Well, well, well...

Fantasy is a particular genre; people either like it or they don’t. It is a genre that leads the imagination and senses to other worlds, created by someone else. I know we all had a great time making up lands and people while we were young. (Ok, well I certainly did, I admit, my worlds were fabulous.) However, as age and experience damages our imaginations I am envious of any adult, who can map, plan and create a world of their own whilst also bringing delightful and fully fleshed-out characters to the page.

Cecilia Dart-Thornton is a wonderful example of an Australian talent who is making a name for herself as an exceptional fantasy writer. Thanks to her obsession with such books as CS Lewis’ Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and Token’s Lord of the Rings, she too can easily capture any reader’s imagination and take them to an intriguing world, which is very believable.

The Well of Tears is the second book in the Crowthistle Chronicles. I highly recommend you read the first novel in the series, however if you can’t, you are given a blurb about the story so far, which is extremely helpful.

After Jewel and Eoin have fled from their native Slievmordhu to the kingdom of Narngalis, they thread a perilous path, which ultimately leaves Eoin in the hands of the deadly unseelie wight. With nowhere else to go, Jewel finds refuge amongst the plateau-dweller at High Darioneth. Teeming with siofra, trows and other eldritch wights, their land is under the auspices of the weather maters and Storm Lord Avalloc, who have the power to tame and summon the winds…

When Jewel learns that the legendary Dome of Strang is no longer guarded, she decides to continue her journey to Orielthir to unravel the mystery of the hidden stronghold and with it the truth about her father’s legacy. Accompanied by an enigmatic young weathermaster, Jewel’s discoveries lead her on an unexpected quest. Together they encounter marvels and misfortunes and discover that the final riddle ultimately lies with the extraordinary Well of Tears…

I have probably lost some non-fantasy readers, and rightly so, words like siofra, wights, trows and places like Orielthir and Narngalis certainly don’t come up in spell check – however for those who want to find out more about these words, these characters and these places, hang in there because you will be in for a fantastic fantasy novel.

I love going to other places through the joy of reading and it certainly is much cheaper than having to buy a ticket overseas. The people and places that make up the world of Tir, are amazing, life-like yet still surreal. The depth of content that Dart-Thornton writes is amazing. What I enjoy about this genre of fantasy is the mixing of humans with extraordinary powers as well as completely inventive people and “things”. It makes it much more believable and enjoyable to read. Dart-Thornton has taken the spirit of other fantasy genre greats and really added her own fresh voice and imagination to this and her other stories.

With this book Dart-Thornton has also included an interactive CD titled “A Glimpse of Tir: Episode 1, Marshtown and Rowan Green.” It is not a game but an experience, whereby you can see, hear and have a glimpse of this beautiful world! It certainly adds to the overall feeling of the book and it does help stretch your imagination if need be.

For those who wish to escape for a while, completely forget reality – then read this book and be transported to a world of wonder, magic and adventure.

Michele Perry

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The Well of Tears

Author: Cecelia Dart-Thornton
Publisher: Tor Australia
Price: $32.95

View a trailer from 'A Glimpse of Tir' - the interactive CDROM included with each copy of this book.