This is an amazingly well written story with a unique premise: humans and animals were at one time truly equal and equally civilized - all were clothed, could speak, think, and read. All lived in communities with laws, trade and schooling, religion and marriage. In short, humans and animals lived separately, but similarly. At some point, written language became forbidden for all living creatures, and books were destroyed -- as were any humans or animals who could read them. Also, at some point, humans began to "pacify" the animals, poisoning them so that they lost their civilities and became mindless beasts to do labor for the humans.

The main character, Theo, a seemingly unremarkable young rabbit, has been shown books and taught to read by his grandfather, Father Oaks. It is his knowledge of the forbidden language that, once discovered by his village, leads to his imprisonment; however, once discovered by outsiders, it is this forbidden knowledge that takes Theo on a quest that may ultimately preserve the animals' way of life and save them from the empire of Mankahar. But as is the case with most quests, there is danger abounding and doubt about who is trustworthy.

The world building is fantastic, reminiscent of landscapes and descriptions experienced in books by Tolkien and Lewis. Rich details and eloquent writing will have readers fully engaged with the various settings. Also richly written are the characters, and whether human or animal, all characters have unique appearances, personalities, and quirks to make them thoroughly memorable. Author Melanie Ansley is a truly gifted writer who evokes a wide spectrum of emotions from readers, who will find themselves pondering some pretty heavy issues.

Theo and the Forbidden Language works as a stand alone book and the ending happened at a perfect place, where readers had enough information to be satisfied and were ready to take a deep breath after some intense situations. Having said that, personally, I cannot wait for the next installment and MUST KNOW MORE! There are plenty of paths that could be followed in future books, though these loose ends aren't bothersome. I have faith that the author will satisfy her readers' curiosity.

Sensitive readers be warned: war is a central theme to this book, and Ansley doesn't shy away from its graphic nature. There are horrible deaths and destruction, fully detailed so that readers have a very clear picture of what is happening. As such, I recommend this book for mature middle graders and older -- including adults.

Thank you to the author, who provided to me a free eBook copy in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give. If you like this review, read it (with an author Q&A) and others on my blog at kristinehallways.blogspot.com

"Five star read for young readers and the young at heart."

THE RUNDOWN
Theo and the Forbidden Language by Melanie Ansley is the tale of a rabbit and the beginning of his quest to save his world and all sentient animals, except he doesn’t quite know it yet. Theo is an ordinary rabbit in his community, even a bit lackluster perhaps, except for his special talent of word catching, which is forbidden and lands him in trouble. Retrieved from the verge of expulsion from his community by a bear named Brune, our hero learns he has been selected to become an apprentice to become an Ihaktu warrior and that his world is on the cusp of war. With Brune, Theo embarks on a grand adventure with all of the requisite narrow escapes, battles, camaraderie, and intrigue.

Described by Ansley as a cross between Watership Down and The Lord of the Rings, Theo and the Forbidden Language is an ambitious undertaking. Making rabbits, bears, monkeys, and vultures into believable heroes, and villains, on the scale of Frodo and Gandalf is no small task, and yet Ansley delivers.

Told with a deft hand, Theo and the Forbidden Language does not miss a beat and hits all of the highs expected in the first novel in a series, while still setting the stage for the rest of the series. The prose is sharp, clear, and beautiful, full of memorable imagery, “with the moon nothing but a curled wood shaving in the sky.” Theo is perfectly imperfect and brave and smart enough to be lovable, while his companions, Brune, Indigo, and Manneki provide the appropriate combination of challenges and support to guide and push Theo along.

The story is well crafted and the action carries the reader effortlessly to the end. It is ultimately about hope and fighting for a just cause, and yet it does not shy away from difficult subjects and conflict. The world building is detailed and fresh, and yet only inserted into the story where it is needed. It is challenging to find anything negative to say regarding Theo and the Forbidden Language. Perhaps the one criticism that could be leveled is that it is too well written, at the risk of eliminating every potential edge that makes the best indie fiction unique. One feels as though they are watching a seasoned and much-loved writer hit all of their expected marks, rather than a first-time novelist. It would be interesting to see what a writer as skilled as Ansley could do if she took more risks. But this series may not be the place to do so.

THE RECOMMENDATION

Theo and the Forbidden Language is an exquisitely written adventure ride with delightful characters and an epic story arc. C.S. Lewis and Richard Adams may have competition when it comes to terrific books about talking animals. Theo and the Forbidden Language is perhaps most appropriate for YA or older middle grade readers, but fantasy (and rabbit) lovers of any age will find more than enough to sink their teeth into. 

THE RATING 
Five stars,  a stunning debut.