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The Legend of Witch Bane (Arva Universe)

by Kevis Hendrickson (Goodreads Author)

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 · rating details · 43 ratings · 23 reviews

An exciting quest awaits three young children!
The evil Queen Rhiannon Eldess has placed the kingdom of Kaldan under an enchantment of sleep. Only the royal children: Kodobos, Anyr, and Laris can save their people from a dark fate. Danger awaits the children as they face an endless horde of evil foes in their quest to save their kingdom. But to gain final victory the childr...more

Paperback, 348 pages

Published January 25th 2008 by Outskirts Press

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Apr 08, 2009 C.S. rated it 5 of 5 stars

First, I must confess that my taste in fantasy is limited. This has resulted in my getting through perhaps the first three or four chapters of a book before placing it back on the shelf to be forgotten. There are many, many books on that shelf. Once in a while, though, I find one that I can truly enjoy. Those books are placed on a different shelf; the one that holds my Tolkien collection, my copies of `Watership Down,' `Wind in the Willows,' and `The Complete Calvin and Hobbes' (my book collecti...more First, I must confess that my taste in fantasy is limited. This has resulted in my getting through perhaps the first three or four chapters of a book before placing it back on the shelf to be forgotten. There are many, many books on that shelf. Once in a while, though, I find one that I can truly enjoy. Those books are placed on a different shelf; the one that holds my Tolkien collection, my copies of `Watership Down,' `Wind in the Willows,' and `The Complete Calvin and Hobbes' (my book collection is not very well organized).

`The Legend of Witch Bane' is presently sitting on my chair-side table, and I have just completed it. As a lover of the Classics, I must say that I haven't enjoyed a YA book so much since `The Hobbit.' The author, Kevis Hendrickson, has not only mastered the narrative style of writing (which I most enjoy), he has recalled the gems of the `Age of Story-telling.' At times, `Legend' reads like a favorite fairy tale, at times it feels more like classic mythology, but it is always told TO the reader. I believe that's what I like the most about it. I can hear Mr. Hendrickson's `voice' throughout.

This is a wonderful book for older children. It is also a wonderful book for adults who enjoy a gentle, yet intriguing tale. Now...lest you be thinking that `Legend' concerns bunnies and warm, fuzzy things, I will correct you on that point. There are definite dark elements, beginning with the very first chapter, and they are well developed. There is heart-wrenching conflict, betrayal, and despair. There is not, however, the jolting, screaming violence characteristic of many works of modern fantasy. The world of the Northern Realm is beautiful and well-imagined, peopled with entertaining and believable fantasy creatures (some of which you may `recognize' from your favorite childhood tales). The illustrations are a delight. There is whimsy and gentle humor to temper the treachery and self-serving nature of Evil Queen Rhiannon, who is a very frightening presence. Ultimately, this is a story about the power of love.

There is a definite art to story-telling. One must hold the reader's interest, but if a story is too fast-paced, it cannot be savored. Characters must be real, believable, and identifiable...and, it helps if at least some of them are loveable, especially in a YA book. Descriptions must be effective; not too lengthy, but sufficient to place the reader in the scene. `Legend' is a thumbs-up on all points. It is not a difficult read, an asset in a book aimed at younger readers. I plan to read it to my six-year-old godchild.

If you prefer a book that reads like a screenplay with punchy, `modern' dialogue, you might not like this one. If you can open your mind and recall your favorite tales, the ones you loved of old, then you'll have a very pleasant experience curling up with this book. If you're like me, and love the Classics, you'll be enthralled. `Legend' is well written, and that is crucial to its effectiveness, but what makes it a true stand-out is that it's a tale well told.

Mr. Hendrickson, you are a bard!

