kmuttschall's review against another edition
4.0
I couldn't put this down! An amazing book with no negative points whatsoever. Up there with 'The Thief Lord' and 'His Dark Materials'!
mpetruce's review against another edition
3.0
This book took a little while to get going for me, but not bad. I didn't like it as much as Inkheart or The Shakespeare Stealer, but it's still neat. What is especially good is the subtle literary references that kids will get.
somewheregirl7's review against another edition
3.0
Like many books, Endymion Spring began with a lot of promise and never quite delivered on it. The main characters felt rather flat and in the end there was no great revelation as it felt like we'd been building to. The end was all to predictable and bland. Was it really an end at all? The story swings wildly from the middle ages and Endymion to the present day and Blake and Duck the two young protagonists who stumble into the story. The parts set in the middle ages were intriguing but they never played out - the movement was jerky and hodge podge, leaving out a great deal and never really answering some key questions. There were lots of loose threads that never tied together.
At times the description and prose were beautiful and lyric and at times it fell flat and cliche. This definitely felt like a freshman effort and perhaps the author's next work will be better. As I said, this had promise. The pace was just not fast enough, book too choppy and the whole not knitted together well enough.
At times the description and prose were beautiful and lyric and at times it fell flat and cliche. This definitely felt like a freshman effort and perhaps the author's next work will be better. As I said, this had promise. The pace was just not fast enough, book too choppy and the whole not knitted together well enough.
caffeineandcatnapsreads's review against another edition
3.0
Endymion Spring, by Matthew Skelton
2.5-3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read this years and years ago in grade school and thought I'd re-read it. I'd give this book between 2.5-3 stars. It's a nice middle grade read but I think it's a tad long. The beginning and very end of the story is where everything mainly takes place; all of the middle is unnecessarily long and drawn out.
Endymion Spring has two separate story lines. The one story line takes place in the current day in Oxford with the main characters, Blake and his sister Duck. The kids find a blank book entitled, Endymion Spring that only Blake can see/read. They soon discover that the book contains all of the knowledge in the world. The second story line follows the character, Endymion Spring, who works as an apprentice for Gutenberg who is working on his printing press in Mainz.
2.5-3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read this years and years ago in grade school and thought I'd re-read it. I'd give this book between 2.5-3 stars. It's a nice middle grade read but I think it's a tad long. The beginning and very end of the story is where everything mainly takes place; all of the middle is unnecessarily long and drawn out.
Endymion Spring has two separate story lines. The one story line takes place in the current day in Oxford with the main characters, Blake and his sister Duck. The kids find a blank book entitled, Endymion Spring that only Blake can see/read. They soon discover that the book contains all of the knowledge in the world. The second story line follows the character, Endymion Spring, who works as an apprentice for Gutenberg who is working on his printing press in Mainz.
givethatbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book when I was younger and it was one of the books that stayed with me. I wanted to read it again, even though I might find it completely different. Luckily I really liked it again. You do however notice that it's a child's book, with sometimes very easy or hasty explanations or very lucky or unlucky coincidences.
gillianalice's review against another edition
3.0
Not a bad listen, but I would have liked more connection between Blake and Endymion. Also, Blake's little sister was SUPER annoying.
jlynnelseauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the writing style of this book. The author ties together different historical versions of the person known as Fust (believed to be "Faust"). Evil and its presence in the world is explored, and its meaning questioned. The storyline moves back and forth through time with the narrator's voice being in the past, yet it works surprisingly well to add tension and depth to the plot. The narrator is actually mute, but his thoughts are so vivid it gives him a strong voice. Wonderful dichotomy for the character. In its day, the printing press was thought of as "devilry" with printers' assistants being named as "devils." Such intersesting historical information is mixed into the story! I love the author's descriptive language. It paints a clear picture in a poetic form. "Mist clung to the trees on either side of the river like fragments of sleep, draping their silvery fronds in the murky water." It feels abstract and yet paints a clear picture in your mind! I also loved the tie in of leaf dragons living in trees who's skin contains properties of immortality and wisdom which has not been seen since Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. The book contains lots of intricacies in its plot that you do not notice while reading but draws the reader in further! There was an underlying theme of watching over family, but the family dynamic was so awkward it did not connect with me. I was completely turned off by the mother who showed next to no emotion towards her children. The family issues were messy throughout and then suddenly mopped up in the end. The parents were the most underdeveloped characters in the story and only seemed to be there to fill pages. I was disappointed in the family situation. Overall, though, the other characters were engaging and entertaining. I very much enjoyed the plot construction and journey of the book. Fantastic device (of using two time periods) to reveal the backstory and advance the plot at the same time!
olliebell's review against another edition
2.0
Dnf'd around 50%. Not for me but maybe my nephews will like it.
quindora's review against another edition
1.0
Has some good ideas, but it isn't all that good. It COULD have been, if it had more action. It needs more obstacles for the character to overcome!