What do you think?
Rate this book
Silvio is no longer available as an eBook.
The Tale of the Four Wizards
Patriarchs of the Realm
A Collection of Short Stories
On the island of Taikus the Sorceress Queen Hacatine overthrows the reign of the wizards. She robs its inhabitants of their power, harvesting magic from every source. Her goal? To defeat the Winds of the North and conquer the land of men. With only four more young wizards from which to draw power, Hacatine nears her goal of supremacy.
I: Silvio
The youngest of the wizards, Silvio is sent away in the dark of night with his 3 older companions in a tiny skiff and left to the mercy of the sea as they escape from the wicked sorceress Hacatine. But the perils of the deep leave them stranded on an island, and fate takes a turn for the worse, leaving Silvio running from his enemy alone.
The Tale of the Four Wizards
Patriarchs of the Realm
A Collection of Short Stories
On the island of Taikus the Sorceress Queen Hacatine overthrows the reign of the wizards. She robs its inhabitants of their power, harvesting magic from every source. Her goal? To defeat the Winds of the North and conquer the land of men. With only four more young wizards from which to draw power, Hacatine nears her goal of supremacy.
I: Silvio
The youngest of the wizards, Silvio is sent away in the dark of night with his 3 older companions in a tiny skiff and left to the mercy of the sea as they escape from the wicked sorceress Hacatine. But the perils of the deep leave them stranded on an island, and fate takes a turn for the worse, leaving Silvio running from his enemy alone.
- GenresFantasy
ebook
First published December 1, 2012
19 people want to read
About the author
D.L. Gardner
53 books184 followersWith a passion for a good wholesome story, Gardner dives into the adult and young adult fantasy genres. She is both a best selling author and an award winning illustrator who lives in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Dabbling in screenwriting, she's won screenings and a trophy for some of her film projects.
She loves a tale that ignites imaginations, strengthens friendships, spurs courage and applauds honor. Though she targets her stories for young adults, her books are enjoyed by all ages.
D.L. Gardner is a columnist for the science fiction and fantasy publication Amazing Stories Magazine
http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2017/10/...
Librarian Note: Also writes under the pen name Dianne Lynn Gardner.
She loves a tale that ignites imaginations, strengthens friendships, spurs courage and applauds honor. Though she targets her stories for young adults, her books are enjoyed by all ages.
D.L. Gardner is a columnist for the science fiction and fantasy publication Amazing Stories Magazine
http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2017/10/...
Librarian Note: Also writes under the pen name Dianne Lynn Gardner.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 5, 2013
A mother sends her son away, giving him only memories and magic to guide him. “Use the magic sparingly” she says, sparing him the destruction he would surely face from the dreaded Queen Hacatine. And so four teenage conjurers become outlaws.
Ian’s Realm is a fascinating place introduced in the author’s wonderful full-length novel Deception Peak. But these short stories of the four wizards stand alone perfectly. Set in an earlier time, they add depth and detail to the unspoken history of the longer work, adding to the mystique.
If you’ve read Deception Peak, there’ll be a certain satisfaction to that feeling of recognizing roots in the past. But you don’t need to read the longer novel first. This short story gives a great flavor for the magical world of Silvio and his friends, and creates some immediately relatable characters, thrust into instant danger. Young teens will love Silvio for itself, and love it even more if it’s part of a set.
As the boys flee griffons, condors and more and a wicked witch gives chase, the question arises, can running away ever really lead to safety. “There’s got to be more to this world than just us,” says eighteen-year-old Kaempie, with great wisdom and maturity. There has to be more than just these boys battling one face of evil. And there is.
Silvio is a beautifully haunting tale of love, loyalty and loss, of ordinary human boys in the guise of wizards, and of hope unrealized in a convincing imaginary world. With its realistic portrayal of teen boys and relationships, it’s highly recommended for middle school readers and older.
Disclosure: I read Deception Peak first and was hooked, then I found Silvio in a free deal.
Ian’s Realm is a fascinating place introduced in the author’s wonderful full-length novel Deception Peak. But these short stories of the four wizards stand alone perfectly. Set in an earlier time, they add depth and detail to the unspoken history of the longer work, adding to the mystique.
If you’ve read Deception Peak, there’ll be a certain satisfaction to that feeling of recognizing roots in the past. But you don’t need to read the longer novel first. This short story gives a great flavor for the magical world of Silvio and his friends, and creates some immediately relatable characters, thrust into instant danger. Young teens will love Silvio for itself, and love it even more if it’s part of a set.
As the boys flee griffons, condors and more and a wicked witch gives chase, the question arises, can running away ever really lead to safety. “There’s got to be more to this world than just us,” says eighteen-year-old Kaempie, with great wisdom and maturity. There has to be more than just these boys battling one face of evil. And there is.
Silvio is a beautifully haunting tale of love, loyalty and loss, of ordinary human boys in the guise of wizards, and of hope unrealized in a convincing imaginary world. With its realistic portrayal of teen boys and relationships, it’s highly recommended for middle school readers and older.
Disclosure: I read Deception Peak first and was hooked, then I found Silvio in a free deal.
