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pomea's review
5.0
Tightly-plotted and refreshingly realistic middle-grade novel with a few fun twists. This one's a favorite from when I was a kid; pleased to have found it again!
Would compare this series to Jones' Dalemark Quartet in terms of approach and theme.
Would compare this series to Jones' Dalemark Quartet in terms of approach and theme.
hgranger's review
4.0
A quick and easy read with a good story and interesting characters. It has enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.
itabar's review
3.0
Many well-worn tropes but still a nice read. Likable, capable characters, lots of adventure. Will be reading the sequels.
stuhlsem's review
3.0
This book was cute and a fast read--a perfect break from nonfiction and from being outside in the cold with goats and chickens. Pretty typical fantasy story--orphan boy was taken in by kind justice when he botches an attempt to pick said justice's pocket. Boy becomes clerk and helps justice in attempt against the corrupt regent. Justice is caught and boy must go on quest to rescue justice and perhaps save the kingdom? Of course, there's also a pretty girl, who happens to be really good at knife fighting and has awesome hair. There's also a well-tempered mule, lots of guards with different uniforms, and gods with funny names.
mae_thebooksbewithyou's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I mean, it was cute. It felt a little bit underdeveloped and contradictory at times. Weasel constantly says he's rusty at his pickpocket trade, but every time he does anything sketchy, he excels at it. Then, we're told he's been practicing to get back in shape, but never shown it, so it feels a little like the author was like "oh right, gotta throw that in there so it makes sense," but it just felt a bit slap-dash. But it was a cute story, and the characters were lovable even if they felt a little two-dimensional. I don't think I'll be reading the rest of the series, but I'm not mad that I read this one.
kailey_luminouslibro's review
4.0
Weasel, a former pickpocket, is the trusted clerk of Justice Holis. When the Justice is arrested for treason against the king, Weasel must return to the underground community of criminals searching for the outlaw bandit, the Falcon, the only person who could help him break Justice Holis out of prison. With the help of Arisa, an escaped prisoner, Weasel finds a mysterious old shield, rumored to be the long-lost magical shield of the king. The two set out on an impossible quest, to find the Falcon, restore the shield to the rightful ruler of the land, and save Weasel's master.
Weasel is an interesting character, and I loved that Arisa is mysterious and full of surprises. Their sturdy friendship felt real and tugged at my heart. They are both tough and smart, but in different ways. Arisa is country-smart, and Weasel is city-smart. They both bring such different perspectives and ideas into the friendship, and I love how they gradually start to respect each other for their varied accomplishments.
The plot is full of twists and turns, daring escapes, maddening setbacks, hidden transformations, and mystical revelations. There is a wonderful depth to the world-building, with lots of history and rumors flying around. Everyone wants a piece of the shield, and there are signs and portents that guide the characters into a struggle for power.
I enjoyed this book so much, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Weasel is an interesting character, and I loved that Arisa is mysterious and full of surprises. Their sturdy friendship felt real and tugged at my heart. They are both tough and smart, but in different ways. Arisa is country-smart, and Weasel is city-smart. They both bring such different perspectives and ideas into the friendship, and I love how they gradually start to respect each other for their varied accomplishments.
The plot is full of twists and turns, daring escapes, maddening setbacks, hidden transformations, and mystical revelations. There is a wonderful depth to the world-building, with lots of history and rumors flying around. Everyone wants a piece of the shield, and there are signs and portents that guide the characters into a struggle for power.
I enjoyed this book so much, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
doughtah's review against another edition
3.0
Hilari Bell’s “Shield of Stars” sets the stage for her trilogy “The Shield, Sword, And Crown.” Weasel is a clerk in the employ of one Justice Hollis, a member of the uppercrust of his country’s society and a paternal figure to the young Weasel. As the plot unfolds, other characters - such as the young Prince and his dastardly Regent, as well as a spirited young girl who meets Weasel in unfortunate circumstances - enter the performance to play their roles in the story. Political intrigue and superstition all begin to interfere with Weasel’s cushy life as Justice Hollis’ clerk as soon as the story starts. If you pick up this book, prepare for fast-paced, fun adventure.
Set largely around dialogue, “Shield of Stars” moves quickly between its scenes and through its story. Bell makes use of descriptions where she feels they are necessary, from Weasel’s interior mind to setting the scene in which we find our hero. Thankfully, there is not much in the way of purple prose in this book. There is also a background of myth and political intrigue beyond what Weasel, our eyes in the story, can see or cares to see. As it’s only the first entry in the trilogy, it’s pretty much assured that those features of the story will be further developed in the next two books and that’s one thing really drawing me to finish the trilogy.
