Search For Books 

Can't find a particular book?
Your Cart Your Cart: (0)
New Titles Best Sellers Top Authors For Stores Get Published Browse Books

Beyond the Forest

by:
Andrew McDowell (Author)

ISBN: 0-7414-4238-8 ©2007
Price: $16.95
Book Size: 5.5'' x 8.5'' , 286 pages
Category/Subject: JUVENILE FICTION / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic

Exiled from their home, Dunstan Harleo and his friends must go beyond a vast forest and discover the secrets that exist in everything to save their world from certain destruction.

Abstract:
DUNSTAN HARLEO is plagued by nightmares foretelling the destruction of his village, in which he encounters a dark wizard with seemingly limitless powers. Soon this dream becomes a reality, and Dunstan, his brother, and a young gypsy are forced to flee the only home they have ever known. Once they go beyond the forest surrounding their village, they have to face challenges that they could never have imagined. Can they conquer the dark wizard and discover the secrets that will save Astilae from certain destruction? To do so, they must rekindle a long-forgotten legacy and understand the magic of nature…

Click Here for a SNEAK PEEK of this book.

Customer Reviews

  , 02/13/2008
Reviewer: Brian B
I've gotta say that I loved this book. The story was a unique blend of fantasy that kept me turning pages for a long time. Mcdowell develops his characters and the storyline beautifully in this first part of the trilogy. After reading this story I am an instant fan of the trilogy and am eagerly awaiting the second installment. This story is definetley for anyone who appreciates a good story or anyone who's a fan of fantasy books. After introducing the characters the story takes off and never lets down. Mcdowell achieves a hard thing to do in a book, he writes it so that the action and suspense doesn't cease and there are no pointless or filler chapters. The story was developing and unfolding a little more with every chapter which just makes a reader eager to find out what will be revealed on the next page. as a reader I was surprised to find out that this was the authors first book he had written and furthermore that he is only a teenager. Mcdowell doesn't write like a rookie in this exciting opening to the story. This was an impressive debut for an author to have and as such I am very proud to say that I own a copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

 
  Dunstan is 13 , 02/24/2008
Reviewer: Chris K
Beyond the Forest is a story about a 13-year old boy named Dunstan Harleo. Dunstan lives a content life in a rustic village with his mother, father, and younger brother Peter. In fact, Dunstan has it pretty good, surrounded by the warmth of family and friends. The story opens with a gripping account of a dream Dunstan keeps having. In the dream, an evil sorcerer is rampaging through their village, mercilessly killing everyone and burning everything that he holds dear. He always wakes up sweating with fear. Its a taste of things to come. As the story progresses, Dunstan and Peter find themselves fighting for their lives as players in a larger battle between forces of good and evil. Both sides have a full cast of magical characters including wizards, dwarves, magic spells, and an enchanting mermaid. Along the way, Dunstan and Peter go through the full range of human experiences, feeling friendship, loyalty, the trepidation of leaving home, and the struggle to make choices between imperfect options. My favorite character is a telepathic dog named Fluke. Fluke has the uncanny ability to size up a situation, and often lends help, wisdom, and empathy to the boys. Some of the best passages are fight scenes. In these, the author uses vivid imagery to put the reader in the thick of the battle. The best of these is near the end, where Dunstan and the boys find that their swords are, in fact, magic, and use them to turn back an army of trolls, burning them to ashes with blinding beams of light.

Was this review helpful?

 
  Magic of Nature , 04/06/2008
Reviewer: K. Bishop
Mr. McDowell has written a well-imagined coming of age/adventure fantasy. His central character, Dunstan, is struggling to discover what makes him challenge the status quo and why he is plagued with strange and violent dreams. When he seeks help in understanding his dreams, both his sometimes mentor, Friar Eliphas, and the gypsy fortune-teller, Madame Wykum, offer him little knowledge and more mystery. Then his dreams come true and he, Peter, his younger brother, and Marius, the gypsy's son, are forced to begin a quest that could cost them their lives as they must seek and destroy, Nadorf, the evil Wizard. Though flawed by grammatical and structural problems, overall, Mr. McDowell makes the reader look forward to book two in the trilogy. Well done!

Was this review helpful?

 
  Beyond the Forest , 04/12/2008
Reviewer: Julie K
As a mother of children, I have found "Beyond the Forest" a most intriguing story that has depth, courage, and love. I couldn't put the book down until it was finished. I am waiting for the next book.

Was this review helpful?

 
Have you read this book? Write a review and share your thoughts with other customers!

Click here to Self Publish your Book