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The Stargold Chronicles #1
Yaban Halkı
Farallone Adası'nda, Şehir sakinlerinin bir enerji kaynağı olan yıldızaltınına karşı duyduğu açgözlülük, duvarların ardındaki Yaban Halkı’nın hayatını tehlikeye atmaktadır.
Yıllar önce yaşanan Yıkılış’ın tekrarlanmasını engellemek ve Farallone topraklarındaki yaşamı korumak için görevlendirilen iki yavru yaban tavşanı ve onların küçük insan arkadaşları Tin ile Comfrey, Farallone Adası'na can veren yıldızlatınını korumak için son derece zorlu ve büyülü bir maceraya atılırlar. Ve bu olağanüstü yolculuklarında, en küçük karıncadan en boz cadıya kadar karşılaştıkları her bir canlı, sevdikleri toprakları kurtarmada çok önemli bir role sahiptir.
Sylvia V. Linsteadt, Yıldızaltını Günlükleri Serisi’nin ilk kitabı Yaban Halkı’nda, fantastik kurguyu çevresel bir mesajla birleştirerek okurunu merak dolu, büyüleyici ve masal tadında, zamansız bir maceraya davet ediyor!
Yıllar önce yaşanan Yıkılış’ın tekrarlanmasını engellemek ve Farallone topraklarındaki yaşamı korumak için görevlendirilen iki yavru yaban tavşanı ve onların küçük insan arkadaşları Tin ile Comfrey, Farallone Adası'na can veren yıldızlatınını korumak için son derece zorlu ve büyülü bir maceraya atılırlar. Ve bu olağanüstü yolculuklarında, en küçük karıncadan en boz cadıya kadar karşılaştıkları her bir canlı, sevdikleri toprakları kurtarmada çok önemli bir role sahiptir.
Sylvia V. Linsteadt, Yıldızaltını Günlükleri Serisi’nin ilk kitabı Yaban Halkı’nda, fantastik kurguyu çevresel bir mesajla birleştirerek okurunu merak dolu, büyüleyici ve masal tadında, zamansız bir maceraya davet ediyor!
408 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2018
23 people are currently reading
805 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia Linsteadt
12 books99 followersSylvia Victor Linsteadt is a writer, artist, and certified animal tracker. Her work—both fiction and non-fiction—is rooted in myth, ecology, feminism & bioregionalism, and is devoted to broadening our human stories to include the voices of the living land.
Her published fiction includes the middle grade children’s duology The Stargold Chronicles—The Wild Folk (Usborne, June 2018) and The Wild Folk Rising (Usborne, May 2019)— Our Lady of the Dark Country, a collection of short stories (January 2018) and Tatterdemalion (Unbound, Spring 2017); her works of nonfiction include The Wonderments of the East Bay (Heyday 2014), and Lost Worlds of the San Francisco Bay Area (Heyday, Spring 2017). Her short fiction has been published in New California Writing 2013, Dark Mountain, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, The Golden Key and Deathless Press. She has a regular column with Earthlines Magazine, and her creative nonfiction can also be found in Poecology, Dark Mountain, and News from Native California. For three years (from 2013 to 2016) Sylvia ran a stories-in-the-mail business called Wild Talewort, in which she sent out rewilded tellings of fairytales and myths to the physical-post boxes of hundreds of subscribers around the world.
Lost Worlds of the San Francisco Bay Area won the Northern California Book Award in General Nonfiction in 2018.
The short story “The Midwife of Temescal” won the James D. Phelan Literary Award from the San Francisco Foundation in Fall 2014. She has an Honors B.A. in Literary Arts from Brown University.
She is represented by Jessica Woollard at David Higham Associates, 7th Floor, Waverley House, 7-12 Noel Street, London W1F 8GQ
Her published fiction includes the middle grade children’s duology The Stargold Chronicles—The Wild Folk (Usborne, June 2018) and The Wild Folk Rising (Usborne, May 2019)— Our Lady of the Dark Country, a collection of short stories (January 2018) and Tatterdemalion (Unbound, Spring 2017); her works of nonfiction include The Wonderments of the East Bay (Heyday 2014), and Lost Worlds of the San Francisco Bay Area (Heyday, Spring 2017). Her short fiction has been published in New California Writing 2013, Dark Mountain, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, The Golden Key and Deathless Press. She has a regular column with Earthlines Magazine, and her creative nonfiction can also be found in Poecology, Dark Mountain, and News from Native California. For three years (from 2013 to 2016) Sylvia ran a stories-in-the-mail business called Wild Talewort, in which she sent out rewilded tellings of fairytales and myths to the physical-post boxes of hundreds of subscribers around the world.
Lost Worlds of the San Francisco Bay Area won the Northern California Book Award in General Nonfiction in 2018.
The short story “The Midwife of Temescal” won the James D. Phelan Literary Award from the San Francisco Foundation in Fall 2014. She has an Honors B.A. in Literary Arts from Brown University.
She is represented by Jessica Woollard at David Higham Associates, 7th Floor, Waverley House, 7-12 Noel Street, London W1F 8GQ
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July 9, 2018
“Through our eyes, the universe is perceiving itself. Through our ears, the universe is listening to its harmonies. We are the witnesses through which the universe becomes conscious of its glory, of its magnificence.”
----Alan W. Watts
Sylvia Linsteadt, an American author, has penned an incredibly beguiling fantasy novel, The Wild Folk that centers around an enchanting land filled with the power of magical star-gold that can the divided city prosper with wealth and health, where two young kids accompanied by two young hares, must save their land and its dwellers from getting ruined by the Brothers from the city, who are hell-bound to destroy everything beyond the walls of the city that was once pulled up to save the humans from the wild folks and the diseases. Two kids and two hare embark upon a deadly journey through the villages and forests of the land of wild folk to save it.
Synopsis:
When the Star-Priest Brotherhood from the City threaten to ravage and destroy the land of the Wild Folk, their only hope rests with two young hares and their human companions – Tin, an orphan City boy with a passion for invention, and curious Country girl Comfrey. In this magical quest, to protect the precious stargold that runs through the land, Tin and Comfrey must complete seemingly impossible tasks set by the mysterious and terrifying Wild Folk - each stranger than the last - to find the one who holds the secret to saving their world.
The Wild Folk is a timeless adventure, weaving fantasy and folk lore into an enchanting tale that will fill you with wonder. The first in a duology, with a dash of Ursula Le Guin, a pinch of Frances Hardinge, and a generous helping from C.S. Lewis, this is a future classic, filled with unforgettable and diverse characters, and a story to be read time and again.
Tin longs to escape the city walls beyond which lies the magical land of Wild Folk, while Comfrey longs to walk and run beyond boundary of the forest in her village. Both of their wishes come true, when two young leverets are sent their way to guide them to save the land of Farallone which is in danger under the hands of the Brothers of the city of New Albion, from where Tin belongs. Together tin and Comfrey must make their own brave choices to save the land along with the guidance of the mysterious wild folk, among whom, some wants to help this unusual pair of children and leverets, while some want to distract the human kids from their mission. But ultimately can they save this land of magic and stargold which the Brothers from the city are desperate to get their hands into, even if that means destroying the lives of Wild folk?
A really fascinating tale spinning over a quest of two kids trying to save their homeland from being destroyed amidst of challenges and struggles through the village of Olima and many more with the help of strange wild folk and two young leverets. This story is filled with so many twists and turns and many layers and elements that will keep the readers constantly on their edges to find out more. With a perfect set of young voices, this is a must read book for every adventure loving soul, be it young or old. This book can be enjoyed by any age group of reader.
The writing style of the author is really coherent, laced with many layers to keep the readers engaged into the story line. The dialogues are interesting and the author have strikingly captured the voices of the young characters with enough realism to make the readers believe in their journey. The pacing is bit slow in the beginning, but gradually the story picks up pace, as the author unravels the story with a nail biting journey of two young kids through the forests and villages.
The characters in the book are very well developed with both flaws and strong aspects to make them look relatable in the eyes of the readers. The young heroes is the book has a solid voice, that will be often inspiring enough for the young readers of this book. Not only that, the young characters preach kindness, courage, wisdom and humbleness beside unity and harmony through their demeanor. Not only that, the supporting characters too are sketched out by the author in an interesting manner.
In a nutshell, this captivating, adventurous story is a must read for every young kid who dreams of saving the world with their wit and wisdom.
Verdict: An engrossing read filled with adventures and mystery.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Usborne for giving me an opportunity to read and review for this book.
----Alan W. Watts
Sylvia Linsteadt, an American author, has penned an incredibly beguiling fantasy novel, The Wild Folk that centers around an enchanting land filled with the power of magical star-gold that can the divided city prosper with wealth and health, where two young kids accompanied by two young hares, must save their land and its dwellers from getting ruined by the Brothers from the city, who are hell-bound to destroy everything beyond the walls of the city that was once pulled up to save the humans from the wild folks and the diseases. Two kids and two hare embark upon a deadly journey through the villages and forests of the land of wild folk to save it.
Synopsis:
When the Star-Priest Brotherhood from the City threaten to ravage and destroy the land of the Wild Folk, their only hope rests with two young hares and their human companions – Tin, an orphan City boy with a passion for invention, and curious Country girl Comfrey. In this magical quest, to protect the precious stargold that runs through the land, Tin and Comfrey must complete seemingly impossible tasks set by the mysterious and terrifying Wild Folk - each stranger than the last - to find the one who holds the secret to saving their world.
The Wild Folk is a timeless adventure, weaving fantasy and folk lore into an enchanting tale that will fill you with wonder. The first in a duology, with a dash of Ursula Le Guin, a pinch of Frances Hardinge, and a generous helping from C.S. Lewis, this is a future classic, filled with unforgettable and diverse characters, and a story to be read time and again.
Tin longs to escape the city walls beyond which lies the magical land of Wild Folk, while Comfrey longs to walk and run beyond boundary of the forest in her village. Both of their wishes come true, when two young leverets are sent their way to guide them to save the land of Farallone which is in danger under the hands of the Brothers of the city of New Albion, from where Tin belongs. Together tin and Comfrey must make their own brave choices to save the land along with the guidance of the mysterious wild folk, among whom, some wants to help this unusual pair of children and leverets, while some want to distract the human kids from their mission. But ultimately can they save this land of magic and stargold which the Brothers from the city are desperate to get their hands into, even if that means destroying the lives of Wild folk?
A really fascinating tale spinning over a quest of two kids trying to save their homeland from being destroyed amidst of challenges and struggles through the village of Olima and many more with the help of strange wild folk and two young leverets. This story is filled with so many twists and turns and many layers and elements that will keep the readers constantly on their edges to find out more. With a perfect set of young voices, this is a must read book for every adventure loving soul, be it young or old. This book can be enjoyed by any age group of reader.
The writing style of the author is really coherent, laced with many layers to keep the readers engaged into the story line. The dialogues are interesting and the author have strikingly captured the voices of the young characters with enough realism to make the readers believe in their journey. The pacing is bit slow in the beginning, but gradually the story picks up pace, as the author unravels the story with a nail biting journey of two young kids through the forests and villages.
The characters in the book are very well developed with both flaws and strong aspects to make them look relatable in the eyes of the readers. The young heroes is the book has a solid voice, that will be often inspiring enough for the young readers of this book. Not only that, the young characters preach kindness, courage, wisdom and humbleness beside unity and harmony through their demeanor. Not only that, the supporting characters too are sketched out by the author in an interesting manner.
In a nutshell, this captivating, adventurous story is a must read for every young kid who dreams of saving the world with their wit and wisdom.
Verdict: An engrossing read filled with adventures and mystery.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Usborne for giving me an opportunity to read and review for this book.
May 25, 2022
Right from the start, this book has become one of my favourites!
It's like if The Chronicles of Narnia and Wildwood had a child, it's so infused with rustic folk magic and pure of heart wholesomeness. I love the earthy undertones of the story that projects the beauty of nature and how vital it is to save the earth whilst still creating a magical and heartfelt story. Linsteadt magnifies the beauty in the simple things, something that is so important in teaching people, young and old alike, especially in today's society
The author has SUCH a vivid imagination and beautiful storytelling technique that I was utterly swept away in Tin and Comfrey's journey to find the Elk of Milk and Gold along with the two lovable hares (not rabbits!) Myrtle and Mallow. I loved every single Wild Folk creation; they were raw and beautiful, and described in such clarity it was a feast for the imagination!
This books touches your soul with comfort. A breath-taking quest of wildness and magic.
It's like if The Chronicles of Narnia and Wildwood had a child, it's so infused with rustic folk magic and pure of heart wholesomeness. I love the earthy undertones of the story that projects the beauty of nature and how vital it is to save the earth whilst still creating a magical and heartfelt story. Linsteadt magnifies the beauty in the simple things, something that is so important in teaching people, young and old alike, especially in today's society
The author has SUCH a vivid imagination and beautiful storytelling technique that I was utterly swept away in Tin and Comfrey's journey to find the Elk of Milk and Gold along with the two lovable hares (not rabbits!) Myrtle and Mallow. I loved every single Wild Folk creation; they were raw and beautiful, and described in such clarity it was a feast for the imagination!
This books touches your soul with comfort. A breath-taking quest of wildness and magic.
March 10, 2019
2.5 stars.
This is a book I've heard very little chatter about from anyone in the blogger sphere, but picked up for its gorgeous cover. It sounded right up my street - a fantasy world with an ecological quest to save the natural world? Yes, please!
The world of Farralone is divided. While the city people live isolated behind their walls, fearing the pollutions of the outside world and relying heavily on a magical resource called Stargold (which is fast running out) to power their machines, beyond the walls, the country has recovered from the war that drove the city people to isolate themselves and live a simple life, living from the land. And over the mountains the Wild Folk (magical beings who are half-human, half-animal) live beyond a magical boundary in their own special part of the world, isolated from the Country and City both.
When city-boy Tin's newest invention, a giant mechanical model of a Fiddleback spider, comes alive with Stargold and draws the dangerous attention of Stargold-greedy monks, and country-girl Comfrey steps over the magical boundary into the land of the Wild Folk, the story really begins. After being sent a talking hare each by the mystical Greentwins, the children have to fight to escape both the city and the long-held fears of their people to venture into the land of the Wild Folk to seek the Elk of Milk and Honey on a magical world-saving quest.
This book sounded amazing and I was so looking forward to it. Right from the first page, it's clearly a book packed full of lush description of the natural world, especially plants and animals, weather, and food, which might really appeal to some readers, but I (who am normally a total sap for rich description) felt it was too much at times, especially where it bogged down the plot and slowed down the pacing. But it was nonetheless some lovely writing with an obvious amount of knowledge behind it. Unfortunately, the further I got into this book, the more the problems seemed to mount up. Unfortunately, summing up, the biggest issue I had with this book was that it was simply far too long. Children's books over 400 pages are pretty unusual, and usually those extra pages are needed for some reason. Here, it was just a lot of overwriting, too much description, and a convoluted journey with a lot of things that could have been cut out an tightened up. The sheer length of this book emphasised all the other smaller problems, which perhaps in a shorter book wouldn't have been so prominent.
Most of what happens I found very predictable, as the story follows plenty of known fantasy journey tropes without really subverting or playing with them in any interesting ways. The actual structure of the plot and character developments are also pretty simple, but heavily embellished with too much that didn't need to be there. Flow and pacing are also impacted by this and could have been improved by some tighter editing; for example, there were several moments of high intensity (such as the theft of the Fiddleback) that were interrupted by slower scenes that seemed to make the characters forget what they'd just been doing and how important it was, which often felt jarring. The same stories and information are repeated several times, as the characters have things re-explained to them, or they have to explain what they've been through to yet another new character they meet. It made me lose interest and simply plod along for the resolution. The world is built well in the first few chapters, but then it kind of plateaued and became quite cliched and tropey, adding plenty of width to the world but not much depth. The natural world vs. industry/technology is a well-known trope that felt a bit too heavy-handed in this book for me.
The characters were sweet and interesting enough, though. I especially liked Comfrey and her development through the story was the most interesting, but I'd have liked to see more . . . culture, I guess? The detailed folklore was the most obvious part of the culture of this world, but the way these people lived in their isolated regions and with their selective knowledge of different parts of this folklore didn't seem to really impact their way of life much, except for the obvious. We saw little of city people apart from Tin and the Monks, and it was generally unclear how normal people without access to Stargold lived and got food and such. Tin, for a kid with such a rough upbringing, felt too generic for me to connect with. Tin's character and some of the plot reminded me of Kester from The Last Wild, but without the subtlety and tight prose of Torday's writing. I'd hoped Seb and their close friendship might give us a bit more insight into how their upbringing had impacted them, but Seb quite conveniently was absent for most of the story. Though most of it was off-screen, his development was interesting in the different points we saw him, and I wish we'd also got some of his perspective in the book, too.
Overall, this whole book, with its 420 pages, still only felt like the setup of one story, rather than the first part of a trilogy/series. It felt sooo long. It had a lot of potential but needed some more time in editing to fully become the book it ought to have been. I don't particularly feel inclined to pick up the next book, and I feel like I can already predict where it'd go anyway.
This is a book I've heard very little chatter about from anyone in the blogger sphere, but picked up for its gorgeous cover. It sounded right up my street - a fantasy world with an ecological quest to save the natural world? Yes, please!
The world of Farralone is divided. While the city people live isolated behind their walls, fearing the pollutions of the outside world and relying heavily on a magical resource called Stargold (which is fast running out) to power their machines, beyond the walls, the country has recovered from the war that drove the city people to isolate themselves and live a simple life, living from the land. And over the mountains the Wild Folk (magical beings who are half-human, half-animal) live beyond a magical boundary in their own special part of the world, isolated from the Country and City both.
When city-boy Tin's newest invention, a giant mechanical model of a Fiddleback spider, comes alive with Stargold and draws the dangerous attention of Stargold-greedy monks, and country-girl Comfrey steps over the magical boundary into the land of the Wild Folk, the story really begins. After being sent a talking hare each by the mystical Greentwins, the children have to fight to escape both the city and the long-held fears of their people to venture into the land of the Wild Folk to seek the Elk of Milk and Honey on a magical world-saving quest.
This book sounded amazing and I was so looking forward to it. Right from the first page, it's clearly a book packed full of lush description of the natural world, especially plants and animals, weather, and food, which might really appeal to some readers, but I (who am normally a total sap for rich description) felt it was too much at times, especially where it bogged down the plot and slowed down the pacing. But it was nonetheless some lovely writing with an obvious amount of knowledge behind it. Unfortunately, the further I got into this book, the more the problems seemed to mount up. Unfortunately, summing up, the biggest issue I had with this book was that it was simply far too long. Children's books over 400 pages are pretty unusual, and usually those extra pages are needed for some reason. Here, it was just a lot of overwriting, too much description, and a convoluted journey with a lot of things that could have been cut out an tightened up. The sheer length of this book emphasised all the other smaller problems, which perhaps in a shorter book wouldn't have been so prominent.
