Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest

By Liz Flanagan
Illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Liz Flanagan is the UK writer of the middle grade fantasy series Legends of the Sky, and the YA thriller Eden Summer. Into the Wild is the first in her new Wildsmith  fantasy series, again aimed at lower middle grade readers and featuring dragons, magic and witches.

When war threatens Rowan’s city, she and her mother move to the Dark Forest to live with the grandfather she has never met. Rowan struggles to adjust to her new life until she rescues a baby dragon from poachers and discovers an extraordinary family secret: like her grandpa, she’s a wildsmith – a person who can heal and speak to animals! The summer speeds by as Rowan fosters a clutch of dragons, makes new friends and even meets a trio of powerful witches. But danger is lurking on the horizon. Can Rowan step into her power as a wildsmith and protect the Dark Forest?

Rowan is a tough little character, determined to do the right thing even when frightened and in danger. Her love for her family and the animals she has rescued is what drives her. Discovering she is a Wildsmith, a person who has the power to heal magical creatures, and working out what that entails is central to the story. Her important relationships are with the animals she looks after, the dragons she rescues, rather than with her new friends. These dragons, all given cute names are very much like little flying kittens, sure to appeal to young readers.

Strong themes of animal rescue, habitat preservation and love of family underpin this uncomplicated story which charms by its simplicity and absolute certainty of  who is right and who is wrong. High production values and plenty of black and white illustrations add to the appeal for 9 – 12 year old readers.

Affirm Kids 2025
Liz Flanagan