Humouress ROOTing in 2020

Staking a claim ...

(I’ll have to do some calculations as to ROOT numbers)



ETA:

I think I’ll try for the same numbers as last year: 30 ROOTS, of which I’ll aim for at least 20 physical books and maybe 10 e-books (because they’re accumulating too).

The good news is that I’ve persuaded my husband to let me get more bookshelves. The not so good news is that means I’ll have to read more books (such a tough break) and the bad news is that he probably won’t let me get more shelves after this, so I’ll still have to limit my acquisitions. Let’s see in another ten years ....

My 2019 ROOTS thread

My 2020 75 Book Challenge thread
75 Book Challenge 2020 thread 2
75 Book Challenge 2020 thread 3
75 Book Challenge 2020 thread 4
75 Book Challenge 2020 thread 5

Tickers & icons




Total books read for 2020






Own books read in 2020






E-books read in 2020






= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

review posted/ rated/ written/ read

✔ / / (#) / Title

December (so far ...)
89) Asterix and the Golden Sickle by Goscinny & Uderzo (1962)
88) Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier (2013)
✔       87) Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier (2012)
Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher (2017)
✔   82) Asterix the Gaul by Goscinny & Uderzo
✔   78) Ruby Red by Kerstin Grier
77) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

November

76) The Traitor's Game by Jennifer Nielsen
75) The Hallowed Hunt
74) The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
70) Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan

October

68) Wishing Season by Esther Freisner

September

65) The Book of Swords: part 2 edited by Gardner Dozois (2017)

August

63) Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones (1986)

July

57) The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (1913)
56) The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
55) Hamlyn All Colour Cook Book
✔       53) Dr. Thirteenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
✔       51) Dr. Eleventh by Adam Hargreaves (2017)
✔       50) Dr. Tenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
✔       49) Dr. Ninth by Adam Hargreaves (2017)

June

47) Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (1998)
✔   46) Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (2012)
44) Hospital Station by James White
43) Esme's Gift by Elizabeth Foster
42) Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

May

41) The Phantom's Curse by Shelley Wilson (ARC)
39) Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster
✔           38) The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler (2016)
✔   36) Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan
✔       34) The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (2005)

April

✔       33) The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)
✔   32) The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
✔       29) Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)
✔       28) The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)

March

✔   24) Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
✔       21) Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

✔       18) Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
✔       15) The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
✔           14) Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
✔               13) 24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
✔           12) Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
✔       11) A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
✔       10) Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
✔       9) Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
✔       8) Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
✔       6) Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January

✔       4) The Book of Swords. Part 1 edited by Gardner Dozois

Welcome back!

Good luck with this year's reading!

Welcome back and have a great ROOT year!

Welcome back, Nina! Happy ROOTing.

4) The Book of Swords: Part 1 edited by Gardner Dozois (2017)



{First of 2: Book of Swords anthology series. Fantasy, short stories, anthology}

Not Fred Saberhagen’s saga but a Sword & Sorcery anthology. The problem with short stories is that by the time you work out what direction the author is going in, the story comes to an end; but I found quite a few gems in this anthology.

i) The Best Man Wins - K. J. Parker a.k.a. Tom Holt

A stranger requests a swordsmith create ‘the best sword ever made’ for him.
Some amusing notes on the smith’s antisocial inclinations.
3.5-4****

ii) Her Father’s Sword - Robin Hobb

About what happens in the aftermath of a village that has been recently Forged. Fitz puts in a guest appearance.
I felt the story didn’t go anywhere, but maybe that was the point, to emphasise the hopelessness of being Forged. Not as good as the Farseer trilogy books it was derived from, which were 5 star reads for me.
2.5-3***

iii) The Hidden Girl - Ken Liu

A young girl in eighth century China is trained as an assassin and ponders on the morality of her calling.
I liked this one, including its more hopeful ending and the closeness between sisters.
3.5-4****

iv) The Sword of Destiny - Matthew Hughes

A wizard’s henchman fails to steal the Sword of Destiny and decides he’d be better off being as far away as possible from his master’s wrath.
I liked this story too; I liked the old-fashioned style and the gentle humour. I may look for Hughes’s novels.

The conversation, Baldemar saw, had meandered off and left both participants temporarily stranded

4.5-5*****

v) ‘I Am a Handsome Man,’ Said Apollo Crow - Kate Elliott

Apollo Crow accepts a mission from the emperor of a diminished Rome to steal a sketchbook from a beautiful woman; but all is not as it seems.
I like Elliott’s writing; in fact I’ve invested in her Crown of Stars series on the strength of the first book.

5*****

vi) The Triumph of Virtue - Walter Jon Williams

17 year old Quillifer is a lawyer’s apprentice at court and compares the play ‘The Triumph of Virtue’ which is performed there to situations he encounters. When a crime occurs, Quillifer turns detective.

3-3.5***

vii) The Mocking Tower - Daniel Abraham

The Mocking Tower constantly changes its appearance from moment to moment and lies in the lands belonging to a wizard, the Imagi Vert. To these lands comes a thief with the aim of stealing a sword said to have been forged by the wizard from the soul of the emperor, King Raan, whose many heirs are currently waging war and causing blight across the empire.

Beautifully crafted. I love the ending. As a short story which hints at a greater narrative, it leaves some questions unanswered but I would happily read that larger story.

5*****

viii) Hrunting - C.J. Cherryh

Hrunting was the sword lent to Beowulf for his fight against Grendel’s mother by Unferth, advisor to Hrothgar, king of the Danes. It was supposedly invincible but failed in that battle. This story tells of what happens after a disgraced Unferth died and his grandson sets out to recover the family’s luck.

Up to her usual standards.

4****

ix) A Long, Cold Trail - Garth Nix

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz, agents of the Council for the Treaty of the Safety of the World, are tracking an inimical godlet through the cold wasteland caused by its passage. However, they have to wait for delivery of a relic which can destroy the godlet, until when they dare not get too close in case their lives become endangered too.

3.5***

Averaging out: 3.8-4.1
4 stars

My first own book of the year.

>3 MissWatson: >4 Jackie_K: >5 rabbitprincess: >6 connie53: Thank you Birgit, Jackie, rabbitprincess and Connie!

ROOTs read in January

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 1
Physical books: 1
E-books : 0

Hi Nina, I noticed you added your ticker to the ticker thread, but did you join the group too? I can't find you in the member-list.

>10 connie53: Oh, no I didn’t. I’ll do that now, thanks.

ETA: Done!

ROOTs read to end of February:

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 11
Physical books: 11
E-books : 0

6) Forest Born by Shannon Hale (2009)



{Fourth of 4: Books of Bayern series. YA, fantasy}

This book could be read as a stand-alone since each book in the series is an individual story but it helps to have read the previous books as there are recurring characters. This time the story is about Rinna, younger sister of Razo, and it follows her childhood growing up in the Forest which lies between the capital cities of the countries of Kildenree and Bayern.

After Razo and all his older brothers, Ma finally has her longed for girl and everyone knows she loves Rinna best. Rin grows up with a heap of nieces and nephews and her favourite brother Razo, who teaches her to climb trees. But when Razo goes off to the city and has adventures, Rin discovers she has a power in her but using it troubles her conscience. She doesn’t want to lose Ma’s love so she does her best to suppress the power and be as good as her Ma. And then when she’s fifteen, Rin goes to the city to join Razo and his friends in the palace with the royal family Anidori, Gerric and the Little Prince Tusken and have adventures of her own with the ‘fire-sisters’ who can control the elements.

I really like the way Hale describes the familial love and affection especially between Rin and her Ma and between Rin and Razo and the way Ma and Rin are central to their family, the Agget-kin.

