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The Lost Kingdom
A remarkable adventure by award-winning author Matthew J. Kirby brings a fantastical American West filled with secrets and spies and terrifying creatures to vivid life. In this extraordinary adventure story, Billy Bartram, his father, and a secret society of philosophers and scientists venture into the American wilderness in search of the lost people of the Welsh Prince Madoc, seeking aid in the coming war against the French. Traveling in a flying airship, the members of the expedition find their lives frequently endangered in the untamed American West by terrifying creatures, a party of French soldiers hot on their trail, and the constant threat of traitors and spies. Billy will face hazards greater than he can ever imagine as, together with his father, he gets caught up in the fight for the biggest prize of America. THE LOST KINGDOM is an epic journey filled with marvelous exploits, courage and intrigue, and a bold reimagining of a mythical America. Matthew J. Kirby brings his signature storytelling prowess and superb craft to this astonishing story of fathers and sons, the beginnings of a nation, and wonder-filled adventure.
348 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2013
26 people are currently reading
1600 people want to read
About the author
Matthew J. Kirby
29 books464 followersMatthew Kirby was born in Utah, and grew up in Maryland, California, and Hawaii. As an undergraduate he majored in history, and then went on to pursue an M.S. in school psychology. For ten months out of the year he works with students, and during the rest of the year he writes. He and his wife currently live in northern Utah.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
August 14, 2013
Here’s why I didn’t want to read The Lost Kingdom: I’m not that into historical fiction and I’m not that into fantasy. But mostly, I didn’t want to read it because it’s thick. I have a job to do. I need to help kids want to read. That means getting the right book into the hands of the right student. The shorter the text, the more books I can expose myself to. Plus, generally speaking, the student who can access 300+ page fantasy novels doesn’t need too much of my help finding books.
There were only two reasons I did pick up The Lost Kingdom. The first, I’ve been meaning to read Matthew Kirby’s for some time. I’ve heard great things from both students and adults. Second, killer cover.
While I was impressed by the pacing at the onset of the story, I wasn’t compelled. Granted, I mentioned my tastes earlier. Before I even realized it, I was half way through the story. As an adult, I know enough to try new things. Even if I don’t bring the best attitude into a story, there’s nothing more satisfying than being surprised by enjoying something you didn’t expect you would. But here’s the thing; I was certainly enjoying the story enough to keep going, I still wasn’t compelled.
I had just finished reading Kathy Appelt, Holly Black, and Neil Gaiman’s new books. These are three stories where writing takes center stage. You can help but savor the way these folks articulate an idea. So there I am, halfway through a 300 page fantasy, trying to figure out why it felt smoother than three books I was utterly excited to read.
In The Lost Kingdom, Billy accompanies his father along with other members of a secret society as they venture into the frontier seeking out a legendary tribe descended from a Welsh prince. Taking advantage of an elaborate flying machine, the group representing the colony of Philadelphia is seeking to ally with the Welsh before the imminent conflict with the French.
I began to notice how much I enjoyed taking breaks from work to continue reading the story. Even though at this point, there was really only one aspect that was compelling me and I didn’t think it was something that would have pushed many kids to read for. At the beginning of the book, Billy’s father makes his opposition to slavery clear. But a short time later, makes his distain for Native Americans even more apparent. I wanted to know how exactly this aspect was going to play out. As the story developed, this issue gently crept into spotlight, as Billy tries tries to reconcile how he could detest a part of the man he admired so much.
As the Lost Kingdom drew towards the end, and Billy’s father helps to save the Native American scout accompanying the journey, I worried that we were in for a Cay-esque revelation- given how much I hate your people, I’m shocked you’re that you’re actually not so bad. While there are several confrontations over the subject throughout the book, Kirby, makes a great choice not to bring the conflict to resolution. Billy understands why his father holds a bigoted view, he stands up for what he believes, and although he almost decides to forsake his father altogether, makes the choice to accept him for who he is.
I’m going to assume this aspect of the story will be divisive factor for many. So much of me wants to see the bigot depicted as either having a change of heart or being the bad guy. But I think this story does a very respectful job of presenting kids with a very human character of his time and place. Especially when it comes to a parent, it’s important that kids see that they can develop their own opposing views, make their opposition known, but still maintain a relationship.
So the author’s note. Wow. Kirby makes no bones about it, he’s telling a story. He’s pulled elements of fact but this book is not a lesson, which it never feels like. One of those elements, were the main characters- William and John Bartman, who’s real life opposing view points are chronicled in The Natures of John and William Bartman. Author’s notes have really developed in children’s literature, especially with regards to non-fiction. Kudos to Matthew Kirby and Scholastic for recognizing their relevance in fictional tales as well.
There’s a lot of truly interesting pieces to Lost Kingdom. The characters are enjoyable, the historical context provide a great back drop, and the fantastical elements are quite fun. The most interesting aspect really turned out to be the writing. The story just moves and moves and moves. There isn’t energy wasted on intricate descriptions of settings, or expansive scenes that trudge along. This is a true showcase of how good writing can take a back seat to the sheer imagination of a story.
This is going to be a great book for those readers with newly secured skills. It’s an accessible, engaging tale that has a little something for a range of audiences. I would especially recommend this to any dads looking for something to read aloud to their sons. The easy nature of the writing makes it just right for nights after long days of school and work.
November 30, 2024
Growing up in the American Colonies, Billy wants to be a botanist just like his father. When Benjamin Franklin sends them on an expedition to the Ohio frontier, Billy is excited to be included with his father in the team of scientists and philosophers. Their mission is to find a lost Welsh colony that may have traveled to the Americas centuries before. With war with the French on the horizon, they will need allies on the frontier.
I loved this adventure! They travel on a really cool aeroship that is actually modeled on a real gismo that was invented around this time. The plot moves very quickly with spies and a stowaway and storms and mad scientists. There is this massive bear that is tracking them through the wilderness. We also get a little taste of the mystical as they tell legends about the Fountain of Youth and the mysterious Welsh colony that disappeared.
The setting is so cool in the American colonies when the British were gearing up for war with the French. We even meet George Washington when he was just a young captain in the army. At the back of the book there is a note from the author that explains that many of the characters, places, and inventions were actually taken from history. There really was a boy named Billy and his father who were both botanists!
The expedition has a Native American guide named Andrew, but Billy's father warns him never to trust any Indians. Billy is confused, and wonders why his father has such a strong prejudice against all the native tribes. As Billy gets to know Andrew, he is more and more ashamed of his father's blatant racism. Billy knows his father is a good man, but he holds a lot of anger and hurt in his heart.
Billy and his father have a lot of incredible character development! I absolutely loved this storyline that dealt with some serious issues in a gracious and caring way. The themes of family connectedness and independence were beautifully explored. We are connected to our families, but we are also separate from them; just as we are connected to everyone in the world, but also separate. We are all different. We are all the same.
I'm amazed at how many deep themes this book explores, but the adventure is fun and light-hearted as well. There is a character who constantly calls for peace, but when war is on the doorstep, they dive into the fight and a bloodlust is unleashed inside them. Then they have to reexamine all their beliefs about peace and they realize how precious it is.
