Champion’s Quest: The Die of Destiny
Publication Date: 8/3/21
Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62972-850-6
Retail Price: $17.99
Page Count: 304
Juvenile Fiction / Fantasy & Magic
Cover Illustration: Owen Richardson
Book Design: © Shadow Mountain
Art Direction: Richard Erickson
Design: Sheryl Dickert Smith
Synopsis:
Opportunity will always be within reach for those clever enough to claim it.
Lucas Silver’s life is about to change. He thinks it’s because he’s made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and some unlikely friends find Hob and Bogie’s Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion’s Quest.
When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they’re no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.
They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.
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About the Author
FRANK L. COLE was born into a family of southern storytellers and wrote his first book at age eight. Some of his favorite stories involve ghosts and Bigfoot. Currently, along with his wife and three children, he resides in the shadow of a majestic western mountain range. The Die of Destiny is Frank’s thirteenth published book.
He’s an active promoter of reading and using imagination and has presented to more than 250 schools nationwide. As part of his research for Champion’s Quest, he has acquired hundreds of role-playing campaign modules and loves immersing himself in those worlds.
For author interview requests, please contact Callie Hansen at chansen@shadowmountain.com
Advanced Praise:
“The Die of Destiny may be one of my favorite reads of the year. I was hooked from page one. With adventure, humor, friendship, and courage, readers will love this middle grade fantasy! By the end, my only question, was ‘Where’s the next book?’”
—Jennifer Nielsen, New York Times best-selling author
My Review
5 stars
Lucas Silver has had enough of foster homes and plans on escaping and heading to New York. But he is not alone, Miles, Jasmine and Vanessa go along with him. As they start their adventure, they find themselves in Hob and Bogies Curiosity Shoppe. There they agree to join a game of Champions Quest. When they group go to leave the curiosity shop, they find themselves in a real-life game of Champion Quest.
Lucas, Vanessa, Miles, and Jasmine are a group of kids that have nothing in common except they find themselves fighting goblins and witches. Lucas and Miles are from the foster home and are best friends and must work through their lack of self-confidence and other issues. Vanessa’s parents own the foster home and has a serious chip on her shoulder. Jasmine is the new girl in school.
The back of the book has a note about it being a combination of Jumanji and D&D, this is a perfect description of this book. I can’t blame the kids for wanting to escape their current situations, I would want to escape myself. Each kid has their own things going on in their lives and I just love watching them come together as a little family throughout their adventures.
This is a great story and I think kids of all ages will enjoy it. I hope they find a little of themselves in at least one of the characters and find an adventure to escape their own world for a while.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
I would like to thank Shadow Mountain Publishing for the opportunity to read and share this book.
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