Joon is a keeper in the Timeless Forest…

Joon is a keeper in the Timeless Forest, tending to all the trees and plants.
When a fire threatens everything that she knows, she must make a daring escape to ensure her beloved redwood tree lives on.

A picture book for 4-8 year olds.

Available in hardcover and softcover.

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Purchase Joon:

• Etsy (Signed; Aus and International)
• Livre Eclectica Books (Aus and International)
• Readings
• Amazon.com
• Amazon.com.au (coming soon)
• Amazon.co.uk
• Booktopia
• Fishpond (NZ)
• Open Trolley (Singpore)
• Barnes and Noble (USA)
• Three Trees Books (USA)
• One More Page (USA)
• Walmart (USA)
• Mystery Loves Company (USA)
• Open Trolley (Singapore)
• Bokus (Sweden)
• Saxo (Denmark)
• Kyngos (Italy)
• Hugendubel (Germany)

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Reviews for Joon

“I love the pictures and the colours. I was pretending I was Joon in the Forest. We need to keep trees safe, and look after each other.” Penny, 8 years old.

“A beautifully illustrated tale of the cycle of life and defending the world you love.” ~ Trent Jamieson, author of The Giant and The Sea  and Mr Impoppable.

“Joon, Big Red and the Unicorn written by Marianne de Pierres, with whimsical watercolor illustrations by Sunshine, is a children’s picture book that seamlessly blends themes of friendship, courage, and renewal. Set in the  Timeless Forest, the story follows Joon, a dedicated Keeper of the Forest, and her friend Big Red, the last Redwood tree of its kind. The Timeless Forest is an enchanted place where unicorns ‘swim across Glow Lake when the moon is full, to chew the fruit from the lolly bushes and the flowers from the tangle vines’ and Joon’s job is to water the stream lilies and midgenberries and collect fallen seeds from all the trees.

Filled with richly evocative language featuring a range of literary devices, this story is full of powerful symbolism, with Big Red representing the ancient wisdom of the natural world, the shiny seed left behind serving as a poignant symbol of hope and rebirth, and the character of Joon herself representative of the future generations the author has dedicated this book to: ‘my children’s children’. The personification of Big Red as a nurturing and protective figure adds emotional resonance to the story, making it a tender and meaningful introduction to loss for young readers. This is a book that will spark conversations about friendship, care for nature, climate change, sacrifice, loss and hope.

In this picture book offering, Marianne de Pierres, an accomplished writer for both adults and children, has woven words into a tale that is both accessible and profound, making it a wonderful choice for readers aged 4 to 8.

Sunshine’s vibrant watercolors bring the magic of the Timeless Forest to life, imbuing the pages with bright charm and a sense of wonder. Her artistic style perfectly complements the story’s whimsical elements and serves as a lighter contrast to the story’s emotional depth.

Visually captivating, rich in language and offering layers of meaning, Joon, Big Red and the Unicorn is an excellent pick for parents, carers and early years educators looking to inspire environmental awareness and a love of story in young readers. Its message of holding on to hope after loss will linger long after the final page. Highly recommended!” ~ Dannika Paterson, author of Heavy and Jacaranda Magic.

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Publisher Information

• ISBN: 9781763837997; ISBN-10: 1763837998
• Published: 26th May 2025
• Format: Hardcover
• Number of Pages: 44

• ISBN: 9781763837980; ISBN-10: 176383798X
• Published: 26th May 2025
• Format: Softcover
• Number of Pages: 44

Rebellion is an elemental creature. It takes shape within the air, the water, the earth, and the fire. In the soil of dystopia, the seeds of defiance are slow to bloom, but spread faster than wildfire once it takes root. When the population is oppressed, belittled and degraded, told what to do and who they can be, the only thing left for them is Resistance.

Set in the post-apocalyptic city of Otpor, orthodoxy is expected of everyone; every individual is brought up into an Elemental caste – Fire, Water, Air, Earth – which dictates their position in society in an almost Brave New World level of genetic manipulation. Once you have been placed, you cannot change, don’t rock the boat, observe the status quo. Any disobedience is punished immediately, publicly and violently. The worst offenders, those who spread the crime of Heterodoxy (having opinions against those of the masses) are executed as an example to the rest.

Resistance is a harsh, gut-wrenching story about Anaiya, a top-caste Fire Elemental who has been chosen to infiltrate a resistance cell of lower-level insurgents who have been spreading anti-establishment messages throughout the city; a trend that could topple the fragile balance.

Trapped between the desire to expunge the taint of heterodoxy laid upon her by her insurgent mentor, and the new emotions she feels after her brain is altered to allow her to blend in with other Elementals, Anaiya is quick to lose her sense of self as she attempts to track down the resistance leader, experiment with her new-found abilities, and keep her superiors happy.

Written in an unforgiving and blunt manner, Kopievsky has illustrated a new world of distrust and struggle where even the most basic natural functions are controlled or sterilised. No trees grow within the high walls of Otpor. In such a world relationships are strained and interactions between the castes terse to the point of aggression. Escapism is sought in any way possible and leads to excess; mood altering drugs a normal state of affairs to keep the populace under control.

Characters are written with depths that will no doubt be revealed as the series evolves, with each caste maintaining their own attitudes and slang. Settings are starkly contrasted between the authoritarian bleakness and artistic embellishments, drawing strong walls between those of the establishment and the free-spirited. When it comes to the smaller-scale world building Kopievsky has done an incredible job of establishing both a setting and society that is unique, while at the same time portending of a future that could all too easily become our own reality.

The first book in the Divided Elements series, Resistance a great read for its incredible prose and its unsettling message. When life is oppressive, all we can do is Resist.

 

Picking up from where Blood of Innocents left off Mitchell Hogan returns us to his chaotic realm of sorcery and subterfuge in book three of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence; A Shattered Empire.

Familiar protagonists return in this blood-fueled third volume of Caldan’s life as he seeks to find a cure for his beloved Miranda; to free himself from the nefarious plans of the corrupt and sorcerous Emperor; and maybe even save the world from Kelhak, the man who brought destruction and death down upon the world in the most apocalyptic game imaginable.

The narrative is, like the previous volumes, split between protagonists and antagonists alike: Caldan, the once regal but now destitute Lady Felice, honourable and misjudged Aidan, homicidally insane Amerdan and more getting to tell their sides of the story. It reveals that in times of war and great confusion things are rarely black or white; in the end people will do what is necessary in order to survive or help those they care about. While others are using the time to accumulate power or practice their craft on a panicked populus.

All the elements of the game are now revealed to our young protagonist. Sorcerous warlocks demand his blood to extend their lives, violent Touched demand his loyalty unto death, and the creatures that seek to overrun humanity see him as little more as a distraction towards their ultimate victory.

A Shattered Empire is a master-crafted piece of world building, going deeply into historical backstory, character arcs and both technical and philosophical discussion as to how such a land and people develop. In doing so Hogan has answered so many questions that remain lodged in our minds since the A Crucible of Souls, such as what happened to Caldan’s parents? What is the purpose of the mysterious trinkets he carries? Can anyone truly be trusted? And is there any way he can save the world so that he and Miranda will be left in peace?

In this, the most deadly of games, all rules are going to be broken. The pieces are arranged, schemes and strategies plotted, each possible move a risky gamble that could lead to supremacy or disastrous defeat. In the game of Dominion there can only be one winner; but what if winning comes at too great a cost? Only Caldan can make that decision.

If he fails all that will be left is A Shattered Empire.