Most of what happens I found very predictable, as the story follows plenty of known fantasy journey tropes without really subverting or playing with them in any interesting ways. The actual structure of the plot and character developments are also pretty simple, but heavily embellished with too much that didn't need to be there. Flow and pacing are also impacted by this and could have been improved by some tighter editing; for example, there were several moments of high intensity (such as the theft of the Fiddleback) that were interrupted by slower scenes that seemed to make the characters forget what they'd just been doing and how important it was, which often felt jarring. The same stories and information are repeated several times, as the characters have things re-explained to them, or they have to explain what they've been through to yet another new character they meet. It made me lose interest and simply plod along for the resolution. The world is built well in the first few chapters, but then it kind of plateaued and became quite cliched and tropey, adding plenty of width to the world but not much depth. The natural world vs. industry/technology is a well-known trope that felt a bit too heavy-handed in this book for me.
The characters were sweet and interesting enough, though. I especially liked Comfrey and her development through the story was the most interesting, but I'd have liked to see more . . . culture, I guess? The detailed folklore was the most obvious part of the culture of this world, but the way these people lived in their isolated regions and with their selective knowledge of different parts of this folklore didn't seem to really impact their way of life much, except for the obvious. We saw little of city people apart from Tin and the Monks, and it was generally unclear how normal people without access to Stargold lived and got food and such. Tin, for a kid with such a rough upbringing, felt too generic for me to connect with. Tin's character and some of the plot reminded me of Kester from The Last Wild, but without the subtlety and tight prose of Torday's writing. I'd hoped Seb and their close friendship might give us a bit more insight into how their upbringing had impacted them, but Seb quite conveniently was absent for most of the story. Though most of it was off-screen, his development was interesting in the different points we saw him, and I wish we'd also got some of his perspective in the book, too.
Overall, this whole book, with its 420 pages, still only felt like the setup of one story, rather than the first part of a trilogy/series. It felt sooo long. It had a lot of potential but needed some more time in editing to fully become the book it ought to have been. I don't particularly feel inclined to pick up the next book, and I feel like I can already predict where it'd go anyway.
September 17, 2019
4/5 stars
A truly magical adventure. I had so much fun reading this middlegrade story. And that saying a lot as I usually don't enjoy them that much. But with this one, I was sold with the first chapter. It is charming, it is magical, it is heartbreaking sometimes too. The back doesn't lie when it says it's a timeless story.
A truly magical adventure. I had so much fun reading this middlegrade story. And that saying a lot as I usually don't enjoy them that much. But with this one, I was sold with the first chapter. It is charming, it is magical, it is heartbreaking sometimes too. The back doesn't lie when it says it's a timeless story.
June 28, 2018
Received in exchange for an honest review from Usborne Publishing UK.
Another version of this review can be found @ The Regal Critiques.
I picked up The Wild Folk expecting something very Enid Blyton since it's categorized as MG fantasy and sounded like something right off from the worlds Enid Blyton created, but I couldn't have been more wrong. This book is set in a post-apocalyptic world that is far different from ones I've read before. An epic fantasy with extremely original fairytale elements woven into it, The Wild Folk made for a truly magical read.
"Well, let's at least not waste any more time running headlong to our doom!"
With a city on the brink of danger, all sense of balance and peace disrupted, and the Star-Priest Brotherhood threatening to do whatever it takes to save the City, even if it means destroying the land of the Wild Folk, it is up to the Country girl Comfrey and the City boy Tin to save the world they all love. Tin and Comfrey set off on a magical quest, along with a pair of young talking hares that hop into their lives unexpectedly, to figure out how exactly they can save their world, guided by the mysterious and terrifying Wild Folk.
The world building is what stands out the most here. Be it the City, the Country, or the land of the Wild Folk, the author conjures up a very vivid, very magical world and it's hard to not fall in love with it all. Though this is essentially a post-apocalyptic novel, the author creates a world that is entirely different from the one we know, with magical creatures and beings to boot. If I'm very honest, though, I'd say I took way more time than I usually do in fantasy books to get used to this world. It was like unfolding a map little by very little- you'd be struggling to find your bearings in one place before you find yourself pushed into another. The author tries her best to get us acquainted with the strangeness of it all, but at times it felt too overwhelming- which leads to a question about the very audience this book targets.
While this may well work for an older MG audience, this read far too much like YA. I'm not exactly complaining here, but it is just that things felt overwrought at places. This is probably due to my expecting something more along the lines of a fairytale? This was more complicated.The world building was extremely complex and intricate and the plot even more so. The overall theme throughout the book is environmentalism, and the author portrays this beautifully- if at times excessively.
"Don't underestimate the power of a human hand, reaching out in friendship and peace. I think that is precisely because these ills are human-made, that their healing must therefore be human-made too."
