The Faithful Friend

Written by Robert D. San Souci · Illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Two friends face dark magic on a quest for love, risking everything.

4.1 Goodreads · 796 ratings

40 pages· 2,269 words· Est. 18 min read-aloud· 910L

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Bookroo's summary

On the vibrant island of Martinique, best friends Clement and Hippolyte embark on a perilous journey. Clement seeks to marry Pauline, but her wizard uncle disapproves. As they flee together, dark magic threatens their path. Hippolyte must confront a deadly choice: save his friends or himself. Will loyalty and courage triumph over the supernatural forces that pursue them? This tale of love, friendship, and danger weaves a captivating narrative of sacrifice and bravery.

From the publisher

“Sometime in the last centuary, on the lush Caribbean island of Martinique, two young men embarked on a fateful journey crossed by zombies, ghosts, and curses….” CLEMENT AND HIPPOLYTEare handsome, sharp-witted, and as close as brothers. When Clement falls in love with the enchanting Pauline, he bids Hippolyte to join his quest to court her, and the two friends set out toward danger and adventure. Pauline is ward of mysterious Monsieur Zabocat-a plantation owner reputed to be a “quimboiseur,” a wizard-and, defying his wishes, Pauline joins her new fiance and his friend on their trek home. But the fruited fields and dark forests they traverse hide dark forces plotting to destroy the couple…and one night- “Tam! Tam! Tamtamtam!” -the distant sound of a drum lures Hippolyte into a deadly trap that forces to choose between his friends safety and his own. Robert D. San Souci and Brian Pinkney again combine their talents to bring to life a West Indian folktale that draws upon Africian, European, and South American traditions and imagery. The result is an extraordinary tale of romance, intrigue, and incomparable courage in which the truest of friends remain faithful to the “very” end.