Title: Gildor: The Forbidden Land
Author: Arthur Woodring
Publisher: Go to Publish
ISBN: 978-1647491031
Pages: 268
Genre: Action & Adventure/ Science Fiction & Fantasy
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
Finding a way to put into words the feelings of love, joy, and family has been a heavy task for many writers over the years. Few realize that love is as scientific and capable of understanding as evolution, for as Stephen Hawking once said, “Some people would claim that things like love, joy and beauty belong to a different category from science and can’t be described in scientific terms, but I think they can now be explained by the theory of evolution.”
In author Arthur Woodring’s book Gildor: The Forbidden Land, a simple party turns into a life-altering journey for two young teens. Eighteen-year-old Ben and the young woman he likes named Megan are enjoying his birthday party when a sudden call leads them to a shocking discovery. Soon the two are transported into another world entirely, known as Gildor. Learning how to survive, the two find an entire culture inside this world, and must fight against natural predators, the elements, and powerful warlords to find a place within the world of Gildor.
This book does a marvelous job of blending multiple genres to create a truly immersive world. Beginning the story as a sci-fi epic and slowly building it into a fantasy driven narrative was an inspired choice by the author. The chemistry between protagonists Ben and Megan was great to see unfold, as the two evolved from teens from Earth to survivors seeking their place in a foreign world, and growing closer as a result.
This is the perfect read for anyone who loves science fiction, fantasy, action and adventure, genetic experimentation and tales of survival. As a fan of the genre, it was refreshing to see a story that leaned into the use of its multiple genres and while ending on a hopeful note, left some open-ended storylines open for possible other stories in the future.
A moderately paced, action fueled read, author Arthur Woodring’s Gildor: The Forbidden Land is a breath of fresh air as it expertly fuses these genres into something new. The evolution of the protagonists along with the ever-evolving landscape of Gildor is what makes this narrative shine so brightly, and will keep readers on the edge of their seat throughout its entirety. Now is the perfect time to grab your copy of this fantastic read.