Der Setzerjunge

Westmark #1

by Lloyd Alexander

Als Theo, der Setzerjunge, zustimmt, für den hochtrabenden Dr. Absalom eine Flugschrift aufzusetzen, ahnt er nicht, welchen Ärger er sich damit einhandelt. Westmark ist ein gefährliches Pflaster geworden, seit der skrupellose Premierminister Cabbarus an die Macht gelangt ist. Theos Druckhaus wird zerstört, er selbst kann nur mit knapper Not dem Tod entkommen. Nun ist er ein Ausgestoßener, und was bleibt ihm da anderes übrig, als sich dem schurkischen Dr. Absalom und seinem Diener, dem Zwergen Musket, anzuschließen? Zusammen machen sie sich auf eine gefährliche Abenteuerreise, die so manche Überraschung bereit hält ...Der erste Teil der Westmark-Trilogie vom Autor des berühmten Taran-Zyklus.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Middle Grade, Science Fiction Fantasy

204 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 1981

About the author

Lloyd Chudley Alexander was an influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books. His most famous contribution to the field of children's literature is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. The concluding book of the series, The High King , was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1969. Alexander's other books have also won the National Book Award and the American Book Award. He was also one of the creators of Cricket Magazine.

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lloyd Alexander is one of a handful of authors who had a hand in forming who I am today. At the beginning of sixth grade my teacher pulled out The Book of Three, the first in Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, and began reading. He did all the voices, from opinionated Eilonwy to noble Gwydion to humble Gurgi with his poor, tender head. We sat there enchanted as he read the entire five-book series aloud to the class. We were living overseas at the time and, unfortunately, we had limited access to books. When we moved back to the states, we stopped in at the local library and I immediately went to the A section to see if they had any other Alexander books. I was in luck. I picked up WESTMARK first because of the cover and because I read the first line and was completely sold.

"Theo, by occupation, was a devil."

When the librarian informed me it was the first in a trilogy, I quickly grabbed the other two and made for the door. They were utterly different from the Chronicles of Prydain--darker, and not really fantasy at all, though they are set in a fictional kingdom. Alexander is so well-known for the Chronicles of Prydain and it seems to me this little gem of a trilogy hasn't gotten quite the same reception, though WESTMARK actually won the National Book Award in 1982. I have re-read them many times since the first time and I love them more with every encounter.

Main character Theo is, in fact, a devil. Though not the kind you might be expecting. Theo is a printer's devil--an apprentice to the printer Anton in the small town of Dorning in the kingdom of Westmark. After printing a pamphlet by Dr. Absalom, Theo and his master are forced to flee into the night as guards break into the printing press and burn the shop to the ground. Ever since Chief Minister Cabbarus took over the running of the kingdom from their grieving king, he has been systematically curtailing the freedoms of the people. On the run from the law, Theo finds himself in league with the mysterious Dr. Absalom, also known as Count Las Bombas, the trusty dwarf Musket, and the bright but haunted girl Mickle--a former pickpocket and street urchin. But when the demands of his conscience prove to much to bear, Theo strikes out on his own and takes a job as scribe for a small group of revolutionaries led by the charismatic Florian. As the story builds to its heart-palpitating climax, these two bands find themselves inexplicably drawn to the capitol city of Marianstat and into the grasping hands of the sinister Cabbarus.

I love how perfectly paced Lloyd Alexander's writing always is. He truly was a master at constructing the ebb and flow necessary to a genuinely riveting storyline, the heights and depths in which to lead his characters, and the clever and crafty words to put in their mouths. His main characters are so far from perfect and they are often painfully aware of it. They want so badly to do the right thing and yet they are constantly faced with how difficult and conflicting a desire that is. Theo is no exception. He is a simple young man hurled into a complex web of secrets and plotting not of his making. The world and conflict is based on the French Revolution and the pain and ambiguity of that conflict is not spared in Alexander's fictional version, particularly in the sequel, The Kestrel, where Theo and his companions are caught up in bloody battle as the nation tears itself apart in the name of freedom. But that trademark humor and overwhelming compassion are still there. It's a beautiful series filled with a host of fine characters (some delightful, some dreadful) who spend their lives wrestling with questions of morality, purpose, and honor, and leavened by roguish wit, high adventure, and a sweet romance. Highly recommended for fans of Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series.

Reading order: WESTMARK, The Kestrel, The Beggar Queen.

[Ane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a HUGE coincidence. I remember reading this book/series in 5th grade and I LOVED IT! I checked this book out over and over and just was enthralled with it. For YEARS now, YEARS mind you, I was trying to remember the name of this book. I googled everything I could possibly remember about this book to no avail. THEN, a couple of days ago, I was in a thrift store and I literally found MY BOOK! The cover I remembered, it had been purchased from the library where I had checked it out and there it WAS!!! For 50 cents!! So happy to be reunited! I'm rereading and is EXCEPTIONALLY more exciting now that I have an adult perspective and can understand plot & have a better appreciation for characters and development. AWESOME BOOK!! :) HOORAY FOR SERENDIPITY!!! :)

[Maggie Stiefvater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read this book in years and I don't care if it's still really good or not, but as a kid, I had SUCH a crush on this book. Sigh.

ETA: When I was 10, I thought this cover was the HOTTEST THING EVER.

Just saying.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my mind, this is one of Lloyd Alexander's lesser works. It does not concern itself with grand fairy-tale concepts or life-changing Hero's Journey - rather, it's "only" an extremely well-written and -plotted fantasy story with interesting characters and action and thrills.

Still good, just not amazing. Well worth the read if you've liked his other works, or if you like this sort of a thing in general.

[Flannery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Westmark is a compact, quick-paced start to a fantasy series and it is the first of Alexander's works I've read. It won't be the last, as I already intend to finish this series sooner rather than later. Theo, the main character, is apprentice to a printer in a kingdom where the king rules in name only, as he's been overcome with grief since the disappearance of his daughter years before. In his stead, Chief Minister Cabbarus rules with an iron fist and ridiculous ineptitude. When Theo agrees to print up an order for Musket, a dwarf working for a traveling magician/con man Dr. Absalom, it runs contrary to the Cabbarus' rules and sets up a story of escape, evasion, and intrigue. Theo becomes part of Absalom's show, along with Musket and Mickle, a young street urchin girl. Though the outcome is predictable, I was pleasantly surprised by the road the characters took to get there and by several plot twists. If you're looking for an entry point into Lloyd Alexander's fantasy books, this one is perfect. At least, it was for me. On to the next!

This mini-review was part of a series of 7 mini-reviews of short YA books I wrote for a post over at our blog, The Readventurer.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A smart, fast-paced YA fantasy. Two things really impress me about this book. First, the sheer economy of language with which Alexander makes a large cast of characters vivid and keeps the plot moving. This book accomplishes more in ~185 pages than many a doorstopper fantasy accomplishes in twice the space. (Which is good, because once I started it, I didn't really want to put it down.)

Second, Alexander does a great job of making his characters have different goals and points of view. Being a good guy in this book is a complicated thing - it doesn't mean that you want the same thing as all the other good guys.

Finally, anyone who's ever criticized fantasy for being generally politically retrograde will be pleased to hear that while some characters are out to restore the rightful monarch to the throne, some are much more interested in seeing the people of Westmark rule. (Personally, I've been wishing for ages for more fantasy novels in which the characters fight to restore the just and rightful democracy, and Lloyd Alexander's had one for a couple of decades now.)

[Zaara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I'm thoroughly enjoying the Westmark books, I'm halfway thru the second one...this series...it's like McDonalds.
You know exactly what you gonna get and that it's junk anyway. But it's such brightly coloured, jolly, friendly, rollicking uncomplicated take no prisoners junk that you so gladly hand over your mental arteries to the sodium of the tropes and dues ex.
MM🍟MM

[Kogiopsis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently re-read as part of my great shelf audit!

This is a classic adventure story from a classic adventure writer, with a quirky cast of characters and a plot which meanders a bit but comes together in the end in a satisfying way. It reminded me a great deal of the Redwall books, which really defined my childhood; which is to say I felt right at home and enjoyed it.

I don't think I've ever tracked down the second and third books in the series, so that'll be part of my ongoing project. I'm curious to see how Alexander explored the moral debates of this plot (monarchy vs populism, justification of violence) in the later volumes.

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have come to a conclusion. If a fantasy book includes a map in the beginning, the odds of it being a great story are very high.

After devouring The Chronicles of Prydain (seriously, you guys need to check the series out!) I couldn't wait to read more by this author and the Westmark trilogy seemed like the way to go. I will say, this wasn't as good, in my opinion, as the Chronicles of Prydain, but this made for an entertaining and fun read. I lost several hours of sleep over the course of this adventure.

Lloyd Alexander has a way with creating worlds with fascinating problems and unique characters. Mickle was strong-willed and clever, Theo was the model of innocence and honesty, Cabbarus was wicked, and Las Bombas was one of those characters that you find yourself shaking your head at due to their poor choices. Now Florian...I NEED more backstory on this mysterious enigma.

As for the overall plot, it was captivating and inviting. Alexander's writing style is something else and is just a pleasure to read. He's weaved a story of curious companions and dark deeds that is nearly impossible to put down.

There wasn't much I didn't like. There was one curse word and some parts toward the end were kinda slow paced. Mickle's true identity was no surprise to me and I wish there had been a couple unexpected plot twists.

This is a series any lover of fantasy would enjoy. Magic con-artists, peasant revolts, and an adorable printer's apprentice. Highly recommend. 4.5 rating! I will most definitely continue the series.

[Julianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most readers, I first encountered and read this book many years ago. So long ago, in fact, that I could not finish it in a day. I remember taking it with me on a visit to my grandparents' summer cottage and staying up to all hours of the night in order to reach the mind-bending (at the time) conclusion. It was probably about 2:00 in the morning by the time Theo & Co. found themselves being forced into charlatanry by their own government (Oh, the irony!), and I remember being incredibly creeped out by the yawning well shaft and the revelations that followed. The kind of creeped out that makes your hair stand up, your flesh crawl, and your blood run cold.

I've re-read the book two or three times since, and while the ending no longer creeps me out, the story still enthralls me. Theo, a former printer's devil and "lover of virtue," is the kind of hero I can get behind. One who notices what others don't, who ponders, who wonders and asks questions. He's certainly not incapable of taking action. However, the actions he takes are often (as with us) in response to circumstances beyond his control, and as such, are products of the moment, not completely intentional, and less appropriate, less heroic than Theo would like. Whenever Theo takes action, he seems to feel a little worse about himself than he did before. One gets the sense he is trying to live up to an unrealizable ideal, one he is as incapable of modifying as he is of embodying.

On the other end of the spectrum, Cabbarus is the kind of villain I can get behind. Cold and calculating, but not consciously or intentionally evil. In fact, Cabbarus is defined by nothing so much as his single-minded devotion to his own ideals of justice and virtue. Unlike so many fictional villains, he does not immediately create an impression of evil in the minds of his beholders. Rather, his glance "made all on whom it rested feel, in comparison with him, less noble, less high-minded, and that their linen needed changing" (35). In a certain sense, Cabbarus embodies, in the eyes of many, the sort of ideal that Theo carries in his mind. One could say that the chief difference between the two characters is Cabbarus's tendency to self-satisfaction, compared to Theo's self-dissatisfaction. Cabbarus tends to blame others when his schemes fail to produce his intended results; Theo tends to blame himself.

Thankfully, in addition to these two very different lovers of virtue, Westmark abounds in characters who don't really give a flying fig about all that. Characters who care more about the amount of food in their bellies (which after all, is very different from the amount of money in their purses) than about living up to anyone's ideal. This would include Theo's companions Count Las Bombas (aka Dr. Absalom, aka Mynheer Bloomsa, aka "whatever he's calling himself at the moment" (p. 110)), Musket, Mickle, and the two water rats Sparrow and Weasel. It is no accident that these characters all occupy some of the lowest rungs of society. Las Bombas and Musket (himself rescued from "the beggar factory") drift from town to town, rootless, residence-less--unless one counts their roomy coach as a residence. They are, in modern parlance, "homeless." Mickle, when we first encounter her, is a guttersnipe, a "collection of skin and bones" (p. 53), former apprentice to a thief who was hanged, illiterate as a bird (though not by choice). On perhaps the very lowest rung are Sparrow and Weasel, orphaned sister and brother, who survive by scavenging, an activity that extends to picking dead men's pockets. Their views on morality may be best summed up in this exchange with Keller, writer of a satirical journal:

"Water rats, I shall ask you a question. Are you thieves?"

"No," piped up Weasel, "but I'd like to be."

"I'm no thief either," said Sparrow. "I never had the luck." (p. 106)

In this world of the dispossessed and protector-less, practicality rather than morality is paramount. The concern is not with the world or the self as it should be, but as it is, and whatever actions are best calculated to enhance one's own survival (and the survival of those one cares about) are the "right" things to do. It is appropriate that Sparrow, much later, turns "out to be a demon at arithmetic" (The Beggar Queen, p. 24). Sparrow has been forced to become a quick and accurate calculator by living in a world of scarcity--or maybe she was born with the ability to grasp arithmetical concepts intuitively and that is why she and Weasel survive.

This is not to say that Alexander is saying virtue is a luxury for the rich or even for the reasonably well-fed. Rather, he seems to be pointing out that one's conception of virtue has a lot to do with one's own perspective and that this perspective is shaped to a great extent by one's circumstances. Many of the novel's "good" characters (a distinction that becomes increasingly meaningless the longer one reads in the series) grasp this concept out of hand. It is Cabbarus's great failing that he does not. It is Theo's great good luck that he finds himself plunged in circumstances that call his own ideals into question...and to his great good credit that he chooses to live through the questions. That he has managed to do so is attested in the last few pages by his admission to Las Bombas, "I'm not the one to blame you either. I was trying to be better than I am. I'm not as virtuous as I thought I was--or wanted to be. I wonder if anyone is, even Florian. I suppose we should be glad if we're able to do any good at all" (p. 183). It is appropriate that Theo finds such satisfaction in Florian's note to him, delivered 2 pages later, "My Child, You did well. Perhaps you even did right." When I first read the book, I thought Theo smiled at Florian's finally calling him "My Child." Now, I think Theo smiles because even Florian acknowledges he isn't absolutely certain what is right and what is wrong. Perhaps Theo recognizes that this simple fact binds the two of them together in a way Florian's good opinion of him could never do.

On the copyright page of my edition, Alexander notes this book is "For those who regret their many imperfections, but know it would be worse having none at all." A telling dedication, indeed. Appropriate for all readers, certainly, but perhaps especially appropriate for the young adults who are ostensibly this book's intended audience.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lloyd Alexander is my favorite author of all time, and it feels like I've done him a disservice by not getting around to purchasing and reading the Westmark Trilogy sooner than this. I first discovered Lloyd Alexander through Disney's The Black Cauldron, though I didn't know about it at the time. Years later, while my oldest sister was in university, I decided to raid her bookshelves and read everything she owned. In this mission, I read The Castle of Llyr, the third book in Lloyd Alexanders Prydain series. The names Taran and Eilonwy sounded familiar, and I eventually realized it was the same as the Disney movie. This lead to me buying and reading the entirety of the Prydain Chronicles and developing a burning love and admiration for everything Mr. Alexander has ever written. There has yet to be a book I have read by him that I did not enjoy from the start, and Westmark was no different. Before I devolve into discussing the book, I would like to comment on just what a powerful writer Lloyd Alexander was, and how capable he was of exploring the nuances of humanity so beautifully. What I mean when I say this, is that he moved me to near tears in the dedication of Westmark, which reads as follows:

"For those who regret their many imperfections, but know it would be worse having none at all."

Perhaps it's only me who was so deeply moved by this dedication, but I've never read works by an author that have touched my very soul before the story has even started. Lloyd Alexander understands humanity and the human condition; it's what makes his stories so delightful to read and his characters so vivid, even the most eccentric of them.

The story of Westmark begins quite humorously as it describes how it came to be that Theo, a young orphan in the Kingdom of Westmark, became an assistant to the local printer in Dorning. I read the first three paragraphs and found myself chuckling uncontrollably and knowing that I wasn't going to be able to put the book down until it was finished. While Lloyd Alexander goes into great detail describing the printer, Anton, he describes his protagonist, Theo, in one short sentence: "As for Theo, he loved virtue, despised injustice, and was always slightly hungry." The story has hardly started and Lloyd Alexander makes Theo completely endearing to the reader, making you eager to see what adventures and conflicts will befall the two of you as you travel together through Westmark.

The plot continues as Theo, through a series of events, finds himself a wanted criminal under the cruel command of the chief minister of Westmark, Cabbarus, who seeks to use the King Augustine's grief over the death of his daughter to make himself ruler of Westmark. Theo meets many unique characters in his travels, including a jovial and charismatic charlatan named Las Bombas, a dwarf in an oversized hat named Musket, a street girl with an ability to mimic people's voices named Mickle, and a captivating revolutionary named Florian. Theo encounters danger and opportunity as he makes his way across Westmark, but must continuously fight with himself about what it means to be a good and virtuous person. In particular, Theo tries to reckon with whether it is ever justifiable to take the life of another person. Lloyd Alexander does not provide answers to these moral dilemmas that Theo faces, and Theo never fully finds an answer, but that is the beauty of Westmark; Theo and the reader both must come to terms with the reality of violence, war, and the human condition. They must follow their conscience and accept that it is likely that they will never understand whether a decision was right or not.

On this topic, Florian and Theo have a heated conversation as Theo tries to rationalize violence, and Florian argues for the justice of his cause. It goes along as follows, ending the chapter, and making the reader stop and think about the conversation this book continuously asks the reader to have:

"The first day I met you," said Theo, "at Rina's birthday party, you said there was only one law, that all mean are brothers."
Florian nodded. "Yes. And sometimes brothers kill each other. For the sake of justice. For the sake of a higher cause."
"Who decides what's right? Me? You? Dr. Torrens? He's against you. He holds with the monarchy. But he seems a good and honorable man."
"He is," answered Florian. "Curious that being a commoner he should take that side. Perhaps he knows less of it than I do. I can tell you of peasants flogged half to death, forced to weed a noble's garden while their own crops rot in the ground, having their cottages pulled down to make room for a deer park. I know the aristocracy better than Torrens ever can. I was born into it.
"Yes," Florian went on, smiling at Theo's astonishment. "You might recognize my family's name is I mentioned it, which, by the way, I have no intention of doing. ... As for Torrens thinking merely to correct abuses--he is almost as innocent as you are. Abuse is in the very grain of the monarchy's power. And I can tell you one thing more. Men give up many things willingly: their fortunes, their loves, their dreams. Power, never. It must be taken. And you, youngster, will have to choose your side. Though I assure you the monarchy will be as unsparing with its enemies as I am, at least there is justice in my cause."
"Even if a cause is good," said Theo, "what does it do to the people who stand against it? And the people who follow it?"
"Next time you see Jellinek," said Florian, "ask him if he's ever found a way to make an omelet without breaking eggs."
"Yes," Theo said. "Yes, but men aren't eggs."

To keep myself from quoting the whole book because the entire thing is a gem, I will end the review here. Westmark is a fantastic story with a compelling plot and hilarious and lovable characters. I found myself consistently in the story, visualizing everything and oblivious to the world around me. Lloyd Alexander engages the reader with every word and writes stories that matter, that mean something. Westmark is enjoyable and significant; it teaches lessons of morality and the human condition in a bright, colourful, and exhilarating way that I have never encountered in any other author. 5/5 stars, and never one less.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic from my childhood that was very fun to revisit. The trend with fantasy books these days is to jam pack the front and back with maps detailing a not very complicated country. Lloyd let's you figure out the world via context and it feels like he's saying "You are smart, you can fill it in!" I love books that give detail but not so much so that they seem to squash your imagination. Also he just writes as if he knows his stuff. Little details he throws in make it real and accurate to me.

[kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Also read <2006]

Printer's devil Theo finds himself on the wrong side of the law and falls in with Count Las Bombas, con man; Musket, Demon Coachman; and Mickle, mimic and girl-thief. When that gets too hot for him, he falls in with revolutionary Florian and his "children"—which goes well until a small ruckus is needed to save his earlier friends from prison, and also the evil chief minister!!

1. Damn, young me was so constant with her tastes: historical fantasy-esque with a twist of politics, heavy on the romance. It's a formula I RELISHED and Westmark is no exception to that rule: I recall liking it then and I like it now.

2. I forgot just how much happens in this book: the opening trauma of the attempted arrest of Theo's master; the con man and his traveling show; Mickle's sign language and mimicry; Florian's printing press and gang of bandits; everything that is the chief minister's machinations; the early hints of the pro and anti monarchy argument...

3. And yet the world feels lived in and real in a way that many historical fantasy worlds are just missing. I don't know if it's because I've layered my own experiences over them until they just feel that real, or if Alexander is just that good.

4. I'm not going to touch my rating on this book, but not because of any particular need to move it up or down: I marked it as such a while ago while cataloging books and changing it would feel too much like marking it under the influence of nostalgia. So it stays at 3 stars, with the underlying asterisks that my judgement is tied to youth and its idiocy.

[Hirondelle (not getting notifications) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have loved these, maybe I read them too late. I adored the Prydain Chronicles when I was a teenager but reading this trilogy (minus the very hard to find second book) for the first time as an adult unfortunately it all looked too simple minded. Politics is hard to make simple in a convincing way.

[Margaret Carpenter · Rating 1 out of 5]

ughhhh

[deadwelshkings☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars

This is good old fantasy I've longed for and which I definitely missed in my childhood. Lloyd Alexander took me once again into another world whose characters are complex, confusing and just plain human. Theo, Mickle and all the other's stole my heart.

It's epic, it's entertaining and I can't wait to continue the Westmark trilogy soon. I love everything about Lloyd Alexander's writing style and magnificent world building. It's like stepping right into another world and watching wonders unfold.

Ahh, I'm still under a spell and oh my, I really enjoyed the second half of the book and the final twist!

This was so good.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little adventure in fantasy :P Much more juvenile than I thought it would be. Very shot and junpy. Meh 2.5 stars
First time I've seen the name Zara in a book, I love that name <3

[conor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really formative series for me (and I don't think I realized quite how formative until I revisited them). Lots of fascinating and engaging ideas, interesting characters, and good plotting. Love love love this.

[Emilia Emilika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story. I was surprised to find this book in my local library, especially since I was under the impression that after the Prydain series Lloyd Alexander didn’t write much. It was a cute story with a little action thrown in. I enjoyed reading it.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't quite know what to expect from this book. I wanted to try it out, and I love Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series, but some of his other books have disappointed me a bit. Fortunately, Westmark was not one of them! The first in a trilogy, this book combines a 1700s-esque setting, an interesting plot, and three-dimensional characters to tell an engaging and original adventure story.

Cabbarus, the villain, is believable and intimidating without being over-the-top, and Theo is a well-developed protagonist who struggles to understand the sometimes hazy boundaries between good and evil, leading to some unusual themes. The side characters are enjoyable as well, with Count Las Bombas as the lovable con man, and Mickle as a scrappy, outspoken heroine. I do wish that Musket had gotten more character development, but maybe that will come out more later in the series.

Lloyd Alexander's writing here can also be very good, especially in the imagery. Just look at this terrific passage from chapter 12:
"The lodging house at the end of Strawmarket Street stood as one of the marvels of Freyborg: the marvel being that it stood at all. The spider webs in every corner appeared to be its strongest support. The narrow staircase lurched up three flights and stayed in place out of habit. Mold flowered from cracks in the walls. The roof shed its tiles like autumn leaves."

Westmark is not perfect; sometimes it was predictable, mostly in the "dead princess" subplot, but there was always something interesting happening. Westmark really has a great deal to recommend it. I really enjoyed this journey with Theo and his friends, and I look forward to seeing what the rest of the trilogy has in store!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Westmark is the first book in the three books series (It goes in this order, Westmark, The Kestral, and The Beggar Queen).
I loved the entire series and HIGHLY recommend them to anyone who loves a good fantasy, adventure and a sprinkle of romance! :)
Here's a brief synopsis:

A boy fleeing from criminal charges falls in with a charlatan, his dwarf attendant, and an urchin girl, travels with them about the kingdom of Westmark, and ultimately arrives at the palace where the king is grieving over the loss of his daughter. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher
Falling in with a roguish doctor, his dwarf attendant and an urchin girl, Theo embarks on an unforgettable adventure in the kingdom of Westmark.

[Nenya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was wonderful. How come I had never read this before!

btw, haven't finished the 2nd book yet. But just wanted to say, don't get too attached to Stock, Rina, Luther . They die :(. Rather grisly... but the death and torture was not gratuitous, and not drawn out for effect.

warning for the 3rd book, which I could not read; just skimmed through, specially when Witz (the queen's faithful captain/colonel from book2) dies. who else dies... let's see... Kasperl from book1. for a moment i thought Weasel, who gets shot at, has died as well, but no, shows up in a later scene.

[Sharla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this 3.5 stars. It wasn't amazing, but it was a solid read. Easy, lighthearted and fast-paced (really fast paced). It read more like a children's book, but despite the rushed pacing I found it extremely enjoyable and fun. The characters are what made me stick with the book, they're flamboyant and colorful. I'm excited to see how Lloyd develops them further in the next two books in the series.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISCUSSING THE MORALITY OF REVOLUTION, WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE

i went through a major alexander phase in middle school, and i read all of prydian and all of vesper holly and a lot else besides, but somehow i never read the westmark trilogy??? why??????? this is SO FANTASTIC.

[A.J. Vanderhorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reminds me why I like old books. Deft characterization, efficient, fantastical plot, a sweet and understated romance. People I’ll be glad to follow into book #2 of the series.

[Hali · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A scoundrel is no more clever than an honest man; he only works harder at it."

I love the way Westmark is written. There's a simple kind of charm in books like this one, and I'm always delighted to recognize that charm as I open a new story. The tone and the descriptions, the witty dialogue, all are handled incredibly well.

The characters are fun, their different takes on morality, and how the world should be are consistent and intriguing. Theo, in particular is very interesting to follow. Again and again you're made to understand that he could probably be incredibly horrible and violent, and again and again, you watch him decide to be a good man, shunning the harder part of himself, which he is often surprised to discover exists in the first place. Sometimes he shuns that part of himself almost to a fault. But that makes it all the more compelling to read.

Westmark is fun. Were I reading a longer book, I might complain about the pacing and the speed at which friendships and relationships develop, or the short explanations offered for certain things that happen, but I think those sort of things are handled exactly right for a book of this size and scope.
The twists were fairly obvious to me, and parts of the plot were certainly absurd, but not necessarily in a bad way. I enjoyed it immensely.

[DoRena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid contribution to the genre: many stock characters and tropes, but they were used well, giving this a fairy tale feel. I chose this as a spring break read, and it ended up being a sick-over-spring-break read, and it was just the sort of literary comfort food I needed.

[Analie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enter a world called Westmark where the king's ruthless advisor censors the press and schemes to take the throne. I was surprised at how such a short story could build so much suspense and intrigue. While lesser-known, it's still a worthwhile read and I plan to read the next book in the series.

[Jovana Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantasy series with no magic in it? This is a first.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You needn't put words in my mouth."
"You weren't putting them there yourself."
"All right. Will you come with me? What else happens, I don't care... All I want is--I don't want us to be apart any more."

"Find what you want. I will find you."

not the barely teenagers in this book being relationship goals and they ain't even in a relationship