“You have a power within you, one that is within everyone…It’s the same power that fills that building, that keeps that tree alive…and the same power that has attracted your attention…I know it’s all a bit strange to you, but I assure you it is quite real…”
Eleven-year-old Luke Rayburn has never seen a skyline without skyscrapers or fallen asleep to anything but the sound of traffic. But his … But his life is about to change in ways he never imagined. When his father leaves for a year of military service, Luke and the rest of his family move into their grandparents’ home in the remote town of Countryside, a place like no other. Reachable only by a mysterious traveling tunnel and horse-drawn carriage, centaurs roam the landscape and shadowy wraiths slip among the trees.
There, Luke will be drawn into a centuries-old quest for an almost-forgotten book whose secrets will determine the fate of the world. He will have to reach deep to discover the power within him as he battles the forces of darkness and an alliance of sinister men who seek to destroy any who get in their way.
Luke’s only hope is to find the book before they do, but to do so he’ll need help from someone he never expected as the forces of evil come to bear on the magical world of Countryside.
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Countryside – The Book of the Wise grabbed my attention from the first chapter and kept me enthralled through the entire story. I loved the blending of different beliefs and mythologies. J. T. Cope IV is a writer I will definitely look forward to reading other books by.
I received an e-book copy of this book from the author, in exchange for a fair and honest review:
“Countryside: The Book of the Wise” is unlike any fantasy I’ve ever read. Being from the Northeast especially affected my reading of it. I suppose I never imagined a Texan fantasy and I was pleasantly surprised to experience one. But that is not all that “Countryside” is. Countryside itself only happens to be a part of the greater world in this book—a part that exists in Texas—but there are holdings, as they are called, all over the world. “Countryside,” like many fantasies, creates a world interlaced with the one we know. There are aspects of “Harry Potter” and “Narnia,” as well as other types of lore, such as fairy lore, that are at once familiar and yet unique in the way they are used.
Countryside is a land filled with modern, antique, and fantastic technology and culture. The women and girls wear dresses, shorts, skirts, or pants. There’s a bookstore that serves lemonade slushes. There’s a burger bar. There’s a train. Most travel is on horseback or by horse drawn carriage. They play football, basketball, volleyball, and baseball—but the equipment is old fashioned, from around the 50s. Lights are run by magic. The intermarriage of the fantastic with the modern is uncommon and therefore makes for a special read.
I do have to say that the draw into the book, the prologue, is quite confusing, even more so than the average prologue. The author, J.T. Cope IV, uses impersonal pronouns in such a way as to be unclear which he/him/her/she is talking/acting. Unfortunately, that is also a shortcoming throughout the rest of the book. There also seems to be some sort of name changing that must have occurred within the story that is not explained throughout the plot—at least not within “The Book of the Wise.” I imagine it is explained in the sequel books, but it was an aspect that forced me to go back and reread certain parts.
Another name issue is both a uniqueness and a weakness. Due to the Southern polite nature, the characters within the book refer to each other by their proper names—which is unique and refreshing, but unfortunately got confusing because many first names of characters were not strongly linked to their last names.
The protagonist of “Countryside,” Luke, a boy of 10, is humble, witty, intelligent, polite, and kind. These aspects are strongly shown through his actions and dialogue with other characters. But I found myself wishing for more internal dialogue with himself. I wanted more of Luke’s inner character and feelings. But ultimately he is likeable, relatable, and heroic, and I imagine more of his character will be examined in the sequels.
All that being said, I can’t wait to read the books that follow and find out how Luke’s adventure ends. Will he save the world? I believe he has it in him!