The Hound of Rowan (The Tapestry Series #1) » (Reprint)

In his debut novel, author-illustrator Henry H. Neff weaves together fantasy, science fiction, mythology, and folklore. The result is a spellbinding tale with an unforgettable cast of characters and an unmatched sense of wonder and suspense. A former consultant from the Chicago area, Henry H. Neff teaches history and fine arts at a San Francisco high school.

MAX MCDANIELS LIVES a quiet life in the suburbs of Chicago, until the day he stumbles upon a mysterious Celtic tapestry. Many strange people are interested in Max and his tapestry. His discovery leads him to Rowan Academy, a secret school where great things await him.

But dark things are waiting, too. When Max learns that priceless artworks and gifted children are disappearing, he finds himself in the crossfire of an ancient struggle between good and evil. To survive, he'll have to rely on a network of agents and mystics, the genius of his roommate, and the frightening power awakening within him.

Children's Literature

AGERANGE: Ages 10 up.

A young boy around the age of Harry Potter has found that he is in quite the pickle. He has discovered a hidden room at a Chicago art museum. Inside this mysterious room, an amazing ancient tapestry hangs for his eyes only. Now the adventure begins with our friend Max, who must figure out the good and bad guys, which does not exclude his own father. Of course, his mother is out of the picture, at least for now. Like many well-known fantasy books, she may appear again by book two or three. In the meantime, our hero must go on a quest to save the school and his new found friends at a believe-it-or-not boarding school. Unfortunately for the reader, I found nothing original or entertaining about this book, especially when required to read over 400 pages of a book that mirrors another popular series. I did find it interesting that Max was American, but the story has an Irish twist. The author, Henry H. Neff, did create an original character or two--Max's roommate David and Max's weird pet, a Black Forest lymrill. Again Mr. Neff disappointed me by introducing the lymrill and then not using it much. It makes an erratic appearance or two, which does nothing to move the plot. We are led in a merry chase that leads us to an instructor hardly even developed in the story as the culprit. If you are starved for high fantasy read this book. Otherwise wait for the next book in "The Tapestry" series and hope it will be more interesting. Reviewer: Julia Beiker