The Wild Folk is no doubt a strange book, with strange yet lovable characters. It was a book that made me strangely nostalgic and kept me captivated all throughout. Magical realism is prevalent throughout this beautiful folktale, and the rich- at times poetic- writing and the wisdom sprinkled all throughout made for an extremely fulfilling reading experience.
Another version of this review can be found @ The Regal Critiques.
I picked up The Wild Folk expecting something very Enid Blyton since it's categorized as MG fantasy and sounded like something right off from the worlds Enid Blyton created, but I couldn't have been more wrong. This book is set in a post-apocalyptic world that is far different from ones I've read before. An epic fantasy with extremely original fairytale elements woven into it, The Wild Folk made for a truly magical read.
"Well, let's at least not waste any more time running headlong to our doom!"
With a city on the brink of danger, all sense of balance and peace disrupted, and the Star-Priest Brotherhood threatening to do whatever it takes to save the City, even if it means destroying the land of the Wild Folk, it is up to the Country girl Comfrey and the City boy Tin to save the world they all love. Tin and Comfrey set off on a magical quest, along with a pair of young talking hares that hop into their lives unexpectedly, to figure out how exactly they can save their world, guided by the mysterious and terrifying Wild Folk.
The world building is what stands out the most here. Be it the City, the Country, or the land of the Wild Folk, the author conjures up a very vivid, very magical world and it's hard to not fall in love with it all. Though this is essentially a post-apocalyptic novel, the author creates a world that is entirely different from the one we know, with magical creatures and beings to boot. If I'm very honest, though, I'd say I took way more time than I usually do in fantasy books to get used to this world. It was like unfolding a map little by very little- you'd be struggling to find your bearings in one place before you find yourself pushed into another. The author tries her best to get us acquainted with the strangeness of it all, but at times it felt too overwhelming- which leads to a question about the very audience this book targets.
While this may well work for an older MG audience, this read far too much like YA. I'm not exactly complaining here, but it is just that things felt overwrought at places. This is probably due to my expecting something more along the lines of a fairytale? This was more complicated.The world building was extremely complex and intricate and the plot even more so. The overall theme throughout the book is environmentalism, and the author portrays this beautifully- if at times excessively.
"Don't underestimate the power of a human hand, reaching out in friendship and peace. I think that is precisely because these ills are human-made, that their healing must therefore be human-made too."
The Wild Folk is no doubt a strange book, with strange yet lovable characters. It was a book that made me strangely nostalgic and kept me captivated all throughout. Magical realism is prevalent throughout this beautiful folktale, and the rich- at times poetic- writing and the wisdom sprinkled all throughout made for an extremely fulfilling reading experience.
June 25, 2018
Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Disclaimer: An ARC was provided via UsBorne YA. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are however my own. .
A city in danger. A balance disrupted. Greed that threatens to destroy everything that is good in the world. Two young children thrust into the center of the disruption. A world that is similar; yet oh so unlike from ours.
Wild Folk is the book that I wish I had read in my childhood – a book that makes me wish I had enjoyed the little magic more than I actually did! Beautifully written, magically realistic, this is a book that transported me back to my childhood self, a time I would have immensely enjoyed my foray into this folklore.
I rarely read middle grade books; but it's been my brilliant luck that most of the Middle grade books that I have read have been quite brilliant and some have also been put on my list of books to pass on to my prodigy - a list that Wild Folk has definitely found a place in!
This is book 1, and I can’t wait to join the curious Comfrey; considerate Tin; the spirited Myrtle and the wonderfully rich world that has been created in Wild Folk!
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April 17, 2021You can't know what a good book is until you've read this.
January 15, 2019
'The Wild Folk' is full of magic - not the kind of swirling, glittery, flash-bang magic you might find in some children's books, but the old type that lives in stone, starlight, and ancient stories. I want to read this book again and again just to soak in all the beautiful details and descriptions. I will be recommending this book to friends, family, students, and anyone else who'll listen. It is full of wise messages that need to be heard.
In Australia, we have just seen hundreds and thousands of fish poisoned and killed in our rivers, thanks to our government's short-sightedness, stupidity, and greed. To read 'The Wild Folk' in the context made my grief for these disasters stronger, but also made me feel hopeful and empowered - a combination of feelings that can lead to positive action. I hope that many people will read this book and be swept away by the magic of Linsteadt's writing, while the book plants its message in their hearts.
In Australia, we have just seen hundreds and thousands of fish poisoned and killed in our rivers, thanks to our government's short-sightedness, stupidity, and greed. To read 'The Wild Folk' in the context made my grief for these disasters stronger, but also made me feel hopeful and empowered - a combination of feelings that can lead to positive action. I hope that many people will read this book and be swept away by the magic of Linsteadt's writing, while the book plants its message in their hearts.
