It usually takes me a while to get into a book, but not with DarkIsle - I was hooked from the start. I was drawn into the book and felt I was on the magical journey and adventures along with Morag, Bertie and all. A great read for all the family.

My son actually read a book from start to finish...and really enjoyed it! Now that, for me, IS magic! The book in question is D A Nelson's wonderful Darkisle. I was so delighted I bought a copy for my eleven year old niece who raved about it too! I then had the pleasure of reading it all by myself and was immediatly transported into the fantasic world of Morag, Bertie the Dodo and Aldiss the Rat on thier dangerous adventure to free Shona the Dragon and recover the Eye of Lornish from the evil Devlish on the Island of Murst (the Darkisle). It is so well written that my adult world dissolved within the first chapter. The imagery is so clear that you almost feel the icy-cold blustery weather and the secure warmth of shelter..and what a finale!!Glasgow Underground will never be the same to me!More! More!Mandy,Graham and Kerrie.

I loved this book so much that I published it! The hugely inventive characters have so much personality that they feel as if they are next to you in the room. Thankfully we'll get to meet them again - a second DarkIsle book is planned for October 2008, and we (Strident Publishing) have recently signed D A Nelson for a third book in the series.In case you're not aware, DarkIsle was bought up by publishers in the US, Germany, Italy, Spain and Korea even before it was launched in the UK. A Japanese publisher has since bought it and a host of others are looking to buy it. So this is the start of a major series, and with only 2,500 hardback first editions in existence, and over 60% of those sold in the first 8 weeks since the launch, it's well worth snapping one up.And how good is the cover? Nice one Shona Grant (the illustrator).The dragon that inspired the story is made 40 metres long and is made from the stone of a disused railway bridge. The beast sits above Irvine Beach in Scotland & is well worth a visit.

What a wonderfully enchanting story full of interesting characters, some frightening like Mephista...some irresistible like Aldiss and Bertie. I love the idea of an underground road trip through the west of Scotland to a forbidding land. Maybe its because I am from the west but its more likely that this is an enjoyable fairytale which will appeal to all ages. I wish my daughter was old enough to read it but she is only four.. maybe.in a few years. I look very forward to more books about Morag and the Darkisle. Easily a five star rating.

DarkIsle is a fantastic book and it is one of the only books I can't put down!!! I thought it was great how animals actually came to life and went on a mission to free the dragon and went to Murst to get the eye of Lornish. I can't wait to read the next one!!!Nataliexxx