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Mitchell Charles’ love of the ocean and its miraculous creatures began at the age of 12 when his father taught him to SCUBA dive. From his first adventure 50 feet (15 meters) beneath the Caribbean Sea he was hooked. He has been involved in the Oceanic Society, America’s first non-profit organization dedicated to ocean conservation, established in 1969.
Mitchell’s inspiration for The Kingdom of Oceana was born of exploring the spectacular coastline, lush valleys, and vibrant coral reefs of the Hawaiian Islands. On these excursions, he imagined what Hawaii was like hundreds of years ago. Before Captain Cook arrived from England. Before the golf courses and hotels. Before the ukulele and the Mai Tai became icons of Hawaiian culture. He dreamed of a time when the islands were an undiscovered magical paradise.
These days, Mitchell divides his time between Southern California and Hawaii. He has two teenage children and a dog named Magic.
Mitchell is currently working on the second book in the Kingdom of Oceana series, The Legend of the Nine Sacred Pearls. For more information, visit http://kingdomofoceana.com/
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
The Kingdom of Oceana by Mitchell Charles is a tale of fantasy, a tale that happened five centuries ago. Prince Ailani is just 16 years old when he and his brother Nahoa find themselves in deep trouble. On one adventurous day they step on forbidden land, a burial ground that they should not be near. There they find an ancient tiki mask and let loose a curse, a curse that was placed there one thousand years ago, a curse that will destroy their lands and their people. War breaks out for the right to control Oceana, bringing forth a new threat, a conflict between sorcerers, a conflict that may erupt at any time. It is up to Prince Ailani to save Oceana, together with his faithful sidekick, a shapeshifter, and a beautiful princess. The prince must work through his feelings of insecurity, put aside sibling rivalry, and deal with the plague that the tiki has brought forth. Can Ailani save Oceana? Will he be the future king of a peaceful land or will the curse destroy everything?
The Kingdom of Oceana by Mitchell Charles is a fun read. Right from page one, the story drew me in and kept me hooked all the way through. It is packed full of fun, adventure and mythology, all the stuff that makes a story well worth the read. The plot follows a twisting path through a beautiful tropical world, and Mitchell Charles’ use of descriptive language really brings the story alive. The characters were really well developed and there were a few real-world issues dealt with here – it isn’t just some fantastical make believe tale; there are a few lessons to be learned along the way. This book is a real page-turner, full of action and adventure, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I hope that there will be more books like this from Mitchell Charles in the future.
