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A review by saesteorra
Glassborn by Peter Bunzl
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
When the four Glass-Belle siblings arrive at Fairykeep Cottage, the childhood home of their late mother, strange things begin to happen. Before their first night is over they've travelled to Fairyland - Acton, lured through a grandmother clock, and his siblings led by a wolf through a doorway in a Fairy Tree.
While Acton is sent on a dangerous quest by the Fairy Queen, his siblings Cora, Bram and Elle race across Fairyland to help him. The Glass-Belles find themselves at the heart of a magical drama that has been unfolding since their great-grandmother's time, but with the help of the Wolfmoot, a talking robin, a storm sorceress and the Green Man, they might finally be able to lay the past to rest.
This is undoubtedly my favourite of Peter Bunzl's books so far. It follows on from the events of Magicborn, but takes place several generations later and is a complete story in itself.
Although I'm not the target audience, Glassborn has everything I love in a children's book. The humour made me laugh out loud - women in love who repeatedly describe themselves as "heartfelt friends", and a courtier's beauty spot that's actually a ladybird, to name a couple of my favourite moments. I loved the riddles and tales, the magic of nature and the eccentric secondary characters.
Throughout the book I was reminded of some of my childhood favourites, from the Chronicles of Narnia to Peter Pan and Northern Lights. As an English Lit grad I also deeply loved the references to the Bronte siblings and the magical worlds they wrote about as children.
A rare book that's as enchanting and entertaining to grown-up readers of children's books as it must be to its intended audience.
While Acton is sent on a dangerous quest by the Fairy Queen, his siblings Cora, Bram and Elle race across Fairyland to help him. The Glass-Belles find themselves at the heart of a magical drama that has been unfolding since their great-grandmother's time, but with the help of the Wolfmoot, a talking robin, a storm sorceress and the Green Man, they might finally be able to lay the past to rest.
This is undoubtedly my favourite of Peter Bunzl's books so far. It follows on from the events of Magicborn, but takes place several generations later and is a complete story in itself.
Although I'm not the target audience, Glassborn has everything I love in a children's book. The humour made me laugh out loud - women in love who repeatedly describe themselves as "heartfelt friends", and a courtier's beauty spot that's actually a ladybird, to name a couple of my favourite moments. I loved the riddles and tales, the magic of nature and the eccentric secondary characters.
Throughout the book I was reminded of some of my childhood favourites, from the Chronicles of Narnia to Peter Pan and Northern Lights. As an English Lit grad I also deeply loved the references to the Bronte siblings and the magical worlds they wrote about as children.
A rare book that's as enchanting and entertaining to grown-up readers of children's books as it must be to its intended audience.