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The journey begins as readers venture through The Crystal Clusters, which include such fantastic places as Green Garden, Isle of Sorrow, Diamond Forest, and The Isle of Many. It continues with introductions of the members inside the crystals—Ubils, who have traces of evil within them, and then the Good-natureds, members who prosper in goodness and who are categorized by size: Commoner, Teeny, and Vaster. After these brief introductions come the legends and tales, told in both prose and verse, that depict battles and feuds, love and loss, comedy and tragedy, and successes and failures against a backdrop of fairy-summoning graphic art that illuminates the imagination. The legends and tales leap to life and transport readers into a mythical, magical realm opened to only chosen readers and those with a broad curiosity and the willingness to follow the mysterious, and sometimes frightening, paths forward.
With its depictions of family feuds, family triumphs, fantastical discoveries, and explorations of dragon-sized proportions, this book—part encyclopedia and part storybook—takes readers on a mystical journey through the whole of the Green Isles. The graphic art and drawings are sure to stir any reader’s imagination, and the genre-bending images emphasize the connection between family and place while transporting readers to fairy-tale mountains and landscapes. As this unique incorporation of art highlights the overlap between storytelling and imagery, the narrator of the book also invokes the spirit and tone of troubadours and minstrels from the past to relay memorable tales such as “The True Tale of Fire Island,” “The Smit Sister,” “The Caves of Ebon,” and “Chaser the All-Isle Bold Stepper.” Readers who enjoy whimsy, charming folk tales, and fable-like wisdom should enjoy this book immensely.