He spent winter nights longing for a younger sibling, someone he could call runt, someone he could push and pinch.
Ma was longing too, but for a girl to share thoughts with, a daughter cut and sewn from her own soul.
When Razo was almost five, he and Ma both got their wish. The baby girl was born on a night so hot the wind panted and the summer moon blazed like the sun.
‘Rinna,’ Ma named her.
‘A girl,’ said the father.
‘Rinna-girl,’ said Razo, peering over the side of the cot.
The baby blinked huge dark eyes and opened her mouth into a tiny circle. All desire to push and pinch hushed right out of Razo.
He bent closer to her year and whispered, ‘I’m going to teach you to climb trees.’

I like the camaraderie and banter between the characters and the thread woven through the story of Enna’s wedding, delayed because Bayern is once more at war with only Isi and her friends to protect it.

4 stars

The picture at the top is of the cover I have though I would like to have this one, to match the rest of the series.

Preludes and Nocturnes The Sandman Volume I (GN) by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg & Malcolm Jones III (1988-1989)



{First 8 of 75 The Sandman series. Graphic novel, gothic, horror}

This is the 30th anniversary edition of Sandman 1-8. Caroline (cameling) suggested it to try to coax my eldest (superboy) back to reading. I thought I’d read it first :0) I haven’t read graphic novels (GNs) except for an Ultimate Spider-Man and since the Sandman series has had good press here on LT, I thought it might be a good introduction.

8) i) Sleep of the Just - The Sandman 1



1916, England: the Order of Ancient Mysteries casts a spell to catch and imprison Death. Instead they trap another entity and while they hold it prisoner for the better part of a century, around the world ordinary people suffer the consequences.

Hmm; darker than I was expecting and not something I’d be comfortable with my 11 year old reading, certainly. I’m not sure about my 16 year old - I’ll have to read more to assess it ;0)

The drawings are so detailed; even the background behind the panels have been considered and there are special effects which the illustrators have conveyed even though it’s a 2D medium. The story runs from 1916-1988 and the passage of time is conveyed by recurring characters ageing, changing hairstyles, books that were popular in specific time periods and so on.

I must say, the Sandman character looks like a graphic version of Neil Gaiman.

3-3.5***

9) ii) Imperfect Hosts - The Sandman 2



Weakened by his long imprisonment the Sandman makes his slow way home, hoping to garner strength from his own territory but he discovers things have changed during his absence. Along the way he requests help from old acquaintances. His next quest will be to recover the tools that were taken from him when he was caught.

Still gothic but not quite so grim. I love Gregory the gargoyle; he’s so cute. There are mythical and biblical references as well as cameo appearances by DC heroes, anti-heroes and villains who may be in possession of the Sandman’s tools.

3.5***

10) iii) Dream a Little Dream of Me- The Sandman 3



This story is told in the first person from the point of view of John Constantine (a DC anti/ hero) to whom the Sandman goes for help in finding one of the tools of his trade. It’s a bit bitter-sweet but it does have a happy ending.

I do have a couple of slight criticisms about the drawing; the (main) characters don’t always maintain the same features and I don’t always know in which direction to read. For the most part the magazines follow the standard side by side format but there have been one or two pages where it goes across the double page.

3.5-4****

11) iv) A Hope in Hell - The Sandman 4



Clever title. That would be telling.

Mr. Sandman visits Hell in the hopes of finding the second of his lost tools. But Hell has changed in his absence and now that he has lost power, he has to negotiate from a position of weakness.

There is a side plot concerning John Dee, Dr. Destiny, a DC villain, but I don’t see where that’s going yet.

3-3.5***

12) v) Passengers - The Sandman 5



The Sandman searches for the Justice League of America to help him find the third tool of his trade. We meet Scott Free (as well as others, but in passing) and J’onn J’onzz, who recognises the Sandman as a Martian god. Meanwhile, John Dee escapes from Arkham Asylum (passing the Scarecrow on his way out) and makes his way to the same item, which the JLA had recovered from him.

This magazine takes the tone darker again.

3***

13) vi) 24 Hours - The Sandman 6



Well this one might as well be called ‘The depravity of John Dee’. John Dee walks into a diner and plays with the minds and actions of the people who come in. At the same time he affects world events, according to the television news that’s on the diner’s TV.

Nope. Did not enjoy this one. Especially not the animal abuse.

2**

14) vii) Sound and Fury - The Sandman 7



The Sandman battles John Dee in the dream realm. Not as grim as the previous one.

3***

15) viii) The Sound of Her Wings - The Sandman 8



This one is a bit more upbeat, even though we meet Death.

I thought this was funny:

‘You are utterly the most self-centred, appalingest excuse for an anthropomorphic personification on this or any other plane!’

3.5***

Average 3 stars

18) Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (2016)



{Second of 2: Six of Crows duology. Fantasy, steampunk}

Kaz has a plan; but it may not be the one his associates think it is.

Kaz Brekker came to Ketterdam as a young farm boy with his brother looking to make their fortune. But Ketterdam treated him badly and he’s grown up on it’s mean streets in the Barrel with revenge in his heart. He effectively leads the Dregs, the lowest of the Barrel’s gangs, whose emblem is a crow.

As the throng drew closer, Wylan heard singing, chanting, drums. It really did sound like a parade. They poured over Zelverbridge, streaming past the hotel as they made their way to the square that fronted the Exchange. Wylan recognised Pekka Rollins’ gang leading the march. Whoever was upfront wore a lion skin with a fake golden crown sewn onto its head.

‘Razorgulls,’ Inej said, pointing behind the Dime Lions. ‘And there are the Liddies.’

‘Harley’s Pointers,’ Jesper said. ‘The Black Tips.’

‘It’s all of them,’ said Kaz.

In Six of Crows Kaz lead an elite team of six in a mission that promised them enough money to win free of their lives of crime and live in luxury afterwards. That fell through and now, more bitter than ever, he’s bent on winning back everything that was promised to them and settling all scores.

This is a convoluted maze of a story that hangs together well. However Bardugo often puts our feelings through the mill as her characters’ plans seem to fall apart - but then we find out that that was part of the plan too. So, after a while, that killed the suspense for me whenever they got into another tight corner (‘Oh yes, just another of Kaz’s schemes’) and then I’d find out that things actually had gone wrong; so, effectively, that tactic backfired somewhat for me.

Bardugo has also made Kaz unlikeable which makes it hard to care about him. It is understandable that he has hardened his heart but whenever he does something that might show a soft side to another character he deliberately says or does something to distance them again but those actions also had the effect of distancing me as a reader. By the end of this second book I could see that it was a pretence to cover his kinder side and maintain his tough image but by that time I was no longer invested in him. He also carries out some pretty gruesome acts and as he is the strongest character in the books this also served to disenchant me.

The story is narrated in the third person but each chapter is (named for and) told from one of the six main characters’ point of view and the rest of them are more likeable. We have already had most of their backstories in the first book but a few more details are added in this book which, for the most part, put you in their corner. While the book doesn’t give them all happy endings wrapped up with a bow it does give them a good place to start their next adventures from.

I confess I won’t be rushing out to buy more Grishaverse books right now but I’d be happy to borrow them from the library if I happened to run across one.

3.5 stars

I have to look at the Bardugo books sometime. They have been on my list of books to search for for a while.

>16 connie53: Someone in my book club is a fan of the Grishaverse books so she recommended Six of Crows because you don’t have to read the rest of the series. And since I’d read that, I thought I would finish the duology. So that could be a place for you to start.

>17 humouress: thanks for the tip.

ROOTs read to end of March:

March

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 13
Physical books: 12
E-books : 1

= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

21) Nevertheless She Persisted - anthology (2020)

 

{Flash fiction, anthology, fantasy/ sci-fi/ mixed}

I’m reading this to join a TIOLI challenge and for Women’s Day. These flash fiction stories are all written by authoresses and each of them in my e-book is followed by their photo and brief bibliography as well as a link for e-mail updates.

Each story starts with

She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.

i) Our Faces, Radiant Sisters, Our Faces Are Full of Light! by Kameron Hurley

One to inspire. Persist!

3.5****

ii) God Product by Alyssa Wong

One to break your heart. There’s a reason for the warning and it should be heeded.

