Review for "A Place Beyond the Map"

"A Place Beyond the Map" is currently a stand-alone novel by Samuel Thews.

Bright and whimsical in the colors of blue the cover immediately speaks of the kinda tale hidden beneath it's simplistic imagery. A night sky populated by hundreds of twinkling lights sweeps across the top half of the page as a luminous full moon rises above heady puffs of cloud. A curling strand of cliff face is silhouetted against the moon's light. In the lines of it's inky blackness an autumn tree stretches gnarled and twisted limbs like fingers into the night. The figure of a young boy in clothes that most certainly do not fit stares out from the cliff's edge and into the night. Even the lettering for the title speaks of whimsy, roughly drawn and curly-q.
Phinnegan Qwyk, undoubtedly the boy standing on the edge, is a simple lad living in Ireland. His thoughts are mostly filled with books and fairy tales that just barely fill his insatiable curiosity. But one night he discovers himself to be smack dab in the middle of one of the stories he craves so much. A story filled with fae creatures, magic, and beings bent on his destruction.
What I liked:

• Phinnegan is an altogether likable chap. He keeps his nose clean except for the ink smudges from holding a page too close here and there. He's honest, trustworthy, compassionate, and when the occasion calls for it selfless and brave.
• Periwinkle Lark is exactly what I would expect one of the fae to be. Quick witted, dashing and daring, a little flamboyant, mischievous to no end, but deep down mostly a good sort of fellow. Granted not one you want on your side in a pinch, but he'd be downright good company at a party.
• The author twists and turns the world of the Fae on its end in a most enjoyable manner. Keeping up with old standby's and traditions (like the overly bright colors and the hounds) and sprinkling in a little stuff of his own(beautiful trolls and wishing stones).
• The adventure is for the most part a fast paced highly entertaining romp into fairyland.

What I didn't like:

• There were a few instances where things didn't quite add up for the longest time and then the author tried to hurriedly jot in an explanation later on, like Periwinkle not recognizing his one true love at the party or even Phinnegan refusing to seemingly put two and two together on that front.
• We're left with a lot of questions and a lot of expectations at the end. All of which could be resolved if the novel turns into a series. But at the moment that appears to be a big ?

I zoomed through this tale in a couple of nights, always eager to pick it back up, always left with a satisfied smile on my face. This is a fairytale for all ages with a most identifiable hero, at least to us bookworms :). At the moment you can find "A Place Beyond the Map" for the Kindle for $2.99. It's well worth it to add this endearing tale to your collection. I was however gravely disappointed to find the author has not (so far) continued this as a series, especially when the book set everything up for it. I was even more disappointed to find the author's website pretty well defunct, with no mention of anything, just a blank blogger template. That is largely the only thing that I could say that was off-putting about this book.

5 out of 5 crowns

  

Recommended for all ages. 'A Place Beyond the Map' is easy enough for the younger readers to understand and captivatingly whimsical for the older readers. If you love a good jaunt into the realms of the Fae this one is for you.


Synopsis: "Once in a very long while, betwixt and between the humdrum of everydayness, something magical happens: life gives us a fairy tale. Sometimes it begins with a door; sometimes by following a peculiar cottontail down his hole. For Phinnegan Qwyk, it begins with a chilly November night, two wet footprints and Periwinkle Lark.
A flamboyant and cunning Faë with a penchant for mischief, Periwinkle is also a bit of a thief. When he snatches Phinnegan away to a Place-Beyond-the-Map, Phinnegan discovers that fairy tales aren’t all they’re cracked up to be: at least, not when you are being attacked by the wild wolves of the Faolchú, being hunted by a gholem that lurks unseen in the shadows, or bargaining for your very life with a troll—even if she is beautiful.
When all seems lost, Phinnegan finds hope in the form of a shy pixie and a jolly, if rather messy, old man. His journey is not a mistake.
Evocative, purposeful and winsome, A Place Beyond the Map is what children’s dreams are made of. A simplistic tale spun within the world of fairy tales and myth, it is a story for children, and for those of us that are finally old enough to read fairy tales again."