November 12, 2012
This short story is a well written tale of the escape of four young wizards. What I really enjoyed was how despite the short length I really got a lot of details about the world and its inhabitants. You get to see a bit of the politics, and a bit of various kinds of magic. The characters had depth and they all had their own voice and goals.
Another good thing about the story was the ending - it took me by surprise, and avoided a potential cliche finish. Definitely looking forward to the next one.
Another good thing about the story was the ending - it took me by surprise, and avoided a potential cliche finish. Definitely looking forward to the next one.
November 25, 2014
Two Thumbs up!
Dianne Gardner has done it again. Silvio is a captivating, spellbinding short story that will capture your heart and your imagination. I loved it- Definitely worth the read!
Review Written by: Virginia L. Jennings
Author of 'Visionary From The Stars'
& 'The Alien Mind'
Dianne Gardner has done it again. Silvio is a captivating, spellbinding short story that will capture your heart and your imagination. I loved it- Definitely worth the read!
Review Written by: Virginia L. Jennings
Author of 'Visionary From The Stars'
& 'The Alien Mind'
February 20, 2013
What would you do to escape fate? Kaempie, Rueben, Meneka, and Silvio are faced with that decision. Rueben and Keampie are now eighteen, but it is not a time for celebration. With the help of Claudia, Silvio's mother, they and Meneka and Silvio (the youngest at fifteen), take to the seas on that same night in hopes of escaping fate. If only they can get to the northern shores before the dreaded queen notices their absence and calls on her sea-born serpents to bring them back.
The four must find a way to keep ahead of the power-hungry queen who is after their abilities. All they love is behind them, all they fear hunts them, and only uncertainty is before them. They separate, and the reader follows Silvio as he attempts to continue his escape.
Fast paced, beginning at the shore of escape, following through to the incidents on the ocean, and then concluding to decisions and encounters at the shore this story follows Silvio as he embarks on this unwanted journey. He knows his mother is risking everything to get him away, but she tells him she would rather he run then be yet another victim of their queen - and most mothers reading that would agree. The reader feels for the young boy as he longs for home and his only living relative, but cheers him on as he evades the queen.
In this short story, the enslaved region of the south and the free region of the north are introduced along with some details about a few of the cities. The inhabitants are particular to this world, and it is interesting to learn about them, but it only whets the appetite. A good read for Young Adults, Silvio is definitely the beginning to a journey of self-discovery and hope!
UPDATE:
I gave it 4 even tho I want more! I liked the imagery of the story, how I can see what is happening, and I can follow the character interaction. My initial impressions of Silvio and Kaempie are favorable, Reuben is a bit more reserved, but I definitely do not like Meneka or the evil queen. I would like to know more about Taikus, and hope to learn that in the following stories.
For this one, I initially felt like it stopped too soon, but it was still a good story and I recommend it. Upon speaking with the author, I realize that I misread the ending. In my hope that Silvio would escape, I misread his fate with the tree. I hoped he would get away, as he does - but apparently that is not his doom. I feel for the poor boy, but at least it is a better fate than the Taikus queen had for him.
The four must find a way to keep ahead of the power-hungry queen who is after their abilities. All they love is behind them, all they fear hunts them, and only uncertainty is before them. They separate, and the reader follows Silvio as he attempts to continue his escape.
Fast paced, beginning at the shore of escape, following through to the incidents on the ocean, and then concluding to decisions and encounters at the shore this story follows Silvio as he embarks on this unwanted journey. He knows his mother is risking everything to get him away, but she tells him she would rather he run then be yet another victim of their queen - and most mothers reading that would agree. The reader feels for the young boy as he longs for home and his only living relative, but cheers him on as he evades the queen.
In this short story, the enslaved region of the south and the free region of the north are introduced along with some details about a few of the cities. The inhabitants are particular to this world, and it is interesting to learn about them, but it only whets the appetite. A good read for Young Adults, Silvio is definitely the beginning to a journey of self-discovery and hope!
UPDATE:
I gave it 4 even tho I want more! I liked the imagery of the story, how I can see what is happening, and I can follow the character interaction. My initial impressions of Silvio and Kaempie are favorable, Reuben is a bit more reserved, but I definitely do not like Meneka or the evil queen. I would like to know more about Taikus, and hope to learn that in the following stories.
For this one, I initially felt like it stopped too soon, but it was still a good story and I recommend it. Upon speaking with the author, I realize that I misread the ending. In my hope that Silvio would escape, I misread his fate with the tree. I hoped he would get away, as he does - but apparently that is not his doom. I feel for the poor boy, but at least it is a better fate than the Taikus queen had for him.
June 11, 2013
Silvio is a story about survival and inner-strength. Beautifully told and vividly detailed. The writer told the story so naturally that this fantasy felt somehow real and I got caught in the moment, looking for a peaceful resolve.
"They listened to the sound of the waves beating like an injured heart. The wind blew salt spray into Silvio's face. It bit his cheeks with sand, and sent shivers of cold up his spine.
He waited, his pulse pounding in his chest. But the boat didn't come into view again. It was gone."
"They listened to the sound of the waves beating like an injured heart. The wind blew salt spray into Silvio's face. It bit his cheeks with sand, and sent shivers of cold up his spine.
He waited, his pulse pounding in his chest. But the boat didn't come into view again. It was gone."
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews