Wildsmith Into the Dark Forest

Rowan is playing a favourite game with her best friend Bella to see who can cross the city first without touching the ground.  On her rooftop climb she inadvertently overhears the queen discussing an imminent war with her generals.  She rushes home to tell her father who seems to know all about it and tells her she must leave immediately with her mother to stay with her grandfather for a while.   Rowan is astonished as she has never heard mention of a grandfather before.  She is reluctant to leave behind her beloved father and her best friend but realises that is would be safer away from the city.

They travel by night and arrive in the forest where Rowan’s grandfather, Inigo lives with a wolf named  Arto.   Their first morning there, Rowan hears a strange rumbling noise in the woods which she decides to investigate.  There are signs of a huge animal being dragged away and then she finds what can only be a baby dragon, even though she thought they only existed in storybooks.  She immediately takes it back to her grandfather who is in the middle of treating a dog belonging to siblings, Will and Cam from the farm next door.

Rowan rapidly discovers that that her grandfather has a special role as a wildsmith, someone who heals sick animals and birds and also magical animals.  He explains that poachers have taken the dragon’s mother for her horns which they believe can give people magical strength.  Rowan is appalled and feels determined to help the baby dragon and her grandfather find the culprits.

So begins a highly enjoyable tale of bravery, friendship, dragons and a little bit of magic.  Perfectly pitched for the age-group there is just the right amount of peril and derring-do.   Rowan’s new-found relationship with her grandfather is particularly affectionate and tender.   After a shaky start Rowan also makes friends with Will and Cam and the story is set up for more adventures to follow and the realisation that Rowan has powers  of her own.

Read our Q&A interview with Liz Flanagan.