However, “Shield of Stars” does not stray far from its companions in the “Reluctant Hero” genre in some not-so-fun ways. There are only two named female characters in the entire book that have any impact. Arisa - one of those named female characters - is, of course, unlike any other girl Weasel might have met in his years on the streets where girls certainly only ever squealed and teared up. The Falcon, a woman in charge of leading a rebellion of the countryfolk, has an army primarily filled with men who are the only ones to join her in one of her most important military battles. The rest of the cast is made up of named male characters and most of the random characters who play a role in the main characters’ story are men. There was also one very eye-rolling moment where a random rebel tells Weasel The Falcon “takes folks that way at first.Least, she takes men that way.” Good to know the fantasy world is only made up of straight people.
In the end, “Shield of Stars” is a quick, fun, and rather typical first entry to a fantasy series.
Set largely around dialogue, “Shield of Stars” moves quickly between its scenes and through its story. Bell makes use of descriptions where she feels they are necessary, from Weasel’s interior mind to setting the scene in which we find our hero. Thankfully, there is not much in the way of purple prose in this book. There is also a background of myth and political intrigue beyond what Weasel, our eyes in the story, can see or cares to see. As it’s only the first entry in the trilogy, it’s pretty much assured that those features of the story will be further developed in the next two books and that’s one thing really drawing me to finish the trilogy.
However, “Shield of Stars” does not stray far from its companions in the “Reluctant Hero” genre in some not-so-fun ways. There are only two named female characters in the entire book that have any impact. Arisa - one of those named female characters - is, of course, unlike any other girl Weasel might have met in his years on the streets where girls certainly only ever squealed and teared up. The Falcon, a woman in charge of leading a rebellion of the countryfolk, has an army primarily filled with men who are the only ones to join her in one of her most important military battles. The rest of the cast is made up of named male characters and most of the random characters who play a role in the main characters’ story are men. There was also one very eye-rolling moment where a random rebel tells Weasel The Falcon “takes folks that way at first.Least, she takes men that way.” Good to know the fantasy world is only made up of straight people.
In the end, “Shield of Stars” is a quick, fun, and rather typical first entry to a fantasy series.
gracecrandall's review against another edition
5.0
Well, this is an awesome book. There's something indefinably attractive about Hilari Bell's plots; I think it has something to do with how all her characters relate to one another. There's heart and realism in every relationship in this book (none of which are romantic), and that makes it a real joy to read :)
My favorite character was Weasel. Whether he's maneuvering through the criminal world or heroically riding a complacent mule to a friend's rescue, he's just fun to read about.
Weasel is a boy who claims to care about no one but himself. He was a pickpocket, but he was caught--and let off--by Justice Holis, who subsequently gave him a job as a clerk in his house. this might have been a happy ending, but the politics of the realm have stepped in to make sure it isn't; and when Holis is arrested as a traitor, Weasel (still insisting he only cares about himself, silly fellow) does everything in his power to save him.
Along the way he meets up with Arisa--a plain girl, with a good head on her shoulders, whose combat skills aren't entirely in line with her claims of being no more than a the daughter of a seamstress.
I think Arisa and Weasel's relationship is a lot richer for not being romantic. There's a real friendship and camaraderie between them, and it was fun to see their strengths and weaknesses played against one another. the story has a lot of serious undertones, but it's never humorless; and the humor in turn serves to make the serious bits--some rather deep and confusing questions about life, loyalty and lesser evils--somehow more gripping.
I'd almost forgotten about the epic worldbuilding and mythology. the story paints a picture of the world it takes place in with surprising brevity and clarity, no more than a suggestion here or there giving the impression of a very full and rich history behind the bits we're allowed to see.
All in all, this book has gained a place in my favorites (along with almost all of Bell's other books) and I can't wait to read the next one!
My favorite character was Weasel. Whether he's maneuvering through the criminal world or heroically riding a complacent mule to a friend's rescue, he's just fun to read about.
Weasel is a boy who claims to care about no one but himself. He was a pickpocket, but he was caught--and let off--by Justice Holis, who subsequently gave him a job as a clerk in his house. this might have been a happy ending, but the politics of the realm have stepped in to make sure it isn't; and when Holis is arrested as a traitor, Weasel (still insisting he only cares about himself, silly fellow) does everything in his power to save him.
Along the way he meets up with Arisa--a plain girl, with a good head on her shoulders, whose combat skills aren't entirely in line with her claims of being no more than a the daughter of a seamstress.
I think Arisa and Weasel's relationship is a lot richer for not being romantic. There's a real friendship and camaraderie between them, and it was fun to see their strengths and weaknesses played against one another. the story has a lot of serious undertones, but it's never humorless; and the humor in turn serves to make the serious bits--some rather deep and confusing questions about life, loyalty and lesser evils--somehow more gripping.
I'd almost forgotten about the epic worldbuilding and mythology. the story paints a picture of the world it takes place in with surprising brevity and clarity, no more than a suggestion here or there giving the impression of a very full and rich history behind the bits we're allowed to see.
All in all, this book has gained a place in my favorites (along with almost all of Bell's other books) and I can't wait to read the next one!
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