Review for "Island of Fog"

"Island of Fog" is the first book in Keith Robinson's sprawling series by the same name.

A menacing creature stands at attention in the foreboding blue gloom of a twilight forest. It looks at first to be a strange looking lion til you notice the curved scorpion's tail wrapped around its feet. Those familiar with mythology will recognize it immediately as a manticore, a deadly dangerous beast of lore.
Eight families are all that remains of a world ravaged by a strange virus. Secreted away on a fog laden island the eight children have never seen the sun, electricity, or the stars. They long for knowledge of Out There, of the world their parents left behind. But when strange and frightening changes begin to happen among them they long for something else even more...the truth.

What I liked

• 'Island of Fog' has a unique post-apocalyptic take. The horror and violence that destroyed most of civilization is still there but subdued and hazy like its hanging out in your peripheral vision.
• It also sports a unique collection of very familiar mythological creatures; faerie, ogre, dragon, naga, harpy, dryad, centaur, manticore, goblins, mermaids and more.
• The purpose of the fog, the island, and the children themselves all pulls together nicely

What I disliked

• The kids are all around twelve years old but most of the time they don't talk like twelve year olds
•  If Simone notices the change in the atmosphere as Hal seemed to think she had why didn't she take action sooner?

'Island of Fog' is an excellent children's/teen fantasy novel and I can only suspect that the series will eventually swirl to even higher heights. 'Island of Fog' is currently available for free for the Kindle. I encourage all young fantasy readers to pick it up. It's entertaining and aside from a slightly disturbing virus scene near the end is perfectly suitable for younger readers. The other books in the series, of which there is currently six, are either $3.99 or $3.03. You can find out more about the series and the author at www.islandoffog.com and www.unearthlytales.com .

4 out of 5 crowns

Recommended for fantasy readers of all ages. The author suggests ages 9 and up.






Synopsis:"A lonely, foggy island is home to eight families. Twelve-year-old Hal and his friends have always wondered what happened all those years ago on the mainland, that unseen place Out There beyond the fog, and after an astonishing discovery in the woods the children are more determined than ever to find out what their parents are hiding. But their lives are turned upside down when Abigail reveals her closely guarded secret. According to her, the children are slowly changing into monsters! Are they freaks of nature, or subjects of a sinister experiment?

Each child reacts differently to his or her unique monstrous transformation; after all, one may feel proud to be a dragon, faerie, or centaur, but who in their right mind wants to be a sadistic manticore or cowardly harpy?"