5th January 2012, Puffin
448 pages, Paperback
Review copy
Themes: slavery, war, friends separated, family ties, feudal system, injustice, perseverance, justice, extremely scary villains, dark forces, treachery, murder, unexpected allies, lots of violence and gore, a little bit of tragedy
Summary from Puffin Books
Drew Ferran, the rightful king of westland, is trapped.
Enslaved by the Goatlord Kesslar, young werewolf Drew finds himself on the volcanic isle of Scoria, forced to fight in the arena for the Lizardlords. With the help of an unlikely ally, he must find a way to break free - but who has ever managed to escape?
Meanwhile, Hector the Wereboar flees the forces of the Catlords. Now on board the pirate ship Maelstrom, the enemy's net is closing in. Haunted by the spirits of the dead, Hector is soon left wondering who the true enemy is...
Nayuleska's thoughts
As per usual, Drew was constantly in or close to trouble, bearing more than a few bruises and stepping up to his true purpose by the end. Hector was a prize numpty - he isn't simply being 'misunderstood'. I love the resilience of Drew's mother Amelie, and Bethwyn's caring nature. Having only the briefest of mentions about Gretchen & Whitley has lowered this read to from full marks to 8/10. This is a personal choice as they are my favourite characters, but I have been reassured they will feature in book 4, which should be out this July.
Suggested read
Don't miss any of this exciting series, which starts in book 1 Wereworld: The Rise of the Wolf
Guest blog post from Curtis
BARON BOSA, THE WHALE OF MOGA
The Isle of Moga lies off the north-western point of Lyssia, a relatively safe haven for sea traders and the more salubrious characters of the White Sea, far away from the prying eyes of the more civil folk of the Seven Realms. An inhospitable island, Moga is the home of Baron Bosa, the Werewhale, a once formidable pirate prince who terrorised the ocean. With his life at sea long behind him, Bosa has turned his hand to trade to earn his fortune, remaining neutral in all the bickering of his fellow Werelords and keeping Moga out of any fights. This has left him free to trade with anyone, be they Lion, Bear, Walrus or, more often than not, privateers, buying and selling goods without fear of interference from the laws of Westland.
Bosa is a colossal figure, a great pile of flesh and blubber, always dressed in the gaudiest gems and finest attire his money – and pirate ships – can acquire. Flamboyant and not a little outspoken, the Whale’s charming manner has ensured he has friends in high – and low – places, ensuring that he has a great many favours he can call in should the need ever arise. While for many years he has been free to conduct his business without a whisper from Highcliff, the arrival of the Catlords in Lyssia and the wave of unrest that follows will hit every corner of the Seven Realms, not even the Isle of Moga avoiding the Bastians’ long reach. With his neighbour in Tuskun, Queen Slotha, taking greater power in Moga all the while, how long the Baron can remain removed from the impending war remains uncertain. What might it take to shift him off his enormous chaise-longue and winch him back into a ship?
Author’s note: Bosa is a great big fruity fellow to write, full of fun and frivolity. At first glance, the reader hopefully reads him as a bumbling, comical character, a charming fool who seems harmless enough. Like Vega, nothing is as simple as black and white with Bosa – there are all the shades of grey in his character as he plays his suitors off against one another, rather enjoying his distance from the drama. Equal parts the Baby-Eating-Bishop of Bath and Wells (Blackadder) and Uncle Monty (Withnail & I), he’s an indulgent, larger-than-life Werelord who has turned his back on his past life as a pirate... for the most part. Seeing how a once-great man can stagnate over years, getting fat off the hard work of others around him, is a key element to Bosa; Count Vega knows the man well enough from his own dark past, and he knows what the Whale is capable of. Bosa has a fondness for the Sharklord that might ensure Vega safety while in his company. Whether he’s able to persuade him to join the fight against the Bastians and their allies is another matter. Can he even trust him?
Thank you Curtis for an awesome blog post.
Be sure to check out the other stops in the tour - yesterday's was at A Dream of Books, and tomorrow's will be at The Book Addicted Girl
I'll leave you with a teaser trailer.
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