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The Three Feathers
JANE ERIKSON: "Bolz's writing belongs in the rare, ethereal air of The Greats; including Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Hesse. Read this powerful journey of true and brave friends who communicate through thoughts, then just wait and see... It will profoundly influence your life in a deeply moving, positive and personal way. Bolz's imagination is limitless; his symbolism and imagery - impeccable! The Three Feathers is amazing and awe-inspiring... an outstanding and captivating read! Bolz's future is bright!"
This is the story of an extraordinary journey. Three unlikely friends - a wolf, a rooster and a war horse - on a quest to search for three feathers deep inside a mountain. Their friendship is their only hope of survival. Their courage faces dangers beyond their wildest dreams. And the fate of a whole civilization rests on their shoulders. If you are up for an adventure that is out of the ordinary, that will make you pause and think and maybe even discover something about yourself, you might want to give it a try.
THE INDIE BOOK REVIEW: "Mr. Bolz has woven a hypnotic tale where friendship and love can overcome the most devastating of enemies -- doubt in yourself. This is a book for all ages. There is danger, yes, and doubt and sadness and loss. But lessons cannot be learned without them, am I right? This book is marvelously innocent and thought-provoking all at the same time. Tired of the jaded and worn out modern fantasy tale? I enthusiastically encourage you to pick up this enchanting fable and rediscover the innocent joy of childhood and the magical wonder of life in this simple yet wonderfully complex story. Joshua and his friends will make you a believer, I promise."
PATRICIA HYLAND: "... [The Three Feathers] is certainly not your average fairy tale. To me it is a fable destined to be ranked with the Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and Watership Down. At first I struggled for words to describe what I felt after reading The Three Feathers. Here are just a few of the words that came to mind as I started to grasp what I had just encountered in Stefan Bolz's writing: spellbinding, gripping, poignant, tender, scary, enveloping, ripe with insights for everyone, compelling parallels, graphic imagery, fanciful character development, perfectly paced, clever beyond words, takes the reader from the depths to the heights, and back ~ more than once."
This is the story of an extraordinary journey. Three unlikely friends - a wolf, a rooster and a war horse - on a quest to search for three feathers deep inside a mountain. Their friendship is their only hope of survival. Their courage faces dangers beyond their wildest dreams. And the fate of a whole civilization rests on their shoulders. If you are up for an adventure that is out of the ordinary, that will make you pause and think and maybe even discover something about yourself, you might want to give it a try.
THE INDIE BOOK REVIEW: "Mr. Bolz has woven a hypnotic tale where friendship and love can overcome the most devastating of enemies -- doubt in yourself. This is a book for all ages. There is danger, yes, and doubt and sadness and loss. But lessons cannot be learned without them, am I right? This book is marvelously innocent and thought-provoking all at the same time. Tired of the jaded and worn out modern fantasy tale? I enthusiastically encourage you to pick up this enchanting fable and rediscover the innocent joy of childhood and the magical wonder of life in this simple yet wonderfully complex story. Joshua and his friends will make you a believer, I promise."
PATRICIA HYLAND: "... [The Three Feathers] is certainly not your average fairy tale. To me it is a fable destined to be ranked with the Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and Watership Down. At first I struggled for words to describe what I felt after reading The Three Feathers. Here are just a few of the words that came to mind as I started to grasp what I had just encountered in Stefan Bolz's writing: spellbinding, gripping, poignant, tender, scary, enveloping, ripe with insights for everyone, compelling parallels, graphic imagery, fanciful character development, perfectly paced, clever beyond words, takes the reader from the depths to the heights, and back ~ more than once."
- GenresFantasy
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2012
13 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Stefan Bolz
33 books47 followersBorn and raised in the Main River Valley in Germany, Stefan came to the U.S. in 1996 where he settled in upstate New York. He grew up on German poetry, soccer, Nutella, and American music. His love of writing began to surface in 1999 (yes, he was thinking about the Prince song while he wrote this sentence). He studied screen writing for five years during which time he wrote a bunch of scripts (one of them came dangerously close to being optioned). After that, there was a foray into poetry and essays on life and existential questions. That brought him to his first novel, The Three Feathers, a fable about a young rooster who follows a dream to search for the meaning of life and finds it in the friendship to a wolf and a war horse. While writing it, he realized that writing has been his own dream all along. Now, four novels, one novella, and a bunch of short stories later, he still feels the same way. You can find him at www.stefanbolz.thirdscribe.com.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 26, 2013
Every so often I encounter a book that feels truer and more inspired than imagined or created. It's as if the author channels a story drawn up from the depths of heretofore undiscovered world mythology. That's how I see Stefan Bolz's book, The Three Feathers. In the story, a rooster named Joshua leaves the comfortable and predictable life of the chicken coop and heads on a quest to uncover the meaning of a persistent dream he has about three feathers. Along the way, he befriends Grey, the wolf, and Krieg, the horse and they travel together, inspired and motivated by Joshua's vision: "Why did you help me?" Joshua asks the wolf. Grey replies, "I do not know the answer...I just knew I had to. The...longing in you was so strong and powerful I wanted to help you find whatever it was you are looking for. Maybe so I could find whatever it is I'm searching for as well."
I celebrate this idea of the importance of the personal journey, accomplished in some way with others, as a fortifying and essential element to the world. I like the way the challenges this trio encounters are not minimized or skipped over in some way. It's very lifelike, this ebb and flow of confidence and doubt among the characters: "That you don't trust your own strength doesn't mean I don't have any left. It also doesn't mean you can't trust mine."
I recommend this book because it's about family: not just our families of origin but those we choose to have accompany us in our lives. It's also a book that's suitable for practically all ages: the storyline is engaging and operates on so many different levels yet remains accessible to anyone, with lots of thought-provoking insights that invite reflection from the reader. I think part of what makes the larger concepts more digestible is the fact that the characters are all animals. I can identify the way I want to.
We need each other, it's such a sweet reminder: "Even if he found the feathers, what then? It was hard for him to remember how much they meant to him when they appeared in his dream. One thing was certain: if he hadn't found Grey and Krieg, he would not have come as far as he did. And even more, the friendship between them was what truly made all this worthwhile. It was more than he could have ever hoped to find."
So grateful for Bolz's willingness to "birth" this book into the world. Enjoy!
I celebrate this idea of the importance of the personal journey, accomplished in some way with others, as a fortifying and essential element to the world. I like the way the challenges this trio encounters are not minimized or skipped over in some way. It's very lifelike, this ebb and flow of confidence and doubt among the characters: "That you don't trust your own strength doesn't mean I don't have any left. It also doesn't mean you can't trust mine."
I recommend this book because it's about family: not just our families of origin but those we choose to have accompany us in our lives. It's also a book that's suitable for practically all ages: the storyline is engaging and operates on so many different levels yet remains accessible to anyone, with lots of thought-provoking insights that invite reflection from the reader. I think part of what makes the larger concepts more digestible is the fact that the characters are all animals. I can identify the way I want to.
We need each other, it's such a sweet reminder: "Even if he found the feathers, what then? It was hard for him to remember how much they meant to him when they appeared in his dream. One thing was certain: if he hadn't found Grey and Krieg, he would not have come as far as he did. And even more, the friendship between them was what truly made all this worthwhile. It was more than he could have ever hoped to find."
So grateful for Bolz's willingness to "birth" this book into the world. Enjoy!
August 9, 2012
I've made it an unofficial policy of mine to simply not review indie books that I do not like. Grandma's old adage, "If you can't say something nice. . . ." sorta stuck with me, she'd be happy to hear. "I'm glad something stuck in that girl's thick head," she'd say. However, when an author actually submits a novel for review, I feel an obligation to give it my best shot to let the author know where I feel the story and/or writing could improve and the reader know they might want to skip it. I got that tight, nervous, "oh, no, oh, no, no, no" feeling between the shoulder blades when I started The Three Feathers. Yep. I started to tense up right on the first page, already dreading writing this review. Someone poured their heart and soul into this book, took a leap of faith sending it to me for review, and here I sit judging it from the first page. I imagine Mr. Bolz is feeling that hard, cold knot in his stomach right about now reading this, so I've got to let him off the hook. Not even realizing it, I looked up a few pages later and noticed that nervous feeling I had, the dread, had melted away. I had become thoroughly immersed, enthralled, in fact, by the magical world of Joshua the rooster and hadn't even realized it. Yes, rooster. Give it a chance, people. ;)
Stefan Bolz's The Three Feathers is a delightful story about stepping out of the box, following your dreams (literally and figuratively, in Joshua's case) and finding your place, your mission. It is about the bonds of friendship and love, and making differences a strength. It reminds me on many levels of an old Chinese proverb; the language, the Zen-like lessons, the writing itself. The best I could describe it would be an ancient Chinese fable intertwined with a Grimm's fairy tale, a parable, and an epic fantasy.
The Three Feathers follows Joshua the rooster as he escapes his mindless but easy life in the coop. He has had a dream, and unlike many of us Joshua is brave enough to follow it even though it means leaving the comfort of everything he knows, there is danger at every turn, and he doesn't know what it really means. He just knows that he must. As his journey begins he meets his companions, Grey and Krieg, a brave wolf and a mighty war horse. Together, they help Joshua follow his dream, while each of them separately fights to overcome their own personal demons. Friendships are forged and obstacles are overcome, fantastical creatures are discovered and evil souls unearthed.
Joshua steps out of his comfort zone and opens his heart to magical possibilities -- I am asking you to do the same when you read The Three Feathers. The writing style and dialogue is a bit different -- formal yet simple. That's part of what put me off for the first few pages, I think, but now I realize it is part of the charm and I couldn't imagine it any other way. The punctuation could have used a little help, but given my background I think I notice punctuation errors more than the average reader.
Mr. Bolz has woven a hypnotic tale where friendship and love can overcome the most devastating of enemies -- doubt in yourself. This is a book for all ages. There is danger, yes, and doubt and sadness and loss. But lessons cannot be learned without them, am I right? This book is marvelously innocent and thought-provoking all at the same time. Tired of the jaded and worn out modern fantasy tale? I enthusiastically encourage you to pick up this enchanting fable and rediscover the innocent joy of childhood and the magical wonder of life in this simple yet wonderfully complex story. Joshua and his friends will make you a believer, I promise.
Stefan Bolz's The Three Feathers is a delightful story about stepping out of the box, following your dreams (literally and figuratively, in Joshua's case) and finding your place, your mission. It is about the bonds of friendship and love, and making differences a strength. It reminds me on many levels of an old Chinese proverb; the language, the Zen-like lessons, the writing itself. The best I could describe it would be an ancient Chinese fable intertwined with a Grimm's fairy tale, a parable, and an epic fantasy.
The Three Feathers follows Joshua the rooster as he escapes his mindless but easy life in the coop. He has had a dream, and unlike many of us Joshua is brave enough to follow it even though it means leaving the comfort of everything he knows, there is danger at every turn, and he doesn't know what it really means. He just knows that he must. As his journey begins he meets his companions, Grey and Krieg, a brave wolf and a mighty war horse. Together, they help Joshua follow his dream, while each of them separately fights to overcome their own personal demons. Friendships are forged and obstacles are overcome, fantastical creatures are discovered and evil souls unearthed.
Joshua steps out of his comfort zone and opens his heart to magical possibilities -- I am asking you to do the same when you read The Three Feathers. The writing style and dialogue is a bit different -- formal yet simple. That's part of what put me off for the first few pages, I think, but now I realize it is part of the charm and I couldn't imagine it any other way. The punctuation could have used a little help, but given my background I think I notice punctuation errors more than the average reader.
Mr. Bolz has woven a hypnotic tale where friendship and love can overcome the most devastating of enemies -- doubt in yourself. This is a book for all ages. There is danger, yes, and doubt and sadness and loss. But lessons cannot be learned without them, am I right? This book is marvelously innocent and thought-provoking all at the same time. Tired of the jaded and worn out modern fantasy tale? I enthusiastically encourage you to pick up this enchanting fable and rediscover the innocent joy of childhood and the magical wonder of life in this simple yet wonderfully complex story. Joshua and his friends will make you a believer, I promise.
October 10, 2013
I downloaded this book several months ago from Story Cartel, free for an honest review, but just couldn't get into it. Feeling guilty, I returned to the book determined to persevere. Although I found the beginning, which describes the rooster Joshua's dream and his decision to break out of his coop to follow his dream, tedious, the book began to pick up once he met his first companion, a wolf named Grey. As Grey, and later the warhorse Krieg, join Joshua on his quest the story deals with many intriguing subjects, such as following your dreams, loyalty and friendship, perseverance in the face of odds and many more.
The story read like an allegory, due to the language,the animal characters and the inspiring messages. Even once I grew interested in the story, I found it slow reading because there was so much to absorb. There were, however, quite a few mistakes that should have been caught earlier (spelling, grammar and punctuation errors).
On the whole, I would recommend this book to people who enjoy stories with a message, fantasy or fables.
