Book Review of The Three Stones of Ebon
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The Children’s Book Review
Written by David and Keiko Mello
Illustrated by Keiko Mello
Ages 8-12 | 264 Pages
Publisher: Strive Publishing (2023) | ISBN-13: 9781948529228
What to Expect: Adventure, fantasy, quests, friendship, and bravery.
The Three Stones of Ebon feels like a classic fantasy adventure at its best, with enchanted objects, strange creatures, and a heart-stopping battle between good and evil.
Everyone knows that old Mrs. Krauss is completely crazy, even if Jack’s father won’t let him call her that out loud. However, it’s not until she sends him an urn as a present that he starts to understand just how weird she really is. The urn depicts amazing adventures—and they seem to feature Jack himself, along with his cat, Lucky. That night, the urn transports Jack to the magical land of Sturgus, where, with the help of his cat, Lucky, and his new friend, Abigail, Jack will brave adventures like nothing he could have imagined. Pirates, assassins, and evil wizards are threatening Sturgus (not to mention Jack), and it’s up to Jack to wake up the only protector strong enough to save them—Ebon, King of the Flying Horses.
Full of quirky, original characters, from the imaginative and energetic Jack himself to his voluble cat and indomitable friend Abigail, readers will love seeing how their relationships develop throughout the quest. The world is realistically rendered, with attention to homely and everyday details as well as outlandish ones, and beautiful pencil and ink sketches are scattered throughout the book, helping Sturgus feel inviting and real.
The Three Stones of Ebon is well-written, exciting, and absorbing, perfect for middle-grade and pre-teen lovers of fantasy adventure.
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About the Creators
David Mello may have left Stuttgart, Germany, in 1980 for the Pacific Northwest in his teens, but he is still an Army brat, divided between cultures of the U.S. and Germany. When not writing stories, he tends to have a camera in his hand. David’s long-standing love of comic books, standup comedy, and rooting for the underdogs of the world helped shape both his early and current writings, from children’s books, mini ‘zines, and various adventures in revolution.
Keiko Mello (Welch) hails from an interracial family and grew up in Minneapolis’ Northside in the 1970s. An introvert, she grounded herself in drawing, dancing, and a love of horses. By her teens, she pivoted to drumming in rock bands, and became a devout and lifelong “metalhead”. Restlessness drew her to the Seattle area in 1997, where she met David and the two have been inseparable ever since.
For more information, visit https://www.staymellocreative.com/.
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