The Land Within
Mahogany Eye
Rabén&Sjögren 2000
ISBN 91-29-66121-8
She extended her hand, first to Fanny and then to Oliver, then she bent down to Kasper. To their great astonishment he held out his right paw looking very seriously at her. They mumbled their names, at the same time wondering if it was such a good idea to tell a witch. And as if she had read their thoughts (…if that’s what she did?) the old woman said:
“As I am sure you are aware, you have just greeted an elderly witch. But you should not be afraid, because as I am old, I am also wise. Oh, I have indeed done one or two things in my youth that I am not particularly proud of… But now I am kind, yes really, very kind."
It is thus the witch Cornelia introduces herself. She of the mahogany eyes, she who becomes an owl at night.
This is Oliver’s second visit to the Land Within. On his way he meets Fanny who has received a strange letter from her big sister. Fanny is worried, and with good reason. Far inside the secret land, as you well know, evil forces rule and it isn’t just Legina who has met with misfortune.
Fanny finds her big sister in something resembling a labour camp deep in the forest. There are not only young humans here but also young trolls. They are all wearing the same robes and all worship the Lord of Destiny. They work hard and insist that they are happy, but Fanny and Oliver don’t believe it. Even more sceptical is their trusted troll friend, Ruska. With the help of the kind old witch Cornelia, they expose the Lord of Destiny as a fraud.
Mahogany Eye is about the appeal of being part of a group, when you let someone else make the decisions and allow yourself to be swept along with the crowd. It is about finding yourself again, daring to break with the group and go your own way.
Cover: Alvaro Tapia
