#kelly (opie) benscoter

[jasonhackwith]

My review of Magpie and the Spellcaster, by Kelly (Opie) Benscoter

MY REVIEW: ●●●●●●ʘ | (7/7)

FULL DISCLOSURE: I am the designer and publisher of this book (through my business, Firewind Productions). I'm also a good friend of the author. Yes, I'm quite biased, but speaking as a lifelong lover of fantasy (especially fantasy involving animals), I really think you will enjoy this one.

Magpie and the Spellcaster is an action-packed foray into the world of talking animals in the tradition of Brian Jacques' Redwall and Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. Opie grew up on the Nez Perce Reservation near Lapwai, Idaho and was inspired by Nez Perce creation stories and the animals that frequently occupied them. In this first book of the Flights of the Magpie series, for example, Coyote plays an advisory role to the central protagonist Magpie, who is a guardian of his forest and the animals who live there.

Opie's dialogue is very thoughtful and contains all kinds of gems that will have you grinning and laughing out loud at times, while dealing honestly with very real pathos and tragedy as it comes. Without spoiling anything, I'll tell you that the animals of the forest come together in a way that reminds me very much of some of the best battle scenes from Brian Jacques' books, punctuated with a wholesome resolution that feels just a little bit like Aesop's Fables and sets up the characters for further adventures in the series.

Filled with Jon Dawley's quirky and engaging illustrations, Magpie and the Spellcaster is also peppered with really great original poems about some of the animals of the forest as well as wry glimpses into Opie's sometimes slightly twisted sense of humor. The end result is enormously entertaining and I highly recommend it!

View all my reviews on GoodReads.com

[jasonhackwith]

BOOK SIGNING: Magpie and the Spellcaster, by Kelly (Opie) Benscoter

Meet local author Kelly (Opie) Benscoter and I at a very special book signing event, September 29th from 4-7pm at …And Books Too!, 918 6th Street, Clarkston, WA! Stay tuned for more details!

When the strange young woman first came to live in the forest, she promised to live in peace with all the animals, but Magpie was sure she was hiding something. With a stinky monster for a pet and an evil old hag for a mentor, the spellcaster had odd ideas and certainly kept very strange company. Still, she seemed mostly harmless, if a little unwise and unable to care for herself when winter came. But when the very forest itself and all who dwell there are threatened by the spellcaster’s strange and sinister influence, will Magpie and Old Coyote be able to convince the animals to fight back?

Full of original poetry, quirky illustrations, thoughtful dialogue, and slightly twisted humor; this heartwarming story brings together a cast of rich characters that your child will love.

follow our feathered friend at FlightsoftheMagpie.com