3***

iii) Alchemy by Carrie Vaughn

This could be a paean to scientists like Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin or Agnes Joaquim.

3.5****

iv) Persephone

Sometimes you have to persist; but you’re warned for your own protection.

3.5****

v) Margot and Rosalind by Charlie Jane Anders

The lead-up to a singularity event beyond which is the unknown.

3***

vi) Astronaut by Maria Dahvana Headley

The story of Miss Baker who, with her companion Miss Able, was the first US astronaut to survive spaceflight in 1959.

4****

vii) More than Nothing By Nisi Shawl

Maybe there is magic in this world. But what if it’s dangerous? And what if it’s not?...

3.5****

viii) The Last of the Minotaur Wives by Brooke Bolander

The Minotaur brides have been consigned to the labyrinth but they’ve been planning their freedom for generations. I wouldn’t mind seeing this one as a short story.

4****

ix). The Jump Rope Rhyme by Jo Walton

Told entirely in rhyme. Set in the future, it refers to history.

2.5***

x) Anabasis by Amal El-Mohtar

What warnings and explanations mean to a refugee mother with a child in need; the reason she persists nevertheless.

3.5****

xi) The Ordinary Woman and the Unquiet Emperor by Catherynne M. Valente

In a world where the Unquiet Emperor has constrained even dreams and memory with rules and banishments for the good of the people ... there may still be hope.

4.5****

Averaging: 3.5 stars I

24) Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (2012)

Following on maybe a couple of years/ a few months after the start of the first story, this one sees Miri and some of the other girls from the Princess Academy - now entitled Ladies of the Princess - travelling to Asland, the capital of Danland, for the wedding of the princess. Additionally, Miri will be enrolling for a year at the Queen’s Castle, the centre of Danland learning.

Talk of revolution; The mt. Eskel ambassador needs advice
Letters

Britta has her Steffan

Instead of friendship, the love of country and the determination to do the best for it

(Tbc: Will return shortly)

4.5*****

I looked this up again to review it and started reading it again.

See 201 (book 46)

ROOTs read to end of April:

April

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)

March

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 17
Physical books: 14
E-books : 3

= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

28) The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)



{First of 12; Ranger’s Apprentice series. Fantasy, children’s, YA}
Group read. Re-read

I picked this up to join the group read and was initially planning to read it aloud to my children. However, I decided the chapters were too long for me to be able to read aloud in one go and anyway my younger son (firelion) couldn’t wait and he’s gone ahead and finished reading the whole series by himself.

The prologue tells us that Morgarath, former Baron of Gorlan, tried to usurp the crown of Araluen fifteen years ago but was defeated and retreated into exile. Now he is planning his return and revenge.

The story proper begins in Castle Redmont in the kingdom where five of the castle wards are about to choose their life professions. It focuses on Will who unexpectedly (but not surprising to us, given the series title) becomes apprentice to a Ranger. Rangers protect the kingdom with one assigned to each of the fifty fiefdoms, so training focuses on agility and strength rather than the ‘bash and whack’ of Will’s first choice of Battleschool. And then, just as Will is hoping to be formally accepted into the Ranger corps, word comes of Morgarath moving for war.

I enjoyed the story. The action flowed at a steady pace and the characters were likeable and easy to relate to. There were some points, especially at the beginning, where the story was reminiscent of countless other fantasy adventures and a couple of places where it looked like a thesaurus had been used but overall I liked it. It didn’t turn out to be a typical ‘chosen one’ story (although each of the five wards seem rather precocious in their chosen fields), there are trials, tribulations and triumphs and friendships formed.

I liked the way those in authority crack jokes straight-faced and the way Baron Arald is disappointed when no-one dares find them funny.

He could see that the boy was hanging on his every word, and he added, jokingly, ‘You’re not an enemy of the Kingdom, are you, Will?’
‘No, sir!’ will said in sudden fright and the Baron sighed again. He hated it when people didn’t realise he was joking. Unfortunately, as overlord of the castle, his words were treated with great seriousness by most people.

There are no cliffhangers so this story could be read as a stand-alone - but my book has a sneak preview of the second book in the series which I plan to continue with.

3.5-4 stars

29) Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)

 

{First of 3; Lady in Gil trilogy. Fantasy, YA}

I have been wanting to read this series for years, decades even, tempted by the cover blurb All the dreams of the barbarously occupied kingdom of Gil depend on its greatest hero. Too bad only his brother is available... but I could never find the first book until I finally succumbed and ordered the whole series for my Kindle (my preference being to read physical books). May I say that the cover blurb is, in typical 90s fashion - sensational as it is - slightly inaccurate.

According to legend the island of Gil was converted by Oballef, wielding the power of the Lady, to a peaceful and prosperous paradise dedicated to beauty and the pursuit of the arts - and thus, seventy years ago, the first stop of the Sherank empire in their conquest of the world as they sought to stamp out its beauty and steal the power for themselves. Although the ruling Priest-king and his immediate successors were killed in the onslaught, some of the Scions of Oballef escaped to Exile together with many of the Flamens (the real power behind the throne) and a selection of works from the archives.

Only a Scion can wield the Lady’s power but the physical manifestation of the Lady has been lost in Gil, hidden from the Sherkin who would use it to expand their oppressive empire. Periodically the Flamens smuggle a Scion, raised in the Heroic Code, back to Gil to attempt to retrieve the Lady and restore Gil to its former glory; however the only hero currently of age has badly injured himself and is unable to go. The only other Scion of age is his brother, Lord Tigrallef, but he’s no hero - he reads, for one thing, and thinks, for another, and is happy working in the archives as a memorian as well as being rather sceptical about the Heroic Code. The Flamens don’t really have any confidence in Tig being the first Scion in seventy years to succeed but if they’re to stick to their schedule he has to go. Tig’s mother, however, does have complete faith in her son. …

The only note of hope was dropped by my mother, the Lady Dazeene, into the silence the delegation left behind.

“Strange,” she said, “I'd resigned myself to the thought of losing Arko, and now you're to go instead. Of course, it's better this way.”

“You mean, I'm not as much of a loss?” I asked, surprised and a little hurt. She had never given the impression that she liked my brother best.

“Don't be stupid, Tig,” she said. “I mean that now I might keep both my sons—and by the way, if you happen to find your father, you can tell him I'm still waiting.”

I sighed and kissed her. It was nineteen years since my father had taken ship for Gil, and she still refused to believe he was dead.

This is a solid story, well written and although I didn’t find the pace relentless (possibly more an effect of the format, for me) it was consistent and I did want to find out what happened next. It is narrated (five years afterward) in the first person by Tig with his slightly sceptical outlook on life and is a good depiction of a country held under the oppressive thumb of its conquerors for a long time.

This could be read as a stand-alone despite the bitter-sweet ending - but I have the other books in the trilogy waiting for me ...

4-4.5 stars

32) The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho (2012)



{Stand-alone. Fiction, set in 1920}

This was a short, sweet novelette about a young Malaysian Chinese girl living in London in the 1920s because she wants to have adventures. It is written as a series of diary entries beginning in August and ending with a letter dated April 1921. As an expat currently living in Singapore I could relate to her. ('"I should have gone home and tried writing for the Straits Times' - that's our local/ national newspaper.)

It opens with an entry with Jade, whose Chinese name is Geok Huay trading barbs over afternoon tea with her rich but stingy aunt.

"No more absurd than Bee Hoon," I said. "I've always wished I could name a daughter of mine Bee Hoon."

A vein in Aunt Iris's temple twitched.

"It means 'beautiful cloud'," I said dreamily. "Why doesn't Uncle Gerald ever call you Bee Hoon, Auntie?""

Although the author's website emphasises that it does, indeed, mean 'beautiful cloud', in Singapore 'bee hoon' is rice vermicelli noodles.

