MARVEL THE MARVELOUS

Four characters embark on the adventure of their lives in the frozen land of Joya.

After the Royal Couple who reside in the Ice Palace rescue a girl named Lee from a snowbank, Lee develops friendships with the couple’s menagerie of anthropomorphic animals: the pink pony Little Marvel, Garbonzo the mastiff and Beanie the pug. The exceptional creatures join together to help Lee recover. She feels a particular connection with Marvel, who caringly listens to her recollection of the family car accident that landed her in the snow. Unsettling details of her father’s drinking and driving, as well as Lee’s concern for her parents and baby sister, Claire, touch Marvel’s heart. Lee discovers that in order to get home, she must first locate the Treasure House, and she and Marvel set off on a journey, occasionally assisted by the Pink Cloud of Perfection. They face obstacles along the way, including rushing waters, a deep mine shaft, rats, the ominous Glume and the detestable creatures Spigot-Von-Glume and Orblock. Lee has periodic “other-worldly” experiences where she smells beer, hears Claire crying and feels eerily closer to her family. Along with the evil they bravely confront, there is bountiful good. Natural beauty abounds in the Heart of Joya, and the Middle Kingdom is blessed with a lavender sky and silvery water. Successfully outwitting Orblock, they enter the Treasure House, where a bright dove hovers above happy baby Claire, who remains frustratingly out of Lee’s reach. In a vivid, surprising conclusion, the scene changes to a hospital bed, where Lee is waking up from a coma. With her parents and brother nearby, she receives the heartbreaking news of Claire’s death. There is a disconnect here, as the mature issues Chester (Hidden Glory, 2007) presents are more suitable for older readers, yet the spacing and chapters will attract younger enthusiasts of fantasy. However, readers of all ages can appreciate Lee and Marvel’s ability to overcome impediments and reach their goals. The 13 short chapters are embellished with fine black-and-white sketches and softly hued illustrations grace the cover of this creative tale.

A transporting trip punctuated by absorbing twists and turns.