Faith & Fairies: A Fable of Faithcraft (Book 1: The Father Tree Tetralogy) [Paperback]

C. S. Haviland (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Three troubled orphan boys stumble upon a family of dryads living in the backwoods. Their mission is to save the dryads from extinction by rescuing the woodkeeper'Â’s empress from a satyr king, kissing and restoring her full power. The tale explores the full spectrum of human emotions from loss and sadness to wonder and faith. Faith & Fairies is an imaginative story, layered with timely and timeless moral messages. A powerful fairy tale for all ages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Our mundane world seems to have a number of gates to strange places and adventures to suit every occasion and purpose. FAITH & FAIRIES, with exciting encounters between young humans strong in disbelief, and magic as old as the first tree, has opened another such to entice the explorer. As one can truly say--a good read! --Andre Norton, grandmaster author of over 200 SF and Fantasy novels

Rarely do I read, nor enjoy fantasy novels but I am very happy to say this is one I like very much. I think its because I can relate to the characters, unlike other fantasy novels that are about long ago societies, or worlds very different from our own. It's the story of several teenage boys who enter a magical world that becomes more interesting page after page. Haviland is in the class of L. Frank Baum, Terry Brooks, or Stephen Donaldson who are some of the authors I have enjoyed. --Midwest Book Review

An enchanting tale full of humor and whimsy, reminiscent of such young adult classics as THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA... full of wonder and imagination, yet feels familiar and real. --Eldon Thompson, author of THE LEGEND OF ASAHIEL series

From the Publisher

Hailed by readers of all ages around the world! Suggested by the St. Augustine Chronicle as additional reading to HARRY POTTER.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: Legendmaker Scriptoria; 1st edition (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975935518
• ISBN-13: 978-0975935514
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,211,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christopher Sirmons Haviland, usually published as C.S. Haviland, has a degree in Radio / TV / Film from the University of North Texas (1988). He co-produced an award winning feature film THE FIRST OF MAY in 1997, starring Julie Harris, Dan Byrd, Charles Nelson Reilly, Mickey Rooney, and Joe DiMaggio, which appeared in foreign theatrical markets, then on HBO worldwide, and is now on DVD. His tween-market fantasy novel FAITH & FAIRIES, based on one of his screenplays, was published in 2005 (the advance addition in 2004). His short story "Change" was published in PRONTO! WRITINGS FROM ROME which includes work by Terry Brooks, John Saul and Dorothy Allison. His short story "The Reality Division" was published in BAD-A$$ FAERIES 2: JUST PLAIN BAD which won the 2009 EPPIE award. Christopher regularly works in the internet business and was among the original staffs of what became About.com and Mail.com. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife Sara and three young boys: Forest, Sky and River.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enchanting tale, December 30, 2004

By 

Eldon Thompson (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Faith & Fairies (Unedited Advance Edition) (Paperback)

Faith & Fairies is an enchanting tale full of humor and whimsy, reminiscent of such young adult classics as The Chronicles of Narnia. The world created here by C.S. Haviland is full of wonder and imagination, yet feels familiar and real. There is also much to like about his intricate magic system, which is governed by specific rules and limitations. No simple wave of a fairy's wand is going to save the day here.

Despite targeting a younger audience, there is no shortage of danger and excitement in this book. In fact, all of the requisite elements of a conventional fantasy are here -- a greedy king, an army of foul minions, and a menacing dragon. Violence is kept clean to make this story suitable for all ages.

This author is also a filmmaker -- and that style shows through in the narrative. Rather than focusing on a single protagonist, the story is presented as if through a director's lens, shedding light on each of the major characters and giving the presentation a cinematic feel.

Like any good fantasy story, this first volume is but the tip of the iceberg. While Faith & Fairies provides its own, satisfying conclusion, the author leaves dangling threads which I've no doubt will be fun to explore. Bring on Book 2 of the Father Tree Tetralogy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Tale Worthy To Stand On The Shelf Alongside The Works Of C.S. Lewis, Andre Norton, and Madeleine L'Engle, June 26, 2005

By 

Joseph Baneth Allen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Faith & Fairies (Unedited Advance Edition) (Paperback)

In Faith & Fairies; his first novel in the Father Tree Tetralogy, C.S. Haviland has written a finely crafted, haunting tale of adventure, sacrifice, and even love that fondly recalls the young adult fantasy novels of C.S. Lewis, Andre Norton, and Madeleine L'Engle.
Readers of Faith & Fairies will be saddened to turn to the last page and read the final last words because they'll be wanting the story to continue on.
Hopefully C.S. Haviland is hard at work on Book Two of his Father Tree Tetralogy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars from ChristianSciFiAndFantasyReview.com, August 29, 2011

By 

Rev. Steve Wilson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Faith & Fairies: A Fable of Faithcraft (Book 1: The Father Tree Tetralogy) (Paperback)

Genre: Christian Fantasy

Recommendation: Excellent

Originality - 5/5
Writing Style - 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Characters - 5/5
Aesthetics - 5/5

A hilarious, action-packed adventure!

Three very different orphan boys are on their way to a new Home in the small town of Haviland Hollow. Terry is a sixteen-year-old, overconfident, independent spirit. Scott is the fourteen-year-old worry wart with coke-bottom glasses, and Ronnie is...well, Ronnie is a nine-year-old boy, complete with an utter distaste for girl cooties and a love for all things exciting.

The adventure begins when Terry decides that he doesn't want to go to a new orphanage and takes the other two boys, unknown to them, along on his escape. Terry's plans are cut short, however, when they meet a group of magical, female, fairies. It seems that God plans to use these unlikely boys to help the fairies overcome their greatest peril.

With laugh-out-loud dialogue, deep characterization, original creatures and ideas, and non-stop action, Faith & Fairies is a definite win for readers of all ages.

The novel is definitely faith-based, but is not a hit-you-over-the-head treatment of spirituality and is appropriate for any reader.

I give Faith & Fairies a recommendation of Excellent and encourage anyone who's looking for a fun, Christian, fantasy tale to pick this one up immediately. You'll definitely enjoy it.