The Legend Of Witch Bane

The Legend Of Witch Bane by Kevis Hendrickson and published by Outskirts Press Inc is a children’s adventure at 330 pages in length covering 40 chapters.

Kevis Hendrickson lives in Miami Florida and is already working on the sequel to The Legend Of Witch Bane.

The cover art created by Michael Graham depicts three children one male and two girls backed into a corner holding a flaming torch, swords and a bow and arrow against the ever approaching werewolves. The cover itself is dark and the title and author name are written in silver, the name Witch Bane is backed by a sword through the lettering. There are also illustrations by Karen Petrasko throughout the book which are beautiful depictions of what is happening in the chapter where it is placed.

When evil Queen Rhiannon Eldess threatens the lives of the daughters of the Kingdom of Kaldan once more, the King and his Queen fear for the lives of their daughters. When the youngest, Anyr, is taken, her older brother Kodobos makes it his duty to save her but in doing so is forced to steal the Sword Of Kings which belongs to his father. In doing so Kaldan is placed in mortal danger and the kingdom falls under a dark enchantment. In a world full of dangers around every corner and so foreign to them, the children along with their elder sister Laris a mystery unto everyone and a half breed, must leave the kingdom on a quest to claim the sword known as Witch Bane if they are to feel the warmth of their parents love and protection ever again, a legendary sword powerful enough to destroy Rhiannon herself and break her evil spell upon Kaldan.

Kevis Hendrickson has created an amazing story reminiscent of the fairy tales of old we all grew up reading and still read to our younger family members to this day. With its mixture of Arthurian Legend and Greek and Norse mythology also play their part in this story of love, hate, loss, trust, deception and growing up but also what it means to be as innocent as a child should be.

While you can place which fairy tale or legend a certain event is based around there are also visible differences allowing this story to stand on its own.

This world is full of both wonderful and terrible creatures and people alike that anyone who reads this book will take away something, perhaps a new perception of the world around them.
As with all fairy tales there are lessons to be learnt around every corner however, un-like the fairy tales of old I’d say The Legend Of Witch Bane is aimed more toward those of around 10 years old to adult. I say this because there is one or two incidents in which I personally feel is not suitable no matter how carefully worded a child below 10 years of age should read and as Mr Hendrickson himself states in his book, children have the largest imaginations.

The characters are in themselves well created however the three children Laris, Anyr and Kodobos do sound older than they truly are though one could say that is down to their heritage.

Kevis Hendrickson has a unique way of telling the story that the amount of information you’re given is neither too little nor too much and yet remains to feel like you are being read to.

For younger readers this is a wonderful tale of learning to understand that no matter what, don’t be too eager to grow up however be more aware of what is going on around you for there is both good and evil in the world and both know not the limit of age.

For the older reader this is a grand trek across the magical world of Arva where dragons talk and some breathe ice and goblins seek the greatest of all treasures. If you loved Lord Of The Rings, The Hobbit, Grimms Tales, even far older tales lost in time then this tale has it all and will have you glued to its pages through every twist and turn.

I completed this book in four sittings and I would highly recommend anyone over the age of ten years of age to have The Legend Of Witch Bane sitting on their bookshelves. However, I do fear that by not mentioning a timeline for the journey within the story it does appear that at least one of the children every single day if not more, is in mortal peril. That being said this is a wonderful adventure story beautifully written and illustrated, and I give The Legend Of Witch Bane by Kevis Hendrickson 4.5 out of 5 stars.

By R.N. Hadley