There is a character who is obsessed with their scientific research and they don't care who they put in danger as long as they can keep doing research.
The stowaway puts everyone at risk and then blames themselves over and over, wallowing in guilt for their mistakes. They have to learn to forgive themselves.
We get themes of peace and war, family love, forgiveness, tolerance, and our own mortality.
I enjoyed this book so much! A rollicking adventure!
I loved this adventure! They travel on a really cool aeroship that is actually modeled on a real gismo that was invented around this time. The plot moves very quickly with spies and a stowaway and storms and mad scientists. There is this massive bear that is tracking them through the wilderness. We also get a little taste of the mystical as they tell legends about the Fountain of Youth and the mysterious Welsh colony that disappeared.
The setting is so cool in the American colonies when the British were gearing up for war with the French. We even meet George Washington when he was just a young captain in the army. At the back of the book there is a note from the author that explains that many of the characters, places, and inventions were actually taken from history. There really was a boy named Billy and his father who were both botanists!
The expedition has a Native American guide named Andrew, but Billy's father warns him never to trust any Indians. Billy is confused, and wonders why his father has such a strong prejudice against all the native tribes. As Billy gets to know Andrew, he is more and more ashamed of his father's blatant racism. Billy knows his father is a good man, but he holds a lot of anger and hurt in his heart.
Billy and his father have a lot of incredible character development! I absolutely loved this storyline that dealt with some serious issues in a gracious and caring way. The themes of family connectedness and independence were beautifully explored. We are connected to our families, but we are also separate from them; just as we are connected to everyone in the world, but also separate. We are all different. We are all the same.
I'm amazed at how many deep themes this book explores, but the adventure is fun and light-hearted as well. There is a character who constantly calls for peace, but when war is on the doorstep, they dive into the fight and a bloodlust is unleashed inside them. Then they have to reexamine all their beliefs about peace and they realize how precious it is.
There is a character who is obsessed with their scientific research and they don't care who they put in danger as long as they can keep doing research.
The stowaway puts everyone at risk and then blames themselves over and over, wallowing in guilt for their mistakes. They have to learn to forgive themselves.
We get themes of peace and war, family love, forgiveness, tolerance, and our own mortality.
I enjoyed this book so much! A rollicking adventure!
July 5, 2013
Note: An advanced reader copy was provided by the publisher.
Review originally published at Views from the Tesseract: http://shanshad1.wordpress.com/2013/0...
The last time I encountered a story that used the legend of Prince Madoc as inspiration for the story, it was A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle. Apparently, it was a popular legend in the Colonial days. The story goes that long before Columbus ”discovered” America, a Welsh prince came to the shores of North America with some of his people. Rumors of Native Americans speaking Welsh and a lost kingdom of Welshmen fueled all sorts of searches and offers of reward for their discovery. Though in our reality, nothing ever came of the wild story, writers have taken the threads of the legend to inspire their own fantastic stories. Matthew J. Kirby takes his readers into a an alternate Colonial America where the threat of the French and Indian war is looming and a remarkable group of men have devised a plan . . .
Billy Bartram is about to undertake the adventure of a lifetime. His father, naturalist John Bertram and the renowned Benjamin Franklin are anxious that the French are ready to make their move and threaten the British colonies. In order to get the jump on the French and try and secure allies against the threat, a singular group of men from the Philosopher’s Society will embark on a flying ship in search of a legend. Billy can scarcely believe his luck at being included in the mission as his father’s assistant, but things don’t go quite as imagined for the intrepid explorers. Dangerous wildlife, violent storms and the whims of the crew make a risky journey into a deadly one, while the French are closing in. Kirby’s story is one of adventure, myth and fantasy woven into the backdrop of actual history.
Kirby isn’t shy about rewriting whole parts of the U.S. history for this story. While we meet characters of historical context (most notably Ben Franklin and Washington) many of the inventions and the frontier creatures that our explorers meet are not consistent with that historical period. The author has made good use of a variety of myths, from the Philosopher’s Stone, to the Fountain of Youth and paired this with wild legends of a Welsh kingdom in the frontier lands. Kirby’s landscape is reminiscent of the Frontier Magic series by Patricia Wrede, but without the slower pacing, quieter action and extra detail. While the setting is critical to the story and its outcome, the author’s main focus is his characters and the interactions between them.
Billy is our protagonist in this tale, and it is his journey, both physical and emotional, that readers are meant to follow. At the outset of our story, Billy is in utter awe of his father and has no doubt he wants to be like him. But as the journey gets underway, our hero quickly discovers sides to his father that he had not expected . . . and areas where they don’t agree. The changing interaction between Billy and his father is one of the main plot arcs in the novel. Where the alternate history and steampunk styled inventions might not be familiar to middle grade readers, Billy’s struggle to come to grips with who he is and how that differs from his parent will be one most kids can latch on to and identify with in some part. The other crew members on our flying ship are also vividly imagined, and complex individuals with conflicting motives and interests. My one disappointment in the character building has to remain with the single female character that is present in this story. I don’t believe I’m spoiling much by mentioning young Jane, since she’s clearly pictured on the cover of the book. Jane’s character never seems to fully take shape in the story and there is at least one glaring moment where her ineptitude puts the entire mission at risk. It may be I was more bothered by this than a younger reader would be, but my overall feeling is that Jane is used to conveniently forward the plot and give our character a friend of similar age without giving her enough of her own personality.
This book moves forward at a fairly fast clip that keeps us moving from crisis to crisis in fairly short order. While my adult self does tend to prefer a more leisurely pace for storytelling and events, this may work well for younger readers who prefer the constant action. The breathless adventure with its historical fantasy flavor manages to pack quite a punch for such a short book. Obviously there’s more than a little “steampunk” to this story (it’s more good evidence that steampunk has made its way firmly into the middle grade fiction) the flying ship on the cover of the book, the explorations of electricity, the creative weapons and inventions of our philosopher crew. The author clearly feels at home with the genre and is willing to explore it, with quite delightful results. I was thoroughly entertained . Reader’s who enjoyed the Matthew Kirby’s The Clockwork Three (2010) and Icefall (2011) should definitely check this one out.
Review originally published at Views from the Tesseract: http://shanshad1.wordpress.com/2013/0...
The last time I encountered a story that used the legend of Prince Madoc as inspiration for the story, it was A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle. Apparently, it was a popular legend in the Colonial days. The story goes that long before Columbus ”discovered” America, a Welsh prince came to the shores of North America with some of his people. Rumors of Native Americans speaking Welsh and a lost kingdom of Welshmen fueled all sorts of searches and offers of reward for their discovery. Though in our reality, nothing ever came of the wild story, writers have taken the threads of the legend to inspire their own fantastic stories. Matthew J. Kirby takes his readers into a an alternate Colonial America where the threat of the French and Indian war is looming and a remarkable group of men have devised a plan . . .
