Fantasy Read #2: Survival In The Wild

We discussed in a previous article the truths behind some classic fairy tales and their perceptions by young children, which prompted me to make a list of some fairy-tales for young adults and older people—of course, these are books from the fantasy genre, my favourite one!

For the first book recommendation in this blog series, check out this link:
https://wrytin.com/shruti3/fantasy-read-1-mixing-potions-jwhg61g5

Next up is an even more amazing read. Gear up for an unforgettable adventure!

2. The Keeper by David Baldacci – Macmillan Children’s Books

Image credit: amazon.in

The book is second in the series of four books, so if you plan to read the first, then you might want to skip this summary, but since I, too, began the series from this book (which was gifted to me by a friend a long time ago and for which I’m so thankful!), I can assure you it’s fine if you start with it, instead.

Vega Jane has lived in Wormwood for fifteen years. That’s all of her life. No surprise that, since no one is allowed to go outside the town boundaries. The townspeople have been taught to fear whatever lies beyond their safe haven, and that fear of the unknown is precisely what keeps the townspeople in and their enemies, whoever they may be, outside the Quag.

What’s called the ‘Quag’ is a dense, dark, wild area beyond Wormwood that is filled with monstrous beasts of all kinds, and from the people who have ventured there in the past, no one has returned alive to tell the tale.

But who could stop the ever-curious and determined Vega and her trusty sidekick, her faithful but mysterious dog, Harry Two? Accompanied by her best friend Delph, Vega and Harry Two leave Wormwood to solve the mystery of the Quag, the place where her parents and grandfather once vanished into.

From the moment they enter it, it is clear that it's a journey of survival...A test whose results mean life or death. And to get past the Quag, Vega Jane and her friends will have to prepare themselves with all their reflexes, with and strength, for a great amount of struggle.

Supported by a magical chain called Destin that allows the wearer to fly, a map of the Quag from a friend of Vega in Wormwood (which is not exactly up to date), a ring that gives her the power of invisibility when she desires, and an 800-year-old sword called The Elemental which she was given by a dying female warrior on a battlefield on her previous time-travelling expedition, Vega learns to fight her way with creatures unheard of and bizarre in their common lust to kill.

But there's more than one mystery in the Quag, and Vega realizes it when she meets The Keeper of the Quag, Astrea Prine, a sorceress who quizzes her about her past and makes her realize that whatever she was ever told about the history of her people was just a bunch of lies.

Astrea also gives her hope of finding her family again once she gets beyond the Quag, and begins her training as a sorceress in order to accomplish that. But will Vega Jane be able to live up to all the expectations in the face of death at every second moment? And will the end of this journey mean the end of all her troubles?

This series will engage the young and old alike with its fast-paced action, adventure and lots of magic spells.

My comments:

This one is so engaging that I finished it in one sitting, and still whenever I open it, I can't resist but begin reading again every time! The spells, once they begin, make it a lot more entertaining and even though the vocabulary of Wugmorts (that's what the people of Wormwood are called) is a bit different, it is easily understandable soon enough. One becomes so familiar with Vega's world that it's hard to come back into reality; but a must-read story at all costs!

Entire, completed series available on Amazon!

Image credit: amazon.in and amazon.com, edited by me.

https://www.amazon.in/Keeper-Vega-Jane-David-Baldacci/dp/1447288297/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?keywords=vega+jane+full+series&qid=1559696698&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmr1

Thumbnail image credit: youtube.com

Take me to the next read!