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Pandemonium
Seifer Tombchewer, a peasant boy living in the macabre Darkling Realm, proves his worth when he is forced to impersonate the missing Prince Talon Pandemonium as diplomat, warrior, and Lord Defender of the Realm.
176 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2012
31 people are currently reading
1159 people want to read
About the author
Chris Wooding
81 books2,203 followersChris Wooding grew up in a small town in Leicestershire, where not much of anything happened. So he started to write novels. He was sixteen when he completed his first. He had an agent by eighteen. By nineteen he had signed his first book deal. When he left university he began to write full-time, and he has been doing it professionally all his adult life.
Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.
Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.
He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.
Chris lives in London.
Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.
Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.
He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.
Chris lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
November 24, 2012
Pandemonium is a great graphic novel series by Chris Wooding. I have just finished the first book and it was great. It is about an adventurous teen named Seifer Tombchewer, he is a great skullball player (a sport that in the book they play) and all of his friends are jealous of him. He is knocked out and taken to a castle, he is told that the prince is missing and they chose Seifer because he and the missing prince are 100 percent alike in looks (like identical twins). He has fooled the army, the family, but he doesnt know about fooling the prince's enemies. So far the palace is happy with his work but keep reading the series and you will find out. Pandemonium is a great book that I hope you will like if you read.
January 21, 2012
The Prince & The Pauper badly retold with poorly thought-through plotting, ridiculously named characters and hampered by poor Manga artwork. Lots of potential wasted in a book that feels tired and done before and done far better elsewhere. A real disappointment.
December 7, 2012
I totally loved this and almost wish it was a full length novel. I ordered it because it was recommended during conference I went to so I didn't know much about it. I picked it up as I was cataloging and started to skim through it to see what I could tell kids about it. A period later I was done and checking to see if the second volume is out yet. (It's not by the way.) I can't wait to book talk this one.
The characters are great Seifer is struggling to do the best he can in this situation as well as stay true to what he believes. Cassie is a strong female character who is often rescuing Seifer. They are both smart and funny and great role models.
There isn't much else to say except I loved just about everything about it. The only thing that could have made it better was more details. It reminded me a lot of TenNapel's books in that way. With Pandemonium as with his books I found myself wishing it was a full length novel because I just wanted MORE! I would have lost out on the beautiful illustrations though.
Verdict: If graphic novels are popular in your library you should definitely pick this one up. I love giving people graphic novels like these to prove that they really do have substance and that they do have a place in libraries. If you are just growing your graphic novels section this would be a good book of substance to get your hands on.
The characters are great Seifer is struggling to do the best he can in this situation as well as stay true to what he believes. Cassie is a strong female character who is often rescuing Seifer. They are both smart and funny and great role models.
There isn't much else to say except I loved just about everything about it. The only thing that could have made it better was more details. It reminded me a lot of TenNapel's books in that way. With Pandemonium as with his books I found myself wishing it was a full length novel because I just wanted MORE! I would have lost out on the beautiful illustrations though.
Verdict: If graphic novels are popular in your library you should definitely pick this one up. I love giving people graphic novels like these to prove that they really do have substance and that they do have a place in libraries. If you are just growing your graphic novels section this would be a good book of substance to get your hands on.
October 30, 2019
Picked up solely on the basis on that badass-looking cover, this is a middle-grade graphic novel (Scholastic's website lists it for ~grades 4-8) that's just a fun, light read.
The premise: small-town sports hero Seifer hopes to eventually explore the world. What he gets is knocked out, abducted to the capitol, and used as a stand-in for the missing Prince Talon, who could be his doppelganger. Seifer has to learn royal manners, history, norms, and relationships--quick--while they try to figure out where Talon is located.
The art is detailed enjoyable--sometimes stiff, but I honestly can't tell if that's a small flaw or just part of the style--and full-color. We get a decent amount of story for a book that's barely over 150 pages--by the end there's been a decent amount of character development, world-building, and plot reveals.
It's sad that Scholastic decided not to continue this as a series--the ending isn't a cliffhanger, but Talon hasn't been located by the end and there are several other things that are alluded to that don't get brought back up again: Seifer's potential romance, the history of the Darkling Realm they live in and the magical rifts between the lands, a single comment about "sometimes I think it would be easier just to tell him who he really is."
The premise: small-town sports hero Seifer hopes to eventually explore the world. What he gets is knocked out, abducted to the capitol, and used as a stand-in for the missing Prince Talon, who could be his doppelganger. Seifer has to learn royal manners, history, norms, and relationships--quick--while they try to figure out where Talon is located.
