The Elk King

Elk Prince Draven will inherit the throne of peaceful, prosperous Glenariff much sooner than he’d like. He doubts he’d make a very good king and just wants a normal life. But in Glenariff, no Elk is normal. All are bound to the magical source of the herd’s strength. Like many, Draven has forgotten the old tales—and old enemies. 

As Draven makes plans to escape royal life, a deadly sickness sweeps the kingdom. Rumors of enemies and traitors abound. With the king distracted by secret troubles, the Elk stand to lose everything, including their very lives.

To save the kingdom, Draven must face what he has long feared and new terrors he couldn’t have imagined. But first, he must remember the old tales—before there’s no herd left to rule. 

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Praise for The Elk King

“In this story set in a land called Animalia, full of danger and mystery, my favorite things are the characters, because (in a delightful bit of irony) they are so deeply human.”
James D. Witmer
Editor of Storywarren.com, Author of the Big Old Garden stories
“The Elk King delights from the first page to the last with its lively animal protagonists and twisty plot full of adventure and intrigue. Following in the tradition of Redwall and the Green Ember series, The Elk King pulls readers into a richly-imagined world populated by unforgettable characters, where a noble kingdom balances on the edge of ruin, and every creature has a vital role to play, for good or ill.”
Emma C. Fox
Author of The Arrow and the Crown
“C.S. Lewis once noted that a children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest. The Elk King, on the other hand, is a children’s story that I enjoyed perhaps even more than my children, who adored it. It is clever, aspirational, genuinely funny, and a total delight.“
Kyle Porter
Author of Normal Sport, Dad Who Reads to His Kids
“A vivid world of magic, adventure, and lore you forget at your own peril. These wise, wonderful, and wicked characters would be at home in a book by C.S. Lewis, Kathryn Lasky, or Brian Jacques. Jenn Discher’s world of Animalia is clever, delightful, and packed with furry pageantry.”
AJ Vanderhorst
Author of the Casey Grimes series
“For readers who already love Redwall, The Green Ember, or The Mistmantle Chronicles, reading The Elk King will feel like traveling to a beloved but wholly new place, full of characters well worth your affection.”
Théa Rosenburg
Editor of Wild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Children’s Books
“Full of intrigue, adventure, and courage, The Elk King is the kind of kid’s book we need in the world.“
Jessica Linn Evans
Author/Illustrator of Penguin Sets Sail
“From the first pages of The Elk King, I was swept into the world of Animalia…Jenn Discher has built a beautiful, fascinating world of talking animals. This is a story for families of all ages. I look forward to returning to this world and sharing it with others.”
Loren Warnemuende
Author of Daughter of Arden: Exile

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