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The In-Rel Trilogy #1
Silver
“The hags shook the dead and woke the trees.
They’re coming to get the lonely three.
The huntress, the bird and the silver tongued
must leave it all behind
to find out what happened to the one.”
Rosie collected herbs throughout Lakewood Trees all the time, but she never expected to collect a silver-haired boy from a crater created by a lightning bolt. He couldn’t speak. His clothes were tattered and his only possession was a whispering key clutched tightly in his hand. With help from her only child, Henry, they fed and clothed the boy, whom they aptly named Silver. Henry was immediately drawn to the mysterious boy, but Rosie was wary. For soon after Silver’s arrival, the forest started to walk, the birds started to bite and the sky rained worms. The home Rosie worked so hard to keep became the center of attention to an unspeakable evil.
They’re coming to get the lonely three.
The huntress, the bird and the silver tongued
must leave it all behind
to find out what happened to the one.”
Rosie collected herbs throughout Lakewood Trees all the time, but she never expected to collect a silver-haired boy from a crater created by a lightning bolt. He couldn’t speak. His clothes were tattered and his only possession was a whispering key clutched tightly in his hand. With help from her only child, Henry, they fed and clothed the boy, whom they aptly named Silver. Henry was immediately drawn to the mysterious boy, but Rosie was wary. For soon after Silver’s arrival, the forest started to walk, the birds started to bite and the sky rained worms. The home Rosie worked so hard to keep became the center of attention to an unspeakable evil.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2021
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 4, 2022
After a number of creative non-fiction, poetry and short story publications, Silver is Michael Stoneburner’s first foray into the world of fantasy story-telling. The first in a trilogy, it sets up a promising world of magic and mayhem that I can’t wait to see explored further.
Rosie and her son Henry live alone in the middle of Lakewood Trees. It’s a relatively quiet life, marred only by the absence of Henry’s father, Patrick, who took off mysteriously one night, never to be heard from again. Rosie works hard to put food on the table and keep Henry safe from the outside world. But when she finds a silver-haired boy unconscious in the woods – a boy with no memory, no name, just a key that can’t be dropped – the question becomes, has Rosie done enough to prepare Henry for the battles to come?
I am not usually a fan of high fantasy, but I found Silver to be quite an enjoyable read. Stoneburner is particularly good in their character work, with Rosie being a stoic foil to Henry’s carefully crafted sensitive nature. The pair offer an volatile, yet familiar dynamic; a war of teenage frustration versus maternal anxiety. But rather than stick to the surface level drama, Stoneburner offers insight into the behaviours. For example, Rosie’s refusal to answer questions or talk about Patrick’s disappearance is shown to stem from her own trauma, guilt and anger at how her husband vanished in the night. Her inability to express these emotions even with her own son mark her as a flawed, but rounded character, and the presence of Silver eeking out and unravelling these tensions gives a wonderful sense of growth.
I was also somewhat enchanted by the magical creatures of this world. The Entmen, the Oiden, the Hags and, perhaps most importantly, the Mhuka (little otter-like Kushambira should really have a novel all to herself), are all described with fantastic clarity, each with their own position in the world and their own unique presence. Even creatures that are primarily there to serve as the book’s evil cannon fodder are described in such a way that they gave me a bit of a chill as they leapt, swooped and wriggled onto the page. It is incredibly well done.
There were a few little bits here and there that lacked a touch of polish, but overall I would recommend Silver to anyone looking for a fantasy series that offers something a bit different. It mixes family dynamics with a pinch of budding queer romance and an enormous roaming landscape that I would very much like to see more of. Also otter people. Don’t forget the otter people. Chit chit.
Rosie and her son Henry live alone in the middle of Lakewood Trees. It’s a relatively quiet life, marred only by the absence of Henry’s father, Patrick, who took off mysteriously one night, never to be heard from again. Rosie works hard to put food on the table and keep Henry safe from the outside world. But when she finds a silver-haired boy unconscious in the woods – a boy with no memory, no name, just a key that can’t be dropped – the question becomes, has Rosie done enough to prepare Henry for the battles to come?
I am not usually a fan of high fantasy, but I found Silver to be quite an enjoyable read. Stoneburner is particularly good in their character work, with Rosie being a stoic foil to Henry’s carefully crafted sensitive nature. The pair offer an volatile, yet familiar dynamic; a war of teenage frustration versus maternal anxiety. But rather than stick to the surface level drama, Stoneburner offers insight into the behaviours. For example, Rosie’s refusal to answer questions or talk about Patrick’s disappearance is shown to stem from her own trauma, guilt and anger at how her husband vanished in the night. Her inability to express these emotions even with her own son mark her as a flawed, but rounded character, and the presence of Silver eeking out and unravelling these tensions gives a wonderful sense of growth.
I was also somewhat enchanted by the magical creatures of this world. The Entmen, the Oiden, the Hags and, perhaps most importantly, the Mhuka (little otter-like Kushambira should really have a novel all to herself), are all described with fantastic clarity, each with their own position in the world and their own unique presence. Even creatures that are primarily there to serve as the book’s evil cannon fodder are described in such a way that they gave me a bit of a chill as they leapt, swooped and wriggled onto the page. It is incredibly well done.
There were a few little bits here and there that lacked a touch of polish, but overall I would recommend Silver to anyone looking for a fantasy series that offers something a bit different. It mixes family dynamics with a pinch of budding queer romance and an enormous roaming landscape that I would very much like to see more of. Also otter people. Don’t forget the otter people. Chit chit.
June 10, 2022
This book gripped me fairly early on in the story, and took me on a joyride of highs and lows. The author has managed to weave a sense of mystery into this story that kept me thirsting to know the answers.
The world building was done so well that I was able to visualise where all of the landmarks are, and where the characters were at every point of the story. I look forward to seeing a future map released to accompany this!
My fave thing in this story is 100% the Entmen!
Can't wait for book 2 & 3.
The world building was done so well that I was able to visualise where all of the landmarks are, and where the characters were at every point of the story. I look forward to seeing a future map released to accompany this!
My fave thing in this story is 100% the Entmen!
Can't wait for book 2 & 3.
August 11, 2022
This is the first book by Michael I have read, and will definitely be reading others.
Silver has it all. Dark magic, a mysterious antagonist who awakens evil creatures in its search for Silver, the magical silver haired boy, Rosie finds in the woods.
Taken him home will change her and her son Henry's life.
Henry will have feelings stored deep inside, whilst the past comes back to haunt both Henry and Rosie.
With promise of book two the adventures started in book 1 look to continue in the World of Silver.
Silver has it all. Dark magic, a mysterious antagonist who awakens evil creatures in its search for Silver, the magical silver haired boy, Rosie finds in the woods.
Taken him home will change her and her son Henry's life.
Henry will have feelings stored deep inside, whilst the past comes back to haunt both Henry and Rosie.
With promise of book two the adventures started in book 1 look to continue in the World of Silver.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews