The Mistmantle Chronicles

A Book Review

One of our very favorite fairy bridges is The Mistmantle Chronicles by M.I. McAllister: a charming five-book fantasy series about the animals of Mistmantle and their beautiful mist-wrapped island.

The books begin on a night of riding stars when two squirrels—an old priest and a young captain—rescue a baby squirrel with honey-colored fur who has washed up on the Mistmantle shore. The baby grows up to be Urchin, hero of Mistmantle. Urchin, with the help of an adorable assortment of friends that include prickly hedgehogs, steady moles, and easy-going otters, saves Mistmantle time and again from threats both without and within.

The characters in this book are some of our dearest literary friends in the genre. There is nothing quite like the laughter and noble-heartedness of Captain Padra who mentors Urchin, serves his king faithfully, and fights to defend Mistmantle from evil. The goodness and humility of King Crispin are unforgettable, and the love, service, and safety he gives his subjects make him one of the most beloved kings we know. There is Urchin, the hero whose loyalty to king and captain is unshakable, and Fingal, whose daring heroics contrast with his lolloping humor in a rollicking combination that sings with life. And it is not only the animals who live and breathe, but the very Island of Mistmantle itself: from Anemone Wood to Watchtop Hill to the beautiful Mistmantle Tower over the sea, the dearly beloved island plays as pivotal a role as the characters.

The plot is also well done. All five books can stand alone because each has its own adventure and resolution, but in a deeper way, they build on each other as the characters mature and grow in their relationships. A banished captain, a lost heir, an evil host of ravens, perilous voyages, and heartbreaking sacrifices weave together in a story that holds the reader fast.

Finally, the truths woven into both plot and character are at once inspiring, uplifting, and achingly beautiful without being heavy-handed. These books are a joyous celebration of love and loyalty, heroism and courage. They display the value of home, the immeasurable gift of willing sacrifice, and the unfailing love of the Heart that holds us all.

It is easy to forget sometimes that not all fantasy has to be long, epic, dark; not all fantasy has to take itself so seriously. One can build a good bridge just as well while laughing as they can while crying. One can show the battle between good and evil in a way that inspires joy rather than seriousness. While The Mistmantle Chronicles do have villains, and while these villains commit terrible acts of evil, we’ve found that they don’t stick in your mind the way the heroes do. It is not darkness, but happiness that pervades the pages: The happiness of the children zooming down long staircases on pots and pans, exploring an underwater cave, racing up the hilltop to watch the stars shooting through the sky. The happiness of the captains of Mistmantle swapping jokes while preparing for a ceremony. The nostalgic joy of years passing, of the animals getting older, of young ones who were pages growing up to get pages of their own. The soft heart-wrenching happiness of a beloved character’s death, when the survivors recall all the good that character has done for Mistmantle. And when at last we finish the final book, we are reminded how good and joyous life is.

C.S. Lewis once said that “no book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally—and often far more—worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond”¹, and so far these books have met this standard bountifully. As a family read aloud years ago, they delighted and inspired everyone from seven years to thirty, and continue to do so. Not long ago, one younger sibling returned to the first book and proceeded to read the whole series four times on repeat. If you make this a whole family read aloud or simply devour it yourself for the joy of it, you will be wrapped by the mists, welcomed by the island, inspired by the characters, and loved by the Heart that broke with love for us, yet loves us still.

1. On Three Ways Of Writing For Children