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mirable's review against another edition
3.0
SLJ review:
Gr 5-7-The Chestnut Soldier (Orchard Books, 2007) is the third volume in Jenny Nimmo's "The Magician Trilogy," and listeners new to the series may be confused at the rapid introduction of characters and reference to events in prior books at the beginning of the story. Gwyn is a reluctant magician who has the ability to make things happen. Unfortunately, he believes his magic powers have stunted his physical growth, and what he wants most is to grow. Gwyn's friendship with Nia Lloyd gets him involved in an enchanting mystery involving a soldier who is possessed by a demon prince who was once contained within a small carved wooden horse. The characters have surprising depth, given the brevity of the story. The myths and legends of Wales are given a good workout, and everything comes together quite predictably in a happy ending. Haunting instrumental music is scattered throughout. Narrator John Keating makes the most of the Welsh names and dialect; each character is distinctively voiced, making this a fun listen. Middle school students who like fantasy and Nimmo's "Charlie Bone" series will also enjoy this title.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
Gr 5-7-The Chestnut Soldier (Orchard Books, 2007) is the third volume in Jenny Nimmo's "The Magician Trilogy," and listeners new to the series may be confused at the rapid introduction of characters and reference to events in prior books at the beginning of the story. Gwyn is a reluctant magician who has the ability to make things happen. Unfortunately, he believes his magic powers have stunted his physical growth, and what he wants most is to grow. Gwyn's friendship with Nia Lloyd gets him involved in an enchanting mystery involving a soldier who is possessed by a demon prince who was once contained within a small carved wooden horse. The characters have surprising depth, given the brevity of the story. The myths and legends of Wales are given a good workout, and everything comes together quite predictably in a happy ending. Haunting instrumental music is scattered throughout. Narrator John Keating makes the most of the Welsh names and dialect; each character is distinctively voiced, making this a fun listen. Middle school students who like fantasy and Nimmo's "Charlie Bone" series will also enjoy this title.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
hiking_pages's review against another edition
3.0
A wrap up to the Snow Spider Trilogy as Gwyn’s most feared gift is released - the broken horse, bringing the arrival of Evan Llyr - and a host of strange and frightening events that only our young magician Gwyn Griffiths can stop.
I struggled a little with this book, the formula was great and Nimmo’s writing was as impeccable as ever, I found that the story dragged more than its predecessors. There was plenty of action and the characters have developed to young teens with angst ridden problems of their own - alongside the deep magic!
Overall a good wrap up to the trilogy, but not as exhilarating as the first two books.
I struggled a little with this book, the formula was great and Nimmo’s writing was as impeccable as ever, I found that the story dragged more than its predecessors. There was plenty of action and the characters have developed to young teens with angst ridden problems of their own - alongside the deep magic!
Overall a good wrap up to the trilogy, but not as exhilarating as the first two books.
mattbeatty's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite as fantastic as the previous two--a little slower perhaps, but still wonderful. My kids wished the series kept going. So did I.
nicktomjoe's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps the most ambitious of the three Snow Spider books, this one finds Gwyn’s extended family trapped in replaying another ancient story. Jenny Nimmo brings to the village suspicion and jealousy as a shell-shocked relative plays out a horrific legend, and reluctantly young wizard Gwyn has to confront the ambiguous and fallible nature of his calling.
Deliberately slow to gather pace, Nimmo builds the rivalry and sexual tensions that the handsome, troubled soldier Evan brings. There is a clever coyness in how the children are just beginning to comprehend what Evan might want with sixteen year old Catrin - part inappropriate relationship, part reliving the ancient tale of Branwen - which allows the author to explore dark themes while staying true to her young audience.
As with the other two books, the climax was exciting and magical but felt a little rushed, but the ending tied up the relationships well, and gave hope to growing Gwyn that adulthood would not require him to have all the answers: a neat message for any reader.
Deliberately slow to gather pace, Nimmo builds the rivalry and sexual tensions that the handsome, troubled soldier Evan brings. There is a clever coyness in how the children are just beginning to comprehend what Evan might want with sixteen year old Catrin - part inappropriate relationship, part reliving the ancient tale of Branwen - which allows the author to explore dark themes while staying true to her young audience.
As with the other two books, the climax was exciting and magical but felt a little rushed, but the ending tied up the relationships well, and gave hope to growing Gwyn that adulthood would not require him to have all the answers: a neat message for any reader.
aotora's review against another edition
4.0
This one was a solid finish to the series. It once again focuses on Gwyn instead of Nia and the magic is barely there this time around. The only thing that I didn't like in this book was the ending. It felt rushed and like something was missing. Also, there seemed to be a different translator compared to the last book. There are a lot of jarring differences like completely different names and quite a few grammatical errors like the other two books in the series. It's not the fault of the original but I just thought that I should point that out for anyone reading the Slovenian version.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
5.0
I was completely entranced by every word in this book, and read it all in one sitting!
