Book description:
Dylan, Jack, and Tripp are looking for adventure, but when they find an entryway into a magical land, plagued by the malevolent Stranger, the cost of their new, exciting journey might prove to be too much.
While on vacation at their grandmother’s farm, cousins Dylan, Jack, and Tripp learn of a long kept family secret and the power of wishing on a star. The boys are swept away to the Valley of the Oasis—a strange, primal paradise, where monsters and danger lurk around every turn. They find refuge with a lone hunter and his dogs, who have lost track of time and appear trapped in this magical land.
But the hunter and his dogs cannot rest for long. He is pursued by the Stranger, a strange green-skinned being from another time and place who also seeks to escape the Valley of the Oasis. As they narrowly escape the Stranger’s attacks, the boys worry that they, too, are trapped with no way home. Will the hunter protect the boys and send them home in time, before the Stranger closes in once and for all?
The Oasis King is the first in a series of an action-adventure tales for younger readers who seek new lands, heart-racing challenges, and unexpected twists.
My review:
I typically review adult fiction books, but am happy to review juvenile fiction when given the chance.
This book is different, but in a good way. And it is the type that the age it is geared for will definitely enjoy. It is for middle age readers. The three boys in the story, all cousins, are 10, 11, and 12.....so I am guessing that is the ages that the book is geared for.
The author has a gift for description. There are all sorts of different animals and other things in the world the boys find themselves in, and I was impressed at his ability to come up with those and describe them in a way that I could easily picture them in my mind.
Plot-wise, the author also did a great job. The book could be considered a bit Narnia-like in some ways, though there is no talking lion to rescue the day. There is a man with four dogs that comes to the rescue, and the identity of I guess before he identified himself.
Characters: I never did completely like Dylan. As the oldest of the three cousins, he was a bit arrogant, full of himself, and not always very nice to his cousins, especially the youngest, Tripp. And poor Tripp.....no spoilers though. Jack also was pretty likable, but was not always too easy on the youngest cousin either.
I enjoyed the book, and feel the author has come up with an exciting adventure that kids will enjoy. I am guessing with the way he ended the book that he plans on writing at least one more book to go with it.
I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.
About the author:
(The only bio I found of the author is one he wrote first person)
My name is Mark David Pullen, and I write Middle-Grade science fiction and fantasy novels. If you’re searching for non-stop action, pulse-pounding thrills, and a host of fun, colorful characters to guide you along your journey with the turn of every page, then look no further! My main goal for you, my readers, is that I may provide you with an imaginative escape from the daily grind of growing up and the struggles that go along with it. Secondly, I hope that through my writing, you learn to be brave and face your problems head-on instead of running away from them, just like the characters in my stories do. Now, here is a little something about me. I live in beautiful upstate New York, where I was born and raised. I live here with my wife, two children, and our dog Toby. I love spending time outdoors, hiking, fishing, and hunting. Feel free to click the link and head over to my website. From there, you can check out my blog and sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date about what I’m working on next. Thanks again for stopping by, and I hope you will visit again soon!
Check out his website: The Oasis King.
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