Runner Up Beach Book Festival
San Francisco Book Festival Award
New York Book Festival Award
A very small wizard named Inkydomus lives in the ruins of an abandoned castle. Because of a curse placed on his father, he has lived over three hundred years and has grown to a height of only twelve inches. His legendary adventures working for the royals are known throughout Europe. These stories have been passed down for generations among the royal and poor alike. Now after nearly a hundred years of hiding from a life he despised, he finds someone is searching for him. The thought of an adventure is surprisingly appealing and Inky allows himself to be captured and taken to a king who needs a mystery solved. The adventure he finds is far more perilous than he ever expected. A cruel king, strange creatures, a zoo full of monstrosities, and an unexpected friendship will change his life forever in the search for missing gold.
Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite –
Isle of Shadows: The Inky Trilogy by Don Stansberry tells the tales of Inkydomus, a tiny wizard who lives in a ruined castle. Inky is more than 300 years old but still only a foot tall, because his father was cursed. Everyone knows of Inky. He’s famous across Europe, and stories about him are forever being told. Inky worked for the royals but hated his life and has been hiding for nearly a century. He discovers that someone is looking for him, and desperate for some adventure in his life, Inky lets himself be caught. Brought before a king, he learns of a mystery and sets off on a dangerous journey to solve it. On a hunt for missing gold, he must face challenges and obstacles along the way. A chance encounter leads to a new friendship, and his life is about to change, but if he can’t find the gold, it might all have been in vain.
Isle of Shadows by Don Stansberry is a fascinating and fun series of tales set in medieval times, with a 12-inch-tall wizard as the central character. It’s full of magic and wizardry, strange creatures, some monstrous, and plenty of adventure and action, Harry Potter-esque in some ways but unique in others. This trilogy is all-in-one, so there is no waiting for the next installment, and each part is beautifully written, with intriguing descriptions and wonderful characters. If this kind of world were real, this story would instantly transport you there – that’s how authentic and vivid the descriptions are. With well-defined characters and a wonderful plot, this is a story you can lose yourself in, the perfect escape from real life for a while, and I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages.