Product Description

When given the chance to find out why his father really died, Daniel has no idea that he will uncover the most sinister threat ever to face humanity. Set in the world of the Skelton Archipelago, the rip-roaring adventure oozes with mystique and death defying drama, where not everything is as it seems. Through high seas, dark towers, and underworld civilisations, the colourful cast, of some enchanting and other more terrifying characters, drives the story toward the ultimate battle between good and evil. But when Daniel discovers the price for victory, is it more than he can pay?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1558324 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 360 pages

Review
Review by G.P. Taylor Bestselling author of Shadowmancer, Wormwood, Tersias This is classical fantasy in the ultimate of the genre - read and be enthralled. Elgin is set to be a character who will inspire the dreams of children desperate for a good read. --http://www.defendersofbarracrail.com/Reviews.html

Review by Phil Groom Aug 2007 Webmaster and reviews editor of www.christianbookshops.org.uk Manager of London School of Theology (formerly London Bible College) Books & Resources Elgin. It's a tough life as a sentinel, watching, waiting, wondering... lonely, too, when you're the only one who knows the truth, when the people you're sworn to protect have given up hope. Daniel. It's a tough life as a teenager who's lost his father... lonely, too, when your people believe your father was a failure or, worse, a traitor. When Daniel's and Elgin's paths cross, the world has to change. A new vision emerges, a fire of hope is kindled: welcome to the world of Barracrail a new legend has begun. This is the first volume of a promising fantasy trilogy from a new Christian author and it's a fascinating storyline: plenty of surprising (but several fairly predictable) twists and turns. Adventures at sea, encounters with dragons, flawed characters struggling against their own weaknesses as well as their enemies: the story has all the classic fantasy ingredients. Pike describes it as an allegory of the Christian Gospel; and readers familiar with the Bible will soon notice the underlying Christian themes and biblical allusions. Pike writes much more smoothly than G P Taylor, for instance (who happens to be a Director of Grosvenor House, Pike's publisher), but even so to this reader, at least the writing feels a little awkward in places, some of the dialogue somewhat forced: the book would have benefited from a professional editor's touch. It's a pity, then, that Pike took Grosvenor House's self-publishing route for his work: this is a story that deserves the sort of exposure and treatment that a mainstream publishing house could have given it. That's not intended in any way as a putdown, however: on the contrary, my advice is to pick this book up! Whether you're a young reader or an adult, if you enjoy fantasy, Pike is certainly an author to watch and this is a series you won't want to miss. Wholeheartedly recommended: I look forward to seeing the second volume. --http://www.christianbookshops.org.uk/reviews/defendersofbarracrail.htm

Review by Lamorna Cove Reader from Amazon If you like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings you'll love this book. It has everything from pirates, dragons and mythical beings to epic battles. I was hooked from beginning end and I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy to find out what happens next in the saga. --http://www.defendersofbarracrail.com/Reviews.html

About the Author
Over the last few years my life has changed dramatically. Growing up, I always held the belief that I was called to be a missionary. I had no idea back then that it would be anything different to a post somewhere in the darkest recesses of our planet; perhaps somewhere in Africa or South America. However by the age of thirty one I found myself travelling to Edinburgh, Scotland to plant an inner-city mission having already spent six years working on the streets of London, helping to pioneer a valuable rehabilitation work for those less fortunate than myself. What I didn t realise as I crossed the breathtaking border in Scotland, was that my commission there would be just another stepping stone in life rather than my final destination. After two years of helping numerous men and women find a better way of life, I was inspired by a radical principle of life that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies in remains a single seed, but if it dies it can bear forth many seeds. Though I had no idea of the long term significance, I knew it meant a complete change in my life's direction and embark upon a new mission entirely. I wish I could say everything made sense back then, that I never looked back and everything worked out just fine. But that wasn t the way it happened at all. It took another eight difficult years of obscurity to prepare me for a new future, and now I have no doubt, either where that future lies or in the meaning of the many seeds. When my first novel, Defenders of Barracrail was finally completed after two years, I realised then, more than ever before, that the work was like a seed, in fact Defenders is many seeds in one. Writing is my passion. The privilege of putting pen to paper or should I say tapping the keys, in a way that crafts words together to form an engaging plot is one for which I will always be grateful. But without the years which have gone before, I would never have been able to write in the same way or with the same conviction. What can I say - has my calling changed? Absolutely not! By definition a missionary is simply someone on a mission, it just took me a long time to find my own jungle!

Customer Reviews

A gripping read
If you like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings you'll love this book. It has everything from pirates, dragons and mythical beings to epic battles. I was hooked from beginning end and I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy to find out what happens next in the saga.

Very Good Read
the book for me was pacy, with a very relative plot/story which any person will have no problem identifying with the characters. it managed to be exciting and inspirational yet still challenged the reader to examine and take a look at themselves.

warning lable should read:

VERY GOOD READ- BUT YOU MAY PUT THE BOOK DOWN,BUT SOMETHING OF THE BOOK STAYS WITH YOU.WHEN YOU READ IT YOU WILL UNDERSTAND.