The Vultures of Doom

By: Jack Borden
Publisher: Creekland Press
Publication Date: August 15, 2024
ISBN: 978-1959823025
Reviewed by: Diana Coyle
Review Date: July 26, 2024

In The Vultures of Doom by Jack Borden, twelve-year-old Avelyn, and eight-year-old Killian live with their parents in their gourd house. They are a family of Tixies, which are small, wingless creatures that inhabit woodlands. They live in hidden places such as hollow trees or other areas where they can conceal themselves from the rest of the forest for protection.

One afternoon when the family is just about to have lunch, a visitor arrives to discuss an urgent matter with their father, Sitric. Aedan, another Tixie, explains that the king has requested Sitric’s help in making weapons of war to fight the Vultures of Doom, which have the intention of taking over the entire forest. These vultures are one-eyed birds that will stop at nothing to kill whatever creature crosses their path, but especially Tixies, which are their favorite meal choice. Word in the forest is that the vultures plan on arriving soon and will kill anyone they come across in order to claim all of the forest for themselves. Sitric accepts the king’s request.

Shortly after, Avelyn and Killian’s mother, Ciara, has a visitor who has information for her. Alanna tells Ciara that all adult Tixies have been asked to immediately go to the Great Clearing and to leave their children home. The plan is that the children will be picked up by butterflies and taken to a safe cave until the Vultures of Doom war is over. Ciara explains to her children what is happening and tells them to wait for the butterflies to arrive and they will transport them to a safe cave until the vultures are addressed. The plan is for her children to stay in their house until morning when the butterflies will pick them up, but in the middle of the night, chaos strikes. A Vulture of Doom shows up at their house and wants to eat them. Avelyn and Killian have no choice but to leave before the butterflies arrive. They both decide to head to the Great Clearing to find their parents. Little do they both know, that from this moment forward this journey will require plenty of courage and skill to survive. Do Avelyn and Killian eventually find their parents and the other adult Tixies? What do they learn along their difficult journey? Who are the victors at the end of the Vultures of Doom war?

This reviewer was thoroughly entertained reading this story and found herself engrossed right from the very first page. The entire Tixie world and the one-eyed vultures were so creatively crafted that readers will become so engrossed into the storyline and won’t realize just how fast they are turning the pages to see what happens next. Borden spared no expense when he crafted this unique storyline with these truly believable characters that live in the forest. This reader found herself completely pulled into the story and wanting to become another adult Tixie that was ready to fight against the evil vultures. The author developed his storyline at the perfect pace allowing readers to see, feel, hear, and taste what was happening to Avelyn and Killian while they were on their dangerous journey to find their parents at the Great Clearing.

This story was so jammed packed with action and suspense that readers, both young and old, will feel as if they are fighting along with Avelyn and Killian as they try making it across the forest to the Great Clearing. The storyline and characters were so believable you will find yourself thinking you are another Tixie helping in the fight against The Vultures of Doom. The author’s creativity was at such a high level that this reviewer would love to see this book turned into a motion picture.

One interesting fact learned about Borden’s book was that he crafted this story for his oldest children and created the Avelyn and Killian characters in their likenesses. In addition, this is the first book in the Tixie Chronicles, so readers can eagerly look forward to what the author will pen for us next.

Quill says: The Vultures of Doom by Jack Borden is one book you shouldn’t pass up. It will take you on a fulfilling journey right alongside the characters, from start to finish, and is well worth looking into!

Author Interview