"A classic quest story set in pre-historic Ireland, told in verse,"
October 2024 Debut of the Month
This absorbing verse novel tells the tale of Fia and her best friend, Solas the snow deer, as they set off on a quest through the deepest, darkest mid-winter to find the mythical Deer Mother and persuade her to spark the return of warmer days after three long, desperate years of cold and snow.
Accompanied by Fia’s cousin Mish, they face an array of dangers including terrifying Shadows who tempt Fia to give up, while she knows that if they find the Deer Mother, there may be a terrible price to pay for her help.
The story is told in verse, the short sentences and vivid images making it highly accessible while emphasising the mysticism and timelessness of the story.
Dermot Flynn’s atmospheric illustrations increase the drama, colour seeping in as the trio near the end of their journey. Readers who enjoy this may also like Sophie Kirtley’s The Wild Way Home, another prehistoric adventure built on human animal friendship.
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A great poetic book, with really good pictures, it has a wintery feel and would be great to cosy up with in the colder months.
This is not at all like the books I normally read, but it was great and I really enjoyed reading it. It tells the story of Fia through poetry (not the rhyming kind) so the language is very poetic, but the story is still very clear, interesting and exciting. Fia must bring back the sun to save her village from eternal winter. The village wants to sacrifice her snow deer and she needs to go on a journey to bring back sun so that Solas (the snow deer) is safe. The story is also about the sacrifices she has to make.
The pictures are great - it is all in grey (black/white) and yellow with the amount of yellow building through the final part of the book adding to the tension and the whole experience of reading the book.... Read Full Review
A beautiful book about a wintery journey.
In a time long ago, it is always winter. Everyone in Fia's settlement is hungry, worried and desperate for spring to come again. They think they should sacrifice Solas, the last snow deer, in order to ensure spring's return.
Fia is upset at the idea of her deer being sacrificed in this way, but her Grandmother, who is the village shaman, tells her to make a journey to find the Deer Mother.
Fia, the Deer and her cousin Mish who comes with her on the journey face many hardships, including wolves, hunger and evil shadows.
An interesting thing about the story is that it's written entirely in poetry. I was worried at first that I wouldn't understand what was going on, but I thought it worked really well; it made the story more atmospheric and memorable.... Read Full Review
A beautiful legend of Fia and her friend the last snow deer. The amazing pictures show the story of their fight to reclaim the summer sun. Will they get to the Deer Mother in times before the solstice?
This book is a legend of Fia journeying to try and get back the summer for her people before the solstice ends. She is travelling with her cousin and the last snow deer. The snow deer is her good friend that she will have to let go in order to save the summer sun. They are trying to find the Deer Mother to bring back the summer. The story is a little bit like a poem in how it is written on the page. There are beautiful pictures that show you the light and dark in Fia's story.... Read Full Review