Jade keeps body and soul together by writing articles for fashion magazines and reviews for the Oriental Literary Review which is run by her friend Ravi. When she writes a damning review about a book by well-regarded, well-connected author Sebastian Hardie, Ravi is worried about the backlash if he publishes it in his journal.

"But I shouldn't think anyone of importance will read it."

Ravi's mouth quivered.

"Thank you," he said. "It's good to know you're excited about being published again in the journal."

Jade is surprised to receive an invitation from Sebastian after the review is published. She decides to go to the party (on my birthday - if I had been alive then) and finds him 'good-looking, in the style of a Romantic poet living in the Lake District' and decides to be 'properly bad'. (At this point, I must admit, her adventures caused me some raised eyebrows. And I found references to 'the worm' a bit jarring; I thought she could have used a better word.)

I liked this book; the humour appeals to me and I highlighted so many quotes on my Kindle that I had to stop for fear of highlighting the whole book.

4.5 stars

33) The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)



{Second of 12; Ranger’s Apprentice series. Fantasy, children’s, YA}
Group read.

Although his preliminary manoeuvres have been stymied, Morgarath is continuing his preparations for war against the kingdom of Araluen. Will, the Ranger’s apprentice of the title, and his mentor Halt are involved in getting the kingdom and their home of Redmont fief ready for defence. Gilan, Halt’s former apprentice who is now a Ranger himself, comes to them to request that Will join him on a mission to the kingdom of Celtica to invoke the mutual defence treaty. A third member will be needed for the mission since the Celts live by the motto “One man may be deceit. Two can be conspiracy. Three is the number I trust.” so Halt suggests that Will’s old nemesis, Horace, would be a good candidate.

Once they cross the border, however, the three realise that something is very wrong in the land of the Celts and discover that Morgarath’s plans run deeper than anyone had realised and, in fact, have been in motion for some time already. And so a desperate race is on to warn the Araluen army before Morgarath’s forces are fully deployed.

This is a good sequel to The Ruins of Gorlan. It is well written, flows smoothly and the characters are likeable. Although the story revolves around Will, I like the way we are shown different points of view so we can see the bigger picture and it has been crafted so the change between points of view of different characters is logical and not confusing.

I liked being shown the training that Gilan gives both Horace and Will. The action scenes are compelling; I’m no Ranger or Battleschool apprentice but they seemed believable to me. And I still like the humour.

“Horace eagerly urged his horse forward, to ride level with the two Rangers.

‘Thank you, sir,’ he said gratefully. Gilan cocked an eyebrow at Will.

‘Polite, isn’t he?’ he mused. ‘Obviously manners are well taught in the Battleschool these days. Nice to be called “sir” all the time.’

Will grinned at the kindly meant jibe. Then the smile faded from his face as Gilan continued thoughtfully.

‘Not a bad idea to have a bit of respect shown. Perhaps you could call me sir as well,’ he said, turning his face away to study the treeline to one side, so that Will couldn’t see the faint trace of a grin that insisted on breaking through.

Aghast, Will choked over his answer. He couldn’t believe his ears.

‘Sir?’ he said finally. ‘You really want me to call you sir, Gilan?’ Then, as Gilan frowned slightly at him, he amended hurriedly and in great confusion: ‘I mean, sir! You want me to call you sir ... sir?’

Gilan shook his head. ‘No, I don’t think “sir-sir” is suitable. Nor “Sir Gilan”. I think just the one sir would do nicely, don’t you?’

Will couldn’t think of a polite way of phrasing what was in his mind

The two slight criticisms I have are that Will and his friends are still somewhat paragons of excellence and that unfortunately, the blurb on the back (of my edition) jumps right to the middle of the book which is a bit annoying (but hardly the author’s fault) because I spent the first half of reading the book anticipating those events.

The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger - but, hey, there are ten more books to go in this series so it’s no big surprise.

4-4.5 stars

Reporting 4 ROOT books for May but my wi-fi has been playing up all day so I’ll update later.

ROOTs read to end of May:

May

The Phantom's Curse by Shelley Wilson (ARC)
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster
The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler (2016)
Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan
The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (2005)

April

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)

March

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 22
Physical books: 16
E-books : 6

= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

34) The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (2005)



{Third of 11 (or 12); Ranger’s Apprentice series. Fantasy, children’s, YA}
Group read.

During the war against Morgarath, Will and one of his companions were captured and they now have to suffer a miserable journey sailing on board a wolfship to Skandia, the ice-bound land where a more miserable fate awaits them as slaves.

The first massive wave struck and the wolfship’s bow canted up at a terrifying angle. They began to rise up the face of the wave, then the ship faltered and began to slide – backwards and downwards! Svengal and Erak screamed at the rowers. Their voices were plucked away by the wind but the crew, their backs to the storm, could see and understand their body language. They heaved on the oars, bending the oak shafts with their efforts, and the backwards slide slowly eased. The ship began to claw its way up the face of the wave, rising higher and higher, moving more and more slowly until Will was sure they must begin the terrible backwards sliding motion again.

Then the crest of the wave broke and thundered over them.

Tonnes of water crashed onto the wolfship, driving it down, rolling it far over to the right until it seemed that it would never recover. Will screamed in absolute animal terror, then had the scream cut off as freezing salt water hammered against him, breaking his grip on the mast, filling his mouth and lungs and hurling him along the deck until the fragile cord brought him to a stop, swirling this way and that until the mass of water passed over and around him.

Meanwhile, Halt has sworn to find Will so he sets out with Horace by the land route traveling through an alternative Europe where Horace finds the customs very different from those of Araluen and that other people are a little bit more flexible than he is about the concept of knightly chivalry.

I found this a good continuation of the series and I like the way it expands on the original premise. It is a little bit darker but still (just about) within my comfort zone for my eleven year old to read (well, he already borrowed it last year from the school library). Our hero is downed shockingly quickly, but that can happen when circumstances turn against you.

As I’ve noted in my reviews for the previous books in the series, I like the writing style and the humour. (My reviews are getting shorter partly because I’m trying to avoid spoilers for previous books and partly because I’ve already covered the ground in the previous reviews.) One small quibble I have is the occasional pairs of adjectives that seem to contradict each other such as ‘an almost inaudible sigh carried clearly’ or ‘ringing hiss of steel on leather’; these have cropped up in all three books so far and usually give me a moment’s pause.

I’m still enjoying the series; they’re well written both for adult readers and the target age group (stated as 10+ on the back of my Corgi Yearling edition) but light enough that I can read them back to back - usually I have to have a break between books.

4 stars

36) Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan (2006)



{Fourth of 11 (or 12); Ranger’s Apprentice series. Fantasy, children’s, YA}
Group read.

Will and Evanlyn are trying to escape from Skandia and have been held up in the mountains by the winter snows. Halt and Horace are heading into Skandia by the land route, crossing from Teutlandt through one of the mountain passes, hoping to rescue them. In so doing, they discover a Temujai horde poised to invade Skandia. With their retreat into Teutlandt cut off by the Temujai and realising that once Skandia falls - and Halt knows it must, despite the Skandians' well-known prowess as fighters - the Temujai will look to invade the rest of the world, the Araluens decide to head back to the Skandian capital of Hallasholm to warn the Skandians and hopefully form an alliance with them to hold off the Temujai.

I like this series. The adventures are well written and while the outcomes may be resolved more easily than in the real world (so wars don’t drag out over many books, for example - but cliff-hangers are kept to a minimum) Flanagan doesn’t talk down to his readers and I’ve found the writing to be consistently solid and engaging. They are also light enough to keep me reading - I usually can't read two books in a series too close together - but well-written enough that I'm happy to read more.

I'm trying to avoid spoilers for the previous books. Points that I've made in my reviews for them that still hold true are the writing flows smoothly, they’re well written both for adult readers and the target age group (stated as 10+ on some of my editions), the characters are likeable, the action scenes are compelling and I like the humour.

‘Going to slow them down,’ Halt replied briefly. ‘Don’t stop to watch. Just keep going as hard as you can!’

