Book V in the "King of the Trees" allegorical series by William D. Burt.
Published in 2005. (Softcover; 224 pages. Illustrated by Terri L. Lahr and Becky Miller.) Includes glossary and pronunciation guide at the back for easier reading and for reading aloud.
Trapped in a phantom forest filled with deadly creatures of the cold, Owen son of Tadwyn leads Lucambra's royal family into a forbidden faery kingdom. Sentenced to death for unwittingly destroying the hallowed Glynnspire Cave, Owen and his companions become the Spirewalker of Feirian's hostages. As the long-awaited "shepherd's son," Owen will lay down his life to save his friends, restore the faery realm and revive lost souls. He is not alone, for a faithful ally in feathered guise will follow him to his appointed doom.
The Downs is a touching tale of sacrificial devotion and valor woven into a rich retelling of ancient legend.
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READERS’ FAVORITE 5-STAR REVIEW
Amazon.com Reviewer: Sarah Heath—5 stars
It seems that William Burt's series, the "King of the Trees," just keeps getting better and better with each book I read! The Downs is filled with self-sacrifice, redemption, and love. In The Downs, the reader finds himself in a world where things may not always be quite what they seem.
I love that with each book in the "King of the Trees” series, Burt chooses to focus on a different facet of his literary world. This installment is set in the land of one of Gaelathane's creations, the Faeries. I truly enjoyed this tale, as William Burt has a unique take on what seems to almost be a fantasy novel staple: Faeries. He has fleshed out their history and traditions in a way not many fantasy authors do. Because of their world's fallen nature, as they age, the faeries lose their wings. Unable to discover the cure to prevent their wings from disappearing, these "slipwings," as they are called, must walk the earth, disguised as normal people. Owen, the son of a shepherd, stumbles upon their land by mistake and finds himself caught up in a law that cannot be overlooked. He, along with his sparrow companion, must each learn to embrace who they truly are, and what their destiny holds for them.
I think there's a little part of every girl (or woman!) that loves faeries, and I am no exception. Unlike what you may expect, the Faeries in The Downs are a much more "grown up" version than the fairies you'll find in Peter Pan or on the Disney channel. They are more reminiscent of the wise Elves in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The Downs is, so far, my personal favorite in the series. I found that it satisfied the hopeless romantic in me, but didn't place so much importance on the romance aspect that it lost its true roots as a fantasy novel. Highly recommended!
Amazon.com Reviewer: Darci Barth—5 stars
"The book was really good. I enjoyed it totally!”
"Anybody that can read would enjoy it. I couldn't put it down. I really think the girl in the story represents a lot of us; she didn't like who she was and what she represented. When the King of the Trees came to her, he showed her who she was and it changed her inside out.”
Amazon.com Reviewer: “Amy”—5 stars
"Interesting book. GREAT Series!”
"I have loved this book ever since I got it. It is fascinating and the author provides great descriptions for settings and characters in his book. Another great thing about it is that William D. Burt puts Christianity in his series. For any home-school mom looking for something for her kids to read, this is a great choice. If you are just looking for something to read, I recommend this book and the series.”
READ AN EXCERPT FROM BOOK V HERE!
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