Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Dear Members,

Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey with Christopher Bernard’s award-winning tale, The Judgment of Biestia a story written for children and their adults.

This is no ordinary adventure. It’s a daring, imaginative voyage that blends the wit of Lewis Carroll, the satire of Swift, the adventure of Defoe, and the social vision of Orwell. Two friends find themselves pulled into a world that challenges not only their courage and loyalty, but also humanity itself—when they are put on trial for the crimes of mankind.

Expect swashbuckling pirates, mysterious islands, beasts both strange and familiar, and a trial unlike any you’ve ever read. And yet, underneath the excitement, Bernard asks us deep questions about justice, friendship, and our shared responsibility for the world.

Early readers and critics alike have called it:
“Rich with adventure, daring, friendship, idea and imagination”
“Funny, philosophical, and impossible to put down”
“A truly terrific story!”

Perfect for book clubs, The Judgment of Biestia offers endless discussion points:

How do we hold ourselves accountable as humans?

What would justice look like if nature itself could speak?

Why do stories of “other worlds” captivate our imagination across generations?


Join Petey and Chace as they sail into danger, discovery, and ultimately, judgment. It’s a book that young readers will devour for the adventure—and adults will treasure for the ideas.

Winner of the 2025 Independent Press Award

Are you ready to step into Biestia and face the judgment?