Review of The Magic Lands by Mark Hockley

Reviewed by Debs (Goldsworthy from EE Forums)

I have just been lucky enough to read Mark Hockleys debut novel The Magic Lands, a surperbly written book, a very dark fairy tale, it follows the adventures of two teenage boys Tom Lewis and Jack Barton in the Magic Lands where dreams and realities blur and nightmares are real, a reviewer said about this book how like Pans Labryrinth it is, and that is true in a way, not the story of course but the how a land of magic can have as many horrors as it can have many wonders.

Mark has a unique writing style which I like, very descriptive, which not everyone will like, I did though, but I think a good story and a good description bode well for a movie, I went from two extremes with one charactor in the book, Jack Barton, I didn’t care much for him near the beginning of book at all but near the end he saw the light.I like how Mark doesn’t patronise his readers, his age range is 10-14 but alot of adults will enjoy this book and I can see it having a cult following, the only thing I didn’t like was the cover, I like the picture and it is very colourful, but it rather reminded me of 1950’s Enid Blyton book and I didn’t really think it went with the story, but that is only a tiny fault. However the ending is one of the best endings in a book I ever read, I have read alot of books too, but I guess you will all have to read it yourselves to find out.

This is a short synopsis of the book from Marks own home page if you want to wet your appetite, I give 9/10 for Marks book, I hope he writes more:-

Synopsis
When two teenage boys, Tom Lewis and Jack Barton, climb the gigantic oak at the bottom of Tom’s garden they embark on a journey that takes them toward adulthood, a change embracing both enlightenment and loss. Finding themselves in a dangerous, alien realm, where dreams and reality seem to interweave and deception is at the heart of everything, they come under the malevolent influence of a creature known as the White Wolf. What had began as a childish adventure is in fact something far darker and deeper, for the Wolf is playing a momentous game, an arcane puzzle that must be resolved. The boys walk a dark road of treachery and pain, love and lust, sacrifice and redemption. Friendship and loyalty are put to the test and corruption comes in many guises. Finally, truth can only be revealed through pain and forfeit. It is a journey into the heart of darkness where nothing and no-one are what they seem and the rules are the logic of a dream.

To buy the book from Amazon click HERE

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