Scan barcode
rereader33's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, I’m gonna keep this short. This was a good book that I do recommend, but the last third of the book was disappointing. The pros are that Thisby is a fantastic character (even if she’s a little too mature for a 12 year old) and Iphigenia’s character development is worth the read. The monsters and the world were interesting, horrifying, and fun to learn about. Secondary characters really shine here and the humor is good in parts. The cons, as I mentioned above, take place in the final third of the book. While I wouldn’t call the story “creative,” it did seem like it was distinguishing itself from other stories with the heavy focus on the monsters and the knowledge Thisby had of them. Then, in the final third, not only does it turn into a generic “war between oppressed people vs. the more privileged,” the plot twist destroys any originality the story had and the final battle is so anti-climatically resolved that it really disappointed me. All that being said, I did have fun reading this novel and do recommend it to others. Just don’t go in assuming this is going blow you away with originality.
clesh01's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a fun book, on so many levels. The illustrations were amazing, Thisby was a wonderful character, and Gorman certainly knows how to create well-rounded characters. I'm still pretty new when it comes to the fantasy genre, but this was something that I hadn't seen as often--where a young girl must traverse the ghastly and the ghoulish, stumble through cages, and help protect the princess all the while making sure neither of them die.
And of course, who could forget Thisby's slime friend who glows in the dark? The addition of her best friend allows for some humorous moments which certainly alleviate some of the horror and tension happening underground, and more than anything helps Thisby discover some of the secrets about the dungeon and why it's no longer holding up as well as it used to...
Overall, this book was just amazing and wonderful, it was light-hearted at all the right moment, and serious at all the right moments. It was fun, and satisfying, and Gorman and Bosma leave just the right amount left to the imagination. This was probably one of the best books I'd read this spring, and I'd definitely recommend it if you're a fan of fantasy or adventures!
Review cross-listed here!
And of course, who could forget Thisby's slime friend who glows in the dark? The addition of her best friend allows for some humorous moments which certainly alleviate some of the horror and tension happening underground, and more than anything helps Thisby discover some of the secrets about the dungeon and why it's no longer holding up as well as it used to...
Overall, this book was just amazing and wonderful, it was light-hearted at all the right moment, and serious at all the right moments. It was fun, and satisfying, and Gorman and Bosma leave just the right amount left to the imagination. This was probably one of the best books I'd read this spring, and I'd definitely recommend it if you're a fan of fantasy or adventures!
Review cross-listed here!
fallingletters's review against another edition
5.0
Brief thoughts originally published 15 March 2018 at Falling Letters.
Thisby Thestooop and the Black Mountain contains many elements that make it a fun read:
- a dungeon setting (okay, not particularly a favourite setting of mine but a unique and entertaining one!)
- a protagonist who diligently goes about their work (Thisby taking care of the dungeon’s creatures),
- prose with injections of dry humour (see quote below)
= a glowing slime sidekick with a past he hasn’t shared (I loved Mingus! Sometimes I find sidekicks tiresome, but he holds his own.)
= the two protagonists fending for themselves and defending a dungeon aren’t the type of characters you usually encounter in dungeons (Thisby, child caretaker of gruesome creatures and Iphigenia, impatient and prissy princess)
Silly names, especially alliterative ones like Thisby Thestoop, usually put me off but I laughed out loud at the explanation of Thisby’s name on page 14 and took that as a sign I would enjoy her story.
I imagine some readers might find the story overly long; the narrative feels like two distinct parts put together (in the dungeon and in the Dark Deep). The setting and characters, rather than the plot, make this narrative stand out. That being said, the narrative builds to an epic and dramatic battle that makes logical sense (as opposed to just happening for a big finish to book one.)
Thisby Thestooop and the Black Mountain contains many elements that make it a fun read:
- a dungeon setting (okay, not particularly a favourite setting of mine but a unique and entertaining one!)
- a protagonist who diligently goes about their work (Thisby taking care of the dungeon’s creatures),
- prose with injections of dry humour (see quote below)
= a glowing slime sidekick with a past he hasn’t shared (I loved Mingus! Sometimes I find sidekicks tiresome, but he holds his own.)
= the two protagonists fending for themselves and defending a dungeon aren’t the type of characters you usually encounter in dungeons (Thisby, child caretaker of gruesome creatures and Iphigenia, impatient and prissy princess)
Silly names, especially alliterative ones like Thisby Thestoop, usually put me off but I laughed out loud at the explanation of Thisby’s name on page 14 and took that as a sign I would enjoy her story.
I imagine some readers might find the story overly long; the narrative feels like two distinct parts put together (in the dungeon and in the Dark Deep). The setting and characters, rather than the plot, make this narrative stand out. That being said, the narrative builds to an epic and dramatic battle that makes logical sense (as opposed to just happening for a big finish to book one.)
Castle Grimstone had existed for as long as the people of Three Fingers could remember, which isn’t really impressive as it sounds. The villagers of Three Fingers rarely made it past the age of twenty-five, and the ones who did were too busy barely staying alive to remember things like when castles were built and all that nonsense. (p. 11)
danieltheblake's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A fun little fantasy adventure with some extremely likeable characters, interesting lore and a witty writing style. For a children’s book, I was also impressed at how the story didn’t shy away from some of the violence in it without becoming too gruesome. A solid book, and I’m excited to see where it goes in the sequel!
