Take a photo of a barcode or cover
katykelly 's review for:
The Legends Begin
by Shane Hegarty
4.5 stars.
Billed as the 'next big thing', a new Harry Potter - I couldn't resist trying this to see...
And it's really, really good. I can see the comparisons, and also why the predictions have bene made. This is exciting fantasy, with scope for a long-lasting series of likeable characters, with backstory and all sorts of interesting creatures.
Our hero doesn't feel like a hero, though his family background would say otherwise. Finn is destined to become the 43rd generation of Legend Hunter in his family. His small Irish town of Darkmouth is now the only remaining place where creatures ('legends' such as manticores, basilisks and hogboons) can enter from their world into ours. Finn has been trained all his life to take on his role as protector of our world, but he isn't very good at it, and doesn't, in fact, want the job.
Finn is twelve, and can't seem to get it right, causing more problems than he stops with his attempts to best the Legends, to the constant frustration of Hugo the Great, his Hunter dad. In this world too, Finn's destiny and family is no secret, at school everyone knows what he's been doing (and what he's been getting wrong), and in this world too, the public are starting to rebel against the Hunters ways - they want to protect themselves.
A big invasion is planned, and Finn is caught up in a large battle that envelopes everyone in Darkmouth, including new friend and fan Emmie, as friendship, betrayal, death, and the safety of our world are all entangled in a Legend plot.
There are lots of nice little touches that rang true - Finn wearily interrupting all the "heard it before" stories of his dad's heroics, the poor Sergeant sick of policing the town and wanting to be posted elsewhere, a constantly desiccated and reanimated Legend called Broonie.
Hegarty has included stories from the Hunters books, some great family dynamics, and lots of fantastical creatures that are both funny and dangerous. It looks like a long book, but it whizzes by just like a Potter story.
The story ends on a cliffhanger that promises more episodes with a Finn who has grown in bravery and confidence in the first, who just like Harry we will probably get to see change through adolescence, with a small group of recurring characters around him. It's not as complete a world as Potter's but could become so.
There are some good relationships that I'd like to see again, between both adults and children, some 'superhero' conventions are played with, I LOVE Finn's house. Broonie reminded me a little of Mulch Diggums from Artemis Fowl, but without the physical attributes everyone likes about him, though he is sweet.
Maybe next time we'll see more of the Legends' world?
A great new fantasy series, one ripe for film plucking (wouldn't it be nice to see Irish accents on screen in a children's film?), and recommended for ages 8-13.
Billed as the 'next big thing', a new Harry Potter - I couldn't resist trying this to see...
And it's really, really good. I can see the comparisons, and also why the predictions have bene made. This is exciting fantasy, with scope for a long-lasting series of likeable characters, with backstory and all sorts of interesting creatures.
Our hero doesn't feel like a hero, though his family background would say otherwise. Finn is destined to become the 43rd generation of Legend Hunter in his family. His small Irish town of Darkmouth is now the only remaining place where creatures ('legends' such as manticores, basilisks and hogboons) can enter from their world into ours. Finn has been trained all his life to take on his role as protector of our world, but he isn't very good at it, and doesn't, in fact, want the job.
Finn is twelve, and can't seem to get it right, causing more problems than he stops with his attempts to best the Legends, to the constant frustration of Hugo the Great, his Hunter dad. In this world too, Finn's destiny and family is no secret, at school everyone knows what he's been doing (and what he's been getting wrong), and in this world too, the public are starting to rebel against the Hunters ways - they want to protect themselves.
A big invasion is planned, and Finn is caught up in a large battle that envelopes everyone in Darkmouth, including new friend and fan Emmie, as friendship, betrayal, death, and the safety of our world are all entangled in a Legend plot.
There are lots of nice little touches that rang true - Finn wearily interrupting all the "heard it before" stories of his dad's heroics, the poor Sergeant sick of policing the town and wanting to be posted elsewhere, a constantly desiccated and reanimated Legend called Broonie.
Hegarty has included stories from the Hunters books, some great family dynamics, and lots of fantastical creatures that are both funny and dangerous. It looks like a long book, but it whizzes by just like a Potter story.
The story ends on a cliffhanger that promises more episodes with a Finn who has grown in bravery and confidence in the first, who just like Harry we will probably get to see change through adolescence, with a small group of recurring characters around him. It's not as complete a world as Potter's but could become so.
There are some good relationships that I'd like to see again, between both adults and children, some 'superhero' conventions are played with, I LOVE Finn's house. Broonie reminded me a little of Mulch Diggums from Artemis Fowl, but without the physical attributes everyone likes about him, though he is sweet.
Maybe next time we'll see more of the Legends' world?
A great new fantasy series, one ripe for film plucking (wouldn't it be nice to see Irish accents on screen in a children's film?), and recommended for ages 8-13.