Title: The Tale of Nottingswood
Author: J R Young
Genre: Steampunk/Dystopian Novelette
Review:
Think "Dr. Suess on steroids" and you basically have The Tale of Nottingswood. And I say this in a complimentary manner, by the way. How Young managed to get a whole freakin' novelette to rhyme is beyond me, considering my rhyming skills are basically limited to "roses are red and violets are blue, and I don't remember the rest what do I do?"
The Tale of Nottingswood is a delightful read suitable for all ages--something both children and adults and everyone else in between can enjoy. The story revolves around a pair of siblings whose lives are turned upside down when they discover a strange creature bundled up in a blanket with a magical tabloid. The story has a fairytale-esque feel to it . . . with a slight steampunk influence that can really be seen in the second half of the story.
The illustrations by the lovely Amelia Grace are also wonderful--they really bring the story to life! Check out some of the pics below:
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| Such a quaint looking village! |
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| Yep, definitely see the steampunk-ness here |
One thing I do think I should mention is that one should not read this book in one sitting--or at least I couldn't do that myself else the words started getting twisted in my head as the rhymes began to blur. For me, I found the best way to enjoy this book was to read it in 15-20 minute chunks . . . allows me to spend more time appreciating the story, rhyme, and pics without feeling overwhelmed. Also, not sure if this holds true for everyone, but when I read, I always hear a little voice inside my head reading out loud the words. Funny thing is, that little voice inside my head started reading singing to a little tune in time to the rhymes! It was weird--but quite fun, to be honest.
All in all, The Tale of Nottingswood was a fun, lighthearted read--the perfect book to add to your summer reading list!
Rating:
