The Enchanted Island
"The Enchanted Island" by Fannie Louise Apjohn is a fantasy novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds in a magical archipelago in the South Pacific known for its intriguing kingdoms, particularly focusing on the Island of Sunne and its young prince, Daimur. As Daimur encounters an elderly man, who reveals himself as a fairy, he is given magical objects that will help him combat the evil magician threatening his realm and the other islands. At the start of the tale, the reader is introduced to the geography of five islands, each with its own kingdom, and the mysterious Island of Despair that is rumored to be haunted. We meet Prince Daimur, who encounters a kind old man in need, and learns of the dark threats posed by the Evil Man of Despair—a sorcerer who has plagued the islands with doom. After the old man bestows magical gifts upon Daimur before dying from poison, the prince's challenges multiply as he faces treachery from his own uncle, who seizes the throne, and the threat of the evil magician from the Island of Despair. The opening chapters set the stage for an adventure filled with enchantment, danger, and the struggle between good and evil.