Out of the Outlands: A Hero Born

by Emily Kay Johnson

Overview

A children's fantasy adventure for ages 8-12.
Chloe is prophesied to be a great hero...when she reaches the grown-up age of ten or eleven, probably. When a mysterious wizard enters the village, Chloe and her best friend, Thomas, find a way to learn everything he knows about the Outlands and monsters and being a hero. Now, if she can only complete her training before the first monster arrives!

Book 1 of The Mage and Blade Trilogy

The Mage and Blade Trilogy
Out of the Outlands: A Hero Born
On the day she was born, Chloe's father had a vision that she would be a hero. But it's hard to become a warrior in a sleepy little village where nothing ever happens. When a magical stranger comes over the bridge from the Outlands. Chloe and her friend, Thomas, vow to discover his secrets before she must face a dangerous threat.
The Bridge Portal: A Prophecy Fulfilled
It's been four quiet years since Chloe fought a dragon. But the dire prophecy of her father's vision is yet to come. And new monsters are spawning. The wizard has a solution, but Thomas doesn't trust him. What is he hiding about the Outlands? And what will happen to Chloe when she goes there?
Of Fate and Blade: Into the Dark World
When Chloe and Thomas dared the Dark World, catastrophe struck! Now Thomas must face his fears to protect the village. Meanwhile, Chloe vows to return to free the Outlands from a powerful foe and his legion of monsters. But the Dark World holds a secret that will challenge everything she knows about home.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940167725430
Publisher:	Emily Kay Johnson
Publication date:	08/09/2024
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	662 KB
Age Range:	5 - 11 Years

About the Author

Emily Kay Johnson lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two boys, and two cats. If you don't know who she is, that's okay. The important people to know about are the Dudes. At least, that's what her writing partner, Tyler, says. Luckily, no madcap plans or crazy schemes EVER happen in Emily's quiet suburb!
Her goal, like that of most writers, is to spend as much of the day in a fantasy world as possible.

Editorial Reviews

2025-02-04
In Johnson’s fantasy series-starter for middle-grade readers, the Age of Battles is over, but a 9-year-old hero is destined to rise to a heroic destiny.

Young Chloe’s father, the mayor of Schlafendorf, had a vision at her birth that she was fated to become a hero. Her parents have tried to keep this information from her, but she learns it anyway, “because parents rarely realize when their children are listening.” Since she’s picked up on her fate, her best friend, Thomas, has been putting her through training to prepare. So far, this has mostly involved such things as staging mock battles with other children and going on an unplanned chase after escaped piglets. But when an unnamed wizard suddenly arrives in town from the Outlands, it’s clear that he’s a harbinger of change and that Chloe’s time must be coming soon. Although the townsfolk are thrilled by his arrival, the wizard is less enthusiastic; he doesn’t remember why or how he arrived in Schlafendorf, but he does know that he erased his own memories on purpose. He also knows more about the inner workings of the town than its inhabitants do. Readers slowly learn that there’s more to the world of Schlafendorf than meets the eye, as references to a “program” and other elements establish that it’s not a generic medieval setting. The wizard gets pulled into town life, as the mayor simply won’t let him stay on the sidelines, and Thomas is determined to enlist him in Chloe’s heroic preparations. Filled with endearing and quirky characters, such as the mayor with his odd speech flourishes (such as the termmysterical) and an unfailingly polite bridge troll, the cast is well rounded and compelling. The story moves quickly, bouncing from character to character, but the big action scene doesn’t occur until the very end, and questions about the logistics of the program and the wizard’s presence remain unanswered in this initial installment.

An often charmingmiddle-grade adventure story with an intriguing angle.

Kirkus Reviews