(less)

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Jan 31, 2009 Marise Ghorayeb rated it 5 of 5 stars

Overall, an exceptional and thrilling tale about three very young children thrown into a very harsh reality. "The Legend of Witch Bane" is exceptional especially in Kevis Hendrickson's use of a child's fairy tale narrative voice to tell a very dark and hopeful story. The whit, humor, creative solutions and mystical creatures clashed in an effective and interesting way with the bitter conditions and overwhelmings odds that the children of Witch Bane were faced with.
I could not get over how rapid...more

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Mar 12, 2009 Diane Wright rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Legend of Witch Bane
A Review by Diane Wright

The writing style of Kevin Hendrickson is reminiscent of Mark Twain for a younger generation. Comfortable and friendly, this reader felt as if she was sitting on the couch in her pajamas, being told a story before bedtime. Being completely caught up in the tale I did not put it down from the first page until the last.

The message of the book for me, for it does contain many, could be summed up in words of the future image of Kodobos self in the cav...more

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Apr 01, 2009 Premierbookreviewsdotcom rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Legend of Witch Bane follows 3 small, unlikely heroes as they struggle against evil to save their parents and their country. Kodobos, Anyr, and Laris are the young heroes who travel far from home to recover a mighty weapon that can defeat the evil Queen Rhiannon Eldess.

In a style reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien, author Kevis Hendrickson weaves a masterful narration sensitive to a young audience yet engaging for adults to read. I think he is an author to watch especially if he can catch the eye...more

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Apr 01, 2009 Beth A Horsch rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved it!! This book is a very fun read, with a cast of very interesting characters. It is action packed, and moves along at a fast pace (it never lets you get bored). It is a wonderful story about the power of love and the strength that we have if we believe in ourselves.

This may be aimed toward young adults, but it is a wonderful light reads for adults as well. I am looking forward to the sequel.

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Mar 01, 2009 Tiffany rated it 5 of 5 stars

The first that struck me about this book was the Grimm's Fairy Tale narration style of the book. It took some getting used to, but it grew on me. I loved the characters relating to the world of fairy and crossing over into Norse Mythology. It was good fun traveling along with the three children to solve the curse of their kingdom. I felt I was 13 again playing D & D again. I think kids will enjoy this, and some adults too, esp. if they've played a few role playing games.

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Jul 14, 2012 D.M. Dutcher rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s, indie, fantasy

2.5 stars. A blend of fairy tales and epic fantasy that probably should have chosen to be one or the other.

Kodobos, Anyr, and Laris are three royal children. Their kingdom is under thrall to the evil sorceror-queen Rhiannon, who demands tribute of the kingdom in the form of ten of its youngest girls. Anya is chosen, and her rescue sets off a long chain of events that will lead to tragedy for the children and victory over the evil queen and the powers behind her.

It starts off well, as I have des...more 2.5 stars. A blend of fairy tales and epic fantasy that probably should have chosen to be one or the other.

Kodobos, Anyr, and Laris are three royal children. Their kingdom is under thrall to the evil sorceror-queen Rhiannon, who demands tribute of the kingdom in the form of ten of its youngest girls. Anya is chosen, and her rescue sets off a long chain of events that will lead to tragedy for the children and victory over the evil queen and the powers behind her.

It starts off well, as I have described above. Kevis uses a fairy-tale style of narration rather than a traditional high-fantasy one, and it works well. However, the book starts to meander very quickly from the starting idea (recovering the sword Kodobos gave to the woman who beguiled him) to a wide variety of tales. It gets a little annoying, until you realize he is using the original story as a framework to tell small stories like fairy tales rather than a tight plot around the central idea. The fairy tales actually aren't that bad, and I wished he had just gotten rid of the plot and made it a collection of them: the characters are attractive, and just hearing their feats would have worked.

However, he goes back to the epic fantasy part, and I'm not sure it works as well. There's a few weird heel-face turns, and considering these are kids under the age of 15, having them actually fight instead of using their wits doesn't feel right. There's also a big spoiler that is jarring in relation to the book's audience, and especially the chapter right after, but I can't mention it. Also, inadvertant humor with the name of the sorcerer Caldor-if you live in New England like I do, Caldor was the name of an old department store chain.

