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Davis Journal

Book Nook – Tsalix Silverthorn continues his adventure

May 06, 2021 10:04AM ● By Tom Haraldsen

When last we left Bountiful author Richard Siddoway’s newest character, Tsalix Silverthorn, he and his fellow villagers Asur and Kwercus had completed the first part of their quest – to retrieve a prophesied talisman for their king. That journey kicked off the Tsalix Silverthorn series, the first fantasy books authored by the long-time Bountiful resident and New York Times bestselling author. 

Tsalix Silverthorn and the Desert of Desolation, which was released in March, is the second in the four-book series. It’s the continuing story of a courageous young man (Tsalix) leading a dangerous quest to restore peace and order in the tiny village of Aravah in the Kingdom of Sodizen. King Elosha is close to death, and his twin sons, Princes Abadon and Johona, are engaged in a battle to take over the throne. As you might guess, one of the sons (Abadon) has evil intentions of becoming dictatorial, while Johona is much more loving and peaceful. King Elosha summons Tsalix and his friends to retrieve these talismans from their hidden places, and thus prevent Abadon from taking power.

In a previous interview, Siddoway said that “Every book I have written has the underlying theme of good over evil. In Tsalix Silverthorn, I hope readers will get a sense of the uplifting undertones within the larger concept of the story.”

This book follows our heroes over Skayeksten, the Desert of Desolation, to reach Mount Tsood and the second talisman. The journey is formidable, as the young men not only battle the elements of dry, hot and drifting sand, but also a band of soldiers sent by Abadon to capture them and bring them back to the evil prince. Abadon has sent Captain Nash Doitsoh and his soldiers to do the deed. But as Tsalix and his brothers exercise extreme faith, and overcome a number of obstacles, they summon within themselves the strength necessary to fight against opposition.

The latest novel lets readers feel the emotions of these young men – their fears at times but also their bravery. Lovers of fantasy will enjoy Siddoway’s situational creativity, not to mention all those names of people and places he has conjured up!

Siddoway said it took him about a year to complete each of the four books. A third book will be released this fall and the final book in the series in 2022. He may be best known for his bestseller The Christmas Wish, which was his first published novel and was made into a TV movie starring the late Debbie Reynolds along with Neil Patrick Harris and Naomi Watts. It has been shown almost annually on CBS.

I first met him while he was the assistant principal at Viewmont High School. He served as an educator in Davis County for more than 45 years, and in 1994 was asked by Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt to create the nation’s first virtual high school, The Utah Electronic High School. He also served three terms in the Utah House of representatives, including two years as Speaker Pro Tempore.

In addition to “The Christmas Wish” and now the Tsalix Silverthorn series, his other books include “The Christmas Quest,” “An Honest Heart,” “Christmas of the Cherry Snow,” and “Mom and Other Great Women I’ve Known.”

“I’m excited about ‘Tsalix Silverthorn and the Scepter of Destiny’ because I’ve loved fantasy and this is an exciting story to tell,” he said. “I’ve been working on the series for about five years.” 

Forthcoming books in this series are “Tsalix Silverthorn and the Maelstrom of Tears,” and “Tsalix Silverthorn and the Glittering Peak.” You can learn more on his website at richardsiddoway.com, bookshop.org, or follow him on Facebook @RichardMSiddoway.