Erik gritted his teeth as he came down heavily on the saddle. ‘This is as hard...as...I...can!’he replied. But Halt was already shaking his head. The Ranger had already unslung his longbow from across his shoulders and was brandishing it in his right hand. Eras saw what was coming, a moment too late to do anything about it.

‘No!’ he began. ‘Don’t you...!’

But then the bow whipped down across his horse's rump with a resounding crack and the beast leapt forward as if it had been stung. In a way, of course, it had.

The profanity that Erak was preparing for Halt was lost in a his drawn-out howl as he grabbed at the saddle bow once more to keep his seat.

I feel the writing is improving and some of my quibbles from the previous books have been addressed. Although the story revolves around Will, I like the way we are shown different points of view so we can see the bigger picture.

Erak opened his mouth to reply, but Olgak interrupted.

'The Ranger's right, Jarl,' he said. 'You'll be more valuable at Hallasholm. And besides, you're getting a bit long in the tooth for this sort of work, aren't you?'

Erak's eyes widened with anger and he started to say something. Then he noticed that Olgak was grinning broadly and realised that the younger man was joking.

(A young warrior talking to his earl/ war leader.)

Now I’m at an impasse. I’ve just finished Oakleaf Bearers (aka The Battle for Skandia) which is book four. Book five is The Sorcerer in the North but there’s a note after the blurb in my book that says:

Ranger’s Apprentice book 7: Erak’s Ransom takes place before the events of books 5 and 6. You might like to read book 7 first.

I plan to take advice from LT friends who have read them before and the Ranger's Apprentice website and read book 7 first.

4.5 stars

So, for folks who have got that far, do you recommend that I read book 5 or book 7 next? I’m a girl who likes to read series in order so I can follow the time line - but now I’m confused 😐

38) The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler (2016)



{First of 6:Kingfountain series. Fantasy, YA)

This story is told in the the third person mainly from the point of view of Owen, an eight year old boy and the son of Lord Kiskadon the Duke of Westmarch, who is taken to King Severn Argentine's court as a surety for his parents' behaviour - the Duke having proved an uncertain ally of the king in the recent battle of Ambion Hill. Owen is taken back to the palace at Kingfountain, the capital of Ceredigion, where he finds that he has to have breakfast at a buffet (of smoked salmon, cheese and grapes) with the king every morning along with all the other child hostages whereupon the king only eats from the food trays that other people have served from.

The Argentine family is obviously based on the last of the Plantagenets/ Angevins of England at the end of the 15th century; crouch-backed Severn is a facsimile of Richard III who is widely suspected of having ... um ... disposed of his brother Eredur's (Edward IV who won, lost and won back his throne) young sons (the 'princes in the Tower') on the way to the throne, his niece Elyse (Elizabeth of York) lives in the palace but her mother Lizzie (Elizabeth Woodville) resides in the sanctuary of Our Lady of Kingfountain.

I am only a third of the way through the book but at this point I am not invested in Owen's fate; the author tries to explain Owen's thinking but, as the mother of two boys aged 11 and 16, I don't feel that he gets inside a child's head. I think Wheeler would have done better to tell Owen's story from an observer's perspective. When Owen first gets to the palace he is described thus:

Owen had learned that there was a certain power in being the youngest. He was a strong-willed little boy who'd learned the power of tantrums in getting his way. He used this tactic judiciously, of course, for he was normally soft-spoken and gentle.

It also did not escape Owen's notice that adults fawned over him, especially his sisters. He had learned that being adorable, affectionate and quick to give hugs and smiles and little kisses earned him treats and stories and attention. By being quiet, especially at night, he could stay up longer because they would forget he was there.

Power. There was power in being able to control how others reacted to you.

This immediately characterised Owen to me as a manipulative brat which made me feel less invested in him. However Owen neither throws any tantrums - despite having been driven to fury a couple of times (and then done absolutely nothing about it) - nor tries to deliberately manipulate anyone so this description serves no positive purpose. Later when Owen is finally reunited with his family it happens offstage but, despite the first chapter telling us how affectionate he is and his homesickness at Kingfountain being mentioned once or twice, he doesn't appear to care much about them after just a few months. It feels as though the author is describing a child in his own life but then he doesn't follow through and apply those traits to his fictional character.

Despite Owen being the youngest of nine children and the author constantly telling us that he is homesick, he makes no attempt nor shows any interest in talking to or making friends with the other child hostages that he must see every day. They just show up to breakfast en masse (whether it's two or twenty we aren't told) stand around nibbling food and vanish. Although we are told that Owen explores the castle, we don't encounter any of them. He is, however, petted by the princess Elyse, whom he reminds of her lost younger brothers, and the cook - but why him and none of the other children? His favourite occupation is to sit in a corner of the castle kitchens to set up and topple dominoes, which he does every day.

The strongest part of the book (so far), I feel, was the first chapter which described Owen's mother waiting anxiously to see if her husband would return from the battlefield and her feelings about Owen, who was waiting with her. As a mother, I could empathise with her feelings about her son, but even that was a little overdone. If I had read it before becoming a parent I suspect I would have found it a bit mawkish.

The chapters are interspersed with notes by Dominic Mancini, an Espion in the king's service. After Owen gets lost a couple of times, Dominic is set to watch him. At the point I have read up to, Owen is upset because he has been hauled back to the castle so he remains in the kitchen while everyone, including the Espion, retires to bed. And so he meets the queen's poisoner of the title whose existence, but not identity, Severn knows of. This brings up two points; Dominic is obviously a terrible spy who lives only for food and Severn must only ever eat breakfast.

However, I am willing to continue reading. I am irritated but not enough to throw my Kindle across the room - just enough to rant through a partial review.

TBC ...

So I read to the end of the book. At around the halfway point the duke of North Cumbria, who had brought Owen from his home to the capital, brings his granddaughter to be his companion (although why would anyone willingly put a child in the same situation as the other hostages?) and in narrating their adventures and explorations of the castle, the writing does improve.

King Severn is a puzzle. His public face is one of cruelty - he doesn't hesitate to have his perceived enemies dispatched and fuels his magic by taunting his breakfast audience - but in his unguarded moments he seems vulnerable and even kind. The first time his private face was revealed I assumed it was a plot twist but nothing materialised. Neither aspect seems to be a façade but they don't sit believably together.

This looks like two books fighting for the same characters and the author would have benefited from my son’s primary school teachers’ advice of ‘show, don’t tell’, especially at the beginning of the book; tighter editing would have helped. I would have said it was a decent first effort but it looks as though Wheeler had at least three books published before this. Looking ahead to the synopses of the following five books it looks as though the story comes into its own whereas this book sets up the world and follows our world’s history quite closely. It looks intriguing but I don't think I'll be rushing to read them.

2.75 - 3 stars

I suspect that the Tower of London with the Shard behind it (Ankarette's tower) is the inspiration for the setting of the Kingfountain palace.

 

39) Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster (2017)

 

{First of 3(?): Esme trilogy. Fantasy, children's}

I’m going on to Esme’s Wish, which the publisher kindly included when I won the second book Esme's Gift through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Both LibraryThing and the author's website say it is/ will be a trilogy but only these two books are listed so far. Esme's Wish was published in 2017 but set in 1988. Although it is fantasy, it starts off with a perfectly normal (well, almost) wedding in a church. The premise (one chapter in) is reminiscent of Sarah Zettel’s ‘A Sorceror’s Treason’; a daughter of a lighthouse keeper, a mysterious mother lost to the water.

Fifteen year old Esme misses Ariane, her mother, who went missing, presumed lost at sea, seven years ago. She used to tell her daughter stories about a city called Esperance which existed in another world called Aeolia where magic and dragons existed. But other people thought she was strange and Esme feels that they’re hiding something about her disappearance.

