lunashadowwolf123's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this book was really good even tho in the beginning I was lost like I always do in fantasy books but this was a pretty good book, and I really didn't expect them to be related at the end, I thought they were going to be lovers so that was a surprise
marimoose's review against another edition
4.0
What a fascinating variation of the Arthurian legends! It's certainly been a while, but once the story got going, there was no doubt which direction it was heading.
After looking at the book jacket, I did believe I was going to read a retelling of Arthur as a boy, and wondered what other fantasy-ish elements were being added to make this a bit more original. A number of names were different (Idris and Ambrose vs. Arthur and Merlin), the area itself was a poisoned heap of land filled with monsters and dirty water, and the story was seemingly about a boy with the destiny of becoming a monstergroom. The beginning was far from anything I had known about Arthurian legends (though I should probably refresh my memory, it's been a while since I've done any reading on the legends), so I thought to myself: "perhaps he's only using names and certain figures as inspirations, and everything else is different..."
Once the story got past character introduction, development, and the setting of pieces of plot, more familiar elements emerged. Ambrose showed himself to be the great tutor that many imagine Merlin was, there were the rumors of a boy who was the rightful king of the land, and, of course, there was the sword stuck in the stone, pulled only by said rightful king.
The twist in the story, however, lies in the title itself. "Well Between the Worlds" sums Idris' adventures about right. Amidst a tumultuous, dying country is a breed of monsters, passing from their world into Lyonesse through well-gates and water. From this, the establishment in Lyonesse included Captains who supposedly kept the monsters at bay. Others have succumbed into greed, seeking to breed the otherwordly creatures with that of the living beings of Lyonesse. And that's only the start of Idris' problems.
So yes. Great read! I'd say I'd have to read more, but that seems to be the case of all the books I like that are part of a series...
After looking at the book jacket, I did believe I was going to read a retelling of Arthur as a boy, and wondered what other fantasy-ish elements were being added to make this a bit more original. A number of names were different (Idris and Ambrose vs. Arthur and Merlin), the area itself was a poisoned heap of land filled with monsters and dirty water, and the story was seemingly about a boy with the destiny of becoming a monstergroom. The beginning was far from anything I had known about Arthurian legends (though I should probably refresh my memory, it's been a while since I've done any reading on the legends), so I thought to myself: "perhaps he's only using names and certain figures as inspirations, and everything else is different..."
Once the story got past character introduction, development, and the setting of pieces of plot, more familiar elements emerged. Ambrose showed himself to be the great tutor that many imagine Merlin was, there were the rumors of a boy who was the rightful king of the land, and, of course, there was the sword stuck in the stone, pulled only by said rightful king.
The twist in the story, however, lies in the title itself. "Well Between the Worlds" sums Idris' adventures about right. Amidst a tumultuous, dying country is a breed of monsters, passing from their world into Lyonesse through well-gates and water. From this, the establishment in Lyonesse included Captains who supposedly kept the monsters at bay. Others have succumbed into greed, seeking to breed the otherwordly creatures with that of the living beings of Lyonesse. And that's only the start of Idris' problems.
So yes. Great read! I'd say I'd have to read more, but that seems to be the case of all the books I like that are part of a series...
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
I'm an Arthur-legend junkie, so this book was one I looked forward to reading (well, that and the Lewisian Well in the title). I wasn't disappointed: Lyonesse is sinking, due to too much water being pumped from the Wells as the men hunt, capture, cut and burn monsters from another world. Idris is clearly born for greater things and escapes drowning only to have to flee his city and home; lucky for him be becomes an apprentice with Mage Ambrose.
Ambrose is the Merlin here, and Idris' coming into his power and becoming King is all under Ambrose's tutelage. It's not quite what you read in the other versions of the story, but it is an interesting twist on the tales. I liked the addition of the Well and the monsters, particularly Digby. The Morgan/Idris connection also worked for me. The explanations of the monsters and Wells and the sinking and the history were, at times, a little sloppy or rushed, but overall the story works.
Clearly the ending is meant to be a cliffhanger, and there will be another volume (or two?) coming. Can't wait.
Ambrose is the Merlin here, and Idris' coming into his power and becoming King is all under Ambrose's tutelage. It's not quite what you read in the other versions of the story, but it is an interesting twist on the tales. I liked the addition of the Well and the monsters, particularly Digby. The Morgan/Idris connection also worked for me. The explanations of the monsters and Wells and the sinking and the history were, at times, a little sloppy or rushed, but overall the story works.
