Young Arcan and the Garden of Loc (Tales from the Emberthel) [Paperback]

Matthew R. Milson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2007 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Tales from the Emberthel (Book 1)

Young Arcan and the Garden of Loc is the story of Arcan, an eleven-year-old boy who befriends a talking tree named Arborgast. When Loc, one of the creators of the world, begins to steal the spirit of life from the lands, Arcan is compelled to save his dying friend and all of Emberthel. Journeying to Loc's Garden, Arcan seeks to free the world's stolen life essence.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Matthew R. Milson graduated from Full Sail, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Video Game Design and Development. He is the youngest of four siblings and he currently resides in Orlando, Florida.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Avari Press (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933770031
• ISBN-13: 978-1933770031
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,388,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. It was there where I first conceived the idea for my novel "Young Arcan and the Garden of Loc." I then moved to Orlando, Florida to attend Full Sail, where I received my Bachelor of Science in Video Game Design and Development. Presently I still live in Orlando, and am hard at work on the next Young Arcan adventure!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A WONDERFULLY ENTERTAINING STORY, January 19, 2008

By 

James Rudolph "Sunny Jim" (Marvelous Midwest, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Young Arcan and the Garden of Loc (Tales from the Emberthel) (Paperback)

"Young Arcan and the Garden of Loc" is a wonderful book for anyone into high fantasy and adventure, and for anyone interested in an entertaining story well told. It is fast paced and engaging, as the further you read and become involved in the storyline and characters the harder it becomes to put the book down. At the end of each chapter, I found myself repeatedly delving into the next to see what would happen or how an issue would be resolved. The text, dialogue, characters and settings are straightforward, easily readable and not stilted as in so many fantasy works.

Perhaps the most notable for me was Matthew Milson's ability to draw characters from everyday life and then place them into fantastical surroundings and adventures while at the same time telling a very real, compelling and heartfelt story. Mr. Milson is obviously an astute observer of people and personalities. He has created real characters, and enriches them with everyday behavior, mannerisms, quirks and foibles, giving them depth and making them recognizable to the reader while drawing us into them. His characters experience humor, sadness, joy and suffering, and he successfully brings the reader into the experience and sharing of emotions. The main character, Arcan, is eleven years old, and is neither predictably heroic nor flawed. He is growing. When I was eleven years old, I had just joined the Boy Scouts and was learning to play the guitar and tie square knots. At eleven years old, young Arcan sets out on a perilous journey to save his world. Along the way he must deal with the complex issues of leaving the safety and comfort of home, independence, self-doubt and confidence, friendship, loss, courage and trust, all while confronting increasingly perilous surroundings, challenges and danger. Mr. Milson has successfully woven together the best features of a buddy story and a coming of age story into a delightful new fantasy adventure with rich new characters and an inventive, creative storyline.

The book indicates that it is "Book One of Tales From Emberthel". I have noticed on the author's website, TalesFromEmberthel.com, that he is hard at work on the second story, and I am anxious to see how Arcan develops and how the storyline progresses in the next of his adventures. Arcan became real to me and I both want and care to know how he is doing. Maybe that is the highest praise and best endorsement I can give to the book. I highly recommend "Young Arcan and the Garden of Loc". Matthew Milson is a very creative storyteller and a refreshingly welcome new voice in the fantasy adventure genre.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read!!!, October 10, 2007

By 

Christopher Warner (Boston, Mass) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Young Arcan and the Garden of Loc (Tales from the Emberthel) (Paperback)

This is a really great book! The story is very original and creative; a rare quality for many of the fantasy books you come across these days.

With a simple writing style and suspenseful plot, this book will be a quick read, and almost certainly leave the majority of readers wanting more.

I recommend this book to readers of all ages, especially those seeking a new and original fantasy series.