Mandy Reviews: The Wayfinder by Darcy Pattison

ISBN #: 978-0979862137

Page Count: 211

Copyright: 2011

Publisher: Mims House

Book Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

Winchal Eldras is a Wayfinder, one of the gifted few in G'il Rim who have the ability to locate anything: a lost ring, the way home, a blue dress in the marketplace, a lost child.

When the plague comes to his city, Win must lay aside his own grief and seek healing for his land. His only companion is Lady Kala, a telepathic Tazi hound, an imperious creature from the King's own kennels. Together they must face the Rift, a canyon so deep and so wide that no one has ever gone into it and returned.

Mandy's Review:

The idea of the story is unique and interesting. I've read a few fantasy novels, but this is the first time that a character has had this special gift (the ability to find anything). In order to find what they're searching for, a Finder receives a Finding by concentrating on the place, person or object they're trying to Find.

The Finders of the village are in high demand while the fogs from the Rift cover the village, which happens mostly at night and quite often. This is how they make their living, by leading people home during the fogs so nobody gets hurt or lost. They're like human taxis.

The village is surrounded by a wall, due to the village being built by the edge of the Rift. The wall has doors that lead to outside of the village. One fateful night, Win's sister wanders away from the village through the fogs. He goes out to find her and he does. One misstep, though, and Win's sister is gone into the Rift.

Win struggles under the grief of losing his sister and his inability to help her. Then fate steps in and he's chosen to go on a quest, where he will be able to use his grief for good.

This is definitely a story that young fantasy lovers will enjoy. I would recommend this for pre-teens on up.

The only issue I had with this book was the lack of editing. There were letters missing from words for most of the first half of this book. Yes, letters missing. Not words missing, but letters missing from words. I'd be reading along on a pretty good flow then come across these words, which interrupted my flow and made me stop. It happened often enough to annoy me and almost made me stop reading the book. I'm hoping that during the time I've had this book for review, the story has been edited and these issues corrected. If not, then I recommend you read at your own risk of annoyance.