Quill and the Last Generation
A chill blast opens this book, as we enter a world that has only known winter for twelve years, and where no child has been born in this time. There is a sense of desperation around a ceremony of fire lighting created to restore the usual cycles of nature. The villagers are looking for hope wherever they can find it, but quiet and cautious Quill is probably the last person they would expect to discover it in.
However, it is to Quill that a strange shapeshifting girl appears. It seems his destiny is tied to the fate of not just this world, but the underworld too, and she sweeps him off to a land of dragons and gods to meet it. This world is given depth from the ancient mythology that Lewis draws on. It also comes to life through Vidal’s lively, fluid illustrations, which flow from the action of the words, and feel like they could spill off the page and carry the story beyond its boundaries.
Ordinary Quill could feel small against such an epic background. It may be expected that he will need to overcome his timid nature to become the hero that is needed. Instead, Lewis shows that humility, empathy and kindness may be the forces that can bring light back to the world. Readers are sure to devour this book simply for its wonderful storytelling, but quiet bookish types may also enjoy a hero whose introversion is a source of strength.
