Wayfarers: Wrath of Blackfang

by Miles Xavier Jackson

Hidden within the Southwestern region of the Hallowed Forest lives a small family of mice known as the Shortwhiskers. Since they first settled in their small but secluded clearing, they have lived peaceful and uneventful lives. Perhaps it may have remained that way if not for a monstrous serpent who discovered their home and laid waste to it. When the dust had settled, and the beast departed, only two surviving siblings remained. Both siblings now venture out of their homes and into the forest for the first time in their lives. With one sibling seeking revenge against the monster who took everything from them and the other wishing to save them from certain doom; both are willing to endure the perils of the forest to achieve their goals. Little did they know that their journeys would serve as the catalyst for a new era for the denizens of the Hallowed Forest.

351 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2022

Reviews

[Barbara Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wayfarers: Wrath of Blackfang is an action packed adventure that takes the reader alongside siblings, Tybalt and Olivia, following the tragic deaths of their family and destruction of their home. With her late father’s sword in hand, aspiring buccaneer Olivia sets off after the beast that has taken away all she holds dear. Fearing Olivia would never return and perish seeking revenge upon the beast, Tybalt pockets his reservations and leaves the remains of his home behind in hopes of stopping his sister. Along their separate journeys, the siblings encounter new friends and foes alike. Tybalt finds himself in a sticky situation when he meets a roguishly fierce mouse named Blue-Eyes. The pair venture through the perils of the forest in search of the Great Sage Alden. Olivia joins up with a band of seasoned Slayers intent on putting an end to the reign of terror inflicted by the beast. Both siblings face challenges concerning their companions. Often finding themselves in awe of their experience, the siblings feel seeds of doubt regarding their capabilities blossom. Despite their internal conflicts, the siblings press on. Through each trial and tribulation, Olivia and Tybalt gain strength and find answers to questions they didn’t realize they had.

I loved the dynamic between the group of Slayers; it was easy to note their familiarity with one another as a sign of their time spent at each other’s side. One Slayer in particular, Ch’Teka, provides Olivia with a form of maternal guidance, acceptance and an openness despite the adversities she has faced. Her care for those around her never wavered even in the most dire circumstances. There is much more to the nefarious Blackfang than meets the eye which makes the beast an admirable foe. Chills ran down my spine as I imagined how horrific it would be to face the creature.

As it can be expected with any fantasy novel, some phrasing/wording might confuse younger readers. However, do not let this discourage you as it is simple to figure out the meaning of the word by reading the surrounding sentences. This story is very reminiscent of adventure tales such as The Tale of Despereaux and The Hobbit. I would encourage intermediate and middle schoolers to add this to their list alongside Paulson, DiCamillo, Kipling, Twain and Wilder who excelled at portraying young characters finding their strength and voice through braving the great unknown. Despite my note about this being a great tale for children, it is a captivating journey for all ages. I cannot wait to see what Jackson comes out with next!

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Needs an editor

I got 18% through this book and just cannot continue. This needs an editor as there are so many issues with it. To name a few: the quotation marks to indicate speaking are misaligned, the word "would" is used frequently and incorrectly as a present tense about 95% of the time, and changing the narration of one subject to another in the same sentence.

The story itself might be interesting, but I didn't like how the anthropomorphism was handled particularly around the family structure.

[Jvles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was done in cooperation with Vibe Reviews.

This is an adventure story with very charming characters. The main characters, siblings Tybalt and Olivia, separate after having lost the rest of their family in a tragic incident. Both have to face numerous challenges and meet a bunch of very interesting travel companions until they can meet again. It is not necessarily a children's story but can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Though I enjoyed the story I was not so happy with the writing style, which seemed rather clumsy and in serious need of an editor, as the story contained many grammatical errors that interrupted the reading flow.