Special Review: The Last Will and Testament of the Incredible Mr. Rutland Quincy Sherwood

- April 04, 2017

Special Review:

The Last Will and Testament of the Incredible

Mr. Rutland Quincy Sherwood

The Story:
Arthur Sherwood has always admired his Uncle Rutland, a man who was filled with adventure and wonder, a man with a gift of discovering the undiscovered, a man who unfortunately slipped into a seemingly irreversible coma. At the reading of his will, Arthur learned he not only inherited the mansion, but also a mysterious item known as Merlin's key, which would open a secret door housing treasures untold.

One night he is visited by the mysterious Eliza Dunmore, whose mother was a friend, confidant and lover of Ruthland's who disappeared ten years ago. She has the other half of Merlin's key, and together they find the secret door that transports them to a magical land known as Findas, where Eliza is a princess and her mother is the Queen who was kidnapped by the evil Agnar. Together with a band of highly skilled warriors, Arthur, Eliza and Arthur's cousin Holly set out to rescue the Queen, restore Findas to its original glory, and hopefully find Rutland in the process.

The Synopsis:
"The Last Will and Testament of the Incredible Mr. Rutland Quincy Sherwood" is a free online novel written by a friend of mine, a man of incredible talent, vision and imagination. His tale is filled with whimsical wonder and exciting fantasy-style action reminiscent of the likes of "Lord of the Rings" or "The Chronicles of Narnia," along with subtle hints at "Uncharted," "Indiana Jones" and "National Treasure" that is a pure delight for the fantasy-infused individual who desires a lavish, detailed, emotional story.

At the heart of the tale is our narrator, Arthur Sherwood, a lawyer of no particular consequence who was highly valued by the adventurous Rutland, so much so that Arthur was willed Rutland's most prized possession and the only way to find out what really happened to the man in the form of Merlin's key. Arthur was never as much of an adventurer as his uncle - in fact he's almost the total opposite, a man who held to routine a firm as anything - but when he's joined by the alluring, adventurous Eliza, he has no qualms about traveling to a faraway land. The chemistry between the two is fun and flirty, with intelligent quips and good-natured humor that makes them an endearing couple and ones I hope would eventually get together near the end, because they naturally compliment each other - Arthur is the sturdy, paint-by-numbers man and Eliza is the adventurer.

Another important connection is between Arthur and Holly, as the two were once very close during childhood but now they're practically strangers. Holly is now a party-goer who is constantly in search of a husband, but when she travels to Findas and reunites with Arthur, not only does she rekindle their old friendship but also a possible romance as well, and we learn what the wedge was that split the former inseparable family members.

The story has several references to the Bible - both prominently featured and wonderfully alluded - that turns the story into an even more deeper, profound trajectory that resonates far beyond the page and tugs at the heart, as your imagination is allowed to soar to new heights of adventure but also remain grounded in a firm faith that is so well written it would make C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein proud. The story is a divine, delightful tale of the power of faith, the love of family and the unrelenting search for adventure and truth.

The Summary:
Blending fantasy, reality and Biblical truths, "The Last Will and Testament of the Incredible Mr. Rutland Quincy Sherwood" is a fantastic novel that will let your imagination soar and re-ignite your sense of adventure.

The Score: A

You can read the novel here:
http://media.wix.com/ugd/e338ce_9cbe2b1f393b4ef5916152602898e095.pdf

Special:

Casting the Movie

As I read the novel, I imagined who would be perfect casting for the movie, and here are my thoughts on the subject:

Harrison Ford

Rutland Quincy Sherwood