MIDDLE GRADE SPECULATIVE FICTION (Fantasy) : The Die of Destiny by Frank L. Cole
ABOUT THE BOOK
Lucas Silver’s life is about to change. He thinks it’s because he’s made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and some unlikely friends find Hob and Bogie’s Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion’s Quest.
When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they’re no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.
They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
FRANK L. COLE was born into a family of southern storytellers and wrote his first book at age eight. Some of his favorite stories involve ghosts and Bigfoot. Currently, along with his wife and three children, he resides in the shadow of a majestic western mountain range. The Die of Destiny is Frank’s thirteenth published book.
He’s an active promoter of reading and using imagination and has presented to more than 250 schools nationwide. As part of his research for Champion’s Quest, he has acquired hundreds of role-playing campaign modules and loves immersing himself in those worlds.
REVIEW
For those who like Jumanji, The Die of Destiny makes for a fun, exciting read. The story follows the adventures or rather misadventures of four kids who inadvertently find themselves in a role playing game that involves a lot more role playing then they could ever have imagined. Just as he's planning to run away from his current foster home, Lucas finds himself leading a band into a world he knows nothing about. Facing off with ogres, goblins, djinn, and a nasty witch, the four kids stumble along desperately trying to find a way to complete their quest. But can the children discover how to work together using their unusual tools in time to conquer their enemy or will their weaknesses and the conflict between them leave them lost and alone. Cole does a great job of throwing together characters that are quite different with a variety of strengths and weaknesses. Things get even more interesting when each character is given a role they don't understand. The characters also have the disadvantage of not knowing all the rules when they start playing. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of intriguing tools, fascinating roles, and personality growth. The children's experiences may even help them out when they return to the real world and their very real problems. A great read for middle grade readers who enjoy quests, fantastical creatures, and courageous sacrifices.
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