The art is detailed enjoyable--sometimes stiff, but I honestly can't tell if that's a small flaw or just part of the style--and full-color. We get a decent amount of story for a book that's barely over 150 pages--by the end there's been a decent amount of character development, world-building, and plot reveals.
It's sad that Scholastic decided not to continue this as a series--the ending isn't a cliffhanger, but Talon hasn't been located by the end and there are several other things that are alluded to that don't get brought back up again: Seifer's potential romance, the history of the Darkling Realm they live in and the magical rifts between the lands, a single comment about "sometimes I think it would be easier just to tell him who he really is."
August 29, 2014
GAAAHHH WHEN WILL THE NEXT BOOK COME OUT???!!!! I loveloveLOVED the first one, so much I went out and bought a second copy, one for friends to read (it gets beat up a bit) and another for myself. XD Chris Wooding, you are a genius, a rock-solid genius. <3
(I've read it like, 20 times.)
(I've read it like, 20 times.)
August 19, 2016
love the art, the story is to fast and no character development
December 1, 2018
This book/graphic novel was so much fun. I enjoyed every moment of it I just wish that it was longer and had a little more detail. It left us on such a cliffhanger that it leaves you with such excited anticipation that I want more. It's not a complex story line by any means. Its set up so you can really see what direction a sequel would head in that you can kind of guess what would happen but i still would want to read a sequel if it ever came out.
November 30, 2024
did i read this book because it was a quick read and i desperately want to meet my reading goal? yes. yes i did.
idk why or how but i have the uncorrected proof version of this book which means it’s a version that was made before final edits and coloring, so i wonder if the plot is any different in the pusblished version. i really like the book and think it would be cool as a series but i don’t think it was ever made into one, which is a shame since the book left off on a cliffhanger.
idk why or how but i have the uncorrected proof version of this book which means it’s a version that was made before final edits and coloring, so i wonder if the plot is any different in the pusblished version. i really like the book and think it would be cool as a series but i don’t think it was ever made into one, which is a shame since the book left off on a cliffhanger.
January 5, 2023
I reckon my class will really enjoy this. Secret prince, pretending to be someone else but doing it because it’s right. Intrigued to see if I can get my hands on the next one!
September 14, 2024
Still my favorite comic to re-read every now n then for nostalgia's sake, but it's a shame that there won’t be a sequel to this story 😭
November 19, 2012
Maybe I didn't look in the right place, but I haven't been able to find any confirmation on Chris Wooding's site that Pandemonium is the first volume of a series. [This was written before a comment on my blog pointed me towards info confirming that this was intended to be the first volume of a series, although it's not clear whether Scholastic will continue that series.] I hope it's not intended to be a standalone volume, because it really doesn't work as one. By the end of the volume, Prince Talon still hasn't been found, there are unanswered questions about Seifer's origins, there's more political unrest on the horizon, Seifer and Cassie's romance is still in its early stages, and Prince Talon's fiancee has just come home.
According to Amazon, Pandemonium is intended for readers ages 8 and up. I have a feeling this book would work better for readers who are closer to 8 years old than, say, their later teens or adulthood. As an adult, I found the humor to be a tad too goofy when mixed with all the political unrest. I would have liked it if the balance had tipped more in favor of seriousness, with the humor used to keep things from getting too dark. Instead, there was something over-the-top on almost every page: a giant house cat that wanted to eat Seifer, midgets that liked to cosh people, the Big-Face plague (it's exactly what it sounds like), knowledge of another culture demonstrated via loud burping, etc.
The story was extremely fast-paced. It felt like as soon as Seifer had dealt with one problem (or Cassie had dealt with it for him), he had another problem dumped on his lap. At first, it was an assassination attempt, but, by the end of the book, Seifer was leading thousands of people into battle. The romance with Cassie, too, was fast-paced. Cassie talked a bit about her past and spent some time showing Seifer how to use magika (I'm assuming the color art in the final version shows this better than the line art in my ARC), so I suppose Seifer had some time to get to know her, but the moments when he almost kissed her still felt a little rushed. Speaking of Cassie, I wish Wooding had spent more time developing her character - she had the potential to be awesome, but, after explaining her past and why she came to the palace, she became little more than Seifer's magical sidekick.
