The Bark of the Bog Owl (The Wilderking Trilogy #1) by Jonathan Rogers, Abe Goolsby (Illustrator), Kristi Smith (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Twelve-year-old Aidan Errolson comes from a long line of adventurers. His grandparents were among the first settlers of Corenwald’s Eastern Frontier. His father had been one of the kingdom’s greatest warriors. Aidan, on the other hand, lives the quiet, comfortable life of a nobleman’s son. He never has any real adventures, and that, he believes, is the one great injustice of his otherwise happy life. All that will change the day he first hears the bark of the bog owl and meets Dobro Turtlebane. Dobro is one of the feechiefolk—a tribe of half-civilized swamp dwellers who fight too much, laugh too loud, cry too easily, and smell just terrible. But another meeting on that remarkable day may change Aidan’s life even more profoundly. Bayard the Truthspeaker arrives with a startling pronouncement: Aidan Errolson will grow to be the Wilderking—the long-prophesied wild man who will come out of Corenwald’s forests and swamps to lead the kingdom back to its former glory. There’s just one question: Is Bayard the Truthspeaker a prophet or a madman? This initial installment in The Wilderking Trilogy is sure to capture the hearts of young and old, boys and girls alike. Written in the same fashion as The Lord of the Rings or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Bark of the Bog Owl, as the author says, will help “direct a God-fearing boy’s sense of adventure and warrior spirit – his God-given wildness.”

Publishers Weekly

Rogers takes biblical fiction to a new level in an imaginative fantasy rendition of the story of King David that both enchants and entertains. Young Aidan Errolson of Longleaf Manor longs to be a warrior and adventurer in the service of King Darrow of Corenwald, but instead, the 12-year-old boy spends his days tending sheep on his father's vast estate. Adventure beckons when he befriends one of the "feechiefolk," Dobro Turtlebane of the Tam, a member of a wild nomadic tribe that travels the rivers and swamps. Bayard the Truthspeaker, Corenwald's greatest prophet, is confident that Aidan is the Wilderking, "From the land's wildest places a wild man will come/To give the land back to her people." But many of the once valiant men of Corenwald have become complacent and tame, and when the Pyrthen Empire challenges Corenwald to send a champion to duel with their giant, only Aidan has enough trust in God to accept. With his help, Corenwald might regain its wild adventurous spirit so good can triumph. Readers familiar with the biblical narrative will know where the plot is headed, but the unusual settings and characters keep the surprises coming, while Rogers's lovely descriptions and distinctive voice keep the pages turning. Faith fiction readers of all ages should enjoy this first installment in the trilogy. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Twelve-year-old Aidan, the youngest son of Lord Errol of Longleaf Manor, is sure he is meant for greater things than keeping sheep. After all, he survived a tangle with a feechiefolk boy named Dobro Turtlebane and together they killed a rampaging panther. The prophet Bayard agrees, proclaiming him the future Wilderking, despite the jeers of his older brothers and the concern of his father, who is loyal to the Corenwald king. This is forgotten when the clan is invited to a treaty feast, celebrating a pact between their kingdom and their long-time enemy, the idol-worshiping Pyrthen Empire. It quickly becomes apparent that the treaty is little more than a scheme to conquer Corenwald, and Aidan's brothers head off to war. After a series of wild adventures with the feechiefolk, Aidan joins his siblings, battles a giant, and leads a covert operation to blow up the Pyrthens' secret weapon. At the same time, mention of the "One God" goes into overdrive, the battle between the giant and Aidan begins to sound a lot like the story of David and Goliath, and the Biblical overtones can no longer be ignored. Yes, this is Christian fantasy, but the emphasis is definitely on the fantasy. Roger's writing is terrifically appealing. Aidan is a treat, and secondary characters are (except for the king) believable. The adventure and the humor are first rate. Fans of "Narnia" will find this just to their taste, and will look forward to future installments.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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