This last book in the trilogy is told from the perspectives of both Gwyn and Nia, the story weaving around them like a mystical dance. Nia's long-lost uncle, Evan, is a soldier recovering from being wounded, and he comes to visit her family. But it soon becomes evident that Evan is being used as a pawn in magical warfare, and Gwyn must find a way to convince Nia that something is wrong with her uncle, and get her help in saving Evan from the evil within.
This story is deliciously haunting, unearthly and weird in the magic of myth and legend that comes to life. Every scene is dripping with suspense and hidden meanings, but there's also humor and brightness that stands out against the dark themes. The writing is absolutely genius!
I didn't think the characters of Nia and Gwyn had much more development to go through. They had already grown so much in the first two books, but wow! I was amazed by the struggles and changes in both of them through this book.
Gwyn is tired of his magic being a burden and a secret that haunts him, and he has to come to grips with that and learn to accept his power.
Nia is struggling to find her place within her family and outside the family. She's growing up and learning how to react within the world. I'm a very character-centered reader, so seeing those two beloved characters developing even further was wonderful.
I would definitely recommend reading this trilogy all in one go, or at least within a few days of each other. It works best as a unified story, although each book stands on its own as well and the stories are told years apart.
I adore this entire trilogy!
This last book in the trilogy is told from the perspectives of both Gwyn and Nia, the story weaving around them like a mystical dance. Nia's long-lost uncle, Evan, is a soldier recovering from being wounded, and he comes to visit her family. But it soon becomes evident that Evan is being used as a pawn in magical warfare, and Gwyn must find a way to convince Nia that something is wrong with her uncle, and get her help in saving Evan from the evil within.
This story is deliciously haunting, unearthly and weird in the magic of myth and legend that comes to life. Every scene is dripping with suspense and hidden meanings, but there's also humor and brightness that stands out against the dark themes. The writing is absolutely genius!
I didn't think the characters of Nia and Gwyn had much more development to go through. They had already grown so much in the first two books, but wow! I was amazed by the struggles and changes in both of them through this book.
Gwyn is tired of his magic being a burden and a secret that haunts him, and he has to come to grips with that and learn to accept his power.
Nia is struggling to find her place within her family and outside the family. She's growing up and learning how to react within the world. I'm a very character-centered reader, so seeing those two beloved characters developing even further was wonderful.
I would definitely recommend reading this trilogy all in one go, or at least within a few days of each other. It works best as a unified story, although each book stands on its own as well and the stories are told years apart.
I adore this entire trilogy!
neurodivengeance's review against another edition
3.0
I feel sad that the trilogy is over! Reading these makes me feel conflicted, I love the legends and the use of dates (Gwyn's birthday is on Samhain!! And I'm p sure Nain's is on the Summer Solstice, it's so PERF). But when I'm reading them I also feel ... scared? Haunted? These words don't quite fit but I don't know which words do. Maybe it makes me feel like a child. There's so often a scary man being monstrous ... a scary Welsh man being monstrous - so maybe I find it a bit triggering? But not in a way that negates me enjoying it, or getting good stuff out of it. But it means that I am giving this a three even though it was an important book for me and my inner children, because the rating scale is of 'enjoyment' - 'I liked it' rather than 'I really liked it.' I can't say I *liked* it. I loved bits, some bits made me feel expansive and joyful. Other bits made me want to fold myself as small as possible.
elephant's review against another edition
2.0
I like Jenny Nimmo's writing and over all, this is a good trilogy.
It begins in the first book, the Snow Spider, with Gwyn's grandmother telling him on his 9th birthday, that he is a magician. It contains Welsh folklore and Welsh words - which may be difficult for some children to read.
The 3 books get progressively darker and cover a time period of about 4 years following Gwyn, and his family and neighbors and relatives Emlyn and Nia.
While I did like the stories, I found a few things about them disturbing and creepy.
I did not like the fact that Gwyn's sister left to go to some other cold planet that steals children who are not happy and that when she returned briefly she did not want to stay with her family, but preferred to go back to her cold planet even though her mother kept her bedroom the same and her parents had never really gotten over her dissappearance.
And I found Nia's obsession with her uncle and his dalliance with her older sister creepy.
It begins in the first book, the Snow Spider, with Gwyn's grandmother telling him on his 9th birthday, that he is a magician. It contains Welsh folklore and Welsh words - which may be difficult for some children to read.
The 3 books get progressively darker and cover a time period of about 4 years following Gwyn, and his family and neighbors and relatives Emlyn and Nia.
While I did like the stories, I found a few things about them disturbing and creepy.
I did not like the fact that Gwyn's sister left to go to some other cold planet that steals children who are not happy and that when she returned briefly she did not want to stay with her family, but preferred to go back to her cold planet even though her mother kept her bedroom the same and her parents had never really gotten over her dissappearance.
And I found Nia's obsession with her uncle and his dalliance with her older sister creepy.