I know one of the ways a lot of readers, myself included, initially judge graphic novels is by their artwork. Unfortunately, since only the first 16 pages of my ARC are in color, and the finished work is supposed to be entirely in color, I can't really say too much about the artwork. Those first 16 pages look really excellent, with my primary criticism being that the action scenes could be a little better. Of course, part of my problem with the action scenes may be due to me being used to black-and-white manga and its copious motion lines. Amazon has a few pages available for preview (which appear to be bad quality, since my ARC pages look better than they do), so take a look and judge for yourself whether the artwork is to your taste.
Overall, I didn't dislike Pandemonium, and I'd love to see the full-color artwork in the finished book. However, I think I'd have liked the story more if either Seifer hadn't had to deal with impending war or the humor had been scaled back a bit. If this is the first volume in a series, I wouldn't mind reading future volumes – this book left me with lots of questions I'd like to know the answers to. Currently, I'm guessing that Seifer is Talon's twin, and the two were separated at birth.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
According to Amazon, Pandemonium is intended for readers ages 8 and up. I have a feeling this book would work better for readers who are closer to 8 years old than, say, their later teens or adulthood. As an adult, I found the humor to be a tad too goofy when mixed with all the political unrest. I would have liked it if the balance had tipped more in favor of seriousness, with the humor used to keep things from getting too dark. Instead, there was something over-the-top on almost every page: a giant house cat that wanted to eat Seifer, midgets that liked to cosh people, the Big-Face plague (it's exactly what it sounds like), knowledge of another culture demonstrated via loud burping, etc.
The story was extremely fast-paced. It felt like as soon as Seifer had dealt with one problem (or Cassie had dealt with it for him), he had another problem dumped on his lap. At first, it was an assassination attempt, but, by the end of the book, Seifer was leading thousands of people into battle. The romance with Cassie, too, was fast-paced. Cassie talked a bit about her past and spent some time showing Seifer how to use magika (I'm assuming the color art in the final version shows this better than the line art in my ARC), so I suppose Seifer had some time to get to know her, but the moments when he almost kissed her still felt a little rushed. Speaking of Cassie, I wish Wooding had spent more time developing her character - she had the potential to be awesome, but, after explaining her past and why she came to the palace, she became little more than Seifer's magical sidekick.
I know one of the ways a lot of readers, myself included, initially judge graphic novels is by their artwork. Unfortunately, since only the first 16 pages of my ARC are in color, and the finished work is supposed to be entirely in color, I can't really say too much about the artwork. Those first 16 pages look really excellent, with my primary criticism being that the action scenes could be a little better. Of course, part of my problem with the action scenes may be due to me being used to black-and-white manga and its copious motion lines. Amazon has a few pages available for preview (which appear to be bad quality, since my ARC pages look better than they do), so take a look and judge for yourself whether the artwork is to your taste.
Overall, I didn't dislike Pandemonium, and I'd love to see the full-color artwork in the finished book. However, I think I'd have liked the story more if either Seifer hadn't had to deal with impending war or the humor had been scaled back a bit. If this is the first volume in a series, I wouldn't mind reading future volumes – this book left me with lots of questions I'd like to know the answers to. Currently, I'm guessing that Seifer is Talon's twin, and the two were separated at birth.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
January 3, 2026
This book was unfortunately published in 2012, when YA graphic novels weren't super popular yet. Therefore, it's not very likely we'll ever get a sequel.
I'll never know what happened to the prince, if the relic is real or not, who the mysterious hooded guy is, whether or not the main character will successfully be able to bring his favorite sport into his new kingdom, or how long economy class mail takes!!!!
Am sad
Pandemonium Review
5/5 stars
This will be a spoiler free review. Onto the review!
I saw this graphic novel at a library I hadn’t been to before and decided to check it out because it was on display with a bunch of other dragon books. As it turns out, this graphic novel has nothing to do with dragons, and it’s also the start of a series that never got finished. I did enjoy it, but since the series is officially never going to continue, I feel really disappointed.
The main plot is this random kid gets kidnapped and taken to the royal palace because the prince went missing and he looks a lot like the prince. The castle staff plan to have him pass as the prince until they find out what happened to the real prince. There’s a lot of politics and court drama, which was really fun to read through the eyes of just some random kid from some random town who knows nothing about the world.
I wish this series had continued, because I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Unfortunately, this came out in 2012 and there hasn’t been any news on an update since then. I can’t recommend reading this graphic novel unless you want to be left with a giant cliffhanger. But if somebody wanted to take up the mantle of creating a fan continuation of this, either in graphic novel or regular book format, I would jump at the chance to read it. I just want to know what happened to the prince…and how long economy mail takes in this world. There are so many unanswered questions!
