I have always enjoyed a bit of fantasy mixed into my own world…. I like to imagine the possibilities ~ Sheila
One day twelve-year-old Tirissa discovers that everyone in her village is under a spell. Everyone but her! Then she sees a mysterious stranger change into a huge bird, a bird with a beak like a sword. Did he cast the spell? Desperate to find someone who can break it, she flees, leaving her village behind. An old herb woman tells her to seek help from a wizard who lives far away, and her journey takes her across the Three Kingdoms. Along the way she’s joined by a kindly troll and a short, fat palace guard. They are pursued by the twin princes of Kellayne, the best hunters in the Blue River Kingdom, as well as by the huge, dangerous bird. Meanwhile, an evil wizard watches Tirissa and her friends in his magic mirror and plans a second spell that will kill everyone in the Three Kingdoms.
In My Opinion:
I have really taken a liking to YA fantasy reads over this past year. I honestly did not know what I was going to get with this book. The cover reminds me of an older style book… it doesn’t really follow the trends of today’s covers that snap you to attention and cause you to pick up a book… yet something about it, something in the description, made me want to read it.
As I dove into a new fantasy world of wizards and trolls… and something about a necklace…. I found myself enjoying the pace that Willow had set for her readers. There were parts that seemed to drag on a bit for me, but I can imagine reading this to a young girl and having her hang on the words as Tirissa makes her way around the Three Kingdoms.
Willow grew up in Albuquerque, NM, in the late 1940’s and 1950’s, always with her nose in an Oz book or else out under the peach tree in the back yard, looking for fairies. After she grew up, moved to CA, and graduated from Occidental College, a few aptitude tests suggested she should be a novelist, but she didn’t try her hand at it until her thirties. By then she’d forgotten her childhood love of fantasy and over the years tried her hand at a variety of genres. None of the stories really captured her imagination and each time her interest petered out. But the years passed and one day, in her fifties, she felt a yearning to read Lord of the Rings, which she had never read. Halfway through, she knew that all along it was children’s fantasy she wanted to write. And so she began writing the tale of Tirissa, who loved to be out under the trees, and it turned into Tirissa and the Necklace of Nulidor.
This review copy of this books was sent to my by Pump Up Your Book Promotions
Book Journey 
I almost clicked right over this post because of the cover of the book. But then I saw the map and was tempted. This looks adorably wonderful! Like maybe it will remind me of Diana Wynne Jones, whom I love!
Thank you for saying that Audrey about the cover. I know we really are not suppose to judge a book by a cover but what you said here is unfortunately true… I think many of us do.
There are so many books out their fighting for the attention of the reader, I hear time and again if you are unfamiliar with an author, the cover is a huge selling point.
I am glad I posted the map…. I thought it was really cool and I liked it on the back of the book. It was like a treasure map! 🙂
That map is fabulous. Thanks for the heads up about this book.
I love the map too loveologyu. I was hoping I could find it online so I could put it on the post and I did find it right on Willows site!
I’ve never really read fantasy books but this might be just the thing for my 14-yr-old who is only just discovering that books can be fun.
Lisa, fantasy genre books have surprised me…. I wouldnt think I would be one for them and their are some I do not enjoy – but I would say there are just as many that I do.
I would qualify Harry Potter and of course all the Narnia books as fantasy and I love them!
The synopsis is intriguing. Haven’t YA fantasy in a while, so methinks I should go check this one out!.
K.M., I think you may enjoy this one as well!
I just received this one the other day in the mail. Glad that you enjoyed it. I agree with you about the cover. I think they should do something different with it.
I would liek to read your review of it Staci, I will watch for it. 🙂
Thank you for commenting on my site! I really love your blog.
I love escaping into my Fantasy World, but if you read more into it, it is my life! I know that is hard to explain, but if you read deeper into it, you will understand a bit more about me and my life!
Many thanks to Petty Witter!
Hi Alice! Thanks for stopping by! I will be back visiting you as well!
This sounds like an intriguing read…something for my Moonbeams and Rainbows blog, perhaps!
Yes Laurel this would be a good fit for your blog!
Thanks for this review Sheila. It seems to have all the elements of a good story. Being able to change into a bird, how wonderful would that be?
Hi Petty Witter – it really was pretty good. I would love to fly… out of the cold weather 🙂
PS-how is Benny doing and I just voted for you.
Thanks for asking about Benny Esme. I need an update so I can update my link for him too.
He is out of Caringbridge and home now. He has a long way to go, years of recovery and I can not say if he will ever be 100% like he was. The beauty is that he has such a loving family and so many friends and we all thank God that he has survived.
This sounds like such a really enchanting read. Something that I would have gobbled up when I was little, something I bet I would still enjoy now. Great review.