September 17, 2018
I liked this book although I do feel I would have enjoyed this a lot more when I was younger. This book follows Tin and Comfrey who are guided by two hares as they try to save the countryside. I picked this up purely because of the cover.
I liked the writing in this book and I enjoyed the detailed descriptions. There were some moments where I found the plot moved a little slowly. I thought the characters and the world that the author had created was really interesting.
Although I liked this book it isn't a new favourite and I don't think I would continue on with this series. As the plot whilst interesting did not grip me enough to invest my time in the series.
I liked the writing in this book and I enjoyed the detailed descriptions. There were some moments where I found the plot moved a little slowly. I thought the characters and the world that the author had created was really interesting.
Although I liked this book it isn't a new favourite and I don't think I would continue on with this series. As the plot whilst interesting did not grip me enough to invest my time in the series.
August 20, 2019
Well, I wrote a really long and comprehensive review, but then the internet died.
December 22, 2020
Amazing! The imagination this writer has is amazing. Everything intertwined and connected. Just amazing
December 20, 2018
420 pages loong.
And way too much set up, so pace is tedious - also the magical ideas and story filigree are cluttered up and don't get enough room to breathe. I can't imagine my niece being engaged enough to slog through this, there's not enough reward.
Promising start that gets bogged down.
And way too much set up, so pace is tedious - also the magical ideas and story filigree are cluttered up and don't get enough room to breathe. I can't imagine my niece being engaged enough to slog through this, there's not enough reward.
Promising start that gets bogged down.
April 1, 2021
I really liked this book.
Tin and comfrey are sent on a quest aided by two leverets, along the way they make friends with a variety of people.
There were a couple of places were I struggled with the book.
Overall I enjoyed it and looking forward to the next one.
Tin and comfrey are sent on a quest aided by two leverets, along the way they make friends with a variety of people.
There were a couple of places were I struggled with the book.
Overall I enjoyed it and looking forward to the next one.
June 18, 2018
Farallone is in danger. A greedy city has overreached itself and the precariously balanced world of human, plant, animal and sky is at risk. In a world where Stargold is a precious commodity, bargained for and sought after, the rapacious Brothers of the city of New Albion are desperate to uncover more and enrich their world at whatever cost to the others. In the country and in Olima, where the Wild Folk dwell, there is a sense that the balance has been distorted and that terrible danger is heading their way. Two unwitting young children, country girl, Comfrey, and city boy, Tin, and two leverets sent to guide them, suddenly find themselves central to Farallone’s survival.
This is an epic fantasy novel. There are so many wonderful characters and a real sense of wilderness and the natural world. There’s also a very strong message about working in harmony and the dangers of segregating communities and the distrust it breeds. I loved the mesh of the natural and mechanical worlds and the lurking dangers that make this book a slightly darker read than the cover might suggest. Really engaging fantasy fiction and perfect for those who have enjoyed Mira Bartok’s The Wonderling or Abi Elphinstone’s books.
Pages: 411 Age: 9+
This is an epic fantasy novel. There are so many wonderful characters and a real sense of wilderness and the natural world. There’s also a very strong message about working in harmony and the dangers of segregating communities and the distrust it breeds. I loved the mesh of the natural and mechanical worlds and the lurking dangers that make this book a slightly darker read than the cover might suggest. Really engaging fantasy fiction and perfect for those who have enjoyed Mira Bartok’s The Wonderling or Abi Elphinstone’s books.
Pages: 411 Age: 9+
September 15, 2018
This is the story of country girl Comfrey and city boy Tin who live in the mystical land of Farallone, as they are brought together to embark on a quest to save the Wild Folk, who are magical human-animal hybrids, with the help of two hares. Comfrey and Tin are both wonderful characters, and I really liked the friendship they eventually form after being initially unsure of each other, but the real stars of the show for me were Myrtle and Mallow the hares, as I loved how wise they were and how much they loved each other, and also because they made me laugh with their sarcastic comments, especially Mallow. Another thing I loved about this was the worldbuilding, which was complex and rich in detail, and something I especially enjoyed in this vein was the origin story about the Elk of Milk and Gold, who was a wonderful character. Finally, I loved how the writing style meant that reading this felt almost like reading a fairytale, but also that it managed to still be exciting. The battle sequence at the end was particularly exhilarating and even though things were resolved well enough to make this a wholly satisfying book on its own, I can`t wait to return to this world and see a full resolution in the sequel. 4.5/5
March 31, 2021
The Wild Folk
Tin and Comfrey are on a quest to find the Elk of Milk and Gold. In Tin's amazing fiddleback, they set off. They travel through the land of the Wild Folk up to Tamal point where they expect to find the Elk.
Myrtle and Mallow are hares that can talk to other animals and humans, raised by the Green Twins who are Wild Folk. They guide Tin and Comfrey through the land of the Wild Folk since they know it better than anyone.
