See what readers are saying about Silvarum!
"Enchanting! Well written, sui-generis, impeccable story line, likable characters. I have to say I’m quite attached to Abigail and look forward to delving more into her! Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to read your splendid craftsmanship!" --R. A. Monroe
"Silvarum is a genre-bending tale that includes fantasy, science fiction, material that is appropriate for young adults but also engaging for adult, seasoned readers as well. I have a hard time finding tales I enjoy because I've read so many that have very predictable storylines, filled with tropes I have read a hundred times, but in Silvarum I was very engaged and surprised to be swept away. There are beautiful themes of family, friends and cooperation among more intense themes of magic, the hereafter, and mysterious beings. The illustrations included are gorgeous and really make the story that much more tangible and real. I was drawn into the book easily, the characters are fun, diverse, and have depth. It's the beginnings of a series that I can't wait to tear through. You know it's good when you get to the last page and you want more!" --Rachael
"This book tells us about the magical adventures of three teenage siblings that investigate the runestones of Nexxathia. It's like I'm back to the times when I read some books like Three Investigators, The Famous Five, or The Lord of The Rings, which is exciting. The story line and the writing are easy to read and easy to follow, I enjoyed my time reading this book, although as in any war, not everyone makes it out alive. Yet it makes me want to go on holiday and explore something new in somewhere new where there are magical involved and some mystery riddles ahead. It's a good adventure story, with some great original illustrations by Dean himself. This book is a worthy read" --Khalida
"Silvarum is an unexpected, adventurous, and intriguing foray into the fantasy realm. Kuhta expertly weaves dynamic characters and otherworldly ideas into a fascinating tale, inviting the reader to go on quite an imaginative journey. Book I: Frost, introduces a large cast of characters and sets the stage for what seems to be the beginning of an intricate, compelling, and complex voyage through a fantastical world. Through a variety of twists and turns, the reader is launched into a world of good and evil, magic wands, monsters, dragons, magic, multiple dimensions, and bizarre creatures including a quirky, steampunk inspired spider named, Click. Part 1 of Frost ends with a curious event that leaves the reader yearning for Part 2. Additionally, an unexpected delight is Kuhta’s intricate artwork, which is highlighted throughout the book. I highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers." --Tammy
"Silvarum is a wonderful book. The three storylines that ran alongside one another in particular were very good, as were the incredible diversity of characters. It’s very appealing for people in the preteen-teenage age group, but anyone could really read it. The art was beautiful and really made the story come to life. The book left me hanging at the end, and all together, it’s the type of book that makes you want to read more and more of it." --Cassie
"Such a breath-taking book. The build-up of plot made me so excited to go on an adventure with these amazing, smart kids. This proves that everyone has a special, unique talent, and it can benefit your surrounding community. In this case, Silvarum! I love how the setting is set, and the provided information of backgrounds adds a foundation to the story that would have never been seen if it hadn't. This has become my top favorite book of all-time! This book, this storyline, could really become popular through word-of-mouth. Honestly, this would become a great movie, much like The Hobbit or Harry Potter. Once again, this should be an award-winning book.. I really loved it, and I would read every book more than once." --Autumn
"Dean Kuhta's novel, Silvarum, is part of what will be an eight-book series. Book I: Frost, certainly sets the scene for the impending battle between the good folk of Thorndale and the evil creatures of Nexxathia, in a larger-than-life way. Silvarum opens with a Narnia-esque feel that is both familiar and delightful. The conversations among siblings Marie, Mckenzie, and Roger Woods are reminiscent of those among the Pevensies prior to their exodus into the wardrobe, and that underlying suspense, and tense, expectant mood, permeates Kuhta's prose from one chapter to the next. Believe me when I tell you that there's something for everyone in Silvarum, but the vast array of characters and species never feels overdone, and that is a testament to Kuhta's ability to weave a satisfying and coherent story. Ghosts, Pocahontas and John Smith, dinosaurs, giant insects, overgrown arachnids, flying reptiles, and other bizarre creatures populate the pages of Silvarum, many of these coupled with hypnotic works of art by the author himself. The imagery of Abigail (a young violinist killed in a car crash on her way home from a recital) in her graveyard is one of my favorite aspects of Silvarum. Kuhta's descriptions of the dust-entombed mausoleum, and the creepy, blinking book that Abigail shares her crypt with, are vivid and lyrical, and the sadness felt for the (breathing?) dead girl (her mother materializes and then is snatched away from her) is as unambiguous as the starkly enchanting prose. I greatly look forward to the second installment of the Silvarum series. The Woods family may have become fragmented by the end of Book I (I won't give away anything, but we lose a major player in the war against the Nexxathia runestone guardians and the eventual facing off against the Dream-King), but the familial unit that bands together to set off and face the first of the runestones' guardians brings to mind another non-nuclear family in a magical world (Harry, Hermione, and Ron, anyone?) Silvarum is truly a fine ghost story/adventure tale/epic quest if I've ever read one! " --Christa