Brilliantly conceived and perfectly executed fantasy story.
In a land ruled by fear and steeped in ceremony and long-held beliefs, young Galen struggles to find out where and how he fits in. To his father, the boy is meant to carry on with family tradition and become a fisherman. For Galen, his wild imagination and an irresistible Longing pull him in another direction. Following the course of his mother who left the family to fulfill her calling to the Gods, Galen takes off on his own to finally figure out what the Longing has in store for him. The journey is neither glorious nor straightforward. Galen relies on his strong bonds of friendship along the way and deals with bullies more fearsome and dangerous than he could ever fathom. Family bonds and the ties of friendship are pitted against the rigors of tradition in this splendid epic fantasy novel.
Starting with a wonderfully illustrated cover, the intensity in The Child of Chaos jumps at readers before even cracking open the book. Although the authorities look different, readers will relate to the repugnance of being beholden to those they don’t respect. Galen is courageous and guileless, making the perfect unwitting hero. Dahlgren demonstrates tremendous creativity and endless darkness in the development of the menacing Horace, making for a truly impressive battle of literal evil against good. Simple illustrations and flawless editing complement this brilliantly conceived and perfectly executed fantasy story.
