Scan barcode
A review by dusk
Dandelion Fire by N.D. Wilson
5.0
The best way to describe this book is the feeling after I put it down. It felt as there was an unsuspecting cupboard that appeared in my bedroom. I went in, expecting to poke around a bit and have a little adventure. But I returned having met people I've only glimpsed for a few days but have loved as if I always knew them, after seeing places that I can remember as vividly as if I truly laid eyes upon them. After getting lost and becoming found, seeing sacrifice, life and death, finding family and hope and warmth and seeing woven before my eyes the intricate story of every single thing that ever lived. I can describe the facial features of each person and the very scent of a place. Worlds were opened up before me. Dandelions have new dimensions to them.
“Kansas is not easily impressed. It has seen houses fly and cattle soar. When funnel clouds walk through the wheat, big hail falls behind. As the biggest stones melt, turtles and mice and fish and even men can be seen frozen inside. And Kansas is not surprised.
Henry York had seen things in Kansas, things he didn't think belonged in this world. Things that didn't. Kansas hadn't flinched.”
Dandelion Fire begins with that paragraph, and only gets better from there.
Masterfully woven, masterfully described, masterly built. This sequel takes the humble foundations of the first book and builds it into an epic. It's hundreds of pages longer than the first book and reads more like a YA in scale of grandeur and complexity than a Children's Book, but without the sappy romance plots and the forced attempts at making the entire fate of the world rest on teenage shoulders. Henry is powerful, but he's not the only character in this story and certainly not the sole reason why the world was saved and I grew to love the entire cast. There's violence (about the equivalent 0r a little less than a Pirates of the Caribbean movie) and a bit of profanity within a few pages but I'd call it very mild. The enemies and their actions are dark, but that's just the nature of N.D Wilson's books. Evil is evil: the darkness is black, cold and grim, indeed, and the death and violence is as unflinching as it is in reality. But his worlds are full of light, too. You come to see that the darkness is just the shadows in the corners where the fire burns warm and bright. The shroud of the night sky is dark but the stars poking through are radiant and clear. Cowards are found, but also courage. On the same battlefield where selfishness rages selflessness rises in victory. The themes are very good and very Tolkien-esque. Someone mentioned that Caleb reminded them of Faramir and I agree 100% - he was my favorite out of the bunch, as is Faramir (who is at least one of my favorites in the LoTR), and I was glad that he stuck around. I appreciated the lack of exposition. It's definitely nuanced, but the nuances aren't flaunted and spelled out. Kids are smarter than that. I've read this book many years ago on Kindle and didn't remember much of it and I think that I lost track of the majority of the plot before. The setting and characters change dramatically and multiple times and I think it's read best in a few sittings when you can follow everything. I LOVE the prose and one of ND Wilson's greatest talent is conveying much in little, be it description that's just enough to paint a vivid image while still letting your mind fill in the gaps or nuanced emotions that feel vividly human.
The weaknesses are probably too many newly introduced but not-developed characters and some things happen that don't fully make sense, but it was never too much to bother me. Henry and Henrietta are annoying at the beginning, but they go through much change. I suppose the people who disliked this book were huge fans of the first one (which I found to be good, but...lacking) and this one is dramatically different. For me, it's different for the better. For others, they might not appreciate it as much. The plot sags at times and there’s other times when important character moments are not allowed to happen for the sake of the plot. There’s long-awaited reunions that are not allowed the emotional depth they deserve (or any at all) because the show must go on and the world must be saved.
However, the ending is ridiculously satisfying and somewhat bittersweet without becoming needlessly sappy and it almost makes up for my sadness at putting it down. N.D. Wilson is good at understating things in such a way that you feel it more poignantly than if it were all spelled out. I'm glad there's a third book.
Heartily recommended, for all ages (providing young'uns aren't bothered by the darker themes) - it's a satisfying and delicious read for children, children-at-heart and everyone in between.
-happy sigh- That was a good book.
Reread addendum:
“In our world,” said Eustace, “a star is a huge ball of flaming gas.”
“Even in your world, my son, that is not what a star is but only what it is made of.”
~ C.S. Lewis
“Which part is real, your skin or your sinew? Your breath or your lungs? What you see is real. What you saw is real. You are a seventh son. You have the second sight. You can see a thing and see its glory. Call it a soul if you want, or a story, or a poem. … Do you know, Henry, that sounds ripple the air before they strike your ear and you hear them? Imagine seeing the ripples as well as hearing them, sensing every sound twice, in two ways. That is like the second sight. You see things twice, and both are true.” ~ N.D. Wilson
This is an essentially Christian kind of magic system, one that sees the whole world as a living story, one that sees human beings as poems made up of a hundred songs and trees as living words. The magic of this book is not that it adds a new spiritual reality – it’s that it gives the characters eyes to see what’s already there, in our real world. May we all see the world as the beautiful and terrible story that it is, may we see the beautiful and terrible Storyteller behind it, and tremble in joy and fear and wonder.
This book ought to be dedicated to all the kids who have always loved and seen the beauty in dandelions and have had adults relentlessly try to stomp the dandelion-love out of them, calling them weeds and worthless and common.
Your blood is all green and gold,” she said, “with the strength of dandelions.” She stood up. “And their strength is in their laughter, for they fear nothing.”
…
“Tonight, even if the sea climbs the walls and wizards are the guests, I will set a christening feast for my son. We shall have some dandelion laughter.”
“Kansas is not easily impressed. It has seen houses fly and cattle soar. When funnel clouds walk through the wheat, big hail falls behind. As the biggest stones melt, turtles and mice and fish and even men can be seen frozen inside. And Kansas is not surprised.
Henry York had seen things in Kansas, things he didn't think belonged in this world. Things that didn't. Kansas hadn't flinched.”
Dandelion Fire begins with that paragraph, and only gets better from there.
Masterfully woven, masterfully described, masterly built. This sequel takes the humble foundations of the first book and builds it into an epic. It's hundreds of pages longer than the first book and reads more like a YA in scale of grandeur and complexity than a Children's Book, but without the sappy romance plots and the forced attempts at making the entire fate of the world rest on teenage shoulders. Henry is powerful, but he's not the only character in this story and certainly not the sole reason why the world was saved and I grew to love the entire cast. There's violence (about the equivalent 0r a little less than a Pirates of the Caribbean movie) and a bit of profanity within a few pages but I'd call it very mild. The enemies and their actions are dark, but that's just the nature of N.D Wilson's books. Evil is evil: the darkness is black, cold and grim, indeed, and the death and violence is as unflinching as it is in reality. But his worlds are full of light, too. You come to see that the darkness is just the shadows in the corners where the fire burns warm and bright. The shroud of the night sky is dark but the stars poking through are radiant and clear. Cowards are found, but also courage. On the same battlefield where selfishness rages selflessness rises in victory. The themes are very good and very Tolkien-esque. Someone mentioned that Caleb reminded them of Faramir and I agree 100% - he was my favorite out of the bunch, as is Faramir (who is at least one of my favorites in the LoTR), and I was glad that he stuck around. I appreciated the lack of exposition. It's definitely nuanced, but the nuances aren't flaunted and spelled out. Kids are smarter than that. I've read this book many years ago on Kindle and didn't remember much of it and I think that I lost track of the majority of the plot before. The setting and characters change dramatically and multiple times and I think it's read best in a few sittings when you can follow everything. I LOVE the prose and one of ND Wilson's greatest talent is conveying much in little, be it description that's just enough to paint a vivid image while still letting your mind fill in the gaps or nuanced emotions that feel vividly human.
The weaknesses are probably too many newly introduced but not-developed characters and some things happen that don't fully make sense, but it was never too much to bother me. Henry and Henrietta are annoying at the beginning, but they go through much change. I suppose the people who disliked this book were huge fans of the first one (which I found to be good, but...lacking) and this one is dramatically different. For me, it's different for the better. For others, they might not appreciate it as much. The plot sags at times and there’s other times when important character moments are not allowed to happen for the sake of the plot. There’s long-awaited reunions that are not allowed the emotional depth they deserve (or any at all) because the show must go on and the world must be saved.
However, the ending is ridiculously satisfying and somewhat bittersweet without becoming needlessly sappy and it almost makes up for my sadness at putting it down. N.D. Wilson is good at understating things in such a way that you feel it more poignantly than if it were all spelled out. I'm glad there's a third book.
Heartily recommended, for all ages (providing young'uns aren't bothered by the darker themes) - it's a satisfying and delicious read for children, children-at-heart and everyone in between.
-happy sigh- That was a good book.
Reread addendum:
“In our world,” said Eustace, “a star is a huge ball of flaming gas.”
“Even in your world, my son, that is not what a star is but only what it is made of.”
~ C.S. Lewis
“Which part is real, your skin or your sinew? Your breath or your lungs? What you see is real. What you saw is real. You are a seventh son. You have the second sight. You can see a thing and see its glory. Call it a soul if you want, or a story, or a poem. … Do you know, Henry, that sounds ripple the air before they strike your ear and you hear them? Imagine seeing the ripples as well as hearing them, sensing every sound twice, in two ways. That is like the second sight. You see things twice, and both are true.” ~ N.D. Wilson
This is an essentially Christian kind of magic system, one that sees the whole world as a living story, one that sees human beings as poems made up of a hundred songs and trees as living words. The magic of this book is not that it adds a new spiritual reality – it’s that it gives the characters eyes to see what’s already there, in our real world. May we all see the world as the beautiful and terrible story that it is, may we see the beautiful and terrible Storyteller behind it, and tremble in joy and fear and wonder.
This book ought to be dedicated to all the kids who have always loved and seen the beauty in dandelions and have had adults relentlessly try to stomp the dandelion-love out of them, calling them weeds and worthless and common.
Your blood is all green and gold,” she said, “with the strength of dandelions.” She stood up. “And their strength is in their laughter, for they fear nothing.”
…
“Tonight, even if the sea climbs the walls and wizards are the guests, I will set a christening feast for my son. We shall have some dandelion laughter.”