Book Review: The Weka-Feather Cloak

Imagine finding a fantasy book on my bookshelf. Very unlikely (except for the Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings, and the Chronicles of Narnia). However, I just finished a fantasy book called the Weka-Feather Cloak: A New Zealand Fantasy by Leo Madigan. Thanks to my older brother for recommending it! This is one of those books that starts right in with the story, without an explanation. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but boy was it a GREAT read! 

"Small, quiet, artistic Danny Mago, used to an uneventful, if not always pleasant existence, suddenly finds himself catapulted into a series of inexplicable happenings. After he gets the new job at St. Martin de Porres Convent with Mother Madeleine, the famous Maori painter, and he approaches the ancient, unused elevator on the Convent grounds, the uneventful tenor of his life takes a decided turn...upwards! The resulting wild sometimes hair-raising adventures next become strangely entangled with the mysterious quest that has brought beautiful Zelia Mazloum all the way from Turkey to New Zealand. In the midst of all this, Danny accepts a call to make a unique contribution to his home, the land that rests  

the land that rests upon the seas, Aetearoa. Demonic creatures, angelic beings, sly villains, an old and beautiful weka-feather cloak, a blank wall in a new Cathedral and an unforgettable Maori nun come together in this amazing tale of spirit and laughter." (Photo and text credit)

This fantasy was not like any other that I have read. There was no Narnia and no Middle Earth, no wizards, no fauns, no goblins, and no hobbits. Madigan writes about New Zealand throughout the story, but includes the fantasy of an elevator that can bring Danny Mago to many different places in time. Additionally, the story includes angels and demons to guide Danny in making the right choices. 

Things I Liked:

• I really liked how the Catholic faith was incorporated throughout the whole fantasy. Danny was challenged in many ways, but turned to his Rosary, the Crucifix, and Holy Water for protection. 

• I also liked how descriptive the scenery is! God's Creation of New Zealand is found throughout this book. Often, each chapter starts with a description of the nature around Danny and the other characters (see my favorite quotes below for examples). 

• Although Danny is the focus of this book, there really are three plots throughout that end up combining at the end. The plots are focused on Danny and his elevator, his special needs sister, Angela, and solving a mystery with a school girl, Zelia. 

• Finally, I loved how even though this was a fantasy, there was a lot of history intertwined among the chapters. Danny learned about Lady Juliana of Norwich, the Sylvestrine monks and Fra Angelico, and about the Eucharist. 

Things I Didn't Like:

• I mentioned above how I liked the three plots that eventually turn into one. However, it gets a bit confusing during the last few chapters, which I didn't like. The last chapter makes sense, but the few before that kind of mix everything together, so it really didn't make any sense until the end. 

Favorite Quotes:

    "Danny stood in the center of the room for a long time. It was good to be there. It had the comfort and security of a womb. A peace rose up from the stone floor and a peace seeped out through the walls. There was a distinctive smell to the place, fresh like apples and spring water, and the air tasted like that too" (51). 

    "They found themselves on a hillside looking down on a town of great visual charm. It was built on the confluence of two rivers and, criss-crossed as it was with canals and pools, it gave the illusion of floating on water. Fruit trees, palms and weeping willows grew on the banks of the rivers and the courtyards, and even the flat roofs of houses were dancing with color in the heat" (121).  

Content: 

There is a bit of bullying between Danny and his classmates during the school scenes. Additionally, during the fantasy scenes there is some descriptive violence. However, it is handled well between the characters. 

Age:

I recommend this book for ages 12 and up.

Rating:

★★★★

What is your favorite fantasy book?  

-Miss K