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Wood Cow Chronicles #1
Helga: Out of Hedgelands
Twelve-year-old Helga has more danger in her life than most beasts her age. Wrackshee slavers after her, a vicious attack by bandits that nearly kills her, a race against dragons pursuing her, and leading a daring rebellion to save her life, and rescue friends and family, from the insidious WooZan. And that is just the beginning. But what do you expect when you are a young beast who just can’t see the stupid rules of the world making any sense? Helga can’t accept things as they are and ends up taking on not just one, but two all-powerful, supreme tyrants in two different realms.
Helga never intended to lead a revolution. It just sort of happened because she wouldn’t go along with the “rules of normal” that keep tyrants in power and entire societies enslaved. Beginning on a dangerous quest to solve some mysteries in her own past, Helga leads her quirky comrades on a journey that will not only forever change them, but upset ancient civilizations.
As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. Helga’s unusual story will take readers to worlds they never imagined—definitely a whole new ride.
Time and again, the unconventional heroine and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently.
Helga: Out of Hedgelands is divided into three books which introduce the epic saga of the Wood Cow clan and their role in overturning centuries of slavery and tyranny. This story will continue in additional volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles now in development. Over the series of current and future volumes, the entire history of the Wood Cow clan, the fall of Maev Astuté, and the coming of Lord Farseeker to the Outer Rings, will be told.
Helga never intended to lead a revolution. It just sort of happened because she wouldn’t go along with the “rules of normal” that keep tyrants in power and entire societies enslaved. Beginning on a dangerous quest to solve some mysteries in her own past, Helga leads her quirky comrades on a journey that will not only forever change them, but upset ancient civilizations.
As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. Helga’s unusual story will take readers to worlds they never imagined—definitely a whole new ride.
Time and again, the unconventional heroine and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently.
Helga: Out of Hedgelands is divided into three books which introduce the epic saga of the Wood Cow clan and their role in overturning centuries of slavery and tyranny. This story will continue in additional volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles now in development. Over the series of current and future volumes, the entire history of the Wood Cow clan, the fall of Maev Astuté, and the coming of Lord Farseeker to the Outer Rings, will be told.
560 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2012
26 people are currently reading
710 people want to read
About the author
Rick Johnson
8 books27 followersI am a community-builder, author, and educator leveraging the power of storytelling to promote equality, justice, and humanity’s reconciliation for peace and unity.
Storytelling is a social force.
In many ways, we are the stories we tell ourselves and that we tell about each other. Beyond providing an entertaining story for readers, I hope to contribute to changing the narratives we tell ourselves and that we tell about each other. I want to offer what I can in the way of breaking us out of the mental boxes made up of the stories we tell.
I hope that my stories will bring hope when we are wearied with humanity's monotony of pain, inspire active doubt when we're told that every human problem is insoluble, strengthen our resolve when everything around us seems to be shaking, cause a smile when the ugly face of despair is leering at us, and stimulate us to reexamine our own cherished assumptions underlying the stories we tell. My heroines and heroes do not yield to the overwhelming power of tyranny, but serve the cause of equality, justice, and freedom for all. They speak aloud when malevolent forces try to crush their minds.
I tell stories about active love for the weak and powerless; valiant and courageous collaborative action to advance the justice, equality, freedom, and respect that must underlie any lasting unity. As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own song or story rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her or his own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries.
Wood Cows think differently. Join the adventure!
Storytelling is a social force.
In many ways, we are the stories we tell ourselves and that we tell about each other. Beyond providing an entertaining story for readers, I hope to contribute to changing the narratives we tell ourselves and that we tell about each other. I want to offer what I can in the way of breaking us out of the mental boxes made up of the stories we tell.
I hope that my stories will bring hope when we are wearied with humanity's monotony of pain, inspire active doubt when we're told that every human problem is insoluble, strengthen our resolve when everything around us seems to be shaking, cause a smile when the ugly face of despair is leering at us, and stimulate us to reexamine our own cherished assumptions underlying the stories we tell. My heroines and heroes do not yield to the overwhelming power of tyranny, but serve the cause of equality, justice, and freedom for all. They speak aloud when malevolent forces try to crush their minds.
I tell stories about active love for the weak and powerless; valiant and courageous collaborative action to advance the justice, equality, freedom, and respect that must underlie any lasting unity. As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own song or story rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her or his own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries.
Wood Cows think differently. Join the adventure!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 20, 2015
4.5 stars. Perhaps i deal with fantasy adventure books about animal people well. Or perhaps they say something to me that would be less palatable if they were people? Or maybe i just like the audacity of the authors.
Helga is a marvelous heroine. Lots of bad guys and good guys. Give me some time to think about how to describe the long and somewhat complicated story with loads of characters.
Helga is a marvelous heroine. Lots of bad guys and good guys. Give me some time to think about how to describe the long and somewhat complicated story with loads of characters.
July 27, 2015
A really good beginning to the Wood Cow Chronicles series. I read this volume because I was chosen a Goodreads winner for the second book in the series, The Overending, and will post a more detailed review there.
January 22, 2017
A fun set of serial stories about Helga and the other beasts she meets. These YA anthropomorphic animal tales are fun, bold and two shades on the fresh side of delightfully ridiculous. An entertaining read.
Want to read
October 21, 2014Kindle Freebie -2nd book listed eReader newsletter - grabbed both to start at beginning.
August 16, 2012
A great find, not to miss--would definitely recommend.
March 9, 2016
Before we get started I thoroughly enjoyed the story! Now to my ridiculous account of reading it.
I don't know what I was expecting when I opened this book, I did no research and did not read any reviews. I don't normally do more than read the blurb, so this was not out of the ordinary. I was so surprised by this collection of books, I don't know where to begin, to express my feelings about what I found!
The first thing that surprised me was that this is a children's book. When I saw the name Helga I thought Vikings or something along those lines, boy was I delightfully mistaken!
Second surprise, it's about forest beasts as the author calls them, at first I thought the names the people were calling themselves such as Wood Cows were clan names. Nope, they were forests creatures. (I am completely guilty of sneaking a child book series or two, emm Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.) So moving on...
The first book of the Chronicles was an intelligent, wistful, fanciful, adventure. The author builds the story wonderfully. Helga's brother is out trading at a market far from home when, he needs to rest he ends up at a rough establishment were his kind (wood cows) are not usually welcome. There he meets an old sickly coyote that plans to make a required journey, that most of the kingdom makes at least once in their life time, not to make this journey is considered dishonorable. Well knowing how old and ill the beast is Helga's brother decides to take his place so his honor remains intact, and so the ill beast doesn't die attempting it. Well While doing this he causes a huge commotion is arrested and brought before the High one. In front of the High on the processed to battle guards insult generals and steal a prized possession from the High one. Managing to escape and bringing down the wrath of the High one on all of the usually peaceful Wood Cows. The High One decrees that all wood cows are banished from the Hedgelands, and that is where Helga's adventure begins. Creative and intriguing, I can't wait to share it with my daughter.
I don't know what I was expecting when I opened this book, I did no research and did not read any reviews. I don't normally do more than read the blurb, so this was not out of the ordinary. I was so surprised by this collection of books, I don't know where to begin, to express my feelings about what I found!
The first thing that surprised me was that this is a children's book. When I saw the name Helga I thought Vikings or something along those lines, boy was I delightfully mistaken!
Second surprise, it's about forest beasts as the author calls them, at first I thought the names the people were calling themselves such as Wood Cows were clan names. Nope, they were forests creatures. (I am completely guilty of sneaking a child book series or two, emm Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.) So moving on...
The first book of the Chronicles was an intelligent, wistful, fanciful, adventure. The author builds the story wonderfully. Helga's brother is out trading at a market far from home when, he needs to rest he ends up at a rough establishment were his kind (wood cows) are not usually welcome. There he meets an old sickly coyote that plans to make a required journey, that most of the kingdom makes at least once in their life time, not to make this journey is considered dishonorable. Well knowing how old and ill the beast is Helga's brother decides to take his place so his honor remains intact, and so the ill beast doesn't die attempting it. Well While doing this he causes a huge commotion is arrested and brought before the High one. In front of the High on the processed to battle guards insult generals and steal a prized possession from the High one. Managing to escape and bringing down the wrath of the High one on all of the usually peaceful Wood Cows. The High One decrees that all wood cows are banished from the Hedgelands, and that is where Helga's adventure begins. Creative and intriguing, I can't wait to share it with my daughter.
October 6, 2015
Spoiler Alert: Very early on in this book the entire plot goes from peaceful kingdom to a kingdom built on slavery and a mad tyrant and his family. Quickly the main characters family is forced to flee the kingdom and learn the hidden truth.That the castle of the High One is built with the blood and tears of slaves imported from the lands outside the hedge. Yet the High One is still believed to be a god.
October 18, 2014
Ok read
I found some characters were a little disconnected. And some of the ways they spoke slowed down the storyline a little. I believe this is more of a child's book,but it was somewhat enjoyable as an adult.
I found some characters were a little disconnected. And some of the ways they spoke slowed down the storyline a little. I believe this is more of a child's book,but it was somewhat enjoyable as an adult.
August 19, 2013
A great escapist read. The author has created his own world with great characters and storylines.
November 3, 2014
I never could get into this book. Not sure why...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews