The Farwalker's Quest

It took me awhile to get totally engaged in this book, but once I got in, I could hardly put it down. The main characters are distinct and well-rounded. They are also true heroes, enduring great suffering with courage and humility. As in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, the personal rewards are not worth the pain and loss. But these characters are working for the greater good, which is a powerful message. And the journey is one you won't soon forget.

A magical fantasy, The Farwalker's Quest, takes place in a futuristic world--a world left devastated and fragmented by the Blind War. Everyone in Canberra Docks assumes twelve-year-old Ariel will become a Healtouch like her mother. She certainly doesn't seem talented enough to do anything else. Her best friend, Zeke, hopes to follow in his father's footsteps and become a village-chief-like Tree-Singer. But just three days before the Namingfest, Zeke's tree won't speak to him. Instead, the maple directs Ariel to a magical artifact of old: a telling dart. Used before the war, the telling dart has a secret message destined for but one. The dart fully captures Ariel's imagination, and her heart. When a pair of strangers turns up asking questions and making threats, Ariel and Zeke are forced into a treacherous, life-altering journey. The Farwalker's Quest, a coming-of-age adventure, is a MUST-READ. Even those who are not generally fans of fantasy are sure to be pleased. No maps or charts are required in the reading of this book. With substantiative characters and a well-woven plot, Joni Sensel weaves a breathtaking tale full of twists and turns that will leave the reader breathless. The pacing is perfect, the prose lyrical and smooth. Readers will quickly find themselves transported to a magical world of danger and loss, of dreams and destiny. Sensel allows darkness in the story, enough to convey the essence of truth, but not so much as to overwhelm the reader or glorify the darkness. Instead, light shines through. As the characters are forced to reconcile their expectations with reality, they must wrestle with their passions and purpose. The story makes it clear--we are each gifted, we each have a calling. It emphasizes love, hope, trust, compassion, forgiveness and sacrifice. And The Farwalker's Quest finishes as strongly as it starts, confirming that in spite of hardships, redemption and new beginnings await those who seek. From the Christian Library Journal; used by permission.

THE FARWALKER'S QUEST is a novel that feels like it could have taken place in the far distant past, in a society that hadn't yet discovered industry, technology or mass communications. In fact, however, this new title by Joni Sensel takes place in an imagined future, one in which an apocalyptic war literally blasted humankind back to the Stone Age and left humans fully reliant on their local environment --- and on their neighbors --- rather than on inventions or technology. Ariel and Zeke, the two young people at the center of the story, have grown up in a world still recovering from that traumatic past. On the eve of their Namingfest, these 12-year-olds are about to find out what role they will play in their small society. Will Zeke become (as he hopes) a Tree-Singer, a human who can hear and interpret the hidden wisdom of trees? Will Ariel become a Healtouch like her mother, a skilled healer who knows how to use herbs and medicinal plants effectively? Or will they be named as the far more numerous (but much less glamorous) Fishers or Reapers? Or will they have a worse outcome --- to fail their tests and be labeled a Fool? Both these ambitious youngsters have a strong sense of their desired destiny. No matter what, Ariel and Zeke know their future lies close to home; since the violent events of the past, humans tend to stick to their known environments, living in widespread rural communities and never venturing beyond their limited borders. But when Ariel discovers an ancient Telling Dart --- and when her discovery draws the attention of two mysterious Finders --- the dart's carved symbols seem to suggest that Ariel's fate might be unexpected, might contain danger, and might send her farther away from home than she had ever imagined. As the two friends travel --- both alone and together, willingly and in bondage --- they discover hidden talents and interests that lie far afield from their limited horizons back at home. Ariel, in particular, learns that her destiny is unusual indeed; far from becoming a Fool, she is destined to preserve, and distribute, wisdom and stories from the past to those of the present and future. Their story is indeed full of danger, violence and loss, but also full of love and discovery in equal measure. THE FARWALKER'S QUEST is both a classic story and a very modern one. Its focus on friendship, loyalty and travel seems to evoke many traditional quest narratives while its post-apocalyptic setting and theme of looking back while also looking forward seems to speak to our times. Absorbing, moving and ultimately satisfying, it also encourages readers to move beyond ready labels and discover what role the world really wants --- or needs --- them to play. --- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

When Ariel and her best friend, Zeke, find a magical artifact, their lives are changed forever. Soon they are on a dangerous journey to discover where the artifact originated. In the process, they discover their true callings and forge an unlikely friendship. Filled with adventure, surprises, and great characters, THE FARWALKER'S QUEST guides the reader one exciting step at a time into a fantastic trip through Ariel's world. This book has common fantasy elements of a magical artifact and a heroic quest, but Sensel writes in such a refreshing, original way that this book is far from cliché. I loved THE FARWALKER'S QUEST! From the very first line, I found myself striding into Ariel's story and loving every step. I couldn't stop walking (and sometimes running) until I reached the last page, and even then I wanted to go on. This is a book I will enjoy stepping into again. I am especially intrigued with the concept of the Blind War and would love Sensel to guide us back to this time in a new adventure. Reviewed by: Joan Stradling

Joni Sensel has written a classic journey and quest story that is undertaken by Ariel and Zeke. It's a sort of post-apocalyptic world in which there is still some magic, but much of it is lost or misunderstood. Like all good quest stories, the hero and heroine must leave home and they face strange lands: deserts, forests, mountains. Ariel and Zeke must learn to trust each other and their own strengths in order to find the relics that will restore the lost knowledge and learning to their world. Sensel's story sings along at a fast pace, with strongly drawn characters and a satisfying ending. This is fine storytelling.