Review by Kelly Jarvis: Ogden: A Tale for the End of Time by Ben G. Price

Readers will revel in the wisdom of trolls and other nature spirits in Ben G. Price’s fantasy novel Ogden: A Tale for the End of Time.

The book begins with a prologue presenting language as a “Spell of Words” that creates false memories in our minds and separates us from nature. Then it launches into the tale of a baby troll born deep in the wilderness. The troll’s father, Huth, has been instructed by the voices of his ancestors to abandon the baby in the woods where it will be found by humans. Erebus Drowden, a wealthy 18th century man with a keen interest in folklore, decides to raise the orphaned troll, teaching him to speak and behave properly. Known as Odgen, the troll grows quickly, and his interactions with Drowden’s family and the rest of the human world are both humorous and poignant. Unlike the human characters who are living on the cusp of industrialization, Ogden is one with the natural world, and he listens to the stars which sing without words. He speaks of places “without names” and explains that “some things are real even if you can’t say them.” Although Drowden’s wife and children are initially skeptical of Ogden’s place in their home, they come to love his endearing personality, unique wisdom, and authentic approach to life.

In addition to being a story about Ogden’s adventures, Price’s novel is a parable about our interaction with the natural world. The Spirit of Nature has sent Ogden to live among people and remind them that their industrialization may have devastating effects upon the planet. Price, a member of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, is a passionate advocate for peace between the natural and human worlds, and his mission to educate is on display in every word of his heartwarming novel. His book’s conclusion is a call to action that will redefine the way readers understand their place in the natural ecosystem.

Price’s narrative is classic in its construction with prose that will draw readers into the plot of his story. Those who enjoy books like The Hobbit will delight in Price’s magical world building. Ogden: A Tale for the End of Time is an entertaining and poignant read about memory, magic, learning and love. You can find it here.

Kelly Jarvis is the Contributing Writer for The Fairy Tale Magazine. Her work has also been featured in A Moon of One’s Own, Baseball Bard, Blue Heron Review, Corvid Queen, Eternal Haunted Summer, Forget Me Not Press, Mermaids Monthly, The Chamber Magazine, The Magic of Us, and the World Weaver Press Anthology Mothers of Enchantment: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers. Her first novella, Selkie Moon, comes out in 2025. You can connect with her on Facebook (Kelly Jarvis, Author) or Instagram (@kellyjarviswriter) or find her at https://kellyjarviswriter.com/