Reviewed by Olga Markova for Readers' Favorite

The Fallen Swallow by Justin C. Davis is an awesome magical fantasy. The story starts with three old hags chanting a magical prophecy, entranced in their manic dance. The next scene takes us to Mercia, a small village destroyed by malevolent sorcerers. An orphan teenage boy hides from the massacre and tries to rescue his baby sister and the magical artifacts of his adoptive father, who was killed by the black mages. A decade later, the evil mage Abaddon is planning an attack on the City of Elders. Urged by her guardian Lord Wassingham, his adoptive teenage daughter Lily vanishes through a magical portal with her friend Robert and Lord Wassingham’s friend, Lord Cecil, in tow. What lies ahead for Lily and her travel companions?

Justin C. Davis’s The Fallen Swallow offers a high quality of writing. I liked how the story’s events mirror and explain its title. I also liked the gentle humor of Lily’s and Robert’s antics. I loved how the story explored the themes of friendship, sibling love, and the standoffs between good and evil. But my highest praise goes to the magical ambiance and the adventures as these took four decades off my age and made me feel like a teenager! With the story’s ending begging for a sequel, I can’t wait for the next installment. I highly recommend this brilliant fantasy adventure to all fantasy fans—if you are not a teenager, this story will work its magic and make you feel like one!