Victor and the Sun Orb

The sun orb takes the power of the sun and distributes it to the five poles of Solandia, a fantasy world "above" our Earthly world, on Sun Fairy Empowerment Day. If it wasn't for the Sun Orb, the magic wands of Queen Magenta and King Godfred, Prince Victor's parents, would be powerless. Everyone knows without magical powers, fantasy worlds cannot exist.

So are the wonderfully articulated assumptions creating the basis for the storyline of Prince Victor, the heir to the throne of this magical fantasy world - but there's one problem! Young Prince Victor will lose his magical power at the age of thirteen unless he finds a way to rid himself of the dark curse placed upon him at his Baptism.

Amy Nielsen takes readers on this beautifully written childhood story in her novel Victor and the Sun Orb. Through her fantasy world created with lovely names, righteous people, Kings, Queens and Lords, all with a touch of magic up their sleeve, she authors a clean-cut, wholesome story. In the wake of creative authors such as Hans Christian Andersen, each page is open and bright with clarity of the altruistic goals and motivations of her characters. She artfully sets the storybook world where colorful magical powers grace the existence of fanciful characters. She gently darkens the story with an evil undercurrent, however bad behavior gets punished whilst good prevails and morality is rewarded - all wonderful lessons to be taught to our children.

Her graphically "Happy" cover art of a rainbow over a brilliant sunrise suggest her targeting a young audience. This book is ideal for children looking to immerse themselves in an adventure story of gallant proportions spiced with the flavor of beautiful names and places. This book would be an ideal gift for a child going off to a camp or on a trip, as a companion book for time alone. Amy Nielsen's story of Victor and the Sun Orb continues as she ends with what is the beginning of a sequel yet to be published.

Gary Sorkin, Pacific Book Review (Amazon.com/5 stars)

Sun fairies both good and evil, monstrous creatures, adventure, magic, a talking strawberry bush, ant royalty, and an epic battle for the freedom of an entire world are in store in the wonderful young adult fantasy Victor and the Sun Orb by Amy Nielsen.

The book captivates from the Prologue. On Solandia, another dimension of earth, a mythical sphere called the Sun Orb gives the fairies their magical powers. Without the Orb the entire world will become dark and magic-less. The book opens at the trial of Thorkel, the brother of King Godfred, a short time after Thorkel's capture for stealing the Sun Orb. Under Solandian law, Thorkel is sentenced by Queen Magenta to life imprisonment for his crime.

Some 500 years later, Queen Magenta has given birth to a son, Prince Victor. Not long after his birth it is learned that he has been cursed to become human on his 13th birthday. Humans cannot survive in the fairy world of Solandia and so upon turning the fateful age, Victor must leave his family to live with humans. The King and Queen search the entire Kingdom for the person responsible for Victor's mortality curse.

Victor's parents take the curse very seriously and decide to pepare Victor for life with the humans. Victor begins training with a fairy Master Tyrus. For three hours a day, Victor is trained in magic, history, geography, self-defense, and human lifestyles. Victor doesn't take to his studies right away, but in time he becomes a proficient student.

Despite an intense, decade-long search, the curse is not broken. Victor leaves home to live on Earth as a human after his thirteenth birthday. Meanwhile, the Sun Orb is stolen and the fairies' magic instantly begins to weaken. It is believed that Narcissa, a once banished terrorist fairy, or even Thorkel, may be responsible for the theft. Magenta and Godfred assemble an army and travel to a place called Fallen Island to find the Sun Orb. On Earth, Victor's human friend, Annika, has been kidnapped and evidence is found of evil fairy magic. Victor must use all he has learned from Master Tyrus to travel to Fallen Island to save her.

Amy Nielsen has created a universe with loveable creatures, horrible monsters, and mythical magic, effectively keeping readers of all ages entertained from cover to cover. Nielsen steadily builds the momentum over the first 100 pages. Then she throws us onto a thrill ride of twists and turns in the closing chapters, as the armies of Magenta/Godfred and Narcissa/Thorkel's evil Croogs meet in a heroic battle to save or enslave all Solandia.

Highly recommended for readers 8-13, with caution of some mild course language.

William Potter, Reader's Choice Book Reviews (Amazon.com/5 stars)

"Victor and the Sun Orb" is a brilliant fantasy book about sun fairies by Amy Nielsen. Much of the story takes place in the fairy kingdom of Solandia, where there are mythical creatures such as croogs and talking animals, and the people have magical powers. All their magic and powers are based on one item - the Sun Orb, a ball that is bright yellow and looks like the sun. Although they can see the human world below them, they are not allowed to interfere or interact with it. The main character in the book is Victor, the newborn fairy prince. His mother and father, King Godfred and Queen Magenta, are the rulers of the magic kingdom of Solandia. The book revolves around Victor's quest in the human world to retrieve the Sun Orb from two evil people, Thorkel and Narcissa, so the sun fairies can survive.

The book starts when the news is spread around that Victor, the fairy prince, has been born. King Godfred and Queen Magenta throw a large Baptismal Ceremony. While the King and Queen are opening Victor's presents the next day, they see a silver present with a black silken bowtie. A crystal ball inside it falls to the ground and smashes. It releases a string of words - a curse that said Victor will become a mortal at age thirteen. His parents are afraid of the curse and have Master Tyrus try to prepare him for the human world. He teaches him "geography, history, social studies, practical and advanced magic, self-defense, natural law, and human lifestyles." After Victor's thirteenth birthday, the Sun Orb is taken by Narcissa to Fallen Island, which is next to the human world. When Victor turns thirteen and turns mortal because of the curse he is sent to the human world. While he is there, he goes on a quest to retrieve the Sun Orb, which is his only chance of breaking the curse and going home to Solandia. Will Victor survive the human world and get the Sun Orb?

I would recommend this book for readers 9 to 12-years-old. I would compare it to "Quasar and the Eye of the Serpent" by T.K. Reed, except with a longer and more complex quest. Don't be discouraged if you think the book is slow when you start reading it. Amy Nielsen does a great job of building up the suspense more and more on every page as she describes Victor's quest. After the first few chapters you will not want to put it down. "Victor and the Sun Orb" by Amy Nielsen is a five-star, must read for fantasy lovers.  

Ben Hartman, Reader Views Kids (Amazon.com/5 stars)