Title: Fairies and Sorcery
Author: Donald R. Richter
Publisher: Aspire Publishing Hub, LLC
ISBN: 978-1964393421
Pages: 412
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel
Hollywood Book Reviews
Fairies and Sorcery by author Donald R. Richter is a story with magic, adventure, and a journey about second chances and helping others.
This is a tale of adventure and magic that begins when one fairy dares to venture to Earth – which is forbidden – in search of her missing cousin. Nothing goes according to plan when she learns her cousin is being held by the blue fairy. When she receives help from an unexpected source, the fairy is intrigued. A human named Jack manages to accidentally aid in the rescue and captures the fairies’ attention when they discover he can withstand their power without it killing him. Grateful for his help, the fairies repay him by teaching him about their world and seek his help with the battle between good and evil. However, the more involved Jack becomes, the more power he channels which leads him to study magic under the infamous Merlin.
The story revolves around Jack, an ordinary human and older man, who has been living his life according to a set routine when fairies disrupt everything he thought he knew. His story shifts from the predictable to the unexpected as he faces interruptions of magic, danger, battle, and fairies. His journey begins by taking him out of his comfort zone and placing him directly into the midst of good and evil, as the best chance these fairies have. The beginning takes time to let you get to know Jack’s personality as a good-doer with references to going to church and delivering meals on wheels. These traits make it easy to understand why he would be drawn to helping even if it means fighting fairies or learning sorcery. He finds a thrill in gaining power and this curiosity drives him to discover more about this world which in turn helps him learn more about what he’s capable of.
An assortment of characters rounds out Jack’s world with unique and quirky characters that add humor to the writing and personality to the world. From Merlin’s pilot to various fairies, these characters add depth to the world and are where the humor is largely derived from. The fairies are entertaining and create a fullness in the story that helps form a delightful visual such as them riding on shoulders or in pockets. These visuals are humorous and cause you to attach to the fairies which makes you want Jack to rescue them regardless of the obstacles that he must face. The various characters are driven by a similar curiosity which you see driving Jack which allows you to form an understanding of each. As he helps them in a fight between good and evil, they’re helping him find new layers of himself and giving him a second chance. Throughout the story, he discovers what it feels like to have power and how to harness this to do good.
The adventure is fast-paced with Jack accidentally helping and then drawn in deeper and deeper into this other world. His driving force is his desire to help others which is seen through many of his interactions as the more power he has the more he wants to do good for those around him. This is a prevalent theme throughout that’s quickly established at the beginning. Part of the adventure stems from Jack re-discovering who he is and finding a newfound thrill in life through the power he can harness. As he uses this power, he grows younger and it begins to impact his outlook on life by giving him a second chance at living. Part of this is derived from his position learning from Merlin which takes him from an ‘old man’ to being a student having to learn all new things. This grounds the story through genuine characters, using them to explore the world’s various elements, including magic and sorcery.
Fairies and Sorcery is a delightful read for fans of magical adventures and richly detailed fantasy worlds. With its compelling storyline and imaginative elements, Donald R. Richter’s work offers a captivating escape into a land of wonder and enchantment.