In The Wishing Tree by Bevan Knight, a
sorcerer’s apprentice locks a powerful spirit in a tree, unleashing a curse on
the tribes of the Arctic. Food supplies get scarcer and scarcer, with little
game and fish. The young men of the tribes begin to leave their families to
look for a better life elsewhere. Dornio is amongst those who are
thirsty for adventure, and with him is Sheena, a woman he saved. Sheena
wants to find her missing foster parents. None of them knows that a terrible
evil lurks beneath the bowers of a tree. Do they have what it takes to remake
their destinies?
This
novel is the first entry in the Seeds of
Time trilogy, a wonderful meld of science fiction and fantasy, a story
brimming with magic, adventure, and realism. Bevan Knight creates a strong
premise for the story and imbues the writing with humanity, creating characters
that are real and human conditions that are resonant, and weaving compelling
subplots to enhance the suspense while keeping tensions high as different
characters face unique situations and dangers. Knight's descriptions are
terrific, and right from the very opening pages, readers experience the unique
blend of premonition and a compelling premise.
You’ll
be gripped from the first paragraph as the sorcerer and his apprentice,
Roricon, are introduced. The author's sense of setting is keen, exemplified in
details like the effect of time on characters, the natural elements, and searing
imagery. There is a finely developed magical backdrop against which the story
takes place; it is intricately plotted and at times darkly humorous. But what
sets Knight's writing apart is his ability to weave humanity into the story,
with characters that are complex and rich. The excellent, somewhat lyrical
style of writing offers a delectable reading experience in The Wishing
Tree. This hugely imaginative world offers a bold opening for readers who
will look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.
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