Daniel and the Erl-King

LoveReading Says

Available on Amazon.

Set in the 1970s and yet also strangely timeless, Daniel and the Erl-King by Andrew Swan shows the village of Prestwick plagued by decades of missing children and Floyd Jenkins ostracised and under suspicion by the local community. Then Daniel comes running from the woods without his friend Jack, reciting a story similar to Floyd’s childhood experience about a crown-wearing giant luring the boy away.

Floyd and newcomer Rev. Harlan Williams, spur each other into action to put a stop to the disappearances, or at the very least prove Floyd and Daniel’s claims about the giant to be correct. 

Daniel and Erl-King blends traditional folklore with modern mystery in a small closed off village, set in their ways and unwelcoming of outsiders. The description of a small village at the side of a forest plagued by a mythical being and a centuries old curse feels plucked out of a fable in a way that makes the story feel timeless.

I also think there’s an irony that Floyd, cast out and under a shroud of suspicion by the locals, living on the outskirts of the community occupies the typical role a witch would in a more traditional tale given the centuries old vendetta at the heart of the story. However, the inclusion of the police, and Constable Keyes adds a modern and crime fiction edge to the story that is subtly and brilliantly unsettling.

I was questioning myself as I read - is there really a giant in the forest? Or is there another explanation? 

I liked the friendship between Floyd and Harlan, their quips and conversations at times added a levity to what could be quite a dark story, as they fumble to put together a plan to ensnare The Erl-King. The appearance of the Van Helsing style Professor Nelson helped them with their endeavours and also provided an additional layer of folklore context and backstory that added depth to the fantasy elements of the plot. Daniel and the Erl-King is an entertaining modernisation of a classic folklore tale that has been well crafted to ensure it balances a traditional feel with contemporary additions to make a thrilling read that doesn’t always go where you expect. 

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