The Hound of Rowan

Henry H. Neff’s debut children’s fantasy novel, The Hound of Rowan (2007), is the first in the five-part Tapestry series. Set in Chicago and New England, the story follows the adventurous journey of twelve-year-old Max McDaniels, who encounters a magical Celtic tapestry at the Chicago Art Institute. As a result, Max is recruited to attend the Rowan Academy, a school for boys and girls with special magic abilities. At school, Max meets many new friends and learns how to hone his special powers. However, Max also must deal with dark forces that appear to be stealing priceless artworks and abducting children around the world. As Max embraces his identity and summons the courage to do what is right, he becomes caught in a dangerous battle of good and evil. The Hound of Rowan is followed by The Second Siege, The Fiend and the Forge, The Maelstrom, and The Red Winter.

Narrated in the third person, the story begins in Chicago, Illinois. Twelve-year-old Max McDaniels is traveling with his father, Scott McDaniels, to the Chicago Art Institute. Max always visits on his mother, Bryn’s birthday. The tradition is even more important to Max this year because Bryn vanished two years ago. While on the train, Max spots a creepy looking man staring at him with one pale eyeball. While at the museum, Max notices the one-eyed man again and tries to hide from him by slipping into a roped-off back room. In the back room, Max notices a colorful Celtic tapestry depicting an ancient battlefield. No one else can see the tapestry, leading Max to think something strange is occurring.

Indeed, seeing the tapestry awakens the magic within Max. Even stranger, while it seems he was only gone for a few minutes, it was an hour of real time. Soon after the event, Max is pursued by Peg, a Vye or a shape-shifting monster that takes the form of a teacher named Mrs. Millan. Afterward, Nigel Bristow tells Max that he is a “Potential,” meaning that he is special and has the opportunity to hone his magical abilities by attending classes at Rowan Academy, a school for magically gifted children. If all goes well, Max can use his magical powers to defeat the ancient evil forces threatening the world.



Max is reluctant to leave his father alone in Chicago. However, after initially refusing, Max decides to attend Rowan Academy in New England. When he arrives at school, Max meets his new roommate, David Menlo, a brilliantly gifted Mystic. Max also befriends Conner Lynch, Sarah Amankwe, Lucia Cavallo, and Cynthia Gilley. Students have different magical talents that make them special. Max’s gifts are unprecedented speed and his connection to the Celtic folk hero Cuchulainn, the Hound of Ulster from Irish mythology. Max clashes with Alex Munoz, a cruel second-year student.

Max begins taking various courses. These disciplines include physical training, languages, math, science, strategy, etiquette, mystics, and The Course, a virtual videogame-like simulation that the students enjoy the most. Additionally, each student is given a “Charge” and tasked with looking after a mystical creature. Nick, a sharp-clawed Black Forest Lymrill, selects Max to be his guardian for his entire six-year stint at Rowan Academy. Max and his pals also enjoy the company of Bob, the friendly ogre who works as the head chef in the kitchen.

Soon, Max learns that an evil force called “The Enemy” is stealing paintings and abducting gifted children before they can enroll at Rowan Academy. Max discovers that the one-eyed man on the train, who seems to be a dangerous figure, is named Peter Varga. Peg, an agent of The Enemy, forced Varga to get Max to attend the academy for reasons unknown, but likely due to his magical abilities. Peg and Varga’s actions are meant to summon the demon Astaroth. Astaroth is responsible for the child abductions; it is up to Max and his new friends to end the evil operation, saving the children once and for all.



Learning that Astaroth is trapped inside a painting, David has narrowed the options down to four pieces of artwork he could be trapped inside. When two of the possible paintings are proved to be forgeries, only two are left. The Enemy army surrounds the Academy; time is running out for Max and his friends to defeat the evil forces.

Max continues to clash with the bullying Alex. As punishment, the boys are forced to clean The Kestrel, a ship owned by the Academy. During the climax of the novel, Max and Alex are kidnapped from The Kestrel by a Vye and taken to a dark chamber. Max and Alex are bound to a stone slab; Max sees the missing children sitting in the corner with black sheets covering them. The Enemy seeks to use Max’s blood to resurrect Astaroth. Max tries to flee and is shocked when Varga suddenly appears to help him escape. Max and Varga safely rescue the missing children from the chamber as it starts crumbling around them. When the chamber collapses, Alex is left buried underground with Astaroth. As the novel ends, the teachers of Rowan Academy find Max and praise him as a hero. The world is temporarily saved.

In addition to the Tapestry series, American author Henry H. Neff has begun a new series entitled Impyrium, the first book of which was published in 2016.