Book Review: The Ansgar Kids Treasury by Aleksandra Layland

*Editors Note* We would like to apologize for the misspelling of author Aleksandra Layland's name in our previous review.

The Ansgar Kids Treasury is a collection of four books for younger readers which are part of the Windflower Saga epic fantasy series. These books introduce kids to characters from the first two books in the Windflower Saga trilogy of novels: "Ansgar: The Struggle of a People. The Triumph of the Heart." and "Of Wisdom and Valor: The Art of War. The Path of Peace." 
The four books in this collection are two short picture books for K-2nd grade: "Tiyo, The Dog Who Saved Ansgar" and "Bright Star, A Pony of the Kimbrii." It also includes a short chapter book, "Keri and Kalina" and a middle-grade novel, "Golden Skye of Ansgar." "Keri and Kalina" is the story of two cousins aged about 10 and 7 who are orphaned or left with only one parent and share a room at a boarding school run by nuns. "Golden Skye of Ansgar" is about a horse belonging to Queen Keridwen of Kimbria, now in her 40s, who was Keri in "Keri and Kalina." The Queen has children who have adventures with horses, a dog, a cat, and several parrots.

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REVIEW

Fully completing the Windflower Saga is THE ANSGAR KIDS TREASURY: A WINDFLOWER SAGA COLLECTION. This treasury collection features the kid-friendly books Tiyo, The Dog Who Saved Ansgar; Bright Star, A Pony of the Kimbrii; Keri and Kalina; and lastly Golden Skye of Ansgar. 
You may think to skip this treasury collection since they are kids themed books.  You also may wonder why input kid friendly books into the more adult oriented Windflower Saga? The answer is I have no idea, but oddly it kind of works for if you read each book they give you a hint of a new perspective on the main trilogy. To be honest, they are charming books, and Layland’s tackle at writing for kids is fair. I just love how these books are like the final touches on a great epic cake. Kids books or not if you have read the main trilogy saga you are going to want to read the kids books too. These little books actually add the finishing touches that complete this epic fantasy saga that Mrs. Layland created.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aleksandra Layland is a retired civil engineer and a federal civil servant who worked primarily for the United States Air Force as a senior installation engineering manager responsible for buildings, airfields, infrastructure, fire protection, and emergency preparedness. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Western Caroline Islands where she helped build school classrooms and cafeterias, low-income housing, and simple village water distribution systems. Her other interests include arts and crafts, family genealogy, religion, and spirituality, fostering peace in the world, and enjoying retirement with family and friends.

The Windflower Saga series is comprised of the following volumes which trace the lives of members of the fictional Ansgar ducal family against a background of struggles between forces such as good and evil, love and hate, and war and peace. The series is a unique blending of traditional love stories and adventure and action stories in an "other world" setting, with serious spiritual and moral themes which are addressed in an overall uplifting tone. For all that the characters may face harsh realities, the story of the Ansgar family is a happy one.

BOOK REVIEW: The Windflower Saga Collection by Aleksandra Layland

FINALLY! The royal epic Windflower Saga comes home in an EPIC deluxe collection. The first being THE ANSGAR TREASURY: A Windflower Saga Collection. This collection includes book 1 of the epic saga Ansgar: The Struggle of a People. The Triumph of the Heart along with its 3 companion novellas The Feathered Crown,
 Far Endeavor, and Three Brothers of Ansgar that further develop the fantasy world of Kimbria that Layland has created.

 This collection is perfect for readers who like to read their series in chronological order, and it makes it an easy share read with friends, for now, you have book 1 along with its 3 sub novellas all wrapped up in one beautifully covered package.

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THE WISDOM AND VALOR TREASURY:  A Windflower Saga Collection is the second book in the Windflower Saga Treasury collection containing book 2 of the trilogy Of Wisdom and Valor: The Art of War the Path of Peace and its companion novella’s Bind Not the Heart, Leofric of Longridge, and Keridwen Rose (Part 1) from Swords of Ansgar. It was in 2015 that the main trilogy was written. Then Layland went back to her world in 2016 writing a series of novellas that were companion books to the main trilogy that re-visited some of the characters from the trilogy adding more depth to the storyline.

Now Layland has brought the saga together as it intentionally should be read now with the second Windflower Saga Treasury book.