Have a nice day/night everyone!
I'll never know what happened to the prince, if the relic is real or not, who the mysterious hooded guy is, whether or not the main character will successfully be able to bring his favorite sport into his new kingdom, or how long economy class mail takes!!!!
Am sad
Pandemonium Review
5/5 stars
This will be a spoiler free review. Onto the review!
I saw this graphic novel at a library I hadn’t been to before and decided to check it out because it was on display with a bunch of other dragon books. As it turns out, this graphic novel has nothing to do with dragons, and it’s also the start of a series that never got finished. I did enjoy it, but since the series is officially never going to continue, I feel really disappointed.
The main plot is this random kid gets kidnapped and taken to the royal palace because the prince went missing and he looks a lot like the prince. The castle staff plan to have him pass as the prince until they find out what happened to the real prince. There’s a lot of politics and court drama, which was really fun to read through the eyes of just some random kid from some random town who knows nothing about the world.
I wish this series had continued, because I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Unfortunately, this came out in 2012 and there hasn’t been any news on an update since then. I can’t recommend reading this graphic novel unless you want to be left with a giant cliffhanger. But if somebody wanted to take up the mantle of creating a fan continuation of this, either in graphic novel or regular book format, I would jump at the chance to read it. I just want to know what happened to the prince…and how long economy mail takes in this world. There are so many unanswered questions!
Have a nice day/night everyone!
August 22, 2014
(Read/Reviewed in March 2012)
Genre: Comic Book, Middle Grade Fantasy
Rating: Middle Grade (violence, scary images)
Format Read: Hardcover (library)
Art: Full color; Cute and comical.
Story: Not relatively original, but they do a really good job with it. Lots of humor, action, a little romance, etc. - it has all the elements a good book needs.
Characters: Fun and easy to love, even if they are demons.
Comments: One quick glance told me I would love this, and I did. Comic books usually bore me because they are either pure action or endless dialogue, but this balances both beautifully. In fact, instead of calling it a comic book, I would say it's more "American manga" masquerading as a comic book. Chris Wooding tells a great story (although I can't make it through his novels), and this was no exception. I really hope there will be at least one sequel!
Favorite Bit: Giant Pink Demon Cat! XD
Recommend?: Definitely
Read It Again?: Yes
October 26, 2018
4.5 Stars
I picked this up because the cover looked interesting, and I really enjoyed it. I wasn't too sure about the very beginning, as I wasn't sure where it was heading (I picked this up blind, not even reading the back), but then I really like where it went.
Seifer wanted more with his life, and he certainly got it. I loved the way he handled the challenges thrown at him, and how he stayed true to himself even when others expected him to act more like the prince he was pretending to be. I also enjoyed the supporting characters (especially the sister and Carcassa).
That ending is such a cliffhanger, though! After doing a little bit of Googling, it turns out there's no sequel because the publisher isn't interested in one... I really hope the author is able to eventually come out with a sequel--whether that be publishing it, or just posting it online. I'll definitely be checking it out if it ever happens.
I picked this up because the cover looked interesting, and I really enjoyed it. I wasn't too sure about the very beginning, as I wasn't sure where it was heading (I picked this up blind, not even reading the back), but then I really like where it went.
Seifer wanted more with his life, and he certainly got it. I loved the way he handled the challenges thrown at him, and how he stayed true to himself even when others expected him to act more like the prince he was pretending to be. I also enjoyed the supporting characters (especially the sister and Carcassa).
That ending is such a cliffhanger, though! After doing a little bit of Googling, it turns out there's no sequel because the publisher isn't interested in one... I really hope the author is able to eventually come out with a sequel--whether that be publishing it, or just posting it online. I'll definitely be checking it out if it ever happens.
Read
September 30, 2016I guess if same face and voice but about real name that make me maybe mystery person or may change name before he miss or died then I still don't know about he just same face from prince but they still look like real prince but still kill him for fake prince.
June 23, 2023
I actually really enjoyed this book, easy to read and a beautiful art style. The end made me so curious. Sadly, I can't seem to find a second volume, so I don't think they've made another, but I'll be sure to google just to be 100% sure. Great book👍
November 13, 2014
more humor than I expected!
July 7, 2016
Amazing plot, I can't wait to read the next
March 22, 2023
I feel like this book leaves you with more questions than answers and a sequel was never written but I still love the story and the characters.
