A review by manwithanagenda
The Whim of the Dragon by Pamela Dean
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
March 2021:
The Carrolls survived the battle, but were afraid to see their all-to-real game through to the end. They retrieved the magic swords of Melanie and Shan and found their way to their homes. Almost immediately, however, Ted and Laura are beckoned by a cardinal and brought to another mysterious house. There a man in red convinces them that they must go back to the Hidden Land and see the story through, or everything they were afraid of would come true.
This volume brings everything out into the open. Dean handles the Carrolls revealing themselves to Fence and Randolph well, as well as the truth of what happened to the real royal children. 'The Whim of the Dragon' is overstuffed with even more dense narration and quotations from Shakespeare and other antique poets. I have no idea how a young reader would take all of this, because for adult me it was a little overwhelming. However, I still enjoyed the action of the series and seeing the whole grand scheme behind the trilogy laid bare. In my review for 'The Secret Country' I mentioned giving these, with several others, to my young nephew. It will be an interesting conversation.
June 2010:
The conclusion to 'The Secret Country' trilogy is satisfying, but seems to lack the easy magic of the first installment. What I had enjoyed most about 'The Secret Country' had been the natural way Patrick, Ted, Ellen, Ruth and Lucy had talked and bickered with each other, along with the indignation of finding things different then what they had imagined.
Of course, by this point the children are veterans of living in the fantasy kingdom and have accepted the differences, but nothing substantial seems to have taken that banter's place. The conclusion was unexpected, but exactly right in solving the question of what happens to the children after they leave the magical kingdom. Business-as-Usual always seemed to be a bit far-fetched.
All in all, the book is a satisfying end and ties up all the loose ends and makes 'The Secret County' a good children's fantasy that doesn't quite add up to Narnian heights, but what can?
The Secret Country
Next: 'The Dubious Hills' (A companion volume)
Previous: 'The Hidden Land'
The Carrolls survived the battle, but were afraid to see their all-to-real game through to the end. They retrieved the magic swords of Melanie and Shan and found their way to their homes. Almost immediately, however, Ted and Laura are beckoned by a cardinal and brought to another mysterious house. There a man in red convinces them that they must go back to the Hidden Land and see the story through, or everything they were afraid of would come true.
This volume brings everything out into the open. Dean handles the Carrolls revealing themselves to Fence and Randolph well, as well as the truth of what happened to the real royal children. 'The Whim of the Dragon' is overstuffed with even more dense narration and quotations from Shakespeare and other antique poets. I have no idea how a young reader would take all of this, because for adult me it was a little overwhelming. However, I still enjoyed the action of the series and seeing the whole grand scheme behind the trilogy laid bare. In my review for 'The Secret Country' I mentioned giving these, with several others, to my young nephew. It will be an interesting conversation.
June 2010:
The conclusion to 'The Secret Country' trilogy is satisfying, but seems to lack the easy magic of the first installment. What I had enjoyed most about 'The Secret Country' had been the natural way Patrick, Ted, Ellen, Ruth and Lucy had talked and bickered with each other, along with the indignation of finding things different then what they had imagined.
Of course, by this point the children are veterans of living in the fantasy kingdom and have accepted the differences, but nothing substantial seems to have taken that banter's place. The conclusion was unexpected, but exactly right in solving the question of what happens to the children after they leave the magical kingdom. Business-as-Usual always seemed to be a bit far-fetched.
All in all, the book is a satisfying end and ties up all the loose ends and makes 'The Secret County' a good children's fantasy that doesn't quite add up to Narnian heights, but what can?
The Secret Country
Next: 'The Dubious Hills' (A companion volume)
Previous: 'The Hidden Land'