Scan barcode
A review by saarahn
After the Bloodwood Staff by Laura E. Goodin
5.0
An adventurous read
I don't usually go for the adventure - fantasy kind of books anymore, I tend to feel bored by the idea of werewolves, vampires, alpha males, evil fairy cults.... But this book was significantly different, there was none of that pure good or pure bad- there was confusion, suspicion and danger. For this reason it was hugely compelling. I haven't ventured down the path of reading these kind of books since I was a kid reading the works of Lemony Snicket.
This book is a lot like The Lord of the Rings in its central premise: that of an enchanted, powerful staff which served as a character, itself. Two brothers, Nestor and Nicholas, centuries ago, sought out this staff for he who has it, possesses immeasurable talent. This is what the writer Ingraham tells us in his book 'After the Bloodwood Staff'. Yep, this is one of those that has a book within a book. Sybil, a book lover, believes there is more to the book than what others see- there are clues. Requesting the company of Hoyle, a book lover and collector, she sets off on her own quest to bring out the staff. They meet some quirky characters along the way. Hoyle's character development was brilliant and completely unforseen.
I have to say, all the characters were developed to the extent that they weren't two dimensional gimmicks. They were the high point of this novel, I enjoyed their wit, their constant bickering, their discoveries, and how they seemed the strangest of friends but amounted to so much. I especially loved the dialogue of the characters Ada and Sybil, both were confident and assertive when they needed to be. Plus, they had a knack for saying the right things at the right time.
This book deserves attention.
I received this book through Odyssey Books for review consideration.
I don't usually go for the adventure - fantasy kind of books anymore, I tend to feel bored by the idea of werewolves, vampires, alpha males, evil fairy cults.... But this book was significantly different, there was none of that pure good or pure bad- there was confusion, suspicion and danger. For this reason it was hugely compelling. I haven't ventured down the path of reading these kind of books since I was a kid reading the works of Lemony Snicket.
This book is a lot like The Lord of the Rings in its central premise: that of an enchanted, powerful staff which served as a character, itself. Two brothers, Nestor and Nicholas, centuries ago, sought out this staff for he who has it, possesses immeasurable talent. This is what the writer Ingraham tells us in his book 'After the Bloodwood Staff'. Yep, this is one of those that has a book within a book. Sybil, a book lover, believes there is more to the book than what others see- there are clues. Requesting the company of Hoyle, a book lover and collector, she sets off on her own quest to bring out the staff. They meet some quirky characters along the way. Hoyle's character development was brilliant and completely unforseen.
I have to say, all the characters were developed to the extent that they weren't two dimensional gimmicks. They were the high point of this novel, I enjoyed their wit, their constant bickering, their discoveries, and how they seemed the strangest of friends but amounted to so much. I especially loved the dialogue of the characters Ada and Sybil, both were confident and assertive when they needed to be. Plus, they had a knack for saying the right things at the right time.
This book deserves attention.
I received this book through Odyssey Books for review consideration.