They encounter lots of helpers along the way who help them to gather information and tools for their quest but they also experience barriers in the form of humans from The City of New Albion.
My favourite bit of this book was when Tin and Comfrey first met - it was really funny!
I would recommend this book if you like reading about adventure, talking animals and fantasy worlds. I really enjoyed reading this book.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Tin and Comfrey are on a quest to find the Elk of Milk and Gold. In Tin's amazing fiddleback, they set off. They travel through the land of the Wild Folk up to Tamal point where they expect to find the Elk.
Myrtle and Mallow are hares that can talk to other animals and humans, raised by the Green Twins who are Wild Folk. They guide Tin and Comfrey through the land of the Wild Folk since they know it better than anyone.
They encounter lots of helpers along the way who help them to gather information and tools for their quest but they also experience barriers in the form of humans from The City of New Albion.
My favourite bit of this book was when Tin and Comfrey first met - it was really funny!
I would recommend this book if you like reading about adventure, talking animals and fantasy worlds. I really enjoyed reading this book.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 16, 2018
This is such a beautiful little middle grade read, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the beautiful land of Farralone through the eyes of two very different children and their hares.
Beautiful storytelling alongside a vast, sprawling landscape that I wish I could go visit. Comfrey and Myrtle were my two favourites and would happily join them in crossing the border to meet the elusive Wild Folk.
Any child or adult would be lucky to pick up this beautiful book and I am eagerly awaiting the next volume in the Stargold Chronicles.
Beautiful storytelling alongside a vast, sprawling landscape that I wish I could go visit. Comfrey and Myrtle were my two favourites and would happily join them in crossing the border to meet the elusive Wild Folk.
Any child or adult would be lucky to pick up this beautiful book and I am eagerly awaiting the next volume in the Stargold Chronicles.
September 6, 2022
This book was so magical!
It is YA literature but also enjoyable for adults. It will especially appeal to anyone who respects or reveres nature and who enjoys fantasy-adventure.
There were many beautiful ideas in this book. I loved the concept of a person's "oddness" manifesting as a tool to help them.
This book has a sequel and it was clear that it was a larger novel that was split in two to make it more digestible.
It is YA literature but also enjoyable for adults. It will especially appeal to anyone who respects or reveres nature and who enjoys fantasy-adventure.
There were many beautiful ideas in this book. I loved the concept of a person's "oddness" manifesting as a tool to help them.
This book has a sequel and it was clear that it was a larger novel that was split in two to make it more digestible.
January 23, 2020
My nine year old daughter's book choice this month. We were captivated by the unique storyline, rich wonderful characters and the amazing magical world created by the author.
Exciting and at times quite tense (may be a bit scary in some parts for younger readers) the plot was steady and didn't feel too rushed or too slow.
Exciting and at times quite tense (may be a bit scary in some parts for younger readers) the plot was steady and didn't feel too rushed or too slow.
May 14, 2021
A warning to look after the earth
Beautifully told, this is a tale of a country and city children who journey together with the hares Myrtle and Mellow to save the earth from the destruction of greed. It's a gorgeous adventure packed with Wildfolk - human and animal creatures who want to defend their homes.
Beautifully told, this is a tale of a country and city children who journey together with the hares Myrtle and Mellow to save the earth from the destruction of greed. It's a gorgeous adventure packed with Wildfolk - human and animal creatures who want to defend their homes.
January 4, 2023
Een boek dat zich afspeelt in een magische alternatieve wereld. Onopmerkelijke kinderen worden helden die de wereld moeten redden van vervuiling, machtsmisbruik, corruptie en het negeren van de gevolgen van dat gedrag op de natuur en wilde dieren. Gelijkenissen met bestaande situaties zijn puur toeval, al zijn de aangeboden handvaten om er tegenin te gaan wel welkom!
May 22, 2020
What an adventure. This book is so well written.I read it to my 8 year old daughter each night, and we were hooked to the adventure that Comfrey and Tin and the hares so bravely went on. Cannot wait to read part 2.
August 7, 2022
My daughter loved this book and said "This is definitely one of my favourite books. It's awesome! Exciting, fast-moving, interesting main characters, and intriguing backstory. Thank you for writing this book and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel soon."
January 1, 2024
Ich habe sehr lange (bis ca. Seite 80) gebraucht, um ins Buch reinzukommen, danach war es echt spannend und cool, immer wieder ein bisschen übertrieben, aber sonst voll gut. Ich habe es dann auch echt schnell gelesen.
July 23, 2018
Review to come...
October 12, 2018
A delightful children's story full of magic and a real love of nature. Will definitely be reading the sequel!
March 5, 2020
Fantastic!
April 29, 2020
It is amazing. It has a good storyline and the next book is good too.🙂
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May 22, 2020Es ist so ein schönes Buch, kann ich bloß empfehlen, für Leute die Fantasie und Tiere mögen 🙏🙏
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May 13, 2021paper
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