When her dad remarries and it looks like her new step-mother is planning on sweeping away her old life, Esme feels that this is her last chance to find out what really happened to her mum. Then she discovers that Esperance is real when she accidentally travels there but instead of finding her mum, the mystery only deepens.

I really enjoyed this story and found the YA mystery and adventures compelling. Esperance (formerly called Ephyra) is a delightful place with a summery, Mediterranean feel to it: or rather Venetian, given the canals and gondolas. It is a pre-industrialisation culture that is otherwise similar to our world (of 1988), in that they wear T-shirts and dresses (amongst other items) and go to school for example, but as it has magic (and dragons) it doesn't suffer from lack of things like electricity. The magic is casually woven into everyday life and Esme easily adapts to using it.

Esme hunted through the kitchen cupboards for a jigger. On a high shelf, she found a whole school of them, perched upright on their splayed tails. She tore a sheet off the pad beside them, and penned a note to the professor.

After rolling up the letter, she slid it into the message bottle and hurried out to the stone steps that led down from the courtyard to the canal. She leaned down and lowered the jigger toward the water, not sure what to do next. It flipped out of her hand of its own accord, dove into the canal, and sped off along the waterway.

I would love to visit Esperance; apparently there are a few portals between our worlds so it would be rather easier to get there than to find the second star to the right, especially as I don't have a ready supply of pixie dust.

In our world Esme has had difficulty making friends since her mother disappeared but soon after her arrival in Esperance she bumps into Daniel (literally) and then meets Lilian, who knew her mother; they are both a similar age to Esme and since they are on school holidays they help guide her around Esperance in her quest to find more clues as to what happened to her mother. Esme surprises herself when she realises that she has made friends that she can trust.

Two quibbles; a map of the outer islands of Aeolia too would have been helpful and, on a personal note, the past tenses of 'sing' and 'sink' are 'sang' and 'sank' respectively. I suspect I'll be accused of being pedantic but those words kept snagging my concentration.

I thought the portals at sea that save days of sailing (a good thing, from my point of view) were a clever idea. If you can have portals in space and time, why can't you have them at sea as well? I've always wondered what those flat patches amongst the waves were caused by. Beam me - um - across Scotty!

The resolution was just a bit rushed/ confusing - I may have to read that bit again. There were a couple of spots were it jumped and it could have done with a bit more detail as to how those events connected.

I’d like to know what happened with her father when Esme got back to our world - or maybe that’s in book two which, fortunately, I already have.

'Don't touch that,' Sage called out to Lillian, who was investigating a plant on the other side of the room. 'That flower looks innocent enough, but it can balloon out to twice its size in an instant, and it rather likes ... how shall we say ... finger food.'

'Why is it even in here then?' Lillian exclaimed, snatching her hand away.

'Because it's rather excellent at warding off uninvited guests. And keeping them from coming back. As you can imagine, some of these artefacts are priceless.'

The flower burped.

4-4.5

41) The Phantom’s curse by Shelley Wilson (ARC) (2020)

 

{Stand-alone. Fantasy, YA}

I received this through Early Reviewers but it has come through as a pdf so I can’t change the font size on my Kindle without having to scroll. I thought, at 130 pages, that it would be a quick read but I struggled with the font size as well as the rushed descriptions. Halfway through I switched to reading it on my computer screen which helped a lot.

The story is narrated in the first person by Marianne who is a sixteen year old girl living in the Link which is a run-down town outside the city of Obanac. She goes to the city for her blessing where she catches the young lord's eye but she feels uneasy about him and would rather return home. Events conspire against her and she ends up having to enlist the help of outlaws, led by Robbie, to rescue people from the lord of Obanac. (Is this a play on Robin Hood and Maid Marian? It's not taken any further other than Marianne's precocious use of a bow.)

The prologue feels rushed and much of the book has the events crammed in so you read it at a breakneck pace instead of having it paced out; within one page, they rescue Marianne’s brother from his prison cell, attempt to escape downstairs to the secret passage, kill the guard blocking their way, hide from other guards, escape up the stairs to the courthouse, realise they can’t go out through the main entrance, find a hidden door and run through the streets to the church. Phew! *breathe* This leads to holes and gaps in the plot as the narrative jumps straight from one event to another. At one point I was a bit confused when I realised that days were supposed to have passed whereas I had the impression only of hours passing.

It's a decent outline of a story, which falls under the 'chosen one' trope, but the whole needs polishing and filling out with more detail. It is uneven; there is too much physical description (especially of men’s muscular bodies - Marianne seems to be attracted to all the young men her own age, none of whom are over or underfed despite the stated difference in wealth and she even notices the muscles on the phantom) and there is not enough set-up description. The vocabulary Wilson uses veers occasionally between overuse of a thesaurus ('the energy from the burning star had been absorbed by a swirling mass of black fog' describing matte-black helmets) contrasted with slang ('full-on freak-out').

There was a lot of giggling and chuckling which was vaguely irritating. The few times Mage Hall appeared, I was always a bit confused until I realised/ remembered that they were a character, not an institute; a name change would really help.

To be honest, I didn't work out what the phantom's curse actually was even though it was mentioned a few times through the book.

There is an extra chapter at the end called 'Black Riders' which would be better integrated into the relevant part of the main book (with any necessary changes) even though it is told (in the third person) from Robbie's point of view rather than Marianne's.

However, this is an ARC and not the final proof so hopefully it will get that polish before it is published.

2.5-3 stars

ROOTs read to end of June:

June

Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (1998)
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (2012)
Hospital Station by James White
Esme's Gift by Elizabeth Foster
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

May

The Phantom's Curse by Shelley Wilson (ARC)
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster
The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler (2016)
Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan
The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (2005)

April

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)

March

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 27
Physical books: 18
E-books : 9

= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

Clean Sweep

Esme's Gift

Hospital Station

46) Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (2012)



{Second of 3; Princess Academy series. Fantasy, children’s, YA}
Re-read

Following on some months after the end of Princess Academy a couple of the Academy girls have gone to Asland, the capital of Danland. Prince Steffan is to marry his chosen bride next spring and she has invited her Mount Eskel friends from the Academy to help her get ready for her wedding. There is a place for Miri at the Queen's Castle, the foremost institution of learning in Danland, and Peder, Miri's childhood friend, is set to accompany them to Asland to learn more about carving linder. However Marda, Miri's sister, stays behind so Miri can only write letters to her and collect them to be sent with the next trading caravan which will travel up to Mount Eskel in the spring. This is not an epistolary but letters do play a large part in the story.

At the beginning of the book Miri receives two letters; one from Katar

Addressing Miri Larensdaughter, Lady of the Princess,
Mount Eskel

Miri,

This is a letter. A letter is like talking to someone who is far away. Do not show the others in case I am doing it wrong.

and one from Britta

Miri Larensdaughter, Mount Eskel

Dearest Miri,

I am delighted to write to you! Though I would rather talk to you in person and sit in the shade of the princess academy, watching the hawks glide. At least I have good news to share.

I love the contrast between the two styles, which encapsulates the personalities of the senders perfectly.

This was a gentle story and was easy to re-read although it hadn't been very long since I read it the first time. It has a similar feel to Johanna Spyri's Heidi (which I read several times as a child). It emphasises family and friendship; the story revolves around the different types of friendships Miri shares with those around her and her quest to find a non-violent way to balance them all. I like the way, for instance, that Katar's and Miri's relationship has developed from competitiveness in the first book through grudging respect to teasing friendship.

'So ... did she just agree to sponsor the charter?' asked Katar.
'I thinks so,' Miri whispered.
'You think so?' Katar grabbed the paper from Miri. 'If I present this in session and {she} doesn't offer her sponsorship, "I think so" isn't going to save my head.'
'Your head will be fine,' said Miri. 'It's your neck you should worry about.'
'Miri!'

