Title: Slathbog’s Gold
Author: M. L. Forman
Publish Date: February 2009
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
A young adult fantasy that pays homage to the stories that entertained the audience’s parents. The first book of Adventurers Wanted, a new series by M. L. Forman, there is something in Slathbog’s Gold for both young and old to enjoy. With a nod and a wink to classics like the Lord of the Rings and the game of Dungeons & Dragons, the author tells the story of young Alex who is not exactly miserable but not terribly happy either. Alex happens to find himself intrigued by an unusual sign that seems to keep changing. Entering the bookshop where the sign is being displayed, his attempt to satisfy curiosity pulls him into the adventure of his young life.
A straightforward quest story, Slathbog’s Gold is the tale of a group of adventurers off to liberate the treasure hoarded by the infamous dragon Slathbog. Before they can attempt that, the group has to fight through the numerous obstacles that stand in their way. They’ll see trolls and oracles and elves – making new friends and vanquishing their foes. Armed with his magic bag and a copy of The Adventurer’s Handbook, Alex learns a great deal as they travel – from swordsmanship to wizardry and how to deal with everything in between. The other members of his party learn a few things for themselves as well; including not underestimating strangers and the value of friendship. There is one new and interesting element that I found delightful – the bottle-necked geeb. I’ll leave that for you future readers to discover.
I very much enjoyed this story from the search for adventurers to the actual quest and all the trials and tribulations the group suffered through to get to the dragon’s hoard. The author took a well-loved kernel of fantasy and populated it with interesting characters it was fun to follow around. I highly recommend this for anyone young and searching for adventure or anyone not so young anymore who wants to relive those early days of treasure-filled quests and anyone else who just enjoys smiling as they turn the pages.
