Reviewed on Reedsy Discovery by Kristy L. "Lifelong bibliophile. Library Board Member. Select book reviews featured on my blog, Goodreads, and Amazon. I'm a frank but fair reviewer, averaging 400+ books/year in a Wide Variety of genres on multiple platforms, including Net Galley and Book Sirens. Over 830 published reviews." Website: https://pagesandpaws.com/

Skotis are “small, misshapen, ebony-black shadows.” These evil sprites follow young Johnny everywhere, egging him on to misdeeds and malevolence. But he’s the only one who sees them in this engaging children’s book from Maria Andreas.

After Jonny’s beloved granddad passes away, Johnny wanders into the forest where he finds a cheerful and chatty squirrel, appropriately named “Gab.” Gab asks Johnny about his choices. And about two competing forces, Mike and Belzeb. Gab explains that choosing Mike as his life coach will most likely help Johnny win “the tournament of life.” ... Belzeb, on the other hand, hates beauty and all that is good. This includes togetherness, joyfulness, and friendship.

Gab and his wife, Raphaela, invite Johnny and his new friends, Paulo, Josiane and Tatiana into their natural world. It’s a world that’s filled with beauty and wonder, imagination and magic. It’s a place where animals talk, care for one another in an animal hospital, and share stories. It’s a world where love and kindness triumph. In this world, the friends learn valuable lessons in the forest about nature, patience, persistence, bravery, sharing, choices, family, and the beauty of life. (The squirrels may remind some readers of Mr. and Mrs. Beaver from C.S. Lewis' beloved classic, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.)

Meanwhile, an undercurrent of warfare in the unseen realms swirls throughout the creative and quick plot. It includes battles against skotis with their evil thoughts and malicious intent. Also tales and legends from African and Asian cultures. Transforming “negative energies into creative energies.” A mysterious Lady in Red, aka: the Queen in Red. The “circle of hope” and the “circle of friendship.” Tip: Keep an eye out for the meaning of “Raphaela.” It matters.

Also the primary mission of the forest creatures, which is restoration of the forest and protection of its weakest inhabitants. 

But the evil Belzeb has a plan. A monstrous, evil plan to not only take out the effervescent, energetic Raphaela but to do likewise with Gab and the four school kids the squirrels have been training and teaching. There’s also the “truth of love.” And some toe-tappin’ tunes. 

Johnny’s gift of seeing what no one else can comes in handy when the kids and their friends are under attack by the skotis and company. It all comes to a head in an epic showdown between the uber villainous Belzeb and “Mike,” the “Prince of Light.”

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This is a creative and worthwhile read full of magic, wonder, and warmth.