The story read like an allegory, due to the language,the animal characters and the inspiring messages. Even once I grew interested in the story, I found it slow reading because there was so much to absorb. There were, however, quite a few mistakes that should have been caught earlier (spelling, grammar and punctuation errors).
On the whole, I would recommend this book to people who enjoy stories with a message, fantasy or fables.
July 31, 2012
What an adventure, not just in fantasy, but spiritually too! Since I do have an advantage since I know the author quite well, I was inspired by his insight into the adventures and feelings that his characters displayed throughout their travels. Their journey brought them loyalty, love, friendship and more. They stuck together, they protected each other and they faced each adversity with courage...learning along the way alot about themselves as well. There are many underlying messages in this story.....read it, enjoy it and look deeply into your own life journey. Fun read, makes you think, gives adventures, humor, sadness and just overall a great story.
November 5, 2012
At first I think it is a pedestrian setting of a simple farm, but it becomes more and more fantastical. At first I think it is simply written, but it keeps triggering emotions of hope and longing. At first I think it has a simple story line, but now I have no idea where it is taking me. It is at once familiar and strange, difficult and easy to read, frustrating and satisfying. Taking motifs, and perhaps the very style of a european story teller, the author crafted a tale I would gladly read to children, a bed time story to fortify their nascent personalities, and remind a jaded adult.
January 15, 2017
My son got stuck in the beginning of the book as he was afraid an animal was going to get killed, that's when I took over!
I figured I would read the story and let him know if it was worth continuing and I'm so glad I did because what I discovered blew me away in the most unsuspected way!
The three feathers is an amazing story that will take you on a spiritual journey it is filled with adventures that makes you want to read the whole book in one sitting. But yet, it will make you want to go back to it and reflect on the journey of the 3 oddest friend and question your own life.
I absolutely recommend it and the rest of my family will read it too...
I figured I would read the story and let him know if it was worth continuing and I'm so glad I did because what I discovered blew me away in the most unsuspected way!
The three feathers is an amazing story that will take you on a spiritual journey it is filled with adventures that makes you want to read the whole book in one sitting. But yet, it will make you want to go back to it and reflect on the journey of the 3 oddest friend and question your own life.
I absolutely recommend it and the rest of my family will read it too...
January 27, 2014
I was moved by this amazing journey of the most unusual group of memorable characters. As they follow Joshua’s dream, the adventure forces them to face their fears. But they also learn from their friendship… faith, courage, trust, and love. The imagery the author provides is magnificent and also reflects the backdrop of the mood...light versus dark, good versus evil.
My 12 year old friend had this to say. It’s really good! I love the part where Joshua and Grey save Krieg. I enjoyed the whole book!
My 12 year old friend had this to say. It’s really good! I love the part where Joshua and Grey save Krieg. I enjoyed the whole book!
June 18, 2015
I need to start this by saying, stories involving animals are very rarely my thing. But I decided to give this a try. And I am so glad that I did. The characters find their way into your heart. It's an absolute joy to join them on their journey. I could not put it down. This book manages to combine fantasy, fable and quests while also imparting wisdom about friendship and finding the courage and strength within oneself.
I can't wait to see what's next for Joshua!
I can't wait to see what's next for Joshua!
October 4, 2016
Every few years, you come across a book that is different. Special. This story is a beautiful, magical one. The characters are wonderful, and stay with you long after the story is finished. I had read some of this author's work before, but The Three Feathers is in a league of its own. I enjoyed this story immensely, will surely read it again many times, and am looking forward to sharing it with my children. Well done, Mr. Bolz. You have truly created something amazing.
February 27, 2013
The storyline heats up as it goes, making the reader care more and more for the hero. Learning to love the hero teaches one to love life's process, one of the themes of this jewel. I enjoyed the storytelling style of it, and I recommend it.
October 8, 2012
Beautiful story and message. Loved the vastly different characters in the book. Looking forward to more...
July 26, 2012
The Journey that begins all journeys.
April 12, 2022
I visited NYC recently, exploring book stores and this book just seemed to speak to me, like a voice inside compelled me to purchase it when I had no intention of buying anything.
Some things happen for a reason. People enter your life, you go one direction rather than another, you listen to voices inside that you don't know where they're coming from, this book seemed to reach me at a time and place in my life when I needed it most.
Its simple but elegantly composed. It speaks to my soul and I'm sure it has touched many others. An amazing find that I will treasure for years to come.