Billy Bartram is about to undertake the adventure of a lifetime. His father, naturalist John Bertram and the renowned Benjamin Franklin are anxious that the French are ready to make their move and threaten the British colonies. In order to get the jump on the French and try and secure allies against the threat, a singular group of men from the Philosopher’s Society will embark on a flying ship in search of a legend. Billy can scarcely believe his luck at being included in the mission as his father’s assistant, but things don’t go quite as imagined for the intrepid explorers. Dangerous wildlife, violent storms and the whims of the crew make a risky journey into a deadly one, while the French are closing in. Kirby’s story is one of adventure, myth and fantasy woven into the backdrop of actual history.
Kirby isn’t shy about rewriting whole parts of the U.S. history for this story. While we meet characters of historical context (most notably Ben Franklin and Washington) many of the inventions and the frontier creatures that our explorers meet are not consistent with that historical period. The author has made good use of a variety of myths, from the Philosopher’s Stone, to the Fountain of Youth and paired this with wild legends of a Welsh kingdom in the frontier lands. Kirby’s landscape is reminiscent of the Frontier Magic series by Patricia Wrede, but without the slower pacing, quieter action and extra detail. While the setting is critical to the story and its outcome, the author’s main focus is his characters and the interactions between them.
Billy is our protagonist in this tale, and it is his journey, both physical and emotional, that readers are meant to follow. At the outset of our story, Billy is in utter awe of his father and has no doubt he wants to be like him. But as the journey gets underway, our hero quickly discovers sides to his father that he had not expected . . . and areas where they don’t agree. The changing interaction between Billy and his father is one of the main plot arcs in the novel. Where the alternate history and steampunk styled inventions might not be familiar to middle grade readers, Billy’s struggle to come to grips with who he is and how that differs from his parent will be one most kids can latch on to and identify with in some part. The other crew members on our flying ship are also vividly imagined, and complex individuals with conflicting motives and interests. My one disappointment in the character building has to remain with the single female character that is present in this story. I don’t believe I’m spoiling much by mentioning young Jane, since she’s clearly pictured on the cover of the book. Jane’s character never seems to fully take shape in the story and there is at least one glaring moment where her ineptitude puts the entire mission at risk. It may be I was more bothered by this than a younger reader would be, but my overall feeling is that Jane is used to conveniently forward the plot and give our character a friend of similar age without giving her enough of her own personality.
This book moves forward at a fairly fast clip that keeps us moving from crisis to crisis in fairly short order. While my adult self does tend to prefer a more leisurely pace for storytelling and events, this may work well for younger readers who prefer the constant action. The breathless adventure with its historical fantasy flavor manages to pack quite a punch for such a short book. Obviously there’s more than a little “steampunk” to this story (it’s more good evidence that steampunk has made its way firmly into the middle grade fiction) the flying ship on the cover of the book, the explorations of electricity, the creative weapons and inventions of our philosopher crew. The author clearly feels at home with the genre and is willing to explore it, with quite delightful results. I was thoroughly entertained . Reader’s who enjoyed the Matthew Kirby’s The Clockwork Three (2010) and Icefall (2011) should definitely check this one out.
December 4, 2019
Most of this book was kind of mediocre adventure in the faux-Jules Verne vein - three stars. But then there were the modern-day values peeping through - we get (presumably) the author's progressive views on the environment, race, colonialism, etc. put into the minds and mouths of the characters who are supposed living in the 1750s - some of whom (including the protagonist William Bartram) are actual historical figures. So that's down to two stars. What really offended, however, was the representation of children and their beliefs and behavior. Like a number of books, we get the "adults are so wrong, they need to be saved by kids" theme throughout. It is strongly implied that readers should admire Billy because we are told that "the bravest thing" he does is to stand up to his father and disobey him. There's a bit of girl power nonsense with stowaway Jane (apparently there just to appease modern readers) who is just as bad. Even after her disobedience results in major disaster, we get b.s. placating of "It wasn't your fault. You didn't mean for it to happen." So what? Of course it was her fault! If she simply followed directions, she wouldn't have gotten her father captured. Just ridiculous. The book seems to be encouraging this awful behavior. So one star.
Other problems include a bizarre surprise ending that moves this out of the speculative historical sci-fi and more into fantasy and an utterly unbelievable monster animal that shares pretty much nothing with actual animals (again fantasy). There were ridiculous things like the entire expedition going out unarmed into the wilderness. No actual person in the 1750s would have done this. Just silly. A lot of the science was flawed too, just kind of wishful thinking.
I had high hopes for this as it began - historical fiction set in the American frontier during colonial days? Sounds great! Using some extrapolations from science history to morph into sci-fi? Excellent! With actual historical figures (both famous and not-so-famous)? Wonderful! Too bad it failed so miserably.
Audio narrator was below average. Didn't like his accents (French and Welsh) at all - and heavens, what Frenchman screams "Silence!" and pronounces it with a long i?! Also, apparently the book has an author's note that addresses the history behind the story - the audiobook stupidly omits it entirely.
Glancing at the print version, I see that it has been published in "stupid" format, where it seems that every other "paragraph" consists of a single "sentence" starting with "But".
"But not my father. Not at this time of night." "But not anymore." "But he never even looked back." - all found just in chapter one. It's a challenge to find paragraphs of more than two sentences. I swear they must have sub-editors whose job it is to take perfectly fine sentences and chop them into phrases so that no one is forced to encounter anything requiring a comma or semicolon.
Other problems include a bizarre surprise ending that moves this out of the speculative historical sci-fi and more into fantasy and an utterly unbelievable monster animal that shares pretty much nothing with actual animals (again fantasy). There were ridiculous things like the entire expedition going out unarmed into the wilderness. No actual person in the 1750s would have done this. Just silly. A lot of the science was flawed too, just kind of wishful thinking.
I had high hopes for this as it began - historical fiction set in the American frontier during colonial days? Sounds great! Using some extrapolations from science history to morph into sci-fi? Excellent! With actual historical figures (both famous and not-so-famous)? Wonderful! Too bad it failed so miserably.
Audio narrator was below average. Didn't like his accents (French and Welsh) at all - and heavens, what Frenchman screams "Silence!" and pronounces it with a long i?! Also, apparently the book has an author's note that addresses the history behind the story - the audiobook stupidly omits it entirely.
Glancing at the print version, I see that it has been published in "stupid" format, where it seems that every other "paragraph" consists of a single "sentence" starting with "But".
"But not my father. Not at this time of night." "But not anymore." "But he never even looked back." - all found just in chapter one. It's a challenge to find paragraphs of more than two sentences. I swear they must have sub-editors whose job it is to take perfectly fine sentences and chop them into phrases so that no one is forced to encounter anything requiring a comma or semicolon.
December 5, 2013
When I heard about this book I thought, SHUT UP. Somebody else is fascinated by the lost Welsh colony? And they've beaten me to the punch writing a book about it?! And it's my friend Matt?! THAT BAD MATT. Because as soon as I hear Matt's name, I know that the book will be EXCELLENT, and completely different from what I imagined, and that I will love it, and that I will not be able to stay angry at Matt for using an idea I might have wanted to write about some day because he's just so darn nice and his books are just so darn good.
