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thatgirlinblack 's review for:
Freeglader
by Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell
This is the third book in the Rook saga of the Edge Chronicles. With Undertown destroyed by a great storm, the valiant Librarian Knights and the confident Ghosts of Screetown must lead the people to a new life in the Free Glades. But threats in the form of old connivers and new greedy warmongers must be dealt with first.
The journey of the Undertowners reads much like the Exodus of Israel. Across the Mire mudflats they travel, old and young, in carts and on foot, driving animals and carrying bundles. Their trek is complicated by the Twilight Woods, full of seductive and destructive whispers, on one side and the Edgelands, bordering the bottomless void of the Edge itself, on the other. Welcomed into the Free Glades, there is still much trouble ahead as old conniver Amberfuce the ghostwaif and greedy Hemule of the Furnace Glades scheme to keep themselves rolling in the dough at the expense of others. Also, a new Shryke battalion is being formed, and the Goblin Armies are planning an attack.
There are 2 great lessons in this book, more so than in most other Deepwoods books. One is on guilt and redemption. Xanth, the former Guardian of the Night, is still mistrusted and threatened by the townsfolk, as Rook attempts to stand up for his friend. Xanth has fully turned to the good side, but is still tormented by guilt over how he helped the Guardians torture and kill prisoners, even though he did all he could to save as many as he could, only to be thwarted many times by the sadistic Guardian executioner. His change of heart is proven to the Undertowners through his saving of Magda, at great risk to his own life. This is reminiscent of Jesus' salvation of us at the cost of His own life.
The other lesson is unity. The Undertowners, Freegladers, Librarians, Librarian Knights, and Ghosts of Screetown must band together for the protection of them all; but the most amazing demonstration of unity takes place among the Goblin Nations. While the leaders of the 5 Goblin Clans desire to work with greedy Hemule, bicker to maneuver themselves into better positions, and thirst for power and blood, not all the Goblins want to fight. Most are regular townsfolk and farmers who want to peacefully live their lives alongside the Freegladers and new Undertowners. The peaceful Goblins outnumber the warlike Goblins many times over. But what can they do against their formidable generals and overseers? It starts out with talk between 2 lowly Goblin brothers. Then it spreads to others in the community. By the end a showdown is drawn, and the lowly Goblins are part of a surprising sequence of events, making a powerful statement on the impact a united group can have when it stops talking and takes action.
There is even something for Rook as he finds out a lot about his family history through caterbird dreams. Then a meeting with a forgotten friend of the past opens his eyes, brings everything together, and provides closure for him.
As always, there's everything I love about the Edge Chronicles: an easy read, depth and mystery, imaginative settings, memorable characters, action and adventure, moral values, and no romance!
The journey of the Undertowners reads much like the Exodus of Israel. Across the Mire mudflats they travel, old and young, in carts and on foot, driving animals and carrying bundles. Their trek is complicated by the Twilight Woods, full of seductive and destructive whispers, on one side and the Edgelands, bordering the bottomless void of the Edge itself, on the other. Welcomed into the Free Glades, there is still much trouble ahead as old conniver Amberfuce the ghostwaif and greedy Hemule of the Furnace Glades scheme to keep themselves rolling in the dough at the expense of others. Also, a new Shryke battalion is being formed, and the Goblin Armies are planning an attack.
There are 2 great lessons in this book, more so than in most other Deepwoods books. One is on guilt and redemption. Xanth, the former Guardian of the Night, is still mistrusted and threatened by the townsfolk, as Rook attempts to stand up for his friend. Xanth has fully turned to the good side, but is still tormented by guilt over how he helped the Guardians torture and kill prisoners, even though he did all he could to save as many as he could, only to be thwarted many times by the sadistic Guardian executioner. His change of heart is proven to the Undertowners through his saving of Magda, at great risk to his own life. This is reminiscent of Jesus' salvation of us at the cost of His own life.
The other lesson is unity. The Undertowners, Freegladers, Librarians, Librarian Knights, and Ghosts of Screetown must band together for the protection of them all; but the most amazing demonstration of unity takes place among the Goblin Nations. While the leaders of the 5 Goblin Clans desire to work with greedy Hemule, bicker to maneuver themselves into better positions, and thirst for power and blood, not all the Goblins want to fight. Most are regular townsfolk and farmers who want to peacefully live their lives alongside the Freegladers and new Undertowners. The peaceful Goblins outnumber the warlike Goblins many times over. But what can they do against their formidable generals and overseers? It starts out with talk between 2 lowly Goblin brothers. Then it spreads to others in the community. By the end a showdown is drawn, and the lowly Goblins are part of a surprising sequence of events, making a powerful statement on the impact a united group can have when it stops talking and takes action.
There is even something for Rook as he finds out a lot about his family history through caterbird dreams. Then a meeting with a forgotten friend of the past opens his eyes, brings everything together, and provides closure for him.
As always, there's everything I love about the Edge Chronicles: an easy read, depth and mystery, imaginative settings, memorable characters, action and adventure, moral values, and no romance!