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Except for my time in the USAF, I have lived my life in the beautiful Hudson Valley region. An area so rich in beauty, history and folklore an author has an abundance of inspiration to draw from. I have a wife and two great kids, whose very presence fills my head with storylines. I draw ideas from the people in my life and from the nature that surrounds me. I have always read fantasy, but sometimes I would come across a book whose plot I just didn't like, and in my head would proceed to re-write the scene. I guess this is where my desire to create my own worlds began, and it will be one of the journeys I will walk the rest of my days. And what a beautiful journey it is...
Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite
Andy and his sister, Emilia, learn that there is far more to who they are in the fantasy novel The Dragon and the Fairie by Roland Capalbo. Andy loves exploring, and an island on the Hudson River has always been of interest, but only a very low tide during a very dry summer allows him to cross over to have a close look at it at last. His sister follows him and both are drawn into the adventure of their lives: a portal takes them to a different world. Andy wakes up to find himself as a dragon, called Andros, and Emilia wakes up as a fairy without a memory of her former life. Unfortunately, they arrive in this magical world at a most troubled time. Fortunately for the other world, the brother and sister team is needed to save the world. But the branches of prophecy can go different ways. The question is whether Andy and Emilia will find out who they truly are, and whether they have it in them to face the dangers that come with being true heroes.
The Dragon and the Fairie by Roland Capalbo was so much fun to read! The characters are all very well done and many of the names are nods to mythological and fairy tale creatures and beings (e.g. Loki). The book is aimed at younger readers (teenagers), but even in my thirties I got a lot of enjoyment from the world created by the author. Characters had little quirks that weren't necessary to the story, but helped to give it so much more life and make you feel truly connected to them. You almost felt like some of them were your friends or enemies, too. There was some romance, but fortunately not overly cheesy as is sometimes the case in young adults' fantasy novels.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of the environment and that there was a good balance between narration and dialogue. It was a journey I enjoyed and could imagine well in my head. There were some twists and turns, and while you always hoped that good would win in the end, you could never be too sure because the characters had to pay some high prices during their journey. I am quite sure that there will be a sequel; after all, you cannot leave that many questions unanswered.