Masterfully done!

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 THE FAR HAVEN TREASURY: A Windflower Saga Collection concludes your treasury collection with the adventurous book 3 Far Haven: A Quest for Certitude. A Fight for Justice in the Windflower Saga Trilogy as well as its 3 companion books that followed. Albina, Courage of Ansgar, and “Kimbria Ke’ilani” (Part 2) from Swords of Ansgar.

The final books wrap up this dramatic family fantasy saga in the fashion it was designed in…EPIC.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aleksandra Layland is a retired civil engineer and a federal civil servant who worked primarily for the United States Air Force as a senior installation engineering manager responsible for buildings, airfields, infrastructure, fire protection, and emergency preparedness. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Western Caroline Islands where she helped build school classrooms and cafeterias, low-income housing, and simple village water distribution systems. Her other interests include arts and crafts, family genealogy, religion, and spirituality, fostering peace in the world, and enjoying retirement with family and friends.

The Windflower Saga series is comprised of the following volumes which trace the lives of members of the fictional Ansgar ducal family against a background of struggles between forces such as good and evil, love and hate, and war and peace. The series is a unique blending of traditional love stories and adventure and action stories in an "other world" setting, with serious spiritual and moral themes which are addressed in an overall uplifting tone. For all that the characters may face harsh realities, the story of the Ansgar family is a happy one.

Book Review: Giselle and the Fate of Wahine By Marty Walpole

It is April 10th 1968; Emma Cassidy boards the inter-island ferry Wahine. The overnight voyage from Christchurch's port of Lyttelton to New Zealand's capital of Wellington is expected to be uneventful. Captain Angus Robertson, reviews the latest weather report and, orders Wahine's departure.

As the ship steams up the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, weather conditions deteriorate. Mammoth waves slam the ship, and torrential rain cuts visibility to mere meters. Robertson and his crew remain vigilant.

While the ferry crosses Cook Strait and heads for her berth in Wellington harbor, Cyclone Giselle hits sending the ship off course. Now Emma must fight for, not only her survival but also the lives of a friend and young family she met onboard.

Meanwhile, Wellington City Harbormaster, Samuel Galloway makes the decision to head out in the hurricane-like conditions on the tugboat Tapuhi and attempt to tow the stricken ferry to safety.

Follow Emma as she does battle, along with Wahine's crew and Galloway, with the monster Giselle.

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REVIEW

 HARROWING! EMOTIONAL!

  Giselle and the Fate of  Wahine is the breakout novella of Marty Walpole author of the hit page turner The Choson Connection. Going back and reading his first book it is a vast difference from his second release of conspiracy and espionage. GISELLE AND THE FATE OF THE WAHINE takes us to the unforgiving seas. Imagine The Perfect Storm meets Titanic on a passenger ferry boat and you get the kind of the idea of the book, but it doesn’t disappoint.

Walpole’s writing is once again fantastic thanks to his cinema graphic writing style, it’s like watching a movie in your head.

You might think, Oh, another ‘nautical thriller’. Not really my cup of tea either. Never judge a book by its cover, though. Worth the read? Yes, Walpole surprises in his breakout novella. I gasped.  I said, “Oh damn!” (The way one of the crewmen die is just painfully real life unlucky.) And had tears welling in my eyes.

 I took Giselle as more than just a ‘nautical thriller’.  On a deeper level, it’s a great example of how the triumph of the human spirit never seems to fail.  

Rating **** (four-star rating)

Don't Forget to check out his action packed follow up 

THE CHOSON CONNECTION (Available on Amazon)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marty Walpole was born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand. At the young age of twenty-three, he headed across the Tasman Sea to Australia. Living in Brisbane, Marty worked in the electroplating industry as well as teaching the martial art of Shodokan Aikido. It was his desire to excel in Aikido that led him to depart the Australian shores and head to Japan. Gaining a teaching diploma, Marty spent many years working as a teacher in public schools around the city of Osaka. It was through teaching English that Marty’s interest in writing was rekindled (in junior high and high school Marty enjoyed writing and telling stories). After writing for various blogs and websites, he put all his energy into writing his first novella, Giselle and the Fate of Wahine. Today, he still resides in Japan with his Japanese wife and three children and is writing his next novel.