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Silvarum, Book I: Frost
Silvarum is an eight-book fantasy series. It chronicles the story of the Woods family, a multi-generational cast of characters that must save Silvarum from domination by an evil force called the Nexxathians. Each book in the series culminates with the battle against one of the eight rune protectors. For the first installment, the three Woods children, Mckenzie, Roger, and Marie, face off against the dragon, Lord Mortis. Before that climax, however, they endure a multitude of fantastic adventures with their friends and companions. Themes include family dynamics, friendship, first love, loss, and problem solving. Fantasy elements include steampunk, magic, dinosaurs, ghosts, and sarcastic teenagers. Welcome to the realm of Silvarum!
- GenresFantasy
666 pages, Hardcover
Published October 31, 2020
4 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 28, 2018
RTC! :)
December 19, 2017
Such a breath-taking book. The build-up of plot made me so excited to go on an adventure with these amazing, smart kids. This proves that everyone has a special, unique talent, and it can benefit your surrounding community. In this case, Silvarum! I love how the setting is set, and the provided information of backgrounds adds a foundation to the story that would have never been seen if it hadn't. This has become my top favorite book of all-time! This book, this storyline, could really become popular through word-of-mouth. Honestly, this would become a great movie, much like The Hobbit or Harry Potter. Once again, this should be an award-winning book.. I really loved it, and I would read every book more than once.
April 11, 2018
Silvarum is a genre-bending tale that includes fantasy, science fiction, material that is appropriate for young adults but also engaging for adult, seasoned readers as well. I have a hard time finding tales I enjoy because I've read so many that have very predictable storylines, filled with tropes I have read a hundred times, but in Silvarum I was very engaged and surprised to be swept away.
There are beautiful themes of family, friends and cooperation among more intense themes of magic, the hereafter, and mysterious beings. The illustrations included are gorgeous and really make the story that much more tangible and real.
I personally appreciated the highlights of archeology, science and maths. As well as twists and turns that I didn't see coming yet still made perfect sense in the book, not just there to fake you out.
Overall, I was drawn into the book easily, the characters are fun, diverse, and have depth. It's the beginnings of a series that I can't wait to tear through. You know it's good when you get to the last page and you want more!
I will likely read it again and append my review if possible. I can't wait for the second volume, this is only the beginning.
There are beautiful themes of family, friends and cooperation among more intense themes of magic, the hereafter, and mysterious beings. The illustrations included are gorgeous and really make the story that much more tangible and real.
I personally appreciated the highlights of archeology, science and maths. As well as twists and turns that I didn't see coming yet still made perfect sense in the book, not just there to fake you out.
Overall, I was drawn into the book easily, the characters are fun, diverse, and have depth. It's the beginnings of a series that I can't wait to tear through. You know it's good when you get to the last page and you want more!
I will likely read it again and append my review if possible. I can't wait for the second volume, this is only the beginning.
January 30, 2018
Dean Kuhta's novel, Silvarum, is part of what will be an eight-book series. Book 1: Frost, certainly sets the scene for the impending battle between the good folk of Thorndale and the evil creatures of Nexxathia, in a larger-than-life way.
Silvarum opens with a Narnia-esque feel that is both familiar and delightful. The conversations among siblings Marie, Mckenzie, and Roger Woods are reminiscent of those among the Pevensies prior to their exodus into the wardrobe, and that underlying suspense, and tense, expectant mood, permeates Kuhta's prose from one chapter to the next.
Believe me when I tell you that there's something for everyone in Silvarum, but the vast array of characters and species never feels overdone, and that is a testament to Kuhta's ability to weave a satisfying and coherent story. Ghosts, Pocahontas and John Smith, dinosaurs, giant insects, overgrown arachnids, flying reptiles, and other bizarre creatures populate the pages of Silvarum, many of these coupled with hypnotic works of art by the author himself.
The story’s structure is told from past tense third person omniscient, interspersed with chapters featuring Abigail Somberlain and Penny Crofts in their graveyard, and Dr. Edric Drake’s log entries detailing an expedition in a distant mountain range, called the Shadow Mountains. The Shadow Mountains was where Dr. Drake and the eight other archaeologists, scientists, and geologists conducted research and collected data on the natural resources of that desolate, Arctic region. They found something else in that region—eight magical runestones and the Watcher's Pyramid—something that was a whole lot more than they bargained for!
The imagery of Abigail (a young violinist killed in a car crash on her way home from a recital) in her graveyard is one of my favorite aspects of Silvarum. Kuhta's descriptions of the dust-entombed mausoleum, and the creepy, blinking book that Abigail shares her crypt with, are vivid and lyrical, and the sadness felt for the (breathing?) dead girl (her mother materializes and then is snatched away from her) is as unambiguous as the starkly enchanting prose.
***Side note, I love that Dean Kuhta's press is called Elvelon Press; the Elvelon are an ancient race of tree-men that include oak trees with long bushy, beards, made of tangled lichen and gray mosses, and they provide sturdy homes and security for the gnome families. Just another part of the rich and brilliant world Kuhta has created.
