Customer Reviews

The Nightmare Tree

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Great read in the spirit of Narnia, Tolkien, Harry... Supposed to be for the 12 to 18 crowd but the kids will have a hard time getting the book back from Mom and Dad!
Full of Eastern Orthodox allegory (it is written by a young Orthodox Priest after all) but you have to pay attention to get all the parallels -as the story clips along at such a rapid pace you just get wrapped up in the action. Our world "Letheis" turns out to be a dream illusion in a "Matrix" like twist, and "Mysterion" is an enchanting but unfathonomable "Ariel" type place, with the Angeli, Butterfly children, Cyclops, Pirates, the dark Djinn... Jonah's nobel quest to free his captive Father and discover his destiny tells the eternal story from a fresh and captivating viewpoint. When's the sequel coming out???

Every so often a book takes me from my shoes into a new world where my shoes haven't yet walked. The Nightmare Tree does just that. The author wrote a book for persons of every age and of every mind set. As a 70 year old man who, by some standards might be considered over the horizon, I found the book to be fascinating from beginning to end. And, I would say that teens would find the same experience. So would all those who age is between teen and 70. Without hesitation I heartily recommend this book to readers looking for a rewarding adventure.
Albert Rossi

I thoroughly enjoyed the world, the characters, and the plot of The Nightmare Tree. I shared it with my wife who devoured it and in turn shared it with my elementary age son who grew as a reader, a thinker, and a liver because of the book. This reflects how this allegorical tale, like all great allegory, can be understood and enjoyed at vastly different levels.

I especially appreciate his crisp descriptions of the sea and boating, the deep reflection on sacrifice, love, deception, and very terrifying and inviting scenario, that is not so unlike our own lives. Throughout the book, I identified with Jonah and have been reminded that love compels us to risk everything for truth and family.

My one regret is that there are not more "Tales from Mysterion" for myself and my family to enjoy. May Richard Rene's pen continue to pour forth fantasy that is so grounding in reality!

The Nightmare Tree has just about all the elements that go into good fantasy - elements that are interesting in themselves, but that also carry certain mythical and psycho-spiritual resonances - and yet somehow our overall sense is a lack of coherence. Perhaps too many bits and pieces and not enough to make sense of them in terms of the whole? Since we were delighted by the setting and the bright kaleidoscope of images and characters, we hope that future tales will deepen and connect these disparate elements. This is a book we are happy to recommend, and we certainly enjoyed the discussion that arose from our reading.

St Mary's Cathedral Dinner and Book Club

Richard Rene's The Nightmare Tree is a great read. His descriptions of the setting are realistic and vivid, and his knowledge of sailing and the sea comes through clearly in the story. More than that, the story pulls the reader in and holds them in tense anticipation from the opening sentences to the final word of the book. I agonized for Jonah as I watched him be almost taken in by the evil forces, and by his own determination to rescue his father. I was on the edge of my seat as things looked their darkest, and cheered with him when the resolution came, at long last. I'm looking forward to more stories from Mysterion.

To me, the most striking element in this book is the author's imagination! Wow. I hooked from the first sentence and couldn't put the book down. This is a quick, entertaining read for an adult, and a captivating, thought provoking read for adolescents. I am a teacher and have had several of my students read this book. They love it and keep asking me when Book 2 will be available. A winning endorsement, for sure!