The Harwood Mysteries Book 3
Antony Barone Kolenc
Loyola Press
ISBN 9780829448146
eISBN 9780829448153
ASIN B0888BLF7B
This is the third of five currently available in the Harwood Mysteries that I have read. I have also read the three short stories in the same would published as the Lucy Mysteries and greatly enjoyed them. The author has indicated the series will conclude with a sixth volume due out in 2024. This story is historical fiction set in medieval England in September of A.D. 1185. This story takes shortly after the previous novel in the series. The description of the volume is:
“Xan and John are orphans at Harwood Abbey. They are also enemies, but now John, blinded by an accident, struggles with bitterness. In his latest adventure, Xan of Harwood Abbey joins forces with this most unlikely of allies to uncover the mystery of the loss of the Fire of Eden, a priceless ruby coveted by many . . .
Who took the ruby--a dishonest monk, a traitorous member of Her Lady's guard, or the frightening magician who dwells in the woods?
Will Xan and John permanently mend their ways? Or will the quest for the ruby destroy any hopes of lasting friendship?
To find out where this next adventure leads Xan and his friends, you'll have to read The Fire of Eden.”
If you have already read any of the Harwood Mysteries you will be familiar with many of the characters. I must admit this is my favourite book in the series to date, even though the ending took me by surprise. But I am getting ahead of myself.
The author in the Historical note section at the end of the book states:
“Although the characters and events in The Fire of Eden are fictional, the novel takes place in a historical place and time. The story is set in medieval England in September of A.D. 1185, during the final years of the reign of King Henry II (1153—1189). Xan, the main character, is a peasant boy who has been orphaned and is being raised by the monks of Harwood Abbey, a fictional monastery in Yorkshire. His best friend, Lucy, has recently returned from her travels with her father throughout England. In the novel, Xan and Lucy find themselves together again away from the abbey grounds, this time at a smaller fictional Yorkshire monastery: Grenton Priory.
In The Fire of Eden, I sought to balance the seriousness of the first two books in the series with the playful and quirky cast of characters at Grenton Priory. I also wanted to explore another side of two key characters: Brother Andrew and John. We sometimes forget that our holiest mentors, such as Brother Andrew, are mere humans, with personality flaws, dysfunctional families, and quirky hang-ups, like the rest of us. Too often we also forget that even the rudest and worst bullies among us, like John, have hurt feelings and insecurities that have shaped the negative ways in which they respond to the world. In short, we all deserve compassion and understanding.”
I think he did a masterful job of finding that balance. This was a very moving story. Especially as a father of three teenagers, and seeing them striving to find their place in the world. I find fiction like this novel speaks to me as a parent, and I hope will speak to my children who I convince to read it. I know my youngest two will be open to it, but the 18 year old is pushing boundaries.
It has been fascinating to watch the grown of Xan and Lucy through the first three novels in this series. And to see the changes in John in this volume. It truly is a tale of loyalty, friendship, encouragement and even second chances. The mystery in this one is a little more complicated and Xan needs to learn he can trust others to help.
The story and main Harwood series is marketed for Middle grade readers but would also be great for tweens and teens. I am in my fifties and I loved it. This is a well written story and one that will leave you excited for more stories set in this world that Kolenc has created. Antony ‘Tony’ Barone Kolenc is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. He currently teaches law. In this story, he has shown that he has great skill as a story teller. It is a story certain to entertain, reader young and old alike. And leave you desperate for what happens next. A deeply moving story I can easily recommend.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by Antony Barone Kolenc:
The Harwood Mysteries:
Shadow in the Dark
The Haunted Cathedral
The Chronicles of Xan:
Shadow in the Dark
The Haunted Cathedral
The Fire of Eden
…
Books by Antony Barone Kolenc:
The Harwood Mysteries:
Shadow in the Dark
The Haunted Cathedral
The Merchant's Curse
Murder at Penwood Manor
The Devil's Ransom
…
Harwood Short Stories:
The Lucy Mysteries:
…
The Chronicles of Xan:
Shadow in the Dark
The Haunted Cathedral
The Fire of Eden
…
Other Books:
Penny and the Stolen Chalice
…
Contributed to:
The Gift of the Angel Tree
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