Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest

Liz Flanagan has created the started to a wonderful series- this is pure fantasy enjoyment from start to finish and is a perfect read for that elusive group 7-9 year olds who need a great story. This is the story of Rowan who has to leave her home city because of a war and is taken by her mother to stay with grandfather who she has never met before. In a very short time, Rowan soon discovers that her grandfather is a Wildsmith - a person with magical powers who also happens to be friends with witches. The story evolves with the rescue of baby dragons from poachers and therein begins Rowan’s entry into the world of the inhabitants of the Dark Forest and her family’s connection with these mystical creatures. This is a great fast paced story with likeable characters and enough action to stop things becoming over-the-top. The final part ( no spoiler) is a full of tension and excitement .Liz Flanagan has created a group of characters that children will connect with -Rowan is likeable and intelligent main protagonist. The inclusion of Joe Todd Stanton’s illustrations ( always excellent )are an additional bonus as they add an extra charm to the story .This is a great home read or class story for KS2 especially that lower year 3/4 group - it’s often not easy to find exciting stories for this age range - that’s not to say this isn’t a great adventure for all readers 7-11. Let’s hope the sequel will soon be on the horizon …highly recommended

Wildsmith by Liz Flannigan is a great story for all ages. When war comes to their village, a young girl and her mother, flee to the remote home of the grandfather that she never knew she had, leaving her dad behind. Once there, a bevy of magical secrets is revealed: a forest of magical creatures, witches and most of all, her grandfather is a Wildsmith, a healer of all things. Could she be one too?
This story is great as it focuses on family, magic, love and caring for all things. Plus it has dragons! I’m a sucker for stories with dragons in them! The characters are very believable and life-like., with vivid descriptions and detail. 5 stars

Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest is first, fantastic book in a new fantasy series for younger readers: a magical, exciting and captivating adventure that is sure to capture the hearts of its readers.

Rowan does not want to leave her home, father and friends but, when war threatens Gallren, she and her mother must go to stay with a grandfather she doesn’t know existed.

Her maternal grandpa, Inigo Webster, lives in the forest with his white wolf, Arto, but why has Rowan’s mother never mentioned him? What secrets can she be keeping from her daughter? Although Rowan misses home and her father, she is an animal lover and soon builds an affinity with both Arto and Grandpa who heals animals that are brought to him.

When she hears a strange noise, she is determined to investigate and runs into the Dark Forest where she makes an incredible discovery: a baby dragon whose mother is being taken by poachers. Rescuing the small, injured, frightened creature, she overhears the poachers mention their need to avoid the Wildsmith. Imagine her surprise when she discovers that Grandpa is the Wildsmith, a healer who can speak to magical creatures and heal them.

And so begins the most magical, exciting adventure as Rowan finds herself facing danger in the forest; caring for a clutch of baby dragons; and, working with a trio of powerful witches and her new friends, siblings Will and Cam. Can they thwart the threat from the poachers? Will they be able to bring safety back to the magical forest creatures? And, could Rowan herself be a Wildsmith?

Rowan is a truly inspirational young girl. She is naturally curious, courageous and someone who has a close affinity with animals, feeling protective of them, caring for them and wanting to keep them safe. She is selfless in accepting what is best for them, even when this is a heart-breaking choice.

The illustrations included in my proof e-copy are gorgeous, expressive and complement the story perfectly.
Although this is a fantasy adventure, I adored the pertinent and timely environmental messages linked to poaching, habitat loss and caring for our natural environment which will resonate with young readers.

Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest is an enchanting, heart-warming treat for young readers of 7-9+ who will relish adventuring with Rowan as she fights to save the forest’s magical creatures whilst finding a new home. I’m so looking forward to finding out which magical creature she will help on her next adventure!

What I really enjoyed about this book is the environmental theme that runs through it even thought it's all related to magical, mythical creatures. Rowan has to leave her home because of the threat of war. She and her mother go to stay with a grandfather she didn't know existed. While there she makes some pretty big discoveries, including the importance of the natural world. I love the conservation message in this book and I think it would be a great addition to any book corner.

Enchanting and magical, this new series is sure to delight young readers.
Rowan is forced to leave her beloved city and father behind when the threat of wars edges too close. She and her mother move to the countryside to live with the grandfather she never knew she had. He has a pet wolf and treats animals on his farm as a type of healer or vet. Rowan will learn just how vital her grandfather is to the local wildlife through her adventure.

The dark forest around his farm is home to magical creatures such as dragons and pegasi, ones Rowan didn’t believe existed outside of stories. It isn’t until she comes face to face with a dragon and the poachers surrounding its mother that she understands fully the ways of the forest.

An ode to saving creatures of all shapes and sizes is found within Rowan and her new friends Cam and Will as they vow to protect the baby from poachers. They won’t act alone though, they will have help from the witches and her Wildsmith grandfather.

Being a Wildsmith is a huge responsibility and Rowan’s grandfather hopes he is not the last one, hoping that someone young will take on the mantle when he becomes too old or tired. Rowan certainly has the qualities needed but can she follow the plan and keep the dragons safe?

With a 2nd still to come and wonderfully illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, this is something to look forward to. I plan to buy the finished copy to truly dwell in his illustrations.

Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest is the first book in a delightful new fantasy series for younger middle-grade readers from the author of the stunning Dragon Daughter series, Liz Flanagan. Illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, readers will be completely swept away in adventure, magic and the most gorgeous baby dragons!

Rowan’s life changes forever when she and her mother must leave her father to defend their home from war while they escape to the Dark Forest. There, Rowan meets a grandfather she never knew she had and his wonderful white wolf, Arto. Every day she learns something new – none more surprising than the fact that her grandfather is a Wildsmith – someone with magical powers of understanding and healing. When poachers threaten the creatures of the forest, Rowan rescues a baby dragon. As she cares for this amazing creature, she learns much about herself – maybe she’s a Wildsmith too!

Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest is a charming story that approaches the theme of wildlife conservation in a new way. Readers will learn the importance of protecting animals and respecting their habitats as well as the qualities required to care for them.

This book is exactly what readers in Years 3 & 4 need. The short chapters are accessible and non-threatening. Well-spaced print and plenty of illustrations will pull children into the warmth of the story. I couldn’t put it down and I’m already looking forward to book two – Wildsmith: City of Secrets in April 2023.

A huge thank you to Uclan Publishing & Antonia Wilkinson for this special book.

My 8 year old daughter devoured this one and then went back and read it a second time. She loved the characters, the dragons and the care of them , the friendships and its made " her heart feel happy".. She adored the world Liz Flanagan has created and is eagerly looking forward to book two. She would also really like a dragon to take care of so I have been placating her with the fact there will be more books for her to read in the future if no actual dragons in her own future. Great to see her imagination at work after reading this and it also prompted some conversations about the war in Ukraine and all the children who have had to leave their homes and some things we can do to help. The power of books!
Thank you to the author, you have a new superfan in Dublin..

I know many of us within the children’s book blogging community are heavily influenced by what our fellow readers are enjoying and recommending and after having this new title recommended to me twice within a few hours on Twitter knew it was a book I just had to read myself.

A gorgeous story, perfect for lower KS2, with a strong message of the importance of caring for both one another and the wider world, this is the first title in a brand new series which is certain to be as popular with its intended audience as it has been amongst those adults like myself lucky enough to have had an early read.

For young Rowan, up until now life has been carefree and fun and when we meet her she is racing against best friend Bella to see which of them is the fastest and most agile child in the city of Holderby. Confident of winning, as she approaches the finish line at the city’s lookout tower, Rowan is surprised to find two adults there discussing a a far-off war – something of no interest to her. Waiting for her friend to catch up, Rowan is further taken aback to discover that one of the adults is her people’s queen and that the war appears to be much closer to home than she thought.

Returning home, Rowan asks her father what is happening only to be told that the fighting might reach them soon and that she and her mother must go to stay with the grandfather she didn’t know she had. Packing immediately, a tearful Rowan soon finds herself on her way to safety and before long arrives at her grandfather Inigo’s home, meeting his pet wolf Arto who takes a shine to her. The following day, an assortment of people arrive with animals in need of Inigo’s care and attention and Rowan goes outside to investigate her new surroundings, wandering into the Dark Forest. Here, she comes across a baby dragon which has been wounded but before she can do anything to help it she becomes aware of a gang of hunters who have caught the dragon’s mother in their net.

Taking the dragon back to Inigo’s to get it the help it so clearly needs, she meets Will and Cam who help wildsmith Inigo in his work. When Inigo sends word to the witches that the poachers are back and are intent on tracking and taking the magical animals of the forest, Rowan vows to help and finds herself at the centre of an adventure she could never have imagined. Can she, Inigo and her new friends stop the poachers in their tracks and can she reunite mother and baby dragon?

This is such a gorgeous read. Although Rowan is very much a city girl at the start of the story, she has a deep connection with animals and soon starts to feel very much at home at her grandfather’s house when she is given the opportunity to help him in his work. Initially, Will is not very friendly towards her as he is worried she is going to usurp his position helping the wildsmith and she is confused by his behaviour but once Will realises that she has the best interests of the dragon and all of the other animals at heart, he thaws out towards her and together with Cam they make a great little gang.

I know that my Year 3 class would adore this – both as a class reader and as an independent text for those who are more confident and reading short chapter books. With its short chapters and the brilliant illustrations of Joe Todd Stanton, this is a story with universal appeal. The war that is simmering in the background is not overly threatening and is unlikely to worry even the most anxious of youngsters but will prove an ideal opening for any PSHE work in class around the topic of conflict that is appropriate in the current climate.

I am now eagerly awaiting Book 2 – City of Secrets, due April 6th – and I know I will not be alone in this. My enormous thanks before then go to UCLan Publishing and Net Galley for my advance virtual read of Into the Dark Forest which publishes 2nd February.

4.5 Stars
One Liner: Such a heartwarming tale!

Rowan and her mother flee into the Dark Forest when war threatens their city, Holderby, Gallren. They meet Grandpa Inigo Webster and Arto, a white wolf, in the forest. Even as Rowan misses her dad, she becomes friends with dragons and powerful witches in the Dark Forest. She also discovers a secret about herself. Rowan is a Wildsmith born to help and protect the forest.
Life goes on until a sudden threat puts the place in danger. Rowan, her grandpa, and everyone they know has to join forces to fight the danger. Can they succeed in their mission?

My Thoughts:
This is a cute little book that sets the stage for Rowan to find out about her mother’s past and discover her own abilities in the process.
The story works as a standalone and doesn’t have a cliffhanger. However, we know that the danger is still lurking in the corners.
Each chapter is short, pacy, and has enough descriptions to paint a picture of the setting and characters.
The book has a few black-and-white illustrations. Some are real cute, and a few not as much. Also, there’s an inconsistency in the hairstyles of a couple of characters (not that cannot be edited).
Given the storyline and page count, the plot does feel a little rushed. That said, the book is for children and is suitable for their age group. It keeps the intrigue and emotions flowing.
The book even made me teary-eyed in a couple of places. It deals with tough topics like war, poaching, etc. But it is the other scenes that will make the reader emotional.

To summarize, Into the Dark Forest is a heartwarming and adorable story of little Rowan and dragons. Looking forward to the next part with another adventure and more magical powers. The cover is perfect for the book.
Thank you, NetGalley and UCLan Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.