Honestly, it's too long for its own good, and while you get plenty of stories and tales, many with some good images and fine scenes, I wish it had been shorter, as the sheer length of the book combined with the standalone tales made me zone out a few times. It was also hard to get a handle on the books mythology because of that. I think if it had been a little shorter, and a collection of short tales it would have sparkled. More delineation between them rather than just one long narrative. It is a unique take on a traditional fantasy book, but check the free sample first.(less)

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Jan 06, 2012 Misty Baker rated it 5 of 5 stars

Happy Thursday everyone! I’m going to deviate a little from the norm today, but only slightly. For those of you that have been following me for a while now you know that I am an advocate for children’s literacy. I think that children and teens can learn more than just HOW to read by picking up a book, but also how to LIVE. Each Thursday I recommend a book for the slightly older kids in your life and this Thursday is no different, only this time, instead of just posting the synopsis for the book...more Happy Thursday everyone! I’m going to deviate a little from the norm today, but only slightly. For those of you that have been following me for a while now you know that I am an advocate for children’s literacy. I think that children and teens can learn more than just HOW to read by picking up a book, but also how to LIVE. Each Thursday I recommend a book for the slightly older kids in your life and this Thursday is no different, only this time, instead of just posting the synopsis for the book I’m suggesting you share with your kids… I’ve actually read it and am going to share my views on it.

“Kevis Hendrickson” sent me a copy of “The Legend of Witch Bane” a few weeks ago and I was excited to get it. Not because I had ever heard of it but because I love adventure, and once I finally found the time to read it…boy it was so much more than just an adventure, it was an experience.

Kodobos, Anyr, and Laris are only children, but when a terrible curse causes their homeland of Kalden to lapse into a permanent slumber, these 3 very determined and very different siblings take it upon themselves to find out what happened. Discovering that the evil High Queen Rhiannon is behind their towns horrible fate they set out on a quest to topple her kingdom and bring peace to their lands, but what starts out to be a hike in the woods quickly turns into an epic battle for their lives. Can these 3 tiny souls find the strength they need to free their people? How in the world will they ever defeat so many minions and what exactly IS the legend of Witch Bane?

“Kendrickson’s” ability to weave “known fairy tales” with a new and exciting plot line was genius, and his attention to the tiny details that make adventure books come to life was equally flawless. Here is an author that dared to ask the question…can a child save the world? Each of the main characters had their own individual personality and he used their weaknesses and strengths to feed the plot line. Children’s fantasy is (admittedly) difficult to write, there must be an equal balance of impending doom and life lessons and “The Legend of Witch Bane” spouted both with perfect form.

There were ice breathing dragons, ogres who think they are giants, greedy treasure stealing dwarfs, children who never grow old, a mysterious spirit, and so many battles it was actually hard to keep track of them.

This is a must buy for your Tiny Tots and Tween! Turn off the TV and give them the adventure of a lifetime…inside of their imaginative little minds.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: When THIS worlds got you down…step into a NEW one.(less)

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May 31, 2010 Tami rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you trust in yourself and stay true to who you really are, you can accomplish just about anything. But, if you slip, even for a moment, the results could be equally disastrous. There is more at stake here than meets the eye.

Thus is the warning for three young siblings. The oldest, Laris, is a half sister with a mysterious past and powerful secrets that could destroy them all. Kodobos is the headstrong brother who will someday rule the land but first he has to find his own inner strength. Fin...more

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Aug 30, 2009 Jess Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

The children face inner conflict(s) which adolescent readers and younger children would be able to identify with. The conflicts include the interactions between the three siblings, which I thought made for one of the most interesting components of the story (sibling rivalry/the whole 'so-are-you-on-my-side-or-not?' strife/tension).

I've taught young readers before (when I was a participant in a couple of buddy reading programs, and later as a private English/creative writing tutor) - I believe TH...more

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Mar 19, 2012 L.M. Ironside rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: general-ya, fantasy, midgrade, small-press-indie-and-self-pub

It's been a long time since I've read a midgrade or young adult novel this complex and carefully planned. The Legend of Witch Bane takes its inspiration from old-school fairy tales -- the German kind, the Russian kind -- the real kind, where unspeakably bad things happen to children, where the stakes are higher than just winning the prince's kiss as in the Disneyfied versions recent generations have come to know. In the rich world and characters of Hendrickson's work, fans of real fairy tales wi...more

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Aug 08, 2010 Tom Hansen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, children, couldn-t-finish, read-2010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. “The Legend of Witch Bane by Kevis Hendrickson
I couldn’t finish this book. I really tried, as he had plenty of 5-star reviews on it, but I just couldn’t. Now I’m not an expert, just someone who enjoys reading and there are very few books that I refuse to finish or just give up in the middle.

What I had a hard time with:

I thought the kids were far too young. For what they got themselves into, I just couldn’t believe that a 10 year old would be as proficient as he was at 10. Even as a king’s son he...more “The Legend of Witch Bane by Kevis Hendrickson
I couldn’t finish this book. I really tried, as he had plenty of 5-star reviews on it, but I just couldn’t. Now I’m not an expert, just someone who enjoys reading and there are very few books that I refuse to finish or just give up in the middle.

What I had a hard time with:

I thought the kids were far too young. For what they got themselves into, I just couldn’t believe that a 10 year old would be as proficient as he was at 10. Even as a king’s son he wouldn’t have started training in combat till at least 7 or so, and I just don’t see him being as good as the master fighters in a few years of training.

How convenient. There were far too many times in the book where the kids found themselves captured or unable to complete a task, and the kids just “happened” to have what they needed on them to complete it. I think the worst example of that was when the kids needed to get across a lake, and the boat-master refused to let them across but wouldn’t tell them what sort of payment he wanted. One of the kids happened to notice he was wearing a necklace that was missing a gem, and wouldn’t you know it, they just happened to have that gem on them.

The fighting. The older two children constantly fought. There was no back-story detailing why they fought so much. I understand the oldest girl was a step-sister, but I really needed some more information to understand and empathize with their bickering.

More convenience. The kids would fight, but lose, with these massive wounds. On a 10 year old he would have been dead in minutes based on the description of the wounds he suffered. Then you wait the 10 minutes or so for the bad guys to leave (they never finished him off). The the sister would come and cry. Then finally a mysterious man shows up with herbs to cure the kid. So the kid’s been bleeding on the ground with massive wounds for at least half an hour and a total stranger shows up to heal him. Oh and the stranger used to be hunting them but had a change of heart. Right.

What I liked:

I like that the author is self-publishing these books on the Kindle. I think that is bold, and I hope he is able to make a tidy profit from them.

I liked the price, even though I couldn’t finish it, $2.99 for a book of that length was appropriate.
I like the scope of the fairytale he was trying to tell. Three young adventurers set off on an epic tale of adventure to save their kingdom and defeat the evil in the land. Epic idea, just poorly executed.
Looking back I wish I would have read the sample first rather that just buying the book outright. The believability ultimately is what did me in on this work. I just didn’t empathize with the characters, I didn’t believe the bad guy’s motivations, I didn’t believe how they managed to get through the day.

Normally if I can’t finish a book I give it a 1 star, but I’m giving the author one extra for the effort and the storyline. I don’t want to just give 1 star as I feel my review would just be ignored, but I can’t in good conscience recommend this book for reading unless you have little children who won’t mind all the plot holes and lack of substantiative characters.(less)

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Jun 07, 2009 Diane Giurco rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Awesome Fantasy Book,The Legend of Witch Bane is an incredible fantasy read. It will capture your attention from the first page to the last. This is brilliant creative writing at its best. With Mr. Hendrickson’s descriptive writing, you can clearly envision every page.

