Wil Deft

Wil Deft is a fisherman, in a village at the empire's northern border.

He keeps a secret-he hears the thoughts of beasts.

One day, a galley rows up the river, transporting imperial constables. They've come to hunt Wil Deft. He doesn't know why.

He flees up the river, then into the great forest, where ancient enchantments linger. His only guides, a cold-eyed cat, and a lonely dog.

That dog, Tobi, wants-desperately-to be Wil's friend. He loves Wil, fiercely. And, on that dog's love, everything turns.

Atop a forest crag, Wil confronts a primeval force, powerful beyond understanding. It tells him his fate.

He is to be a thief.

He will be enslaved.

Tobi guides Wil to High City, in the great forest's treetops, built by the ragtag remnant of ancient sorcerers, the Forest Kings. Wil and Tobi sojourn there. Too soon, though, they must trek downriver to the imperial city, into terrible danger.

For this, Wil was bred, and born.

It will change him. In changing, he will change a world.

If he survives.

Readers have compared Wil Deft to Lord of the Rings, but it sings its own song.

And that song is haunting.

Here's what readers say-

PRAISE FOR WIL DEFT FROM A REVIEWER

Beginning with the narrator's pitch perfect storytelling "voice", I was quickly captivated and constantly lured on....I loved the author's choices of people and place names - 'Fishtown' for the village, Wil Deft for the hero. This author manages to coax poetry from every descriptive turn of phrase....

FROM A SECOND REVIEWER

It started with a terrific hook - who can resist a talking cat sent to deliver a message? It starts off strong and just continues that way.

PRAISE FROM READERS...

This is a wonderful tale! Intriguing. Imaginative. Complex...a very talented and masterful writer and teller of dramatic tales...people will find this little-known story to be as satisfying and intricate a drama of good and evil as the classics (The Hobbit comes to mind.)-Jay B. Cutts-5 Stars.

The author has totally nailed the corgi personality...a fun and interesting page-turner-David Schaldach-4 Stars. br>
AND OTHER READERS SAID...

... wonderful scene-painting: mundane Fishtown, the cobblestoned streets, the glow seeping through closed shutters, and above all the sinister bulk of the imperial ship blocking out the lights of the neighboring town, all spring into reality before us. Impressive work. -Cairo, Egypt

...charming well-balanced prose, unexpected and delighting imagery (his hair needed a licking, determined the cat), perfect pacing and immediate suspension of disbelief...character's names are easily pronounced, creating instant association, and their personas are shaped almost invisibly with an expert choice of few words. I want MORE...and I want it N...