Rowan of the Wood
by Christine & Ethan Rose

    ROWAN OF THE WOOD by Christine & Ethan Rose
    Category:  Fantasy
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  11/1/08
    Publisher:  Dalton Publishing
    Reviewed by:  Marta Morrison
    Rating:  5 Stars


    I really enjoyed reading ROWAN OF THE WOOD.  It is the first in a series and I can't wait for the next one to
    come out.  

    It starts with two Celtic wizards, Rowan and Fiana, on their wedding day.  They have been waiting for this day for
    many years.  Once they are married their power will double.  Just as they have been declared married, a band of
    Christian invaders attacks the ceremony.  Fiana manages to escape to the otherworld but Rowan, through magic,
    seals himself in his wand.

    Now we go to modern day.  Cullen is a foster child living in Northern California among the Redwood trees.  He has
    survived losing his family and is now living in an abusive foster home.  What he loves most are the Redwoods which
    are behind his house and his fantasy books, especially The Hobbit, which had belonged to his father.  

    In one horrific scene his foster father makes him burn all of his fantasy novels.  That one scene was very hard to read.  

    Well, Cullen then finds a strange sort of wooden wand and out comes Rowan.  He had been trapped there for over a
    thousand years.  But he and Cullen are one person.  Rowan can only come out when Cullen is scared or threatened.  
         
    Fiana has also returned, but she came back a hundred years after the incident.  She has been looking for Rowan for
    thousands of years.  In order to stay young and beautiful she has made a deal with dark magic - and she has turned
    evil!
        
    All of this makes a fantastic and believable read.  The love that doesn't really die between Rowan and Fiana is
    powerful.  The loneliness of Cullen and his love of doing what is right is wondrous.  I loved this book and anyone who
    loves fantasy will love it, too.  

    The authors have gotten this one right and I highly recommend it.