This book is very different from what you're thinking. Sure, it's got some kind of flying ship on the cover. Sure, it's about trying to find a mythical kingdom founded by a Welsh prince ages before Columbus. But it's not steampunk. It's not fantasy. It's based on historical fact. Most of the characters are based on real people, and the airship is modeled after a real airship designed by an Italian scientist. This is historical fiction, done with great style, shall we say. Much like ICEFALL, another awesome, awesome book by Matt. Matt is doing some unusual things with his book. In a market flooded with fantasy books, he's writing old-fashioned adventure stories, but there's nothing musty or boring about them. His books are bright and exciting and timeless.
This book is very different from what you're thinking. Sure, it's got some kind of flying ship on the cover. Sure, it's about trying to find a mythical kingdom founded by a Welsh prince ages before Columbus. But it's not steampunk. It's not fantasy. It's based on historical fact. Most of the characters are based on real people, and the airship is modeled after a real airship designed by an Italian scientist. This is historical fiction, done with great style, shall we say. Much like ICEFALL, another awesome, awesome book by Matt. Matt is doing some unusual things with his book. In a market flooded with fantasy books, he's writing old-fashioned adventure stories, but there's nothing musty or boring about them. His books are bright and exciting and timeless.
April 16, 2019
Great story and wonderful to either introduce children, 8 and up, or share a love of children. Unusual and unique storyline. A fun mix of historical fiction (Ben Franklin) and fantasy. Family friendly audio great for all ages.
March 3, 2017
Fantastic mid-grade fantasy, a must read for boys and girls in middle school. A fantastic amount of research went into The Lost Kingdom. Having spent almost a year researching Madoc myself. Coming of Age would be another way of describing this book.
I recommend reading it.
I recommend reading it.
June 15, 2016
'The Lost Kingdom' by Matthew J. Kirby combines a young adult novel with an interesting setting. I thought it was a lot of fun to read.
The book takes place in a Pre-Revolutionary War America, and includes the kind of fantastical inventions usually seen in steampunk. Billy Bartram sets out on an adventure with his father, who is part of a secret society of philosophers and scientists. They are looking for the lost city of a Welsh prince named Madoc, and they hope he can help them in their war against the French. They encounter strange creatures and find a stowaway. Along the way, they pick up a guide and Billy learns that his father has prejudice against the native people, but he doesn't know why. They also discover that a traitor in their midst may make the journey fail.
It was a fun read. I really enjoyed the setting of a colonial America with gadgets. The characters were mostly interesting. There were some suprises along the way and I wouldn't mind reading more books in the series.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Scholastic Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
The book takes place in a Pre-Revolutionary War America, and includes the kind of fantastical inventions usually seen in steampunk. Billy Bartram sets out on an adventure with his father, who is part of a secret society of philosophers and scientists. They are looking for the lost city of a Welsh prince named Madoc, and they hope he can help them in their war against the French. They encounter strange creatures and find a stowaway. Along the way, they pick up a guide and Billy learns that his father has prejudice against the native people, but he doesn't know why. They also discover that a traitor in their midst may make the journey fail.
It was a fun read. I really enjoyed the setting of a colonial America with gadgets. The characters were mostly interesting. There were some suprises along the way and I wouldn't mind reading more books in the series.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Scholastic Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Read
June 14, 2019"A fun and surprising read!" says my ten-year-old. There are many genres packed into this well paced book: Steam punk, history, adventure, realistic family relationships, it's pretty filled with twists and turns.
It is a slightly thicker read (AR 4.3 points 11.0, Lexile 620) which might present a challenge for some readers.
Fans may also enjoy "The Mark of the Dragonfly" by Jaleigh Johnson, or "The Boundless" by Kenneth Oppel. - Alexis S.
It is a slightly thicker read (AR 4.3 points 11.0, Lexile 620) which might present a challenge for some readers.
Fans may also enjoy "The Mark of the Dragonfly" by Jaleigh Johnson, or "The Boundless" by Kenneth Oppel. - Alexis S.
June 12, 2020
This is one of the best books I've ever read (herd, I had the audiobook)! I really wanted to recommend it to someone, but I couldn't find anyone to recommend it to. The adventure is amazing, the suspense is great, a little scary, but I would totally recommend this to anyone whom likes adventure books.
August 25, 2013
4.5 It would have been 5 if not for Jane.
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I didn't know much about The Lost Kingdom before starting it. I never read the synopsis. I knew Matthew Kirby wrote it, and as I quite liked Icefall that was all I needed. I wish I went into more books this way. Not having any idea what the story even is, I'm always pleasantly surprised with what I get. This one is a great read from start to finish.
Set just before the beginning of the French and Indian War, The Lost Kingdom is historical fantasy that combines real life historical figures, science fiction, and fantasy. Kirby deftly wove these three strands together. There was a moment at the end where I thought maybe a little too much was thrown in there, but this is a minor glitch and Kirby makes it work. Benjamin Franklin has a cameo in the story, as does a young George Washington commanding his fort on the frontier. I was impressed with Kirby's interpretation of Franklin especially. He did a fantastic job of maintaining the historical integrity of his characters and setting while building the fantasy elements into it. This is not an easy task. Oh so many authors fail at it. Interestingly, the main character and his father are both based on actual historical figures as well. The world was never explained or detailed too much. Kirby let his story build the world for him. It was easy to picture the ship, the places Billy was seeing, and the adventures encountered.
What really shines in this story is the characters, particularly Billy and his father. As much as this is a tale of adventure and magic in the the wilds of unexplored America, it is more the tale of a relationship between a boy and his father. Through the narrative of a fast action adventure story, Kirby gives the reader an extraordinary view of humanity. The interactions between Billy and his father are at the center of this. Billy is a young man coming into his own. He is figuring out what it is he believes and wants out of life, and is disheartened to realize it isn't everything his father is. This is a story of that moment when a child sees his father for the man he is. What I truly appreciated about this is that John isn't a bad man. He is a human one. He does so much good, and yet he has some nasty issues and is a racist, refusing to believe any Indian could be a good person. Watching Billy struggle with seeing this in his father, and his father struggle with seeing himself through Billy's eyes is something I think any reader can identify with on some level. The other scientists on the expedition are not quite as fleshed out, but their personalities do all shine when needed and each has a distinctive characterization. Jane is my one complaint regarding characterization in the story. I'm not really sure why she was there. Was she included to attract girl readers? Because she really has no function in the story except to be ridiculously headstrong, wander off, and cause a skirmish at one point. Even as a potential crush for Billy she falls way short. Honestly, I would have preferred if she were left out and this was a book with no female characters in the main team. It would make sense for the time period and is better than including one and getting it wrong. This is the one thing about the book that kept me from loving it with 100% of my heart.
It is a story full of action and suspense. There are spies and accusations of treason, a lost civilization to find, a bear-wolf chasing them, an enemy army to avoid, and each other to contend with. It's such a fun story and exactly the sort of adventure that kids (and me!) love to read.
I read an e-galley received from the publisher, Scholastic, via NetGalley. The Lost Kingdom is available for purchase August 27.
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I didn't know much about The Lost Kingdom before starting it. I never read the synopsis. I knew Matthew Kirby wrote it, and as I quite liked Icefall that was all I needed. I wish I went into more books this way. Not having any idea what the story even is, I'm always pleasantly surprised with what I get. This one is a great read from start to finish.
Set just before the beginning of the French and Indian War, The Lost Kingdom is historical fantasy that combines real life historical figures, science fiction, and fantasy. Kirby deftly wove these three strands together. There was a moment at the end where I thought maybe a little too much was thrown in there, but this is a minor glitch and Kirby makes it work. Benjamin Franklin has a cameo in the story, as does a young George Washington commanding his fort on the frontier. I was impressed with Kirby's interpretation of Franklin especially. He did a fantastic job of maintaining the historical integrity of his characters and setting while building the fantasy elements into it. This is not an easy task. Oh so many authors fail at it. Interestingly, the main character and his father are both based on actual historical figures as well. The world was never explained or detailed too much. Kirby let his story build the world for him. It was easy to picture the ship, the places Billy was seeing, and the adventures encountered.
What really shines in this story is the characters, particularly Billy and his father. As much as this is a tale of adventure and magic in the the wilds of unexplored America, it is more the tale of a relationship between a boy and his father. Through the narrative of a fast action adventure story, Kirby gives the reader an extraordinary view of humanity. The interactions between Billy and his father are at the center of this. Billy is a young man coming into his own. He is figuring out what it is he believes and wants out of life, and is disheartened to realize it isn't everything his father is. This is a story of that moment when a child sees his father for the man he is. What I truly appreciated about this is that John isn't a bad man. He is a human one. He does so much good, and yet he has some nasty issues and is a racist, refusing to believe any Indian could be a good person. Watching Billy struggle with seeing this in his father, and his father struggle with seeing himself through Billy's eyes is something I think any reader can identify with on some level. The other scientists on the expedition are not quite as fleshed out, but their personalities do all shine when needed and each has a distinctive characterization. Jane is my one complaint regarding characterization in the story. I'm not really sure why she was there. Was she included to attract girl readers? Because she really has no function in the story except to be ridiculously headstrong, wander off, and cause a skirmish at one point. Even as a potential crush for Billy she falls way short. Honestly, I would have preferred if she were left out and this was a book with no female characters in the main team. It would make sense for the time period and is better than including one and getting it wrong. This is the one thing about the book that kept me from loving it with 100% of my heart.
It is a story full of action and suspense. There are spies and accusations of treason, a lost civilization to find, a bear-wolf chasing them, an enemy army to avoid, and each other to contend with. It's such a fun story and exactly the sort of adventure that kids (and me!) love to read.
I read an e-galley received from the publisher, Scholastic, via NetGalley. The Lost Kingdom is available for purchase August 27.
May 6, 2015
Published by Scholastic Audio in 2013.
Read by Charlie McWade
Duration: 8 hours, 41 minutes
The Lost Kingdom is an alternate history set in a world in which mastodons still roam North America in great herds and are hunted by giant predators called bearwolves. The story is set just before the French and Indian War and the situation is easily recognizable for anyone familiar with that time period. The English colonies arranged along the Eastern Seaboard but the interior is largely controlled by the French and their numerous Indian allies through a vast trading network. As the English move farther inland they encounter more and more resistance and everyone knows that it will lead to open warfare, probably sooner rather than later.
In a bold move to secure a new set of allies in the interior, the American Philosophical Society, a group of intellectuals led by Benjamin Franklin, have decided to send an expedition in search of a fabled Welsh kingdom built around the legendary tale of Madoc, the Welsh prince who is supposed to have landed in the America's centuries before Columbus. This really is a legend in our world, so I found that to be quite interesting.
The intellectuals are joined by the son of their botanist, a young teen named Billy Bartram. They are not traveling by boat or by foot but in a sort of steampunk airship powered by balloons of some kind. The ship is an actual ship and it flies much like a blimp. They fly out to the new fort at what will be Pittsburgh in the distant future (barely escaping French spies as they leave Philadelphia). A sneak attack by French Marines and an encounter with a bearwolf throw the entire expedition off track. Throw in the suspicion that there is a spy in their midst and things have really gone wrong for Billy and this crew of geniuses...
****Spoiler alert****
So, here's the thing for me and this book. I do not mind the steampunk ship or the mastadons or even the legend of the Welsh. I think those made the book fun. But, I have a problem when the book violates its own internal rules and here are three gigantic errors that just don't make sense.
1) The expedition sets off without a single ...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2015/...
Read by Charlie McWade
Duration: 8 hours, 41 minutes
The Lost Kingdom is an alternate history set in a world in which mastodons still roam North America in great herds and are hunted by giant predators called bearwolves. The story is set just before the French and Indian War and the situation is easily recognizable for anyone familiar with that time period. The English colonies arranged along the Eastern Seaboard but the interior is largely controlled by the French and their numerous Indian allies through a vast trading network. As the English move farther inland they encounter more and more resistance and everyone knows that it will lead to open warfare, probably sooner rather than later.
In a bold move to secure a new set of allies in the interior, the American Philosophical Society, a group of intellectuals led by Benjamin Franklin, have decided to send an expedition in search of a fabled Welsh kingdom built around the legendary tale of Madoc, the Welsh prince who is supposed to have landed in the America's centuries before Columbus. This really is a legend in our world, so I found that to be quite interesting.
The intellectuals are joined by the son of their botanist, a young teen named Billy Bartram. They are not traveling by boat or by foot but in a sort of steampunk airship powered by balloons of some kind. The ship is an actual ship and it flies much like a blimp. They fly out to the new fort at what will be Pittsburgh in the distant future (barely escaping French spies as they leave Philadelphia). A sneak attack by French Marines and an encounter with a bearwolf throw the entire expedition off track. Throw in the suspicion that there is a spy in their midst and things have really gone wrong for Billy and this crew of geniuses...
****Spoiler alert****
So, here's the thing for me and this book. I do not mind the steampunk ship or the mastadons or even the legend of the Welsh. I think those made the book fun. But, I have a problem when the book violates its own internal rules and here are three gigantic errors that just don't make sense.
1) The expedition sets off without a single ...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2015/...
August 6, 2016
4.5 Stars - Review Posted on Granitemedia.org: http://www.granitemedia.org/2013/12/t...
Billy Bartram, the youthful son of a botanist explorer in colonial Pennsylvania, awakens one night to the sound of French-speaking intruders rustling through his father’s study on their farm. He helps his father escape harm and is brought into his confidence, learning that his father belongs to a secret society of philosophers, inventors, and scientists led by one Benjamin Franklin. Soon he is invited along with his father on a spectacular and perilous journey. Using a 1750s state-of-the-art airship the philosophers embark on an experimental flight deep into the interior American frontier to find the fabled Welsh-American Kingdom of Madoc, hoping to form an alliance against the French and save the colonies from war.
