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Reviewed by Rich Follett for Readers' Favorite
Joshua of Gaia by M.G. Russell is an engaging, fast-paced, impeccably crafted coming-of-age fantasy tale perfect for young adult and young-at-heart readers looking for an escape from the mundane. Subtitled The Lost Elderzamia, Joshua of Gaia centers upon the adventures of orphanage-raised Joshua, who is transported through a light-laden crack in a dingy punishment room wall to Elderworld. This is a subterranean civilization inhabited by various cultures oppressed by a dark overlord, who cannot be overthrown until the ‘lost Elderzamia’ - one of the elders, who has been kidnapped and is being held prisoner - is freed to join his magical powers with the other elders.
Joshua, with the help of human fellow anti-heroes Sophie and Wade, begins a quest to find the lost Elderzamia and fulfill his destiny, thereby acquiring a sense of self worth and a place in both Elderworld and Gaia. M.G. Russell has crafted this epic adventure in brief chapters with appealing titles, making Joshua of Gaia a perfect candidate for bedside, study hall, or lunchtime reading. In addition, the writing style is conversational and happily free of the weight of intimidating ‘other world’ vocabulary which must be presented in a glossary, tracked and assimilated in order to comprehend the tale - Russell’s handling of essential exposition is natural and perfectly matched to a young reader’s attention span. Russell never introduces a new word or concept until it is relevant to the moment at hand, and thereafter treats that word or concept as if it were naturally occurring - the result being that the journey is smooth and easy-to follow from first word to last.
Joshua of Gaia is a delightful adventure replete with all of the requisite heroes, perils, reversals, foils, villains, and plot twists that make fantasy fun to read. M.G. Russell, in Joshua of Gaia, has created a fantasy world worthy of sharing shelf space with Narnia, Oz, and Middle Earth.
