Title: Castle Forks
Author: Chris Cochrane
Publisher: Hawes & Jenkins Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-63784-232-4
Pages: 236
Genre: Fantasy / Adventure
Reviewed by: Gabriella Harrison

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Author Chris Cochrane’s spirited novel Castle Forks sees a young boy and his father swiftly transition from wondering how to spend the next eight months with half of their family of four away, to losing track of time as they scramble to save the world before it is too late.

Having just said goodbye to his mother and older brother as they travel to Peru for a charity project, Chris is feeling quite down, so his father decides to take him on his first hunting trip to distract them. However, what Chris sees irreversibly transforms their lives. At first, he hesitates to share what he sees with his father, fearing that he will be seen as crazy. Choosing to confide in his father creates a closer bond between them when his father confides that he has also seen the same being – a tall creature with angelic features. As they explore this phenomenon, they learn more about their family history and a world beyond their imagination in need of their help.

The author creates and maintains a suspenseful atmosphere from start to finish with engaging action scenes and well-paced revelations. For instance, during the first meeting of Chris and his dad with these angelic-looking creatures, they are given some information which they later discover to be incomplete as the story progresses, fanning the intrigue. During the story, Chris’s development is evident as he learns to act and help others despite his fears, which understandably previously paralyzed him since he is only a twelve-year-old boy. Through his frequent questions, matching the curiosity of his age, the story is strengthened as explanations and flashbacks are introduced to answer these questions.

The story interestingly veers off its expected path through disorienting moments in which it is unclear whether Chris has dreamed it all or something sinister is at play. For readers who enjoy fantasy and adventure novels, Castle Forks is a good choice to add to your reading list. The story also incorporates a Christian backdrop with frequent references to people who fought for the freedom of their people in the Bible, such as David, Samson, and Gideon, and some Bible verses. The book ends with a satisfactory conclusion which leaves room for a potential sequel.

Castle Forks tells the familiar tale of the battle between good and evil through a young boy who learns of and must accept the protective role his family has played for centuries if the world is to survive the oncoming onslaught from the forces of evil.

Castle Forks by Chris Cochrane is a gripping story that masterfully blends elements of fantasy, adventure, and intricate character development.