Some things happen for a reason. People enter your life, you go one direction rather than another, you listen to voices inside that you don't know where they're coming from, this book seemed to reach me at a time and place in my life when I needed it most.
Its simple but elegantly composed. It speaks to my soul and I'm sure it has touched many others. An amazing find that I will treasure for years to come.
August 25, 2014
What to say about The Three Feathers? Hmmm. Well, it's tough to categorize this story, but I would say it falls somewhere between an epic fairytale and a fantastical quest. It's absolutely suitable for children and adults of all ages.
The hero of this story is a rooster. His name is Joshua Aylong. He very much lives up to the meaning of his first name, and his journey follows very closely with the Stages of the Journey that Christopher Vogel outlined in his seminal work, The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. Yes, I believe that Grey, his wolf companion, is Joshua's mentor, and best friend. Joshua's next companion is a war horse named, Krieg. The interactions between these three main characters take the physical journey to its highest level possible, a spiritual one. Each one discovers their purpose in life while they learn acceptance, hope, and courage. Their unlikely friendship is the crux of the journey, the heartbeat and their raison d'être.
The three embark on an adventure of self-discovery and to help Joshua explore the meaning of his dream and the significance of the three feathers. Their quest takes them through wonderfully descriptive places like Hollow's Gate, the Great Deep, Storm Mountain, the Walls, the Gate of Time, the Ruins, the Labyrinth of Mirrors, the Lake of Tears, the Ice Forests, and the Caves, which challenge them physically and emotionally. *mini spoiler alert* Along the way they tackle the almost insurmountable dark forces of evil embodied in a powerful Griffon Vulture who controls vicious hyenas and zombified spiders. Their fears and doubts are tested to their limits. Alliances are formed with wonderfully crafted magical creatures like the pegasus named Wind, an giant turtle named Alda, a peep frog named Broga, a remarkable lioness, and a stately dragon-of-the-stone. Their reward, besides their remarkable friendship, is to see Joshua discover his destiny.
The story is amazing. It's very imaginative, extremely unique, and one of the most original stories I've read in a long time. It's an exploration into the meaning of friendship and unconditional love.
Some reviewers have mentioned that the writing is formal, being a German myself, I think that's in our nature. Perhaps Stefan envisioned animals as being particularly polite to one another [insert smiley face]. It was consistent throughout though, so I had no real problem with it. Yes, there were a few grammatical errors, but nothing significant enough to detract from the story. So, without reservation, I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read fantasy, fairy tales, myths, and legends, and especially those who love moral stories with themes they can teach their children while being fully immersed in a wonderful world filled with enchanting characters.
May 19, 2014
I was totally immersed in Joshua's journey from the moment he flew the coop (pun intended) The authors ability to draw you into this amazing world of the most unlikely of relationships was totally encapsulating...I was drawn in by the thoughts in his head....insecurities and self doubt in his ability to do the things necessary to help his friends that embraced him during his journey to uncertainty. There is a little bit of Joshua in us all.....Stefan Bolz tapped into that part of me that believes that anything is possible with the right support behind you....I went on You Tube and downloaded the author reading each chapter along with me....he told the story and spoke for each character in a different voice that at times I would close my eyes and just listen and actually "BE" in Hollow's Gate! I can feel the love of Grey for his lost companion, the strength of Krieg and Wind, the wisdom of Alda, the spiders surrounding them with their web, the rotten Hyenas and the stench of the Vulture. I look forward to the next place Mr. Bolz takes me. For now I too have the Lioness within :)
June 10, 2014
FANTASY
A story of a rooster that leaves his comfort of home in search of a dream. He comes upon some of the truest friends along the way and so much adventure, allot of trials they had to go through, and the love and trust you have in your friends is something to never take for granted. A very inspiring, lovely book. Also great for the young at heart.
A story of a rooster that leaves his comfort of home in search of a dream. He comes upon some of the truest friends along the way and so much adventure, allot of trials they had to go through, and the love and trust you have in your friends is something to never take for granted. A very inspiring, lovely book. Also great for the young at heart.
March 6, 2016
In this fable you find friendship. As a group of motly animals meet and go adventuring. I would've given the book 5 stars had I been 10 as this is the stuff I ate up as a kid! This is a wonderful middle reader for any kid that is animal crazy. And probably a good book for a reluctant reader as there is lots of action!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews