Amazon The Tales of Tanglewood Category:  Action/Thriller Publisher: Helm Publishing ISBN-10:  0980178010 Pages: 180 Copyright: Dec. 1, 2007 ISBN-13: 9780980178012 Tales of Tanglewood: The Lon Dubh Whistle melds together influences of Celtic and Irish mythology with modern-day folklore, and is a fantasy novel to be enjoyed and cherished by all ages. Within the pages of this tome you will find the adventures of Colin, a child who is fully aware of the hidden world of myth and wonder hiding within the woods just beyond his home, long kept secret by old magic. Only the fey magic which runs through his veins has enabled him to find what others cannot; the Tanglewood, the wood within the woods. Full of odd characters and fey beings, the Tanglewood is a world of magnificent folklore come to life. A touch of Irish folklore meets charming urban fantasy in the lighthearted Tale of Tanglewood... In the wake of the last Harry Potter novel comes a refreshingly new and endearing tale that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The Tales of Tanglewood: The Lon Dubh Whistle is the first in a series of new novels to be written by author Scott Michael Kessman. Scott deftly weaves together subtle traces of Irish folklore with more traditional fantasy in an urban setting. The result is a beautifully written story containing the perfect combination of fun, mirth, magic, and adventure. Within the pages of the book, readers will discover Colin, a child who is fully aware of the hidden world of myth and wonder hiding within the woods just beyond his home, long kept secret by old magic. Only the fey magic which runs through his veins has enabled Colin to find what others cannot; the Tanglewood, the 'wood within the woods. Full of odd characters and fey beings, the Tanglewood is a world of magnificent folklore come to life. As Colin begins to explore the Tanglewood, he will find friendship with the ferrish Ailfrid, the elfin girl Deidre, and Doc Muffingrow, a wise druid. Colin will also find that there is much magic in himself, as well as dangerous enemies who will not let him find solace in the wood so easily. Ailil, King of the Sprites and ruler of The Below, has laid claim to Colin's spirit, and Colin will need the help of his friends and quite a bit of magic to save himself. The Tanglewood is a place like no other, and Colin is a boy like no other. Throughout his adventures, he will uncover the secret of the fey blood within him, and help dispel the poisonous corruption and hidden dangers that threaten the inhabitants of the wood and the Tanglewood itself. Excerpt The forest was radiant; bright beams of sunlight trickled through the leaves to kiss the ground below, and cast a lustrous glow about the forest. The very air seemed to shimmer excitedly and the leaves and the grass sparkled with fresh morning dew. The twittering of woodland birds was musical, and the wind rustling the leaves of the trees and tickling my hair was a soothing, comforting whisper. I could taste the very essence of the forest on my tongue, a morning mist of earthy flavor. The aroma of the woods was fresh and primal; I could sense the richness of the deep earth beneath my feet, and the scent of pine was seductively inviting, mingling with subtler notes of clover and sweet honeysuckle, orange blossoms and wild berries. My ears were wide open to the welcoming song of the birds hidden within the surrounding trees. The woods were lush with color; a bold array of greens, majestically strong browns, the effervescent glow of sunlight glancing off patches of delicate, golden-white flowers. The forest was alive.

Editorial Review
In a world filled with strife and hardship it is a stroke of luck when a book appears to take one away from it all. The Tales of Tanglewood: The Lon Dubh Whistle is just such a story. This is a chronicle of a young boy named Colin and the seemingly unexceptional forest beyond his parent's yard. Colin felt the woods to be special, and often dreamed of the magic that was busy in the trees in the form of wood nymphs, elves and other creatures. One warm summer night, upon awakening from a recurrent charmed dream, he followed his instincts outside into the woods. After pushing through the trees for some time he came to an archway, and then to a clearing, where before his eyes, cast in the glow of firelight was...well, here the adventure takes off for young Colin in The 'Wood. Colin is initiated into the grove with characters like the be-horned Ailfrid, Colin's fairy guide; Doc Muffingrow, the druid and muffin-baker extraordinaire; and Deidre, the strong-willed elfin runner. But all is not right and peaceful in The 'Wood. And as Colin always suspected, he is not a simple Kynney Deiney; or member of the human race, but in fact possesses Blood of the Fey, or fairy spirit. What ensues is an engaging adventure of transformation and rebirth all through the world of the supernatural, rife with the creatures of one's wildest imagination; brownies, sprites and pixies abounding. This book is a delight for all ages. The Tales of Tanglewood is fundamentally charming, from its enchanting characters to its deft anthropomorphizing of the natural world. Whereas some fairy fables devolve into sentimentality, this tale is utterly entrancing. Written in clean, capable prose, the story moves without a hitch to the final pages, which hint at more Tanglewood tales to come. The reader should be so fortunate. --Rachel Bravmann, reviewer for BUST Magazine, Seattle Magazine

Reader Review
This story is beautifully written. The story is interesting and unique. Truly a great read. The book is also beautifully formatted. It would not surprise me if this book became a cherished tale like that of Eragon. My favorite line of the book says that if you cannot find magic in the world, you must find magic in yourself. So, whatever you do today, go find that magic within you.