This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
Emma and the Banderwigh: Tales of Widowswood Book 1 by Matthew S. Cox is a fantastical children's story that revolves around ten-year-old Emma who lives with her parents, her brother Tam, and her Nan in a small two-bedroom house. Her mother helps in the village and her father is captain of the guard. Her mother and Nan are druids and Emma learns that she too has magical powers. Things change when one morning an older girl, perhaps sixteen, comes out of the woods. The entire town whispers about a child-stealing monster that lurks in the forest. It is at that time Nan tells Emma about Banderwigh who lives in the darkest parts of the forest and feeds on sadness. With its imaginative characters, magical elements, fantasy, druids, family love, action, adventure, mystery, suspense, and horror, the book is a compelling read.
All the characters are well portrayed and Emma’s character is real, relatable, and memorable. By sketching a dark world, the author makes the story eerie and adventurous, one that will keep young readers glued till the very end. The twists and turns in the plot give the story many layers, and the story also has a child abuse angle which adds to the darkness, along with the dark forest and the Banderwigh. The narration is detailed and descriptive and will take readers right into the scenes and the story. The author keeps the tempo of the story till the very end, thereby giving it a good pace and movement. There are no dull moments in the plot and I am sure that, like me, young readers will be waiting for the sequel.