Clearly the ending is meant to be a cliffhanger, and there will be another volume (or two?) coming. Can't wait.
wynwicket's review against another edition
4.0
Lyonesse: an ever-sinking kingdom caught in the struggle between the Old Magic and the new, which allows monsters to cross over from their world. I loved the strong Arthurian theme, and 12-year-old Idris is a great protagonist.
jago's review against another edition
5.0
my all time favourite as a kid, so much so that i still maintain it as one of my greatest there is, despite it being just under a decade since I've read it last. the world building and fantasy elements of this book still influence my imagination and creativity to this day. one of those books that will never leave me.
ryner's review against another edition
3.0
The land of Lyonesse is sinking. The poisonous water beneath is rising up through the wells, bringing monsters up with it. As a result of *not* drowning after accidentally falling from a great height into the sea, twelve-year-old Idris of Westgate is condemned to death by the Town Captain, accused of being a "Cross" -- part human, part monster. Thrown into a watery cavern and left for dead, Idris is rescued just in the nick of time and whisked covertly away by a mysterious stranger into an unknown future.
This is a fresh, quirky twist on Arthurian legend, recommended for middle-school-aged readers who may wish to try some light fantasy. I would have liked to learn more about the nature of the world within the wells, its beastly inhabitants and their perception of this "upper" world where humans reside. Perhaps this will be explored more deeply in the second book.
This is a fresh, quirky twist on Arthurian legend, recommended for middle-school-aged readers who may wish to try some light fantasy. I would have liked to learn more about the nature of the world within the wells, its beastly inhabitants and their perception of this "upper" world where humans reside. Perhaps this will be explored more deeply in the second book.
ailsaod's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reread. This book is an Arthurian legends retelling set in the legendary land of Lyonesse - the remains of which are now the Scilly Isles off the coast of Cornwall. As retellings go this book is highly original: according to the legends Lyonesse is supposed to have sunk because of some unnamed terrible crime committed by the inhabitants and Llewellyn expands on this story greatly. The Lyonesse of this duology is a kingdom that has been usurped and those in power are corrupt and greedy. The land is sinking so walls must be built to keep out the sea but as of late Lyonesse has undergone somewhat of an industrial revolution and the sea walls are built using monsters from an alternate world known as the Wellworld at the price of flooding the land with poisonous well water.
The world building is very good and is definitely the best aspect of the book. Unfortunately the characters are a bit strange: they don't really talk like actual people, though not to an overly painful degree. This is likely mainly to do with the existence of 'the Manner' - a rigid code of etiquette and customs that everyone follows that can at times make characters sound very flowery and formal. I didn't mind the Manner really as it made the slightly weird dialogue make sense in universe and I haven't previously come across a book with such a system so it was interesting. Idris is 11/12 in this book but it is very difficult to believe most of the time as he is treated like and acts like an adult most of the time.
My only real complaint about this book is how Morgan was treated throughout the book. She is continually sidelined in favour of Idris and treated as if it's too high-risk to tell her what's going on (despite a later plot twist COMPLETELY invalidating this). On a few occasions Idris maneuvers situations to fall in Morgan's favour, knowing full well that if she knew he was doing it she wouldn't want him to and it drove me CRAZY.
Overall I quite liked this book and I remember liking book 2 even more so I would definitely recommend it but be aware that its a little strange.
The world building is very good and is definitely the best aspect of the book. Unfortunately the characters are a bit strange: they don't really talk like actual people, though not to an overly painful degree. This is likely mainly to do with the existence of 'the Manner' - a rigid code of etiquette and customs that everyone follows that can at times make characters sound very flowery and formal. I didn't mind the Manner really as it made the slightly weird dialogue make sense in universe and I haven't previously come across a book with such a system so it was interesting. Idris is 11/12 in this book but it is very difficult to believe most of the time as he is treated like and acts like an adult most of the time.
My only real complaint about this book is how Morgan was treated throughout the book. She is continually sidelined in favour of Idris and treated as if it's too high-risk to tell her what's going on (despite a later plot twist COMPLETELY invalidating this). On a few occasions Idris maneuvers situations to fall in Morgan's favour, knowing full well that if she knew he was doing it she wouldn't want him to and it drove me CRAZY.
Overall I quite liked this book and I remember liking book 2 even more so I would definitely recommend it but be aware that its a little strange.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Child death
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