I greatly look forward to the second installment of the Silvarum series. The Woods' family may have become fragmented by the end of Book 1 (I won't give away anything, but we lose a major player in the war against the Nexxathia runestone guardians and the eventual facing off against the Dream-King), but the familial unit that bands together to set off and face the first of the runestones' guardians brings to mind another non-nuclear family in a magical world (Harry, Hermione, and Ron, anyone?) Silvarum is truly a fine ghost story/adventure tale/epic quest if I've ever read one!
Silvarum opens with a Narnia-esque feel that is both familiar and delightful. The conversations among siblings Marie, Mckenzie, and Roger Woods are reminiscent of those among the Pevensies prior to their exodus into the wardrobe, and that underlying suspense, and tense, expectant mood, permeates Kuhta's prose from one chapter to the next.
Believe me when I tell you that there's something for everyone in Silvarum, but the vast array of characters and species never feels overdone, and that is a testament to Kuhta's ability to weave a satisfying and coherent story. Ghosts, Pocahontas and John Smith, dinosaurs, giant insects, overgrown arachnids, flying reptiles, and other bizarre creatures populate the pages of Silvarum, many of these coupled with hypnotic works of art by the author himself.
The story’s structure is told from past tense third person omniscient, interspersed with chapters featuring Abigail Somberlain and Penny Crofts in their graveyard, and Dr. Edric Drake’s log entries detailing an expedition in a distant mountain range, called the Shadow Mountains. The Shadow Mountains was where Dr. Drake and the eight other archaeologists, scientists, and geologists conducted research and collected data on the natural resources of that desolate, Arctic region. They found something else in that region—eight magical runestones and the Watcher's Pyramid—something that was a whole lot more than they bargained for!
The imagery of Abigail (a young violinist killed in a car crash on her way home from a recital) in her graveyard is one of my favorite aspects of Silvarum. Kuhta's descriptions of the dust-entombed mausoleum, and the creepy, blinking book that Abigail shares her crypt with, are vivid and lyrical, and the sadness felt for the (breathing?) dead girl (her mother materializes and then is snatched away from her) is as unambiguous as the starkly enchanting prose.
***Side note, I love that Dean Kuhta's press is called Elvelon Press; the Elvelon are an ancient race of tree-men that include oak trees with long bushy, beards, made of tangled lichen and gray mosses, and they provide sturdy homes and security for the gnome families. Just another part of the rich and brilliant world Kuhta has created.
I greatly look forward to the second installment of the Silvarum series. The Woods' family may have become fragmented by the end of Book 1 (I won't give away anything, but we lose a major player in the war against the Nexxathia runestone guardians and the eventual facing off against the Dream-King), but the familial unit that bands together to set off and face the first of the runestones' guardians brings to mind another non-nuclear family in a magical world (Harry, Hermione, and Ron, anyone?) Silvarum is truly a fine ghost story/adventure tale/epic quest if I've ever read one!
February 10, 2018
Silvarum is an unexpected, adventurous, and intriguing foray into the fantasy realm. Kuhta expertly weaves dynamic characters and otherworldly ideas into a fascinating tale, inviting the reader to go on quite an imaginative journey. Book I: Frost, introduces a large cast of characters and sets the stage for what seems to be the beginning of an intricate, compelling, and complex voyage through a fantastical world. Through a variety of twists and turns, the reader is launched into a world of good and evil, magic wands, monsters, dragons, magic, multiple dimensions, and bizarre creatures including a quirky, steampunk inspired spider named, Click. Part 1 of Frost ends with a curious event that leaves the reader yearning for Part 2. Additionally, an unexpected delight is Kuhta’s intricate artwork, which is highlighted throughout the book. I highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers.
March 25, 2018
this book told us about magical adventure of three teenage siblings to investigate about runestone of Nexxathia. it's like I'm back to the times when I read some books like Three Investigators, The Famous Five, or The Lord of The Rings, which is exciting.
the story line and the writing are easy to read and easy to follow, I enjoyed my time reading this book, although as in any war, not everyone makes it out alive. yet it makes me want to go on holiday and explore something new in somewhere new where there are magical involved and some mystery riddles ahead. it's a good adventure story, with some great original illustrations by Dean himself, this book is a worth to read
I received this book from Goodreads First-Reads, huge thanks for sending me this book
the story line and the writing are easy to read and easy to follow, I enjoyed my time reading this book, although as in any war, not everyone makes it out alive. yet it makes me want to go on holiday and explore something new in somewhere new where there are magical involved and some mystery riddles ahead. it's a good adventure story, with some great original illustrations by Dean himself, this book is a worth to read
I received this book from Goodreads First-Reads, huge thanks for sending me this book
July 28, 2018
This book is a wonderful evasion from the harshness of reality to the vast world of fantasy. This genre suffers - lately- from the lack of originality. Despite that this book doesn’t shock you with an entirely original characters, it represents a certain originality. Like all great fantasy books, it is indeed thrilling. It keeps you excited until the last page and beyond.
April 6, 2021
An intriguing story that wove together many disparate elements. I was frustrated to start with, because each chapter jumped to different characters in different scenarios and geographies. With no transitions or lead-ins I felt lost and confused. I kept reading, though, and gained familiarity; then it became easier to understand the general flow of what was happening. It also helped me considerably as the paths of characters began crossing and merging.
January 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this! It's like Sci-Fi mixed with Fantasy with a Dash of Steampunk in some of the designs. There were times I actually laughed out loud!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews