Ennia in Faerie
Manuel AlfonsecaISBN 9781520150789
ASIN B00XVY81TY
This was the 24th volume I have read from the pen of Manuel. Or I should say 24th reading as I have read some of them more than once. It is a really fun story. With each new volume I read from the pen of Alfonseca I have a greater appreciation for his skill and talent as an author. I first encountered his works based on the recommendation of a friend back in 2017. Once I started reading this book I could hardly put it down.
The description of this volume states:
“Ennia sleeps. Suddenly, someone touches her elbow. She awakes and sees a black shadow in the blackness of her room. It is Mr. Otto, who invites her to go to Fairie and fulfil a mission. Which mission? She must discover that by herself. To help her in her trip, she is given a magic box with a screen. When Ennia makes a wish, the box will tell her whether it has been granted or not and why, with explanations such as: "You must not ask for things that you can get by yourself" or "Once you have made a wish, it cannot be undone".
Ennia is an allegory of life. As life is hard, it needs self-denial; as life is beautiful and unrepeatable, fantasy is a required help..”
About the author in a different volume we are informed that:
“Manuel Alfonseca has published more than 50 books, including 32 novels in different genres: historical, fantasy, science fiction, mystery and adventure. In 1988 he won the Lazarillo Award, and in 2012 he won the fourth edition of the La Brújula de Valores Award. With this book he was a finalist for the 1990 C.C.E.I. Award.”
This volume has no prelude or information after the story. It does not even have an about the author section. I believe there are 6 editions of this between the Spanish and English editions and they were published between 2002 and 2016. The chapters in this work are:
A visit in the night
The prairie
The monster
Nightfall
In the forest
The king
The prophecy
Plans of escape
Awaiting the dragon
Alone again
An encounter
Another encounter
The forest again
Clouds pile up
The storm erupts
The dragon’s lair
After the storm
In some ways this story feels a bit like the authors own Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle series. And it has a bit of a Narnia feel as well. The story opens with these words:
“It was night and Ennia was sleeping. Her dreams were calm and happy. Suddenly, someone touched her elbow; a touch soft, gentle, almost shy. She opened her eyes and sat up. As it was dark, she at first saw no one. Then she noticed a black lump amid the blackness. The lump was huge, but for some reason Ennia was not afraid.
“Who are you,” she asked.
“My name would tell you nothing,” said the dark lump in a voice that could belong to a very old man. Ennia imagined a face full of wrinkles, a stooping body, a gnarled hand on a stick. She imagined that she could see all this perfectly, as though by daylight.
“But I must know,” she said. “Without a name, you wouldn’t exist for me.”
“You are quite right,” said the lump. His voice was thoughtful. “We’ll have to choose a name you can call me by. I know! How about Otto?”
“Mr. Otto?” asked Ennia, who was a nicely behaved girl.
“Mr. Otto will be fine,” said the voice. “Or you could call me Otto-san.””
Mister Otto gives her the opportunity to go on an adventure in Faerie, but there are rules in that land. And she must figure them out and obey them. She is given a small box that fits in her hand, She can make wishes and the wishes will either be granted or denied, if they are denied she can ask why and finds out more rules as she goes along. They quest is challenging, encouraging, frustrating and tests her character and her will. Along the way she meets many, some are friends, some have the potential of friendship and some are neither. She will also face the great Dragon that has been terrorising this land. She encounters the dragon in more than one format. There is also a city called ‘The Town of the Lost People’ which is where those who have lost hope of completing their quests have gone. There are also some who work for the dragon.
The characters are well written. It has an interesting plot. The story takes place over just a few days. There are some important lessons to be learned. It deals with some serious issues like prejudices and unhealthy ambition, but it also has themes hope, and faithfulness, and fulfilling our calling.
This is a wonderfully written adventure quest story. It could easily be read by a middle grade student, be entertaining for tweens, teens and young Adults and is good for anyone who just loves a great story! I can easily recommend this story for readers of all ages.
Jacob's Ladder
The Ruby of the Ganges
The Last Dinosaur
Ennia in Faerie
The Heirloom of King Scorpion
Beyond the Black Hole
The Water of Life
Albatros
...
Earth-9 Colony Series:
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Solar System Series:
The Sleuths of the Spanish Transition Series:
Quetzalcoatl's Zahir
The Mystery of the Haunted House
The Mystery of the Sapphire Bracelet
The Mystery of the Honeymoon
The Mystery of the Egyptian Vulture Country House
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Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle Series:
The Journey of Tivo the Dauntless
The Mystery of the Black Lake
The Silver Swan
The Secret of the Ice Field
The Lost Continent
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The Chronicles of the Aeolian Family Series:
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Non-Fiction:
Human Cultures & Evolution
World Population: Past, Present, & Future
The Fifth Level of Evolution
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