As well as personal friendship the story addresses the love of country and the determination to do the best for it - although different people have different ideas as to the best ways that can be achieved and so there are serious rumblings of revolution which brings danger to Miri and her friends. The first time I read this I felt some forebodings of doom - but Hale does my kind of happy ever afters. We learn incidentally about some of the history of Danland, some royal secrets and more secrets about linder - the stone quarried on Mount Eskel - are revealed.

And it's not just about the differences that Miri finds between the capital and her home on Mount Eskel; I like the way a lot of the girls from the Academy end up finding new life-paths that suit them, that they're passionate about and that they plan to use to benefit their community on Mount Eskel.

Although there is some romance in the story (after all Miri is 'of an age to be betrothed'), it is not a focus and (almost) all the attachments are grounded in friendship and genuine affection.

This one tugs at the heartstrings and there were a few moments when I was cheering on a person who seemed to be a background character until then. You go girl!

4.5 stars

Dragonsbane

You are so good with your reviews, Nina. I wish I could be so structured.

Thanks Connie.

It's my ambition to review every book I read (partly so I remember what happened if I read another book in the series later) but it doesn't always happen. Since I update my ROOTS thread at the end of the month, I copy my reviews over en masse from my thread in the 75 challenge group. As you can see, though, I still have some of my June books to catch up on.

>41 humouress: Yes, I noticed! But I will keep an eye on your reviews as they come.

Hah; well I stalled on my reviews and I still have some June reviews to catch up on ... which then lead to backlogs in reviews for other months, resulting in my not posting for a while.

Well, here are my July books:

ROOTs read to end of July:

July

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (1913)
The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
Hamlyn All Colour Cook Book
Dr. Thirteenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Eleventh by Adam Hargreaves (2017)
Dr. Tenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Ninth by Adam Hargreaves (2017)

June

Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (1998)
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (2012)
Hospital Station by James White
Esme's Gift by Elizabeth Foster
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

May

The Phantom's Curse by Shelley Wilson (ARC)
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster
The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler (2016)
Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan
The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (2005)

April

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)

March

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 34
Physical books: 25
E-books : 9

= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

Oh dear; I've lost me tickers. Let's see if I can manage to revive them.

Hi, you are back again! Good to see you!

I've had that ticker-thing happen to me too but had no problems reviving them. Just tried some clicking on things.

>45 connie53: Thank you!

I'll try messing around with them then.

ETA: no joy. Maybe it's been too long. It looks like I'll just have to recreate them then :0(

For the July Juveniles group read (and because it helps to push up my numbers); all re-reads, reviews from March 2019

49) Dr. Ninth originated by Roger Hargreaves

{Ninth of 13 : Dr. Who/ Mr. Men series. Children's. Retro}

 

The Doctor meets Rose while shopping for a hat (where he sees a familiar looking hat and long scarf)- but then they’re accosted by Autons and they have to rescue Jack Harkness from them, too. Rose gets to see the inside of the TARDIS and is amazed.

3.5 stars

50) Dr. Tenth originated by Roger Hargreaves

{Tenth of 13 : Dr. Who/ Mr. Men series. Children's. Retro}

 

Dr. Who is trying to take a well-deserved holiday on an alien planet when a spaceship lands on it because the Sontarans have decided to invade. So he tries to convince General Staal that he is not an enemy and all he wants is for the Sontarans to leave so that he can have some peace and quiet - but the General doesn't believe him.

4 stars

51) Dr. Eleventh originated by Roger Hargreaves

{Eleventh of 13 : Dr. Who/ Mr. Men series. Children's. Retro}

 

The Doctor and River Song have just spent a very busy day avoiding danger from all quarters. Unfortunately, the Doctor has left something vitally important behind - but he can’t remember when or where he left it or what, in fact, it is. They do have a time machine though, so they go back and retrace their steps through all the dangers.

4 stars

53) Dr. Thirteenth (2018)

 

{Thirteenth of 13 : Dr. Who/ Mr. Men series. Children's. Retro}

Yaz’s friends decide to hold a surprise birthday party for her and the Doctor is elected to get everything so she hops in the Tardis to get supplies.

Um ... Doctor, are you quite sure that one is a good idea?...

3.5 stars

Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook

55) Hamlyn All Colour Cook Book by Mary Berry, Ann Body and Audrey Ellis

This is a cook book that my mum had when we were growing up and I snaffled it when I got married; I am currently copying the ingredients into an app for easy reference. There are four recipes to a double page, each with a large photo of the completed dish and a 'quick tip' with suggestions. The recipes are not too complicated (being aimed at the 1970s busy working woman) and are easy to follow.

There are three contributors to the book who each have chapters covering different types of foods (Mary Berry has 'main meals to cook ahead' and 'favourite family cakes', for instance). While Mary Berry tends to stick to traditional foods (roasts, stews and so on) Ann Boyd uses ready-to-go ingredients such as tinned blackcurrant pie filling; her recipes are more simplistic but have dated somewhat especially as the ingredients lists occasionally use what seem to be branded ingredients which are now unfamiliar.

.... still reading/ transposing ...

Furies of Calderon

Review from March 2013:

56)

6) Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher



It's been a couple of weeks since I read this book, so this is just a brief review. Butcher also wrote the 'Dresden Files', which I haven't read, but I've seen a couple of the TV programmes.

This is the first book in the Alera Codex, where the Calderon Valley is the northernmost part of the realm of Alera (which seems to be designed along Roman lines), and the first defense against the alien Marat hordes which, from time to time, try to invade through the only break in the mountain wall. All human adults are bonded with one or more furies, which are elementals of air, water, fire, earth, wood or metal, and allow their humans to influence their surroundings. We are not told, initially, but they confer other powers, too. For instance, those bonded with fire can affect emotions, those with earth have superhuman strength, and those bonded with water furies are able to heal (though that connection was a bit tenuous for me)

Tavi, a fifteen year old boy, is the only human known who has not bonded on maturity with a fury, however weak, and he is considered a cripple of sorts, as he therefore cannot 'furycraft'. However, he has courage aplenty, and, in spite of (or because of) his weakness, turns out to be a hero.

I really liked this story; the action is fast-paced, and engaging. We also see affairs from other people's points of view, not just Tavi's; we see sorceror's and politicians, and the in-fighting of those who would be emperor, or believe they are saving the empire, and get a well-rounded view of the Aleran world. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

Scarlet Pimpernel

ROOTs read to end of August:

August

Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones (1986)

July

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (1913)
The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
Hamlyn All Colour Cook Book
Dr. Thirteenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Eleventh by Adam Hargreaves (2017)
Dr. Tenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Ninth by Adam Hargreaves (2017)

June

Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (1998)
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (2012)
Hospital Station by James White
Esme's Gift by Elizabeth Foster
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

May

The Phantom's Curse by Shelley Wilson (ARC)
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster
The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler (2016)
Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan
The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (2005)

April

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)

March

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 35
Physical books: 26
E-books : 9

= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

Howl's Moving Castle

63) Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones

This was a re-read for me and I enjoyed it more this time, I think, even though I gave it 5 stars last time around. Last time, I knew the book has a fan following and it uses a lot of familiar fairytale tropes so I thought I knew where it was heading but it always confounded me. This time, while I couldn't remember the story, I knew that it wouldn't follow my expectations and so I didn't have any.

My Harper Voyager edition has an interview with Wynne Jones at the end about the inspirations for this (and other) books which was very funny - because I can empathise. She based Howl who has all kinds of cosmetics and scents, for instance, on one of her sons who would annoy her by taking forever in the bathroom.

5*****

My review from 10th November 2011:

In the fairy-tale land of Ingary, Sophie Hatter is the eldest of three sisters, and thus doomed (so she feels) to fail the worst if they set out to seek their fortunes; so she decides, instead, to be responsible for looking after her sisters. Unfortunately, she falls under a curse cast by the Witch of the Waste, so she leaves home to find a cure. She meets Howl's moving castle (which is also trying to avoid meeting the Witch) as she is crossing the moors, and stays on to look after the housekeeping, in return for the chance to have the spell removed.

