Category Archives: Reviews

Our hero, Otori Takeo, is torn in three directions. He was brought up by the Hidden, a religious order that forbids violence. He was adopted by Otori Shigeru, a warrior with a long-term plan to reclaim his heritage from his uncles – a plan known and secretly embraced by his people. And Takeo’s genetic heritageContinue reading ““Grass for his Pillow” by Lian Hearn: book 2 of 4.5″

Tomasu is a boy, an innocent member of a village in which the Hidden live peacefully. The Hidden believe that all men are equal before God – putting themselves on an equal footing with the greatest members of the warrior class. For this dangerous and insulting belief, they are hated. The rest of this reviewContinue reading ““Across the Nightingale Floor” Lian Hearn’s Otori trilogy book 2 of 4.5″

This book is the prequel to Lian Hearn’s brilliant and beautiful Otori trilogy (there is also a fourth book, but although it’s still beautifully written I think it ruins the series). Fantasy has an (undeserved) reputation for being pulpy trash, full of adjectives and clichés. This series is top-notch literary fantasy. The rest of thisContinue reading “Heaven’s Net is Wide: Lian Hearn’s Otori series #1 of 4.5”

Once again, this book has more cynical tone than some of the earlier stories – but it is still most definitely a children’s book. The theme is deception and doubt, and the nature of Aslan is called into question. Aslan himself is apparently both silent and absent.   The story begins inside Narnia, as aContinue reading “Narnia #7 of 7: “The Last Battle” by CS Lewis”

This is altogether a darker and drearier tale than the rest. Instead of travelling through green lands (or snow-covered forest), our heroes – Eustace again (a completely different character to the annoyance he originally was), and a new character called Jill – walk through a seemingly endless barrenness, much like how I imagine the worstContinue reading “Narnia #6 of 7: “The Silver Chair” by CS Lewis”

Of all the Narnia books, excluding the clear death-and-resurrection tale of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, this is the most allegorical. Two of the familiar Pevensie children literally fall into Narnia with their (rather horrible) cousin. They are rescued by Caspian, who is journeying through unknown seas to find seven men loyal toContinue reading “Narnia #5 of 7: “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” by CS Lewis”

Narnia has long since been conquered by the Calormenes – a neighbouring country who are entirely unmagical and who loathe anything fantastic. Prince Caspian is an unlikely hero – a Calormene himself but a boy who loves the whispered tales of Old Narnia. His uncle and guardian, Miraz, is a vicious king who usurped theContinue reading “Narnia #4 of 7: “Prince Caspian” by CS Lewis”

This is a truly interesting book, because it takes place entirely within the world of Narnia and the surrounding lands – in fact the whole book technically takes place within a sentence from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” – and the children from our world barely appear.   Shasta is a boy whoContinue reading “Narnia #3 of 7: “The Horse and His Boy” by CS Lewis”

It’s ten at night and I haven’t blogged yet, so here’s a book review I happened to have standing at the ready:   This is the fifth “Thursday Next” novel (that’s the name of the main character, a woman). I’ve read them all, but I don’t like them enough to reread them so this isContinue reading ““One of our Thursdays is Missing” by Jasper Fforde”

This is by far the best-known of the Narnia books, and the recent movie was fairly successful (deservedly so, I think).   Four British children are sent to a rambling house in the country during the blitz. They are largely left alone, and the youngest stumbles through a wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia.Continue reading “Narnia #2 of 7: “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by CS Lewis”