Title: White Storks of Mercy: Book One-Formation
Author: Joni Anderson van Berkel
Publisher: jponipress
ISBN: 978-0-578-95780-7
Pages: 345
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Time Travel, Magical Realism, Mythology
Reviewed by: Margie Przybylski
Hollywood Book Reviews
The first book of the White Storks of Mercy trilogy, titled “Formation” is an intriguing work of fiction written by Joni Anderson van Berkel. The author weaves imagination with Egyptian mythology and history. The main characters are two storks named Re and Ba, what follows is a tale of calamity and adventure.
This work truly captivates the reader, fantasy lover or not. The story is crafted meticulously, leaving the reader marveling with each passing page. The very first chapter introduces a majority of the cast of characters within the book. Every chapter is dense with background information, plot twists, and character development however this doesn’t hinder the book’s readability. Anderson van Berkel’s beautiful writing carries the reader through the story swiftly and eagerly. She fills so many details into every page it feels like watching a movie, a picturesque one at that.
While the plot is very enthralling and the writing immaculate – what makes this book so delicious to read are the characters. How imaginative to cast storks as the heroines of a work, and this barely scratches the surface of Anderson van Berkel’s creativity. Many readers of the English language recognize storks as baby bringers, in “Formation”the same holds true – however the way a life is chosen for a stork is truly magical. Anderson van Berkel has a beautiful way of describing life and her passages regarding birth and life are breathtaking.
The fact that “Formation” belongs to a trilogy is quite a relief – it would be a shame if the book simply ended and Anderson van Berkel did not grace readers with more of her artistic prowess. I cannot wait to read how the story continues to unfold. “Formation” is truly a beautiful work of careful art, and I anticipate the next two installments will not fall short.
I recommend this book to any lover of fantasy. This is not a book for children though I found myself wanting to read certain parts of the text out loud. Berkel’s storytelling is universally appealing and makes for interesting discussions to follow. The length of the book is just right though of course at the end I found myself craving more. Combined with beautiful writing, dedicated research of ancient Egyptian history and mythology, Anderson van Berkel’s cast of animal characters create a wonderful story anyone can enjoy. Though the tone of the book is solemn from the start, she employs various elements of lighthearted comic relief throughout the story. Truly a master of fantasy, Joni Anderson van Berkel is a name to watch.