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The Traitor in the Trees: A Children's Fantasy Novel of Magic Schools and Monsters
Ricci is used to being accused of thievery—in fact, he prides himself in it. But the novelty of being the number one suspect in the crime of the century quickly evaporates when he discovers the future of all he loves is held in the ruthless claws of a true, master thief.
When Ricci, an eleven-year-old orphan from Earth, is invited to the elf city of Trinnifain, his sticky fingers twitch with excitement. Eager to perfect his craft on the friendly—if naive—elves, he patrols the city’s winding lanes in pursuit of loose purses and easy trinkets to liberate from their owners.
His gold-snatching days take a turn for the worse when two Protection Seeds are stolen from their graves in the city’s most sacred trees. If the remaining Seeds disappear, it will result in the complete annihilation of elf-kind. Ricci has grown fond of the peaceful species—and their gold—so sets aside his pick-pocketing ways to focus his attention on saving the remaining Seeds from ambitious hands.
Ricci’s quest for saving the Seeds inadvertently lands him as a key suspect in the theft. Following a stint in the cells, he becomes an object for the king’s wrath, and worse—ostracized at school. If Ricci’s resolve waivers even a little, the elves may become nothing more than a memory, a shadow in a past long forgotten.
When Ricci, an eleven-year-old orphan from Earth, is invited to the elf city of Trinnifain, his sticky fingers twitch with excitement. Eager to perfect his craft on the friendly—if naive—elves, he patrols the city’s winding lanes in pursuit of loose purses and easy trinkets to liberate from their owners.
His gold-snatching days take a turn for the worse when two Protection Seeds are stolen from their graves in the city’s most sacred trees. If the remaining Seeds disappear, it will result in the complete annihilation of elf-kind. Ricci has grown fond of the peaceful species—and their gold—so sets aside his pick-pocketing ways to focus his attention on saving the remaining Seeds from ambitious hands.
Ricci’s quest for saving the Seeds inadvertently lands him as a key suspect in the theft. Following a stint in the cells, he becomes an object for the king’s wrath, and worse—ostracized at school. If Ricci’s resolve waivers even a little, the elves may become nothing more than a memory, a shadow in a past long forgotten.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2017
21 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Michael Dane
11 books70 followersM. Dane was raised in outback Australia, where he grew up on a farm with cattle, pigs, and his siblings—who were just as wild. In his isolation, he fell in love with novels as they offered unlimited adventures at the turn of a page. After finishing school, he traded fields for far-off lands, joining the army and embarking on a journey that took him around the world.
His foray into writing wasn’t a sudden leap, but a gradual shift that began with scribbles that evolved into his debut novel, The Traitor in the Trees. While he jokingly says his writing career started with struggling to spell his own name at fifteen, the truth is, the seeds of storytelling were planted long before then, in the dusty paddocks of his childhood.
Seventeen years in the army taught him more than just discipline; it opened his eyes to the wonderful cultures and experiences that shape our world. Now, having switched the uniform for a writer’s desk, his focus is on writing stories that capture the essence of his travels and the diverse beauty of the places he's seen. He hopes to bring a piece of the world to his readers, encouraging a curiosity and appreciation for the diverse cultures that enrich our planet.
His foray into writing wasn’t a sudden leap, but a gradual shift that began with scribbles that evolved into his debut novel, The Traitor in the Trees. While he jokingly says his writing career started with struggling to spell his own name at fifteen, the truth is, the seeds of storytelling were planted long before then, in the dusty paddocks of his childhood.
Seventeen years in the army taught him more than just discipline; it opened his eyes to the wonderful cultures and experiences that shape our world. Now, having switched the uniform for a writer’s desk, his focus is on writing stories that capture the essence of his travels and the diverse beauty of the places he's seen. He hopes to bring a piece of the world to his readers, encouraging a curiosity and appreciation for the diverse cultures that enrich our planet.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 4, 2017
I might be a little biased, but the inner child in me loves this book :)
August 31, 2018
Good adventure
This was a very good adventure for teens. The characters all were well developed and the story moved quickly into a fine adventure for all those young at heart.
This was a very good adventure for teens. The characters all were well developed and the story moved quickly into a fine adventure for all those young at heart.
December 20, 2018
A nice magical story
Characters of story were nicely developed.
Story line flowed smoothly
A great fantasy within a magical realm.
I will definitely read more of M. Dame writtings
Characters of story were nicely developed.
Story line flowed smoothly
A great fantasy within a magical realm.
I will definitely read more of M. Dame writtings
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews