Review By: Anonymous
Published: 2025
Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure
Audience: Grades 4–8
Number of Stars: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Goodreads Link: Retribution
Content Warnings: Violence, mild profanity, and some suggestive content.
Publisher’s Summary
Faith built his world.
Loss shattered it.
Power will decide what remains.
Theodren is a village priest devoted to order, tradition, and the quiet lives entrusted to his care. His days are shaped by ritual, love, and an unshakable belief that the world-though imperfect-follows a divine design. Until violence tears that belief apart.
When tragedy strikes without reason or mercy, Theodren is forced to confront a truth he was never meant to the forces governing his world are far older, darker, and more fractured than any doctrine ever taught him. As grief and guilt threaten to consume him, an ancient power stirs-one that offers answers, vengeance, and a path forward… at a devastating cost. Blending intimate human relationships with mythic creation lore, Tales from the Tapestry is a fantasy novel about faith tested by suffering, love forged in fragile moments, and the dangerous temptation of power when justice feels out of reach.
Review
If you’re looking for a book that introduces students to fantasy without complicated magic systems or lore, this may be the book for you. Filled with action and adventure, this book focuses on a protagonist who must leave his home after tragedy and attempt to set things right. He faces powers that are beyond what he’s experienced in his lifetime and must learn to use newly gifted powers to protect and survive. Be prepared for gods to get involved and add their influence—and favor—to specific characters.
Those who enjoy this book will point out the action and admire the main character who learns to use his newly gifted powers to further his goals. While some may be put off by fantasy as a genre because of layers of sometimes convoluted world-building, this book is straightforward and to the point.
While for a long-time fantasy reader like me, I found some aspects lacking—I usually appreciate deep histories and expansive world-building—I can see how this book could be a solid introduction for younger readers (as long as they can handle mild profanity). At times, it seemed the main character was almost too good at everything, from fighting to getting along with his friends, which erased some of the “will he make it” tension. Reluctant readers may enjoy the straightforward writing style, though there may be other stories with more immersion and developed characters.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- English/Literary Analysis: Use this book to introduce the concept of character agency. Discuss the review’s point about the character being “too good” at things—does this help or hurt the story’s stakes?
- Mythology: Since gods play a role in the plot, pair this with a study of Greek or Norse myths. Compare how ancient gods influenced heroes versus how the gods act in Tales from the Tapestry.
- Reluctant Reader Groups: Because of the straightforward prose, this is a strong pick for students who find the “walls of text” or complex names in Lord of the Rings or Wings of Fire intimidating.
- Creative Writing: Have students create their own “Tapestry” of fate. If a god gave them one specific power to survive a journey, what would it be and what would be the cost?
🏷️ Tags
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📝 Blog Excerpt (Less than 75 words)
Looking for an entry point into fantasy without the 500-page lore dump? Retribution by JKL Parker is a 3-star, fast-paced adventure perfect for younger or reluctant readers. Featuring a hero who gains divine powers to avenge a family tragedy, it offers straightforward action and clear stakes. While simple for seasoned fantasy fans, it’s a solid introduction to the “Hero’s Journey” and the influence of fickle gods.
