Master of the Grove

This was the first piece of fantasy fiction that I read when I was about 10 and within weeks of finishing I was ploughing through Lord of the Rings. An inspiring coming of age story for kids - I definitely recommend this for any young readers

Victor Kelleher's Master of the Grove is a great fantasy, with similarities to Earthsea novels. It is about a boy called Derin who is on a quest to find his father. You will never want to stop reading it!!So if you like Lord of the Rings, Ursuls Le Guin's Earthsea novels or Emily Rodda novel, chances are you'll like this too.

This was the first Victor Kelleher I ever read. I know own every single book he has written. Everything he writes is an assured great read for young and hold alike. He once told me that he tries to layer his stories. To ask questions which do not have easy answers and challenge the reader whether they are 13 or 30.The Master of the Grove is the story of a young man called Derin. He awakes in a snowy wilderness with no memory,near a house which has been destroyed. He discovers that this house was once his home and that his people are caught up in a bitter war between the people of the mountains and those of the plains. Derin quests for his father who has disappeared and for his own identity. His quest takes him to the center on the evil, up high in the mountains to the circle of the Master of the Grove. This story has plots within plots within plots. A young man is manipulated by those near to to him to deny him his identity. He takes his life in his hands as he quests for truth and finally relises who and what he is.

Boy wakes up and finds his home town has been attacked meets old lady who helps him on his journey to find his father. There is also an evil man, but I forgot his name who is looking for a powerful sword (it is not clear why until later in the story) Boy and the old lady adventure over land by foot, hiding from the army occuping the country. They have many close shaves and the old ladys role in the story becomes increasingly great. In looking for his father Derrin (the boy) discovers more about evil man that only his old lady friend knows and as the mystory to the relevance of all these people and places tie up one of the most interesting stories I have ever read begins to unfold and inside all the mystery and deception you will find it impossible to rip the book off your face THIS BOOK RULES THE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE NOT READ IT YOU HAVE NOT FULFILLED YOURSELF AS A PERSO