This is a fun YA read, with lots of unexpected twists and turns to the tale, and mixed up characters who have been cursed by the Witch. And Sophie finds that her sisters, whom she tries to protect from the wizard Howl, are not the only ones who need saving...

ROOTs read to end of September:

September

The Book of Swords: part 2 edited by Gardner Dozois (2017)

August

Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones (1986)

July

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (1913)
The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
Hamlyn All Colour Cook Book
Dr. Thirteenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Eleventh by Adam Hargreaves (2017)
Dr. Tenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Ninth by Adam Hargreaves (2017)

June

Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (1998)
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (2012)
Hospital Station by James White
Esme's Gift by Elizabeth Foster
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

May

The Phantom's Curse by Shelley Wilson (ARC)
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster
The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler (2016)
Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan
The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (2005)

April

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)

March

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 36
Physical books: 27
E-books : 9

= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

Book of Swords part 2

ROOTs read to end of October:

October

Wishing Season by Esther Freisner

September

The Book of Swords: part 2 edited by Gardner Dozois (2017)

August

Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones (1986)

July

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (1913)
The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
Hamlyn All Colour Cook Book
Dr. Thirteenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Eleventh by Adam Hargreaves (2017)
Dr. Tenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Ninth by Adam Hargreaves (2017)

June

Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (1998)
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (2012)
Hospital Station by James White
Esme's Gift by Elizabeth Foster
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

May

The Phantom's Curse by Shelley Wilson (ARC)
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster
The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler (2016)
Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan
The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (2005)

April

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)

March

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 37
Physical books: 28
E-books : 9

= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

Wishing Season

You have been busy, Nina. Very good job.

Thanks Connie. I'm just trying to catch up because I neglected this thread for so long - I was hoping to write up my June reviews first but that still hasn't happened. September and October were slow reading months but November has picked up a bit.

ROOTs read to end of November:

November

The Traitor's Game by Jennifer Nielsen
The Hallowed Hunt
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan

October

Wishing Season by Esther Freisner

September

The Book of Swords: part 2 edited by Gardner Dozois (2017)

August

Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones (1986)

July

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (1913)
The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
Hamlyn All Colour Cook Book
Dr. Thirteenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Eleventh by Adam Hargreaves (2017)
Dr. Tenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Ninth by Adam Hargreaves (2017)

June

Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (1998)
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (2012)
Hospital Station by James White
Esme's Gift by Elizabeth Foster
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

May

The Phantom's Curse by Shelley Wilson (ARC)
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster
The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler (2016)
Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan
The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (2005)

April

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)

March

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 41
Physical books: 32
E-books : 9

= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

Happy holidays!

Thank you Connie. And to you too.

ROOTs read to 26th December

December (so far ...)

Asterix and the Golden Sickle by Goscinny & Uderzo (1962)
Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier (2013)
Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier (2012)
Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher
Asterix the Gaul by Goscinny & Uderzo
Ruby Red by Kerstin Grier
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

November

The Traitor's Game by Jennifer Nielsen
The Hallowed Hunt
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan

October

Wishing Season by Esther Freisner

September

The Book of Swords: part 2 edited by Gardner Dozois (2017)

August

Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones (1986)

July

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (1913)
The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
Hamlyn All Colour Cook Book
Dr. Thirteenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Eleventh by Adam Hargreaves (2017)
Dr. Tenth by Adam Hargreaves (2018)
Dr. Ninth by Adam Hargreaves (2017)

June

Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (1998)
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale (2012)
Hospital Station by James White
Esme's Gift by Elizabeth Foster
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

May

The Phantom's Curse by Shelley Wilson (ARC)
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster
The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler (2016)
Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan
The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (2005)

April

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (2005)
The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley (1996)
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (2004)

March

Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Nevertheless She Persisted anthology

February

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Sound of Her Wings by Neil Gaiman et al
Sound and Fury by Neil Gaiman et al
24 Hours by Neil Gaiman et al
Passengers by Neil Gaiman et al
A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Neil Gaiman et al
Imperfect Hosts by Neil Gaiman et al
Sleep of the Just by Neil Gaiman et al
Forest Born by Shannon Hale

January
The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois

Total ROOTs: 48
Physical books: 38
E-books : 10
Re-reads : 13

= physical book
= e-book (Kindle)
= re-read

artemis fowl

78) Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier



{1st of 3 Ruby trilogy; fantasy, YA. Translated from German}

re-re-read

This time, knowing how it ends, I paid attention to all the twists and turns. Still good and very engaging. I read it straight through this time. Narrated in first person from Gwyneth's point of view.

4-4.5****

My review from 22-02-2016:

(First of 3: Ruby Red trilogy. Fantasy, YA) (Re-read)

I re-read this before I continue on with Sapphire Blue, the next in the series. I realised I hadn't finished my review last time to post it. This is what I wrote:

'I really enjoyed this story, possibly because it was reminiscent of the books I used to read as a teenager, with its very English flavour (though the original was written in German and translated into English by Anthea Bell (sister of BBC's Martin Bell)). In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I think I may buy the whole series. I seem to be a sucker for LT recommended YA trilogies coloured (individually) red, blue and green and written by authors named a variant of Kirstin. (I also went out and bought the Graceling trilogy after borrowing the first one from the library.) :0)

The story is told from the point of view of Gwynneth. she has always been overshadowed by her perfect cousin Charlotte (not to be confused with her sister Caroline), who has inherited a time travelling gene. Charlotte has been trained all her life in the 'mysteries' and now she is the right age, the family is anticipating her first jump. But it is Gwynneth who unexpectedly time travels and who turns out to be the last prophesied gene carrier, and now she is thrust unprepared into the 'mysteries' that her mother was hoping to protect her from.'

I still enjoyed the story on this re-read, though of course without being quite so much on tenter hooks. I like the way Gier / Bell have captured the flavour of being a teenager, and of being in London.Of course, being a time travelling story, it covers London in different time periods. I can't claim personal experience there, but it does convey the differences from present-day London (the fashions, the smells, the traffic)(coach traffic is different from car traffic). All in all, an excellent book; a little adventure, a little fantasy, a little humour, a little romance, and all well written.

Apparently I was undecided between a 4.5 star rating and a 5 (and still am this time around) but I finally decided on a 5, so I'll go with my first decision.

5 star

Oh, and Gwynneth (almost) shares my birthday. So does Kerstin Gier (a surprisingly rare occurrence). Definitely a 5 star then.

Asterix Omnibus 1 by Goscinny & Uderzo

82) Asterix the Gaul

The year is 50BC. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely ... One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. And life is not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrison the fortified camps of Tortorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium ...

The inhabitants of the village go about their daily activities unconcerned about the Romans camped outside their walls because they know they can defeat them easily. How? That's what Crismus Bonus wants to know, so he sends a volunteer spy into the village, who discovers that their druid mixes a magic potion that can give the drinker the strength of ten men for a limited time. Of course then he wants to get his hands on that potion.

Wonderfully silly with ridiculous puns on Latin (meet Crismus Bonus, the commander of Compendium, for example, or his second in command, Ginandtonicus). I love the little details in the background of the panels and the footnotes in some panels (one says 'this is an example of Latin grammar' followed a few panels later by 'this is bad grammar'). Or, when defeated enemies throw their weapons at Caesar's feet, they drop them on his toes. For those acquainted with the series already the world building may be a little stilted but, as the first publication, necessary.

So much fun and a good (and easy) way to revisit childhood.

4.5*****

ETA: I found this site with cameo appearances in the Asterix comics.

Clockwork Boys

>69 humouress: I'm a big fan of the Asterix books, I love those little throwaway puns, and the names - they seemed to try as hard in the translations as in the originals to make them as funny as possible!

>71 Jackie_K: And those jokes in the background of the drawings (like Cacafonix the bard tied up at the feasts at the end - though not in the first story). Maybe I should have a look at the original and see if my French holds up :0)