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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
It's fine. Kind of charming. I didn't read these as a kid, which is odd, as I read all the fantasy I could get my hands on. I must not have come within arms' reach of them? Anyway, it's a kind of nice book, very very simple, obviously just a beginning. There's not much to it...at all. Perhaps I'll read the rest, but I feel that's unlikely.
Edit: bought the boxed set 7 years later so I am reading this again, and it's a bit more charming than I recall. Still not exactly gripping to me, but better than I assessed it by a bit. Probably a solid 2.5 stars.
Edit: bought the boxed set 7 years later so I am reading this again, and it's a bit more charming than I recall. Still not exactly gripping to me, but better than I assessed it by a bit. Probably a solid 2.5 stars.
This a great children’s book and still very enjoyable to read as an adult. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
I really love the classic fantasy hero’s journey across beautiful landscapes running into all sorts of trouble and detours. Especially loved all the Welsh mythology inspiration.
It did seem very reminiscent of Lord of the Rings in parts, with the strange stalking character of Gurgi and the return of the wise all knowing and powerful wizard type of Gwydion (who of course wasn’t dead), for instance.
I really love the classic fantasy hero’s journey across beautiful landscapes running into all sorts of trouble and detours. Especially loved all the Welsh mythology inspiration.
It did seem very reminiscent of Lord of the Rings in parts, with the strange stalking character of Gurgi and the return of the wise all knowing and powerful wizard type of Gwydion (who of course wasn’t dead), for instance.
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
1.5/5 stars
I should have probably got worried by the length of the book itself, but eventually decided to trust the enthusiastic opinion of some Reddit users.
The result? 190 pages of "Thank you for the warning! I'll completely ignore it, almost get us all killed as a consequence, then play the victim and yet still repeat the same mistake again and again".
One would think that after the third time the lesson would be learned for good, but no. Apparently the character development doesn't even dare to go that far. Not that there's much to say about the characters in general. I'm quite used to fantasy characters and their inner monologues, but in these characters specifically there are barely any thought. They look and act more like caricatures. The fact that it's a series meant for children/teenagers is not a proper excuse for that.
As for the ending... (no worries, no spoilers here), it's like the writer had suddenly lost his pen in the middle of the scene and couldn't find anything else to write, therefore deciding to end the book just like that.
I should have probably got worried by the length of the book itself, but eventually decided to trust the enthusiastic opinion of some Reddit users.
The result? 190 pages of "Thank you for the warning! I'll completely ignore it, almost get us all killed as a consequence, then play the victim and yet still repeat the same mistake again and again".
One would think that after the third time the lesson would be learned for good, but no. Apparently the character development doesn't even dare to go that far. Not that there's much to say about the characters in general. I'm quite used to fantasy characters and their inner monologues, but in these characters specifically there are barely any thought. They look and act more like caricatures. The fact that it's a series meant for children/teenagers is not a proper excuse for that.
As for the ending... (no worries, no spoilers here), it's like the writer had suddenly lost his pen in the middle of the scene and couldn't find anything else to write, therefore deciding to end the book just like that.
Pretty fun and well written adventure book. Decently short but well put together. Elionwy was my favorite character. Some of the characters were annoying but they always grew on me! I'll like to read the sequels.
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes