Victoria Walker (1)

Eons ago, when I was about seven or eight years old, I pulled a very dusty, battered copy of The Winter of Enchantment from the shelves of my tiny school library. The novel was, I remember, the most exciting, magical story I had ever encountered, and I fell in love with it immediately. After finishing it, I felt airy, optimistic, and aglow with the belief that magical things could happen at any given moment.
It's a feeling that has never left me.
For some reason, however, I didn't demand that my mother and I rush out to our local children's bookshop (back in the day when those still existed...) and buy a copy of The Winter of Enchantment for my very own. Instead, I chose to believe that the library book was the last remaining copy in existence. I adored the idea that another child, with similar literary tastes, would eventually pull it out and step into the secret world of Sebastian, Melissa, and Mantari. And then, we would be bonded by our wonderful, magical experience. It was an idea that seemed very, very romantic to me, and I was quite pleased with it.
Much later, at the cusp of adulthood, the memory of the magical tale popped into my head. I remembered flashes of the plot, something about a cat, and the fact that the cover of the library copy had been very, very purple. And that was it. The title of the novel had left me; the name of the author had long since been forgotten. Even with the help of the internet, I had no way of finding this novel. My hopes of rereading this masterpiece had been dashed.
And then, somehow, a miracle occurred. A friend, whose googling abilities were much more powerful than my own, somehow managed to track down both of Victoria Walker's works - The Winter of Enchantment and The House Called Hadlows. A small, Scottish publisher by the name of Fidra Books, which specializes in out of print works, had revived them. Joy reigned supreme! Astonishment overwhelmed me! And, most of all, magic was restored to my own, personal realm.
And, I hope, it will never leave.… (altro)

About 25 years ago as an 11 year old - I was set loose in British bookstore and given a few pounds to spend how I liked on some books to get me through my family's 3 week trip abroad. One of the books I picked up was Victoria Walker's The Winter of Enchantment. This became my most beloved childhood book. I carried it everywhere with me. I kept it in my locker at school, it came with me away to high school and college, whenever I moved it always found its way into one of the boxes. My copy is tattered and worn. I gradually became terrified that my book would would fall apart and become unreadable before I ever got a chance to share it with my children.

When I found out Fidra books was reprinting it a few years ago I was ecstatic. I ordered a mess of copies. Enough for nieces, nephews and copies for my own children.

What surprised me most though was that - at the same time - they also reprinted another novel by Victoria Walker - A House Called Hadlows. Imagine my shock and delight when I received my copy and saw that it was a sequel to my much beloved The Winter of Enchantment.

This book sat on my bedside table for over a year. I honestly was so floored I didn't know how to react when I saw that it was a sequel - it was almost too precious to read. I picked it up many times always putting it back down - not quite ready to find out what happened to my life long friends Sebastian and Melissa.

Well - I finally read it through - and it was pretty good. I really wish that I had acquired it in my youth - as an adult, I think I am way more aware of shortcomings than I could ever have been in my younger days. The story has a very similar framework to The Winter of Enchantment. There is a quest, there are elements to acquire - adventures are had with mythic figures.

Although reading this didn't give me the same thrill that The Winter of Enchantment gave me - it was comforting to know there was a next chapter - so to speak - for Sebastian and Melissa.

I am looking forward to the day I can share both of these books with my children. I will be so curious to see how they react to The House Called Hadlows and whether or not my age has really gotten in the way here.

In any case - I love these characters - Sebastian, Melissa and probably most of all Mantari -- they will always have a little piece of my heart and my imagination.

I am looking forward to the day I can share both of these books with my children. I will be so curious to see how they react to The House Called Hadlows and whether or not my age has really gotten in the way here.

In any case - I love these characters - Sebastian, Melissa and probably most of all Mantari -- they will always have a little piece of my heart and my imagination.… (altro)