Book 1



No comments: