From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up–British author Melvin Burgess (
Junk) weaves a tale of deception, revenge, and redemption in this well-written, gripping novel (Tor Books, 2001) based on the 13th–century Icelandic Volsunga saga and set in a futuristic London that is populated by humans and halfmen. The Volson and Conor families wage war against each other in a London that contains both modern and medieval elements. The warring clans cease fighting to affirm a truce with the marriage of Volson's daughter, Signy, to Conor. What follows is a remarkable adventure story that effortlessly combines science fiction and the lore of Arthurian legends and medieval sagas. There are some graphic portrayals of violence and sex. Expertly narrated by actor Colin Moody, this novel is a winning blend of the voices of different characters that yields a satisfying whole. This book, like
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, creates an entirely new world of unforgettable characters and stories. Young adult readers who enjoy this title may be interested in reading such classics as
The Once and Future King by T. H. White, Malory's
L'Morte d'Arthur, and
The Song of Roland. An excellent addition to young adult collections.–
Larry Cooperman, Seminole High School, Sanford, FL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From AudioFile
Rival gangs in post-apocalyptic London attempt to reach peace through marriage, but treachery and war prevail. Colin Moody performs this first installment in a series, capturing all the rage and horror of the complicated plot. Each chapter is told in the voice of one of the story's many characters, or in third-person subjective, and Moody shifts effortlessly between them, even to the point of varying his characterizations when one character's words are quoted by another. Moody shines as the half-dog-half-man resistance leader, Dagmar, giving him a man's speech, through a dog's panting and sniffing, making a bizarre character utterly believable. While the book stops in the middle of the story, the performance stands on its own. R.L.L. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
