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I was born and raised in a small town in western Pennsylvania. Since I was young I had an imagination that used to get me in trouble at home. In high school I had a nickname--"the storyteller". As a young adult, I took writing classes and began writing short stories. When my children came along, I put my writing on hold. When I retired from the medical profession, my daughter encouraged me to begin writing more again. I took some of my stories to a writer's critiquing group, who motivated me to publish my first book. I have since published two more, and I'm writing another. I have always wanted to write for children and youth. I enjoy writing books that use the imagination and teach a lesson. The Hidden Portal to Wren was inspired by the fictional world I had created around nature and its amazing balance. It’s the second book in the “Keys of Being” Trilogy.
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Nan C. Cataldi continues The Keys of Being Trilogy with Book 2, The Hidden Portal To Wren. Glymirra, Keeper of the Balance and Caretaker of all the Living on Gaeya, waits patiently for the return of her two most trusted Fae-rens; Der-rex and Brin-dah. They have secured Elka, one of the Keys of Being that is needed to maintain the balance of the world. As they are prepared to return to Wren, something disrupts their travel route. Afraid of the enemy, they seek Nicky’s help again, who’s now a fifteen-year-old teen, and choose him as the new human Guardian of their realm. Now Nicky must fight against the Evil One and his sorcerers to return Elka to the secret world of Wren.
The Hidden Portal To Wren is as imaginative as its predecessor. I find the plot’s continuation solid and characters’ development sufficiently done for its intended young readers. I have a soft spot for Fae-rens Der-rex and Brin-dah, often rooting for them more than I should for Nicky. The length of the chapters is appropriate and gives the story a good pace from start to finish. Editing and formatting can be more polished in some parts, but the imaginative premise and world building of the series is undeniable. The plot is sufficiently well-structured and I like the direction it’s taking. Book 2 ends with a suspenseful cliffhanger that promises more roller coaster adventures for Nicky that readers can anticipate in the next book. All in all, an enjoyable read from Cataldi.
