Independent Press Award
2025 Distinguished Favorite
R.J. Smith
Journey Through the Forest of Thimbleton
In the village of Ferall Woods, a young Arthel has always wished for a venture into the woods that lie beneath. The search for the golden chestnut during the seasonal festival of Illumidans and the quest for the fireflies of autumn have been his only sort of adventure. It was soon that the young Ferallian would discover that he and his friends would be thrust into a journey that would not only decide the fate of their village but the world beyond it as well. In a task given to them by their dying elder Metholden, Arthel and his friends, Arnina and Napel, were sent to Northern Cavern to be rid of the legendary Agmus stone. On this journey, the three encounter new friends with occasional confrontations with the soldiers of Rengward who are also after the sacred stone. The history of unseen villages, the truth behind the Elder Hall of their home, and clashes with foes strange to them makes the journey through the Forest of Thimbleton a thrilling adventure beyond their wildest imaginations.