“THE CROWFIELD CURSE,” by Pat Walsh, Chicken House Scholastic, January 2012, Paperback, $7.99 (young adult)
Magic, secrets and small creatures all lead to a world within our own in “The Crowfield Curse.”
Drawing you into the story with an immediate tie to the unknown world within our own, author Pat Walsh takes you through a descriptive and well-painted storyline. William, the sole survivor from a fire at his family home, has been “adopted” by the family of religious monks at Crowfield Abbey. He works hard, doesn’t question much and seems to be content with the new lifestyle provided him — or rather feels he doesn’t have much of a choice for now.
When William learns he has “the sight,” which can lead him to evil or good. He begins to question processes, daily life and what happens in the world found within our own.
Soon, William discovers unlikely happenings at the Abbey. A 100-year-old tale of an angel killed in the duty of protection (or so it seems) is raising its light amongst the people, and William is doomed to be a part. As the story continues you are swept away into more depth and how the happenings in one world can impact another. Along his unsolicited journey, William meets the Dark King, discovers immortality isn’t all that it seems, and is provided insight into his own abilities and future.
Well-written, with great descriptive text and a compelling battle, I was transported into William’s plight between good, evil and whether he could remain neutral.
“THE CROWFIELD DEMON,” by Pat Walsh, Chicken House Scholastic, February 2012, Hardcover, $16.99 (young adult)
Continue the journey at Crowfield Abbey and discover what secrets lie beneath…
“The Crowfield Demon,” the sequel to “The Crowfield Curse,” takes you on a journey of darkness, demons and good versus evil. William is now bound to a fay and continues to live peacefully among the monks at the abbey.
Unfortunately, the abbey has a regrettable past. As the abbey walls begin to crack and the foundation rises, William is left to discover and help contain the demon that lies beneath. Although many may have heard the stories of the past — sacrifices to a fallen angel — and some helped cover it up, most shy away from the pursuit of magic to contain the evil. Having understanding of his own ability, William participates in the journey to help contain the demon, and save the abbey and his new family.
Admittedly, I was alarmed with the storyline and how dark and evil the woods can seem when you’re reading such a vividly descriptive story. I don’t believe I’ll read the book again, due to my own preferences, but I would recommend it as a story of courage, faith and perseverance; just don’t read it when going camping or hiking in the woods.
Overall, the two books were fascinating and very well-written. Although I would have preferred to stay on the lighter side of the magic and left the demon on his own, I was pleased to have read the book and learned about the faith and power of a young man who didn’t know he mattered until he learned from all around him that he did.
2 Comments
I liked this series so far and will look forward to the last(?) book. I didn’t mind the demon, and I think that middle school students in particular will find this part fascinating.
I thought that the books were exellently written, I do recomened them for an older group of students such as gr8 to gr9