Assessment:

In this Australian animal fantasy, Waylond Ayers, a numbat,must face his power-hungry brother, Morlund, to reclaim the crystal that, once united with a special sword, will allow him to fulfill his destiny as the Guardian of the Forest. The author of this book clearly loves Australia, which shows in her lavish treatment of its flora and fauna. The scenes are laid out with exceptional detail, and the book is beautifully illustrated. Where it falls short is in the characterization: all the characters are a bit one-dimensional, Nedra the Tasmanian devil and Wulfgar the stoat have sudden changes of heart that are not well-developed, and the use of dialect feels forced. But on the whole, it’s entirely readable and engaging.

Date Submitted: July 14, 2016