Some of the premises on which this story is built (steampunk-style air ships, an alternate magical history of colonial America) have been used by other authors before, but this story uses these tropes to tell an engaging and smart tale filled with memorable characters, settings, and situations. I loved the vividness of the settings and the richness of the world-building. Kirby uses very selective details from historical research, period folklore, and his own imagination to provide this level of description without bogging down the story. This is great craftsmanship that the aspiring writer in me would love to emulate.
Perhaps the most distinguished element of this story is the interior psychological exploration of the complex and realistic relationship between Billy and his father as they travel together. This is an element that many middle graders will definitely relate to, and it is something rarely explored in a middle grade adventure story. The story also deals unabashedly with the problems of prejudice, racism, and colonialism, and differing viewpoints on these issues are at the core of the conflict between Billy and his father. Even with these serious themes and psychological elements, the novel still succeeds as a great adventure story full of suspense and mystery.
I loved this historical fantasy adventure. I highly recommended it for upper elementary and jr. high readers who love fantastic adventure stories or historical fiction.
Billy Bartram, the youthful son of a botanist explorer in colonial Pennsylvania, awakens one night to the sound of French-speaking intruders rustling through his father’s study on their farm. He helps his father escape harm and is brought into his confidence, learning that his father belongs to a secret society of philosophers, inventors, and scientists led by one Benjamin Franklin. Soon he is invited along with his father on a spectacular and perilous journey. Using a 1750s state-of-the-art airship the philosophers embark on an experimental flight deep into the interior American frontier to find the fabled Welsh-American Kingdom of Madoc, hoping to form an alliance against the French and save the colonies from war.
Some of the premises on which this story is built (steampunk-style air ships, an alternate magical history of colonial America) have been used by other authors before, but this story uses these tropes to tell an engaging and smart tale filled with memorable characters, settings, and situations. I loved the vividness of the settings and the richness of the world-building. Kirby uses very selective details from historical research, period folklore, and his own imagination to provide this level of description without bogging down the story. This is great craftsmanship that the aspiring writer in me would love to emulate.
Perhaps the most distinguished element of this story is the interior psychological exploration of the complex and realistic relationship between Billy and his father as they travel together. This is an element that many middle graders will definitely relate to, and it is something rarely explored in a middle grade adventure story. The story also deals unabashedly with the problems of prejudice, racism, and colonialism, and differing viewpoints on these issues are at the core of the conflict between Billy and his father. Even with these serious themes and psychological elements, the novel still succeeds as a great adventure story full of suspense and mystery.
I loved this historical fantasy adventure. I highly recommended it for upper elementary and jr. high readers who love fantastic adventure stories or historical fiction.
June 18, 2013
Matthew J. Kirby adds another winner to his oeuvre! This old fashioned adventure yarn reminds me (in style and feel but not in language or pace) of Treasure Island/Kidnapped and also H Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines. The mix of fact, myth, fiction and fantasy is superb (and the author is scrupulous about separating out which is which in a end note), the characters are well-developed. The themes of 'walking your own path' and appreciating similarities and differences are seamlessly integrated and beautifully illuminated. The final battle against the French is terrifically exciting and I love the use of steampunk technology to wage it. My only quibble is that the main female character, Jane, is a bit girly but I suppose that's probably period appropriate. Will kids like it? Icefall is a hard sell but is appreciated by those who do read it - I think this might be an easier one to get kids to read and the adventure will keep them gripped.
September 4, 2013
3.5 stars
Matthew Kirby set himself a pretty high bar with his first two YA books. Both The Clockwork Three and Icefall made it onto my top ten list for Fantasy Literature their respective years, and Icefall I would have put on my top ten list of books that year, fantasy or not. So when I say that his third book, The Lost Kingdom, doesn’t quite match up, one should keep that high (extremely high) bar in mind. Despite being weaker in comparison, it’s still a pretty good book, and it comes as all his others have with an excellent ending.
The Lost Kingdom is set in a slightly alternate colonial America in the mid-1700s. War is clearly on the horizon, if not with England, then with the French, who are militarizing their lands in the Ohio region and expelling intruders. An expedition of some of America’s greatest natural philosophers is ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Matthew Kirby set himself a pretty high bar with his first two YA books. Both The Clockwork Three and Icefall made it onto my top ten list for Fantasy Literature their respective years, and Icefall I would have put on my top ten list of books that year, fantasy or not. So when I say that his third book, The Lost Kingdom, doesn’t quite match up, one should keep that high (extremely high) bar in mind. Despite being weaker in comparison, it’s still a pretty good book, and it comes as all his others have with an excellent ending.
The Lost Kingdom is set in a slightly alternate colonial America in the mid-1700s. War is clearly on the horizon, if not with England, then with the French, who are militarizing their lands in the Ohio region and expelling intruders. An expedition of some of America’s greatest natural philosophers is ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
July 22, 2018
This had the potential to be great. There were too many holes for me.
The vagueness of the background drove me nuts and serve to increase the feeling of the preach-ness. This was increased by the one-sided argument that the narrator has with... himself.
The vagueness of the background drove me nuts and serve to increase the feeling of the preach-ness. This was increased by the one-sided argument that the narrator has with... himself.
August 23, 2017
My name is Billy, and Benjamin Franklin has welcomed me to join my father and others as a member of the Philosophical Society. I didn't even know they existed, but these scientists secretly act as protectors of the colonies. The Society fears a war between France and England is looming, and the colonies will be the battleground. We're following legends and heading west on a flying ship to find the lost Welsh kingdom of Prince Madoc, and we hope to convince the kingdom to become our allies. I've seen people hiding in the shadows spying on us, we need to avoid French forces searching for us, there is a traitor among our group, and our leader is missing. My father has taken over, but I'm doubting his judgment. I once thought I wanted to be just like him, but I now find myself openly questioning his prejudice and leadership.
It seems I like the author's writing style, since this is the third book I've read that was written by Matthew Kirby. The other books were more science fictiony, while this one is based more on historical fiction. A major issue in the plot dealt with prejudice. Billy's father didn't trust any Indians and felt they were all untrustworthy savages. John's feelings were stressed to their limits when a half-Indian joined the group as a guide. Billy liked Andrew and didn't understand why his father distrusted the man. Many of his father's decisions were based on preconceived thoughts, and John ignored the opinions and ideas from others. John and Andrew presented a great contrast in characters, as the half-Indian did his best to ignore the accusations and bravely help the group survive. The author was able to evoke some contempt toward Billy's father which created an emotional connection to the story. A lesson learned in the end was "To err is human, to forgive divine." The plot built to an unexpected battle during the climax, a secret about Madoc's party was revealed, and the success of the mission was debated. It's been awhile since I've read a book that wasn't part of series, and this book was a surprising pleasure.
