Thursday 15 September 2016

REVIEW: Countryside: The Book of the Wise by J.T Cope IV

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Tiner Publishers

ISBN: 0996050019


Format: E-book, Hardcover & Paperback

Release Date: August 14th 2014


Links: Goodreads Website Instagram
Amazon.com


Rating: 7/10


About the Author:

J.T. Cope IV was born in Texas, and grew up in the small farming community of Wheelock, living on land that had been in the family for over a century. He joined the United States Marine Corps in January 2003 and was married to Katie in July of that same year. In 2006 he returned from Iraq and in a small table in the back of a local coffee shop, on a cold and rainy day took down the first notes and ideas for his Countryside Series. Over the next couple years, he completed and published the first book in the Countryside Series. He now lives in Texas with his wife and three daughters.

Synopsis:

"You have a power within you, one that is within everyone...It's the same power that fills that building, that keeps that tree alive...and the same power that has attracted your attention...I know it's all a bit strange to you, but I assure you it is quite real..." Eleven-year-old Luke Rayburn has never seen a skyline without skyscrapers or fallen asleep to anything but the sound of traffic.


But his life is about to change in ways he never imagined. When his father leaves for a year of military service, Luke and the rest of his family move into their grandparents' home in the remote town of Countryside, a place like no other. Reachable only by a mysterious traveling tunnel and horse-drawn carriage, centaurs roam the landscape and shadowy wraiths slip among the trees.

There, Luke will be drawn into a centuries-old quest for an almost-forgotten book whose secrets will determine the fate of the world. He will have to reach deep to discover the power within him as he battles the forces of darkness and an alliance of sinister men who seek to destroy any who get in their way. Luke's only hope is to find the book before they do, but to do so he'll need help from someone he never expected as the forces of evil come to bear on the magical world of Countryside.






Review:


I was contacted and gifted both the first and second book by J.T Cope for an honest review.


Let's start of by saying I very much enjoyed these books- my first impressions were that they were more aimed towards younger readers than myself. However, I can't deny the enjoyment I had from reading these two books.

Countryside: Book of the Wise introduces us to the main characters. We meet Luke and his family and rather quickly come to understand that not everything is as it seems.
The characters are strong and developed. I especially liked the 'southern mannerisms' that 10 year old Luke uses such as 'Yes ma'am and 'Yes sir'.  The books also promotes a healthy family relationship. Luke and his family are close and stick together as well as the respect you should have for them.

The book isn't scary but perhaps for some younger readers they may find some parts creepy. But not scared creepy- I'd say more the suspense of certain moments and no-one dies or gets permanently hurt.

Part of what I loved about the book is that it wasn't fast-paced. Don't get me wrong- the book doesn't in anyway feel dragged out. You get to see Luke be a child despite facing some more adult situations. He makes friends, gets to play football and goes to school. This makes Luke more relatable for readers and you get to learn more about his character and the people he meets. He is very much a child just like everyone else- the only exception being that he's thrown into a world that he once didn't know existed.

I know others who would really enjoy reading the world that J.T Cope has created. It's a perfect book for parents to read to their children before bed as well as older readers who enjoy a trip back into the world of fantasy,



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