Over the Dragon’s Wall

Over the Dragon’s Wall
by Alanna Vane
Published by Cold Blue Press
Review by Kelli Worton
$15.99 ISBN 9781738023325

Book One in the Children of Koshluk series, Over the Dragon’s Wall is a tremendous surprise of a book. In it, we are introduced to 13-year-old Sage, who lives in the woods outside a small village in Koshluk with her mother, father, and two younger siblings, Violet and Wren. Here, they live a simple life. Sage’s mother is a musician, and often sings and plays the violin for the family; Sage’s father makes furniture, and while they don’t have a lot, they have a home filled with love and warmth. This ends when Sage’s mother dies. Overwhelmed by grief, Sage’s father is unable to take care of even the children’s most basic needs. He finally abandons them, leaving Sage responsible for her siblings, and thrusting them into a tenuous, uncertain future. Then one day, Sage finds a picture of a dragon named Nytari, who is said to be the Guardian of Fate. Searching for a way to keep her siblings together and hoping to appeal to Nytari to change her fate, Sage undertakes a journey to find him. A gate to a mysterious world where time moves differently, talking animals that speak to her in riddles but offer sage (pun intended) pieces of wisdom, and a humble, gardening caretaker—the world Sage finds is part Narnia, part Alice in Wonderland, and entirely magical. The longer Sage stays in this world, though, the more drawn she is to an ordinary, non-magical violin. At least, Sage doesn’t think it’s magical. But is it?

The magic of Koshluk is only briefly introduced here, and the role Sage will play in Nytari’s world is yet to be seen. This first installment in the series is, at its core, a love letter to music and music’s power to heal and connect us to the memories of things we’ve lost, while also giving us the strength to move forward, face difficult emotions, and express them in positive ways. While tenderly written, it’s also darker than expected; with themes of abuse, neglect, grief, and the fragility of safety in family, the novel is a stark, distressingly realistic depiction of children left to fend for themselves. Traumatized and haunted by her memories, Sage has to overcome a lot, and it’s not always easy to watch. Yet, the central message is overwhelmingly positive, and one that any young adult can resonate with. For the readers who see themselves in Sage’s story, this is an especially important book, for it’s ultimately filled with hope—hope of a found family, of a safe, warm home, and of a brighter future. Surprising in its intensity and its tenderness, Over the Dragon’s Wall is a heartbreaking, touching, novel about coming to terms with the past and finding the magic within us. A highly recommended read.

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