The Wilderking Trilogy, Book 1: The Bark of the Bog Owl

A shepherd boy heeds the call of the wild and finds it's a call to save his country
The prophet Bayard arrives at Longleaf Manor, estate of Lord Errol with an unanticipated announcement: Aidan Errolson, Lord Errol's youngest son, is the Wilderking. But the weight and glory of this pronouncement is yet to be shouldered.

In the meanwhile, Lord Errol and his sons attend a Treaty Feast celebrating a pact signed between Corenwald and the Pyrthen Empire. But Corenwald is double crossed by the Pyrthens and they go to war.

The story unfolds as Aidan begins to walk the way of his destiny through the feechiefolk and a showdown with the Pyrthen champion Greidawl ending with an epic battle to save the kingdom of Corenwald.

This first book in the Wilderking Trilogy is sure to capture the hearts of young and old alike, in the fashion of The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia tales.

Gr 4-6-Twelve-year-old Aidan, the youngest son of Lord Errol of Longleaf Manor, is sure he is meant for greater things than keeping sheep. After all, he survived a tangle with a feechiefolk boy named Dobro Turtlebane and together they killed a rampaging panther. The prophet Bayard agrees, proclaiming him the future Wilderking, despite the jeers of his older brothers and the concern of his father, who is loyal to the Corenwald king. This is forgotten when the clan is invited to a treaty feast, celebrating a pact between their kingdom and their long-time enemy, the idol-worshiping Pyrthen Empire. It quickly becomes apparent that the treaty is little more than a scheme to conquer Corenwald, and Aidan's brothers head off to war. After a series of wild adventures with the feechiefolk, Aidan joins his siblings, battles a giant, and leads a covert operation to blow up the Pyrthens' secret weapon. At the same time, mention of the "One God" goes into overdrive, the battle between the giant and Aidan begins to sound a lot like the story of David and Goliath, and the Biblical overtones can no longer be ignored. Yes, this is Christian fantasy, but the emphasis is definitely on the fantasy. Roger's writing is terrifically appealing. Aidan is a treat, and secondary characters are (except for the king) believable. The adventure and the humor are first rate. Fans of "Narnia" will find this just to their taste, and will look forward to future installments.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Average Rating:

6 of 6 Reviews Showing:

Reviewed by Julie Dick (WI), October 12, 2008

Fantasy=dragons, wizards, and talking animals, right? Wrong! In The Bark of the Bog Owl, readers are introduced to the country of Corenwald, a land of swamps, gators, and feechiefolk. Aidan, the main character, will appeal to anyone who loves exploring unknown lands, fighting imaginary foes, and getting dirty. It is a rare fantasy book that can interest people who would rather be outside. This is that sort of book.

Reviewed by Jill Williamson (Oregon), September 03, 2008

Medieval fantasy is one of my favorite genres, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed Jonathan Roger’s The Bark of the Bog Owl. This is the first book in the Wilderking Trilogy, which parallels the life of King David. An old prophet tells Aiden, a shepherd boy from Corenwald, that he is to become the Wilderking. The idea is so far-fetched, Aiden’s older brothers laugh it off. Even his father wonders if the old prophet is getting too old. Aiden, however, has had dreams about such things for a while now. He can’t help but wonder, is the old man a prophet or a madman? When the Pyrthen Empire breaks their treaty with Corenwald, Aiden’s brothers are sent to war. Aiden bides his time at home, taking care of his father and worrying about his brothers. Finally his father permits him to take food and supplies to his brothers on the battlefield. Aiden can hardly wait to see the battle in action. When he arrives, he is disheartened. The Corenwald people are afraid of the Pyrthen warrior. Aiden is ready to go home when the enemy warrior insults the One God. Enraged, Aiden volunteers to fight the giant himself. Rogers creates a wonderful medieval world complete with Feechie Folk, a lizard-like forest dwelling people. He also molds a brave and loyal character in young Aiden, who never hesitates to stand up for the One God, whom he loves. In Aiden’s words, “I cannot hear our enemies speak against Corenwald and the One God without giving answer.” If you enjoy fantasy stories, this is a must read. Recommended for ages 8-12.

Reviewed by Makaidos (Vestal, NY), August 15, 2008

This book was great! It has some humor and some adventure. If you're looking for good books try this one! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Reviewed by Wilson (Everett Washington), August 08, 2008

This book is awesome it was so fun to read it. You have to get this book. Hope you have fun reading it.

Reviewed by Lesley (Louisville, KY), July 20, 2007

I'm addicted to books. My mom cannot stop me from reading. This series is so good. If you are a big reader than I recommend this book.

Reviewed by Jonathan (Monticello,IL), June 03, 2005

It is so cool. I would recomend it for anyone from age 10-100. It has a sequel to that I havent read yet. Its a great book.

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