The Moorlanders

This Young Adult novel is set in Dartmoor and is full of beautifully evocative descriptions of the landscapes, the tors. When you read a line that likens the tors to a 'shadowy school of humpback whales', you know you are stepping into a landscape that you can see in your mind's eye. This is the story of a battle for survival. The Moorlanders must defeat a powerful wizard, and his army of fierce warriors, who is planning to destroy their homes and their moor so that he can rip the minerals from the land. As for the Moorlanders themselves, they will be his slaves in the mines. Throughout the book there is the impression that this is the world outside the realms of men and that it is a world that is fading - although that could just be my reading of it. There was once a common tongue so that the Moorlanders could speak to the animals, but this knowledge has been lost to all but a very few. There was once also a race of Giantici but again, you feel that you are witnessing the dying of a race. But I digress, back to the story. The Moorlanders under the guidance of Findhorn, a mage, set out to defeat the wizard and all rests upon Caradoc, Ella and the badger Hamilcar - three youngsters. Caradoc is full of questions, he wants to understand everything, he wants to learn everything and sometimes his inquisitiveness can get him into trouble. Ella is a feisty young girl who takes no prisoners - she says it how it is and doesn't pull her punches. Hamilcar is Caradoc's friend and is totally loyal, brave and dependable. The tension as the book races to the climax builds beautifully and the twist, the revelation at the end is one that I did not see coming. This is a super YA read.

I loved the world that Steven D. Coles has created with The Moorlanders. This is fiction, fantasy, and adventure enjoyable for readers young and old. Can't wait to read more from this author!

I highly recommend this book: I only wish my children were younger so that I could have shared it with them. It is exciting, well written, thought-provoking and beautiful. The characters are memorable in both lovable and detestable ways and the combination of west country folklore and descriptive moorland torscapes make it a 'must-read' for lovers of local legends. It is also moving with wholesome and hopeful aspirations for the future. I truly hope the author writes some more.