It seems I like the author's writing style, since this is the third book I've read that was written by Matthew Kirby. The other books were more science fictiony, while this one is based more on historical fiction. A major issue in the plot dealt with prejudice. Billy's father didn't trust any Indians and felt they were all untrustworthy savages. John's feelings were stressed to their limits when a half-Indian joined the group as a guide. Billy liked Andrew and didn't understand why his father distrusted the man. Many of his father's decisions were based on preconceived thoughts, and John ignored the opinions and ideas from others. John and Andrew presented a great contrast in characters, as the half-Indian did his best to ignore the accusations and bravely help the group survive. The author was able to evoke some contempt toward Billy's father which created an emotional connection to the story. A lesson learned in the end was "To err is human, to forgive divine." The plot built to an unexpected battle during the climax, a secret about Madoc's party was revealed, and the success of the mission was debated. It's been awhile since I've read a book that wasn't part of series, and this book was a surprising pleasure.
February 15, 2019
This review originally published in ,a href="http://www.lookingforagoodbook.com&qu... For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5
Take an adventure story from Jules Verne, give it a Young Adult set of characters, and toss in a pinch of Steampunk and you get something very close to Matthew J. Kirby's The Lost Kingdom.
Bill Bartram and his father, along with scientists and members of a secret society of philosophers adventure into the American wilderness of pre-Civil War times, to find the followers of Madoc - a Welsh prince. A war with France is brewing and the Bartram's believe that the Madoc people can help them with the coming war.
With some French soldiers on their heels, the adventurers take a flying ship to the largely-unexplored wilderness in the American west. Just as one might with Jules Verne, they encounter all sorts of terrifying, pre-historic-like creatures. Surviving the journey will be the toughest part of their adventure.
This book is just a heck of a lot of fun.
Bill Bartram is a classic 'Everyman' ...er, 'Everyboy' type of character. He's full of spirit and wonder. Smart, but not annoyingly over intelligent - dumping information at every opportunity.
The adventure is fast and furious. There is a constant 'out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire' feeling, which is exactly what you want in this sort of book. Think Mike Mars, or Tom Swift, or any other pulp-age adventure series. And the adventure is three-fold: there's the goal; there are the encounters on the way to the goal; there is the chase. There is definitely enough to keep a reader engaged. Add a little mystery with the secret society and you've piqued the interest.
This is my first book by Matthew J. Kirby, but I see he's written a number of others and I look forward to reading more of his work.
Looking for a good book? The Lost Kingdom by Matthew J. Kirby is a delightful adventure for YA readers, reminiscent of Jules Verne.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Take an adventure story from Jules Verne, give it a Young Adult set of characters, and toss in a pinch of Steampunk and you get something very close to Matthew J. Kirby's The Lost Kingdom.
Bill Bartram and his father, along with scientists and members of a secret society of philosophers adventure into the American wilderness of pre-Civil War times, to find the followers of Madoc - a Welsh prince. A war with France is brewing and the Bartram's believe that the Madoc people can help them with the coming war.
With some French soldiers on their heels, the adventurers take a flying ship to the largely-unexplored wilderness in the American west. Just as one might with Jules Verne, they encounter all sorts of terrifying, pre-historic-like creatures. Surviving the journey will be the toughest part of their adventure.
This book is just a heck of a lot of fun.
Bill Bartram is a classic 'Everyman' ...er, 'Everyboy' type of character. He's full of spirit and wonder. Smart, but not annoyingly over intelligent - dumping information at every opportunity.
The adventure is fast and furious. There is a constant 'out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire' feeling, which is exactly what you want in this sort of book. Think Mike Mars, or Tom Swift, or any other pulp-age adventure series. And the adventure is three-fold: there's the goal; there are the encounters on the way to the goal; there is the chase. There is definitely enough to keep a reader engaged. Add a little mystery with the secret society and you've piqued the interest.
This is my first book by Matthew J. Kirby, but I see he's written a number of others and I look forward to reading more of his work.
Looking for a good book? The Lost Kingdom by Matthew J. Kirby is a delightful adventure for YA readers, reminiscent of Jules Verne.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2018
I liked this book because it was a blend of historical fiction—George Washington and Benjamin Franklin!—And Steampunk, what with the airship and electrical capture method. The characters were very well flushed-out and distinct in their personalities. I also appreciated all the different elements coming together about Billy’s Dad overcoming his racism, Kelpius, Madoc’s people, etc.
However, I had some concerns about the writing itself. For a kid’s book marketed to 8-12 year olds, this was very long; 300 pages is asking a lot of a kid. I felt there were too many story elements for someone of that age to keep track of. I’m 27 and even I was a little fatigued at the end. The notes about the racism was a little advanced for most kids, and the death of one of the main characters was oddly graphic. I was hoping the book would establish itself a little more concretely in its genre with such a strong emphasis on science by all the main characters, but then there’s a bear-wolf and American Elephants and the Fountain of Youth, and the ghostly screams of a haunted abandoned castle, and I thought it was a little much.
I was also frustrated with how much of a waste Jane’s character was. I was hoping for the plucky, adventurous girl with a taste for mischief and adventure like her father had promised, instead of the bland damsel-in-distress whose only job is to comfort Billy.
There were several plot points I felt were out-of-character, such as how Billy’s Dad treated Phineas, and his opinions on leveling the forests of Ohio for farmland when in the beginning of the book he chides his customers for buying exotic plants as opposed to letting Nature take its course.
While I look forward to reading more of Kirby, I hope they pass this bar.
However, I had some concerns about the writing itself. For a kid’s book marketed to 8-12 year olds, this was very long; 300 pages is asking a lot of a kid. I felt there were too many story elements for someone of that age to keep track of. I’m 27 and even I was a little fatigued at the end. The notes about the racism was a little advanced for most kids, and the death of one of the main characters was oddly graphic. I was hoping the book would establish itself a little more concretely in its genre with such a strong emphasis on science by all the main characters, but then there’s a bear-wolf and American Elephants and the Fountain of Youth, and the ghostly screams of a haunted abandoned castle, and I thought it was a little much.
I was also frustrated with how much of a waste Jane’s character was. I was hoping for the plucky, adventurous girl with a taste for mischief and adventure like her father had promised, instead of the bland damsel-in-distress whose only job is to comfort Billy.
There were several plot points I felt were out-of-character, such as how Billy’s Dad treated Phineas, and his opinions on leveling the forests of Ohio for farmland when in the beginning of the book he chides his customers for buying exotic plants as opposed to letting Nature take its course.
While I look forward to reading more of Kirby, I hope they pass this bar.
