Friday, December 2, 2022

The Great Tree; A Christmas Fable

 ~ I received no compensation and the opinions below are 100% my own or my family's. ~







Synopsis (from Amazon):  Andrew and his older brother Nicholas were separated as children.

 

Nicholas had been snatched away by the Prince of Darkness, and Andrew had all but given up hope, but now their mother is ill, and he's determined to reunite them before she passes - despite her objections.

 

With his dog Jenny by his side, Andrew sets out on an epic and perilous crusade well beyond his wildest imagination, facing evil protectors, giant wolves, dark magic, Sorcerers, Goblins, and even the Prince of Darkness himself.

 

Then there's The Great Tree. 

 

It's enormous, with a presence that's nearly impossible to describe...

 

And it's clearly the heart of the kingdom of the wicked Sorcerer. 

 

This is the setting for the adventure story that changed Christmas forever!



Young people and adults of all ages will enjoy this thrilling fable in the same way we've enjoyed other great Christmas stories of the past.

 

Jenny the dog is based on a very real Jenny, the author's vision of a true warrior - who has her own inspiring story that he's happy to share with anyone who asks.

 

All proceeds from the sale of The Great Tree go to The Last Road Dog Animal Sanctuary to rescue unadoptable dogs, cats, and horses, an approved 501 (c)(3) Animal Public Welfare Charity that greatly appreciates the ongoing support of readers like you!


Amazon

 

Goodreads


My Review:  The Great Tree is a very short quick read.  I would suggest the 5th-7th grade reading level.  This is a new take on St Nicholas and has what I would call more of a "darker" take on the version I grew up with, too many years ago to disclose!  To be clear, when I say "darker," I think a lot of middle/high school books fall into that theme, but I grew up with Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, and Judy Blume.  I do not mean this as a negative.

I think it is great and creative to write the tale of St. Nicholas differently. I enjoyed the new twist of an old tale. I also appreciated that the story included a dog and how Andrew could travel with Jenny.





Able Barrett is a former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney and U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime Strike Force Prosecutor who shamelessly admits he loves animals more than most people, and he’s the manager of The Last Road Dog Animal Sanctuary.

 

 

Author Links:

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Excerpt: The Great Tree – A Christmas Fable 

The room at the inn had a window that faced the Great Tree with the castle by its side. As Andrew gazed through the window at the castle, his mind wandered back to his mother, who was at home sick with the deadly fever. Although she wanted to see her lost son one more time before she passed, she insisted that Andrew not look for him, for it was much too dangerous. She made Andrew promise that he would not venture off and search for his brother. Andrew agreed not to. 

Andrew was now looking for his brother, Nicholas, in defiance of his mother’s wishes. He had made up his mind that he could not live with himself if he did not try. He understood his mother’s concern, but he felt he had to do what he thought was right. He lied to his mother out of love for her and because he did not want her worrying about him on his quest. Right or wrong, it was the way he felt about it. Nicholas had been abducted by an evil Sorcerer, an evil wizard of sorts, when they were both very young. Nicholas was his older brother. Andrew had been searching for Nicholas for weeks; he was now at a small mountain village where he had hoped to find Nicholas and bring him back to his mother before she died. 

With Jenny at his side, Andrew, weary from his lengthy travels, fell soundly asleep while gazing at the castle in the distance.

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