Fog & Fireflies

A wild and dangerous fog plagues the area around Ogma’s village. The fog is deadly to the adults, so Ogma and the village’s other children are tasked with keeping watch. As the village moves through the fog, Ogma and the other children rescue a stranded and injured boy, but not from their own time or place. But as the fog recedes, a troupe of caravanners approaches with promises of trade and festivities. During the festival, otherworldly invaders attack and abduct the children, vital to the safety of the village. As a result, Ogma becomes lost in the fog. To find her way back, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery where she finds much more than she expects.

Fog & Fireflies is the debut novel of T.H. Lehnen. His fantastical story pits the character against an ever-changing, always-threatening environment. As Lehnen’s characters grow and adapt, their relationship with the fog and the landscape changes. As the story continues, the new characters he introduces become more wondrous and more strange. But always present is everyone’s relationship with the fog and landscape. Conflict comes from every direction and internally as Ogma proceeds through the tale.

Lehnen takes world-building to a new level. This is not world-building like Tolkien’s Middle Earth or Lewis’s Narnia. The landscape of Lehnen’s creation cannot be defined by features on a map. It is an ever-changing landscape that not only influences how the character reacts, but it seems to have a personality of its own. In most fantasy tales, world-building consists of a physical map with place names and landmarks. The world of Lehnen’s creation is a dark, brooding character that taunts, invades, and can abduct the adults of the villages. The settings and environment are an essential character in the story. The more one ignores the landscapes around them, the more dangerous the situation gets. Better examples of world-building on Lehnen’s level would be Lewis Carrol’s Wonderland or Micheal Ende’s Fantastica.

Lehnen’s novel is marketed to young adults. Other than the mild violence, this book has a much broader audience. This action-packed fantasy is reminiscent of stories written in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, meant for younger readers. The story is complex and engaging enough to keep the attention of a more mature audience. Fog & Fireflies is a fantastic, fantastical tale of exploration and discovery that will delight both young and old readers.