June 20, 2023
a perpetual favourite
September 23, 2023
so so so so so so good
January 8, 2024
The art is so nice. So sad there is no continuation
February 4, 2024
It's been a while since I read this, but I'm still so heartbroken over the fact that the rest of the series isn't being published ): the cliffhanger it ended on still kills me inside
December 11, 2019
This was a solid graphic novel all around, and it was very enjoyable compared to most other ones I've read, since the story was compact in an expansive way. Wow, that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one.
The plot reminiscent of the Princess and the Pauper wasn't terribly unique, but the main character and his dynamic with the secondary characters were entertaining to say the least. Lumbago and his in depth descriptions of how he would go about killing the protagonist were hilarious in a sick sarcastic way. And yes, Lumbago is the guy's name. Not just that, but there's a Princess Sarcoma and Lady Asphyxia too. I can understand how this might annoy some people, but I just found it absurd in the best way.
Absurdity is honestly the best word I can use to describe this book. The world building especially was very fleshed out, more fleshed out than usual in graphic novels, and some of the occurrences in this world were, as I stated, just plain and outright absurd.
The art was your typical anime-inspired style, but it had some unique elements here and there regarding character design and speech bubbles which I appreciated.
Overall, I would recommend if you're looking for a quick fantasy story, but be warned, the story is as of yet unfinished with no sequel in sight unfortunately.
The plot reminiscent of the Princess and the Pauper wasn't terribly unique, but the main character and his dynamic with the secondary characters were entertaining to say the least. Lumbago and his in depth descriptions of how he would go about killing the protagonist were hilarious in a sick sarcastic way. And yes, Lumbago is the guy's name. Not just that, but there's a Princess Sarcoma and Lady Asphyxia too. I can understand how this might annoy some people, but I just found it absurd in the best way.
Absurdity is honestly the best word I can use to describe this book. The world building especially was very fleshed out, more fleshed out than usual in graphic novels, and some of the occurrences in this world were, as I stated, just plain and outright absurd.
The art was your typical anime-inspired style, but it had some unique elements here and there regarding character design and speech bubbles which I appreciated.
Overall, I would recommend if you're looking for a quick fantasy story, but be warned, the story is as of yet unfinished with no sequel in sight unfortunately.
December 17, 2017
This was an okay graphic novel aimed at the middle grade and young adult crowd. I enjoyed the setting and the illustration. The story and dialogue was only so-so.
This is all about a young man named Seifer who is a local skullball champ; he is unsatisfied with his life and wants more. Then he is kidnapped and forced to step in as the Prince of the realm since the Prince is missing and Seifer looks a lot like him. There is some mystery behind Seifer’s past but we never really learn about that in this book.
Everyone is surprised when Seifer ends up being a more benevolent ruler than the missing Prince Talon. However, Seifer can’t fool Talon’s enemies.
The illustration was well done; very colorful and easy to follow. The story was kind of bland and the dialogue felt stiff. This is just the beginning of a story which was apparently never finished (I was not able to find information about any future books in this series).
Overall this was okay but not great. The setting and illustration are well done; the story and dialogue are just okay. Considering this is only the first part of an unfinished story, I wouldn’t recommend.
This is all about a young man named Seifer who is a local skullball champ; he is unsatisfied with his life and wants more. Then he is kidnapped and forced to step in as the Prince of the realm since the Prince is missing and Seifer looks a lot like him. There is some mystery behind Seifer’s past but we never really learn about that in this book.
Everyone is surprised when Seifer ends up being a more benevolent ruler than the missing Prince Talon. However, Seifer can’t fool Talon’s enemies.
The illustration was well done; very colorful and easy to follow. The story was kind of bland and the dialogue felt stiff. This is just the beginning of a story which was apparently never finished (I was not able to find information about any future books in this series).
Overall this was okay but not great. The setting and illustration are well done; the story and dialogue are just okay. Considering this is only the first part of an unfinished story, I wouldn’t recommend.
May 9, 2018
The reader will be engrossed by Seifer, a simple peasant who is forced to act like the lost prince Talon. Wooding’s novel follows Seifer as he learns to impersonate Prince Talon and command the forces of Clan Pandemonium. Seifer has a hard time acting like the prince because of their differing personalities.
One thing that I liked about the graphic novel was how likable the characters are. While reading I felt sympathy for Seifer and rooted for him when he had to face challenges.
The graphic novel uses a lot of imagery combined with conflict between the characters to make an interesting and compelling story. One of the conflicts is between Seifer and the Royal Adviser. The adviser constantly yells at Seifer when he does something that the old prince would not have done. This is especially shown in the pictures with his over exaggerated expressions.
I would rate this graphic novel five out of five stars and recommend it to people who like interesting and likable characters.
One thing that I liked about the graphic novel was how likable the characters are. While reading I felt sympathy for Seifer and rooted for him when he had to face challenges.
The graphic novel uses a lot of imagery combined with conflict between the characters to make an interesting and compelling story. One of the conflicts is between Seifer and the Royal Adviser. The adviser constantly yells at Seifer when he does something that the old prince would not have done. This is especially shown in the pictures with his over exaggerated expressions.
I would rate this graphic novel five out of five stars and recommend it to people who like interesting and likable characters.
January 7, 2020
A popular sports player who lives isolated in the middle of the mountains gets picked by the royal family to take the place of a missing military figure, and he has to learn to be convincing.
The book is really good, the fantasy world is really unique and the story is good, the fact that he looks exactly like the royal figure is never explained but if the author makes another book of this I'm excited to see where that can go.
I give it 4 stars for being a good book, its no harry potter series or anything but its really good so I recommend it.
The moral is to be your best self because of the fact that the new replacement of the royal military leader is much better at leading then the real missing military figure, and everyone in the royal family says it a lot at the end.
The book is really good, the fantasy world is really unique and the story is good, the fact that he looks exactly like the royal figure is never explained but if the author makes another book of this I'm excited to see where that can go.
I give it 4 stars for being a good book, its no harry potter series or anything but its really good so I recommend it.
The moral is to be your best self because of the fact that the new replacement of the royal military leader is much better at leading then the real missing military figure, and everyone in the royal family says it a lot at the end.
July 6, 2021
2.5 stars, rounded up
This was fine. The art was just fine (sort of felt like it was ripped out of a 'How to Draw Manga' book). The story itself was fine. Boy looks like the prince, prince is missing, boy replaces prince and ends up being a better prince than him despite having absolutely no training and based purely on him being a better person. Pretty tropey. It's also very young and very goofy. Don't expect any serious commentary on anything, really. So in that regard it's light and fun. This was also clearly intended to be a volume one and left basically the entire plot hanging so there's really no resolution or closure at all and it does suffer for that. Ultimately kind of forgettable (which might be why it never got a sequel).
This was fine. The art was just fine (sort of felt like it was ripped out of a 'How to Draw Manga' book). The story itself was fine. Boy looks like the prince, prince is missing, boy replaces prince and ends up being a better prince than him despite having absolutely no training and based purely on him being a better person. Pretty tropey. It's also very young and very goofy. Don't expect any serious commentary on anything, really. So in that regard it's light and fun. This was also clearly intended to be a volume one and left basically the entire plot hanging so there's really no resolution or closure at all and it does suffer for that. Ultimately kind of forgettable (which might be why it never got a sequel).
December 19, 2017
This book was recommended to me by my younger cousin and no offense to her, but I wasn’t necessarily expecting to enjoy it. I’m glad to inform her though that I actually really liked “Pandemonium” and am quite sad my local library doesn’t have more of the series, if more was ever released. This series is truly funny, the combination of dry wit and an endearing art style drawing you in right away. A lot of the plot is pretty obvious, but it doesn’t detract from any enjoyment. For a pretty simple, straightforward setup I’m very interested in this world and would love to know more about it. All in all, a pretty good recommendation.
July 27, 2020
[spoiler free]
I used to read this book every single time I went to the library for YEARS. I haven't seen re-read it in who knows how long but I can still remember just how much I loved it. The world-building, the tongue in cheek names, the cool but also cute illustration style (kudos to Cassandra Diaz)- man, I love this book. The characters and setting are just SO enticing. The ending is terrific as well, set up for more events to come, but unfortunately (and this is a very heavy UNFORTUNATELY) I just discovered that there probably won't be any more Pandemonium books and now my heart is broken. Please read this book.
I used to read this book every single time I went to the library for YEARS. I haven't seen re-read it in who knows how long but I can still remember just how much I loved it. The world-building, the tongue in cheek names, the cool but also cute illustration style (kudos to Cassandra Diaz)- man, I love this book. The characters and setting are just SO enticing. The ending is terrific as well, set up for more events to come, but unfortunately (and this is a very heavy UNFORTUNATELY) I just discovered that there probably won't be any more Pandemonium books and now my heart is broken. Please read this book.
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