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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This, fifth book of the series is the last in the Rowan of Rin books. Set in a bleak winter that threatens to never lift, Rowan once more quests to the Mountain. There are ancient stories of Ice Creepers which are said to come down the mountain to devour things during winters such as these. The more superstitious of the village claim that they have Angered the Mountain and will need to pay penance.
I like that Sheba actually DOES something in this book. I have sympathy for the old hag, and I think during the series she gets the short end of the metaphor, considering it's her prophesies that are saving people left right and centre. Rowan starts to have visions and dreams in this book, so it's sort of setting him up to be the village seer in his own time.. but he really doesn't like the idea.
Themes in this story fit with the earlier themes of the first two books, in that they revolve around the balance of nature. When we do things to the land that we don't understand then it can have disastrous knock-on effects. It's kind of interesting to be reading this right on the back of The Climate Book. We've clearly been trying to tell people this (as a society) for a really long time. Emily Rodda (aka Jennifer June Rowe) is an Australian author. Her early childhood coincided with rabbit plagues in Australia that were caused by humans introducing the mammal pests in the hopes that they could be used for furs and food, but without the ecology of predators to naturally limit their prolific breeding, and I would hazard to guess that this sort of environmental awareness was on the radar of the average Australian at that time When you don't pay attention to the growth habits of plants and animals you can't hope to live in harmony with them.
In the last couple of books we have seen hints at romantic affections growing between some of the young characters, that are never explicit, but might be enjoyed by adult and teen readers. I think the most fun parts of this series are the mysterious and magical bits; pools with healing properties, giant serpents, dragons and dragon-like creatures, a city walled with chrome in a wasteland of discarded bones, and ensorcelled flames of prophecy. The whole landscape is populated with creatures and plants that are subtly different from out own, and this takes us to completely new places; meadows, mountains, seas, deserts... it packs quite a lot into 5 short books that you can easily wrap your head around. I really want to share these with my kids.
I like that Sheba actually DOES something in this book. I have sympathy for the old hag, and I think during the series she gets the short end of the metaphor, considering it's her prophesies that are saving people left right and centre. Rowan starts to have visions and dreams in this book, so it's sort of setting him up to be the village seer in his own time.. but he really doesn't like the idea.
Themes in this story fit with the earlier themes of the first two books, in that they revolve around the balance of nature. When we do things to the land that we don't understand then it can have disastrous knock-on effects. It's kind of interesting to be reading this right on the back of The Climate Book. We've clearly been trying to tell people this (as a society) for a really long time. Emily Rodda (aka Jennifer June Rowe) is an Australian author. Her early childhood coincided with rabbit plagues in Australia that were caused by humans introducing the mammal pests in the hopes that they could be used for furs and food, but without the ecology of predators to naturally limit their prolific breeding, and I would hazard to guess that this sort of environmental awareness was on the radar of the average Australian at that time When you don't pay attention to the growth habits of plants and animals you can't hope to live in harmony with them.
In the last couple of books we have seen hints at romantic affections growing between some of the young characters, that are never explicit, but might be enjoyed by adult and teen readers. I think the most fun parts of this series are the mysterious and magical bits; pools with healing properties, giant serpents, dragons and dragon-like creatures, a city walled with chrome in a wasteland of discarded bones, and ensorcelled flames of prophecy. The whole landscape is populated with creatures and plants that are subtly different from out own, and this takes us to completely new places; meadows, mountains, seas, deserts... it packs quite a lot into 5 short books that you can easily wrap your head around. I really want to share these with my kids.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation
Minor: Kidnapping, War
A solid ending to a fantastic YA/Middle grade series, filled with mysterious creatures, adventures, and of course, meaningful friendships. And for me, a bunch of nostalgia!
All good things come to and end, and well so do bad things and average things, this one on the whole was an average series, bearing in mind I'm not the target audience, it was fine, had all the elements of a journey book, and pushed the buttons when needed, but it was pretty average.
Rowan of Rin #5
Emily Rodda #29
Rowan of Rin #5
Emily Rodda #29
This book is excellent. It is the same story as Rowan of the Bukshah, so get one or the other, not both. Read the first four before this one, though, or you won't understand it well. The first four are VERY important to the storyline, especially Rowan of the Zebak.
Okay, apparently nobody has bothered to actually review this book, so let me make this clear: This is exactly the same as Rowan and the Ice Creepers, just the UK version of the book! So if you live in the US, don't bother ordering it from the UK, just buy Rowan and the Ice Creepers.
For those of you who do live in the UK, Rowan of the Bukshah is excellent. It's the story of a young boy who used to be thought useless by his people, the people of Rin, and now is revered--but only because he saved them from destruction so many times. Sheba the wise woman gives him the key to her prophecies, and sends him to the mountain with a few friends to end the longest winter in memory.
Despite its excellence, you won't understand much of it unless you read the first four books. I made this mistake. It makes way more sense if you read [b:Rowan of Rin|116473|Rowan of Rin (Rowan of Rin) (Rowan of Rin, 1)|Emily Rodda|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171724173s/116473.jpg|1360778], [b:Rowan and the Travellers|116471|Rowan of Rin #2 Rowan and the Travelers (Rowan of Rin, 2)|Emily Rodda|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171724168s/116471.jpg|2537353], [b:Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal|116475|Rowan of Rin #3 Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal (Rowan of Rin)|Emily Rodda|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171724174s/116475.jpg|1360776], and [b:Rowan and the Zebak|116472|Rowan of Rin #4 Rowan and the Zebak (Rowan of Rin, 4)|Emily Rodda|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171724173s/116472.jpg|590145].
For those of you who do live in the UK, Rowan of the Bukshah is excellent. It's the story of a young boy who used to be thought useless by his people, the people of Rin, and now is revered--but only because he saved them from destruction so many times. Sheba the wise woman gives him the key to her prophecies, and sends him to the mountain with a few friends to end the longest winter in memory.
Despite its excellence, you won't understand much of it unless you read the first four books. I made this mistake. It makes way more sense if you read [b:Rowan of Rin|116473|Rowan of Rin (Rowan of Rin) (Rowan of Rin, 1)|Emily Rodda|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171724173s/116473.jpg|1360778], [b:Rowan and the Travellers|116471|Rowan of Rin #2 Rowan and the Travelers (Rowan of Rin, 2)|Emily Rodda|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171724168s/116471.jpg|2537353], [b:Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal|116475|Rowan of Rin #3 Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal (Rowan of Rin)|Emily Rodda|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171724174s/116475.jpg|1360776], and [b:Rowan and the Zebak|116472|Rowan of Rin #4 Rowan and the Zebak (Rowan of Rin, 4)|Emily Rodda|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171724173s/116472.jpg|590145].
While listed as a teen book its clearly childrens. Slightly entertaining with a few interesting ideas but not much in the way of excitement, surprises, or action. Cool cover though.