by Kate Seredy
First published 2007
Bendeguz watches the white stag appear at the edge of their camp, its antlers gleaming in the firelight. The beast has come to guide his Magyar people from their harsh homeland toward a promised land in the west. Bendeguz must convince his tribe to abandon everything they know and follow this supernatural messenger across unknown territories. The journey tests their faith as they face starvation, hostile tribes, and the constant question of whether the stag truly leads them to salvation or destruction. Generations pass as the Magyars press onward, with leadership falling to Bendeguz's descendants who must maintain their people's belief in the vision. The white stag appears and vanishes, always drawing them deeper into foreign lands where they must fight for survival while holding onto their identity and traditions.
Genres: mythology, historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, faith-and-belief, found-family
Setting: Magyar, West
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
Library Binding · Paw Prints 2007-06-28