This story is about three siblings that must go on a quest to save their kingdom. On this quest, they encounter trolls, dragons, wizards, werewolves, giants, and more. The story is about sibling rivalry, love, power, commitment, p...more

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Jun 15, 2010 Jaime rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-reads, reviewed

I was very pleased with this book. I am not a big fantasy reader, but saw this on my husband's nightstand and thought it sounded good. I am a big fan of young adult/children novels, and this one was great! Love and bravery are everywhere in this book, and I think it sends an outstanding message to children and adults. Plus, the author's voice is excellent, he is a great story-teller.

The story follows Kodobos and Anyr as they go on a quest to save their kingdom. I had to constantly remind myself...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Jessica(WonderlandReviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was one of those books that made me wish that I had children. So I could tuck them in and sit before a fire, a dog at my feet sleeping while I read this book to them.
It made me think of someone reading a tale to me aloud, the way my grandmother did. It was created in a way that felt as if it was just a story being passed down they way they use to before books. Through good old story telling.

I liked how there was more then one fairy tale incorporated through this if you know where to look an...more

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Jun 24, 2009 Lianna Vigil rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This was a thoroughly enjoyable children's fantasy book that could be loved by all ages. The traditional story was enchanting and if you enjoyed books like the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe you should check this out. If you crave stories with a magic spell, an enchanted sword and three children who must save the kingdom you are sure to adore this book. The story and characters are bittersweet and I look forward to more books in this series and more by this author.

The book had an added bonus o...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Clare K. R. rated it 1 of 5 stars

I only read the Kindle sample of this book, but it was pretty obnoxious. It started with praise for the book. Now I don't know about everyone else, but when I read a Kindle sample, it's because I'm already interested in the book. In any case, praise might get me interested, but the only thing that's going to get me to buy a book is the writing. Starting out with praise seemed like a big warning flag--"this book isn't worth your time." Even after the praise was over, there were several pages of o...more

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Dec 10, 2010 Vincent Hobbes rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

I’m a skeptic of Fantasy.
I’m more of a skeptic of Young Adult novels.
Therefore, I was doubly skeptical of this book.

Plotline can be read in other reviews—in a nutshell, it is a story of three siblings who must save their kingdom.
A classic fantasy theme.
Sounds cliché, doesn’t it?

Mr. Hendrickson pulled it off. The Legend of Witch Bane is a fairy tale written in a welcoming manner. It is suitable for all ages. The story has action and adventure—a solid plot and memorable characters.

Kodobos, Laris,...more

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Aug 11, 2009 tomlinton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

The Narnia-style tone
gets a little old
in this long kid's book
which violates the rule
don't tell 'em what happened
describe the action
If you were really reading it
with a child
you might want to stop and ask
What happened when he did that?
and let the child describe
what he could see in his imagination
But
it would be over and over

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Jun 06, 2010 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller-adventure, young-adult

When I started reading it I thought it was just going to be another Harry Potter rip-off. But it wasn't. It was very unique and was very well written. A quick read and very entertaining. I love the artwork that shows up every once in a while!

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Jul 07, 2012 JasonH rated it 5 of 5 stars

borrowed a copy from my business partner. fantasy isnt my cup of tea but this book was wonderful. i am now planning on reading it to my children.

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Dec 09, 2012 Georgiann Hennelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

A fantastic read the story follows 3 small heros as they struggle against evil to save their to save their country and their parents. The siblings must go on a quest to recover a weapon that can defeat the evil sorceror queen. They encounter dragons, werewolves, trolls , wizards and much more. A fantastic read for young or old.

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Jun 02, 2011 Rita Webb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, ya, fantasy

Actually a 3.5 rounded up to a 4. This book is a children's adventure--witty, exciting, and full of fun.

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Shelves: daddy-dark-s-baby-warrior-list

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About Kevis Hendrickson

Kevis Hendrickson is an aspiring filmmaker who has penned three full-length novels, one novella, one epic poem, one non-fiction book, and eight short stories. Hendrickson lives in sunny Miami, Florida U.S.A.

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