Flury: Journey of a Snowman

Tony Bertauski’s Flury is surely one of those novels that’s just too good to be true. Totally absorbing, thoroughly enthralling, it draws the reader in until you’ll believe in walking snowmen, short fat elves, and even Nicolaus Santa (who really has very little to do with the tale, but lives at the North Pole).

Fifteen-year-old Oliver has diabetes and likes to read zombie novels. His mom’s a failed hippie. His dad’s disappeared. And now the family’s off to stay with his grandmother in her creepy mansion. When Oliver finds a car in the garage, he imagines his strict, unsmiling grandmother could never drive it. She’d surely go for something more sensible. "Like a tank” perhaps.

The story’s told with a pleasing sense of show more humor and great dialog. The characters are believable and fun, from Grandmother in her “pearls and dead animal fur” to the girl with green and red hair. But there’s something very strange going on at this mansion, nighttime threats and noises, magically cleared drives as the snows of Colorado fall, and a mysterious collection of journals that never quite seem to reveal all.

Flury is a tale of mystery and adventure, with magic that’s almost science, “boy-girl” magic that’s more related to coffee, true love with all its power and promise, and a sense of Christmas just around the corner. It’s pleasing, fun, and seriously, just too good to be true. I loved it!

Disclosure: I was offered a free ecopy and said I’d read it eventually. I offer my honest review after reading it much sooner than that. I got hooked; I couldn’t stop. show less

I don't read YA or fantasy books, so when the author asked me to read and review Flury, I was reluctant to take him up on the offer. Much to my surprise, I loved this book! It's a high compliment to an author when one reads something totally out of their usual genre and feels sad when the book ends.

Others have summarized the story, so I won't go into it here, other than to say that I found it surprisingly believable. I wouldn't call this a YA book. Although it is certainly appropriate for young adults, it is an engaging story for people of all ages, and a perfect book to read in the weeks leading up to Christmas! It's very well written, with characters that make the reader feel as if they're with old friends. I never thought that I show more could feel empathy with a snowman, but it happened!

Years from now, Flury might be a classic Christmas tale. I'm glad that I took a chance to read this book and recommend it to others. show less

I have read end reviewed Tony Bertauski’s original stories of Claus: Legend of the Fat Man and Jack: The Tale of Frost, so I am eager to begin on Flury: Journey of a Snowman. Tony’s ability to spin a tale and create new worlds is amazing. Every time I open one of his books, I am ready to be taken to a place I have never been before and meet characters that worm their way into my heart, at least most of them, and leaving me hoping I will see them again.

Malcolm Toye became separated from the group that traveled to the North Pole. He knew he wasn’t going to make it out alive, as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Oliver and his mom had just arrived at their new home in Colorado. Actually, it was his grandmother’s house, show more the Toye Residence.

Oliver is used to spending a lot of time alone. He felt even more isolated since moving here, until he made friends with Molly. Molly is a wonderful girl that fits Oliver perfectly. He has juvenile diabetes and has to keep a close eye on his sugar level.

Grandmother is more than prim and proper. Is she purposely cruel? She has rules and one of them is to be in the house before the sun goes down. Why? After waking to sounds crashing through the forest and trees falling, he didn’t question it.

In his explorations, he finds a trunk filled with curious objects. It belonged to his grandfather, Malcolm Toye. What really intrigued him was the journals and the blue orb that seems warm in his hand. Oliver becomes enraptured by Malcolm’s journals. He carries the orb he discovered everywhere with him.

His cousins act like they were trained by terrorists. They could use some lessons from Emily Post. Henry is a little monster. They wouldn’t include him in their games, but after they were gone, he looked for their trail and followed it. Will his inquisitiveness be the end of him or save the day?

Now the adventure really begins at 20% into the book.

This series of books is joyous fun, full of vivid images of the characters, be they human or….Do you believe in Santa, snowmen and elves?

The world building is so imaginative I can feel the light touch of snowflakes on my face as I tip my head back to look up at the sky. Afterwards, I can bask in the warm glow of the fire.

It brought back memories of standing under snow covered trees and shaking their branches until I was covered in the fluffy white stuff. What are some of your best memories of snow and the winter season.

Oliver won me over in the opening pages. His sense of adventure and curiosity led me to follow him through the pages, doing the chores, wandering the property, exploring Malcom’s treasures. And I was very curious about why he shouldn’t be out at night.

Tony can spin a tale that has me believing, taking me back to that time when all things are possible.

Best one yet! I love “Frosty’s” story and him too.

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review. show less

I absolutely loved this book! It was so so good. I love snowmen and I found this different view on them totally spellbinding! I would encourage everyone to read this! It can be read at any time but right now in the middle of Winter is perfect. We follow Oliver as he tries to get to grips with life at the cold and eerie house his grandmother lives in. Slowly he finds that things aren't all that they seem. He discovers a carved wooden orb and life gets exciting from there on! He finds things easier to deal with when he meets his girlfriend and they share his strange and thrilling journey together. A must read! I didn't want it to end.

This is a great book and hard to put down. I recommend Flury: A Journey of a Snowman for teens to adults. Tony Bertauski has a wonderful imagination, creating mystery and suspense in his story. The story begins in the 1880's with Malcolm Toye becoming lost during an expedition to the North Pole. The last thing he remembers before freezing to death was seeing a large moving object coming near him. The story builds on his life with the elvan and a Snowman and his eventual return to his home. His great grandson Oliver visits his grandmother at the old homestead and discovers that there are things going on at night in the woods that are a mystery. Great read!