SIDE NOTE: There were more spelling errors/grammatical mistakes than I expected. Normally I ignore this type of thing, but when a page completely mixed up a character’s name with one who wasn’t even in the scene, it took me out of the story. Doesn’t ruin the book overall, but was just distracting at times (It’s Gorman’s first novel though, so maybe it just needed another pass).
SIDE NOTE: There were more spelling errors/grammatical mistakes than I expected. Normally I ignore this type of thing, but when a page completely mixed up a character’s name with one who wasn’t even in the scene, it took me out of the story. Doesn’t ruin the book overall, but was just distracting at times (It’s Gorman’s first novel though, so maybe it just needed another pass).
halschrieve's review against another edition
5.0
This fast-paced, action-packed fantasy novel for ages 8-12 follows in the footsteps of many a tongue-in-cheek precedent. Set in a gruesome dungeon filled with monsters and starring a practical, mousy girl raised by goblins, Thisby Thestoop is a fresh and well-written take on the genre that comes bearing an enormous backpack, lots of notes, a sentient blob of slime, and plenty of horse meat to spare.
Thisby Thestoop takes her name from a note left with her when she is abandoned near the opening to the Black Mountain’s dungeon. Originally reading “found this by the stoop, keep for later”, the note is left by a Minotaur intending to eat the baby as a snack. The goblins who live in the black mountain interpret the note as a request to keep the baby safe, and so Thisby grows up a gamekeeper and janitor in the vast prison that contains a range of terrifying beasts.
The Black Mountain is not only a vast mountain with plenty of teeth. It is also a part of a larger kingdom. As a regular ritual, the king inspects the dungeon to affirm that it is both terrifying and also not a military threat to his power. This year, though, the king sends his twin children to do the inspection: teenage Crown Princess Iphigenia and Prince Ingo. In the course of the inspection, a poorly managed monster goes on rampage and Ingo disappears. Iphigenia requests that Thisby help her find him—but in the course of searching, both get lost in the deep caves below the dungeon.
At the same time, a wicked plot is brewing at the bottom of the mountain to unleash the worst terrors imaginable upon the kingdom and the world at large. Only Thisby, her slime friend Mingus, a giant cat named Catface, and Iphigenia can stop it.
Readers of The Graveyard Book, The Wee Free Men, Dealing With Dragons, The Princess Bride or The Dark Lord of Derkholm will appreciate this witty, self-aware book.
Thisby Thestoop takes her name from a note left with her when she is abandoned near the opening to the Black Mountain’s dungeon. Originally reading “found this by the stoop, keep for later”, the note is left by a Minotaur intending to eat the baby as a snack. The goblins who live in the black mountain interpret the note as a request to keep the baby safe, and so Thisby grows up a gamekeeper and janitor in the vast prison that contains a range of terrifying beasts.
The Black Mountain is not only a vast mountain with plenty of teeth. It is also a part of a larger kingdom. As a regular ritual, the king inspects the dungeon to affirm that it is both terrifying and also not a military threat to his power. This year, though, the king sends his twin children to do the inspection: teenage Crown Princess Iphigenia and Prince Ingo. In the course of the inspection, a poorly managed monster goes on rampage and Ingo disappears. Iphigenia requests that Thisby help her find him—but in the course of searching, both get lost in the deep caves below the dungeon.
At the same time, a wicked plot is brewing at the bottom of the mountain to unleash the worst terrors imaginable upon the kingdom and the world at large. Only Thisby, her slime friend Mingus, a giant cat named Catface, and Iphigenia can stop it.
Readers of The Graveyard Book, The Wee Free Men, Dealing With Dragons, The Princess Bride or The Dark Lord of Derkholm will appreciate this witty, self-aware book.
sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
I received this through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Thisby Thestoop is the lowly game keeper of Black Mountain. Even though she knows the most about this dungeon and the creatures in it, she still works for a jerky boss and an absent supervisor. Thisby has lived and worked in Black Mountain ever since she can remember. Her only friend is an animated slime creature. The monsters in the dungeon become threatened by more terrible monsters below it when the prince and princess from the neighboring kingdom visit Black Mountain. Thisby will need to use everything she has learned about her home to save it and maybe along the way she will make a few new friends.
It is a quirky funny story. I liked the slime creature that didn't like to leave his jar, he was a fun addition. I never truly warmed up to any of the characters beyond Thisby and the slime creature. This does have some violence and some pretty scary scenes for the younger readers...people are killed during this quest. Ultimately though, I can see myself giving this to readers.
Thisby Thestoop is the lowly game keeper of Black Mountain. Even though she knows the most about this dungeon and the creatures in it, she still works for a jerky boss and an absent supervisor. Thisby has lived and worked in Black Mountain ever since she can remember. Her only friend is an animated slime creature. The monsters in the dungeon become threatened by more terrible monsters below it when the prince and princess from the neighboring kingdom visit Black Mountain. Thisby will need to use everything she has learned about her home to save it and maybe along the way she will make a few new friends.
It is a quirky funny story. I liked the slime creature that didn't like to leave his jar, he was a fun addition. I never truly warmed up to any of the characters beyond Thisby and the slime creature. This does have some violence and some pretty scary scenes for the younger readers...people are killed during this quest. Ultimately though, I can see myself giving this to readers.
womanon's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Thisby's adventures throughout this book! The writing style was really good, and the only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is because there were times when my mind wandered while reading. I'll definitely pick up the second book and do a reread then :)