Brave’s Journey
Jan Goldie
IFWG Publishing
pub. 2015

 

20 April, 2021

Brave’s Journey by Jan Goldie is a one of a kind book. It’s about a nerdy teenager struggling through harsh comments and violent gestures towards his unusual family. When all of a sudden he starts having weird connections to the weather, his mother and uncle have a talk to him, explaining that they have a great enemy, and that they are all in danger. Also, that they come from a different planet.

Their planet Arvalonia has a funny connection with a source of power called ‘’the web.’’ This keeps the planet working, giving it energy when needed, but if you take in too much of ‘’the web’’ you can go insane or die.

The Walkers also live in Arvalonia and as their names suggest, they walk a lot, they have large feet and ancient looking features like old trees. They are incredibly powerful because their four leaders represent the elements: Fire, Water, Air and Earth; they migrate to the north when the south gets too cold then they go back to the south when it is summer again.

The family knew that going from Earth to Arvalonia would be hard, but they had to return to their home, particularly for Brave’s safety. This is how Brave’s journey begins.

There are a few things in this book that I have to highlight: Brave and his mother and his uncle are going to suffer, Brave will have to endure deserts, going on a lengthy boat trip, and being held captive. Finally, Brave’s mother and uncle will be separated, leaving Brave alone and scared.

Throughout the story, Brave changes, he finds out about the history of his planet and how society works there and who is Boss around those parts.

I would recommend this book to whoever loves fantasy and adventure. The story reminds me of the series Spirit Animals because they both have evil characters, villains who are trying to take over the world. So if you have read and enjoyed Spirit Animals, than you will love Brave’s Journey.

Author Jan Goldie has written this book beautifully. I kept thinking that things would turn out all right, but then the storyline would trick me with twists and turns, making me wonder about how would Brave get out of this one. The only suggestion I would make to the author is that I would have liked to see more evil acts from the false Queen to really show that she is wicked.

I have enjoyed this book and hope you will too.

• Lorenzo is 12 and lives in Thames