November 10, 2017
Great historical fiction with a bit of creative license to make a rolicking colonial American adventure of a group venturing into the wild western wilderness. Teenager main character Billy Bartram has been invited by his father to join a special expedition in the year 1754 with the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. His father's passion & expertise, botany, equals his fascination with the rumors of an ancient Welsh kingdom, established in the far west of the North American continent. Billy has a gift for sketching, documenting the many plants his father grows back home at their farm, and hopes to document more in their exploration west. "Traveling in a massive flying aeroship, Billy and a secret society [of APS philosophers] & scientists venture west in search of the lost kingdom of the Welsh prince Madoc, to seek aid in the coming war with the French. But the wilds of colonial America hide a host of dangers- from a terrifying bear-wolf that haunts their every move, to a party of French soldiers hot on their trail, to a spy and traitor in their midst. Billy will face hazards greater than he has ever imagined as, together with his father, he gets caught up in the fight for the biggest prize of all: America" book jacket. Definitely filled with plot twists and turns, Billy's friendship with Jane, the talented stowaway daughter of one of the philosophers, adds some relationship interest; the most realistic portions of the novel reflects his conflict with his father, who demosntrates his hatred of Native Americans, and makes some mistaken decisions during their trials.
October 15, 2017
I have been a fan of Kirby’s book for a long time. I loved his Clockwork Three novel and also enjoyed his Dark Gravity Sequence series. This was an okay middle grade adventure steampunk novel by Kirby. I enjoyed some aspects of the story but through the whole thing was a bit simple and slow at points.
Billy Bartram is ecstatic when his father decides to let Billy accompany him on a journey into the American wild west. The society that Billy’s dad is part of is seeking the lost people of the Welsh Prince Madoc in hopes that they can enlist their aid for a war against the French. This is one of those alternate history sorts of books; but there are some elements of magic and some steampunk elements as well.
I loved the adventure and some of the crazy things Billy and his fellow travelers run into. However there just wasn’t enough of the adventure, creativity and wonder. Too much time ends up being spent on the politics between the different groups.
A lot of time is also spent dealing with Billy’s father’s hatred of Native Americans. Billy doesn’t understand this seemingly unfounded hatred his father has. This theme of hatred towards minority groups (and the sense of wrongness Billy gets from it) is really a driving theme of the book.
There was a lot in here that could have been amazing. I would have like to watch the scientists acquire interesting and wondrous specimens on their journey; instead their journey is plagued by infighting and trying to determine who a traitor in their midst is. The sense of wonder prevalent at the beginning of the story quickly degenerates into a snarl of human selfishness and scheming.
Overall this was an okay book but I was expecting so much more. The book out starts out full of promise but quickly degenerates into a treatise about human hatred and politics. There are some good lessons in here about tolerance and exploration but it didn’t work well with the beginning of the story. Not Kirby’s best work but there are some interesting elements here.
Billy Bartram is ecstatic when his father decides to let Billy accompany him on a journey into the American wild west. The society that Billy’s dad is part of is seeking the lost people of the Welsh Prince Madoc in hopes that they can enlist their aid for a war against the French. This is one of those alternate history sorts of books; but there are some elements of magic and some steampunk elements as well.
I loved the adventure and some of the crazy things Billy and his fellow travelers run into. However there just wasn’t enough of the adventure, creativity and wonder. Too much time ends up being spent on the politics between the different groups.
A lot of time is also spent dealing with Billy’s father’s hatred of Native Americans. Billy doesn’t understand this seemingly unfounded hatred his father has. This theme of hatred towards minority groups (and the sense of wrongness Billy gets from it) is really a driving theme of the book.
There was a lot in here that could have been amazing. I would have like to watch the scientists acquire interesting and wondrous specimens on their journey; instead their journey is plagued by infighting and trying to determine who a traitor in their midst is. The sense of wonder prevalent at the beginning of the story quickly degenerates into a snarl of human selfishness and scheming.
Overall this was an okay book but I was expecting so much more. The book out starts out full of promise but quickly degenerates into a treatise about human hatred and politics. There are some good lessons in here about tolerance and exploration but it didn’t work well with the beginning of the story. Not Kirby’s best work but there are some interesting elements here.
September 19, 2019
SPOILER ALERT! This book is about a boy named Billy who travelled with his father and his group called “The Society” which consisted of Mr Bartram (Billy’s father), Mr Colden, Mr.Kinnersely, and Mr Faries and they were all trying to find the kingdom of Madoc. They used the “Terzi” which is a flying ship that helped them travel. The Society started at Virginia and they travelled to find allies, first they went and met George Washington and after that the group members found out that Mr Colden’s child, Jane, was with them and she wandered off in the woods, after Billy found her Mr Colden got kidnapped by the French and Billy’s father came back. then they met Andrew who is half French and half native Indian became one of their team members, although Billy’s father did not trust him, and then finally they reached their goal to reach Madoc, a Welsh kingdom in the Americas. The French have followed them, which made the king mad, but the “Society” made a plan to make the French army to go away and it worked, but Andrew got injured in the battle so the king of Madoc gave him water which made him live forever.
This book is one of my favourite books because it has an amazing plot and it has an adventure.
This book is fun for people above the age of 11 and people who like historical fiction because this book has an interesting plot and it’s appropriate for the people above the age of 10
This book is one of my favourite books because it has an amazing plot and it has an adventure.
This book is fun for people above the age of 11 and people who like historical fiction because this book has an interesting plot and it’s appropriate for the people above the age of 10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2021
The Clockwork Three is a book I remember being absolutely enchanted by. From that point on I was on the hunt for the author's other books. This is the first one I've read since. Unfortunately, it didn't quite do the same for me as his debut, but I am glad I read it.
There was an author's note at the end, which contained some information that I thought would have been better suited at the beginning. It was so interesting to learn how all the characters found their roots in real life historical figures. And I think knowing that would have kept my interest piqued a bit more throughout the book.
Anyway, it's an interesting concept and I quite enjoyed reading it, but it also fell short for me a little bit, and lagged in places.
One of the things I found really special though, was the way in which Billy viewed his father. It's rare for real life people to be able to stay open to the possibility of their parents not being perfect, especially when the relationship between them is quite good, but never before had I seen it portrayed in a children's book.
So to end my review... Would I recommend it? Not per se, but I also wouldn't recommend against reading it. If you are interested in early "American history", as in the first batch of people to follow the colonizers, and the relationship with the Native Americans; then this is quite an interesting and nuanced read. If you're looking for more magical air ships, then pick up something else.
There was an author's note at the end, which contained some information that I thought would have been better suited at the beginning. It was so interesting to learn how all the characters found their roots in real life historical figures. And I think knowing that would have kept my interest piqued a bit more throughout the book.
Anyway, it's an interesting concept and I quite enjoyed reading it, but it also fell short for me a little bit, and lagged in places.
One of the things I found really special though, was the way in which Billy viewed his father. It's rare for real life people to be able to stay open to the possibility of their parents not being perfect, especially when the relationship between them is quite good, but never before had I seen it portrayed in a children's book.
So to end my review... Would I recommend it? Not per se, but I also wouldn't recommend against reading it. If you are interested in early "American history", as in the first batch of people to follow the colonizers, and the relationship with the Native Americans; then this is quite an interesting and nuanced read. If you're looking for more magical air ships, then pick up something else.
August 27, 2024
Billy Bartram is the son of a botanist who belongs to a secret society (headed by Ben Franklin) who is preparing for an adventure into the wilds of America in search of the descendants of the mythical Welsh Prince Madoc. They figure if they can find a huge population who hasn't chosen a side, they could get them to help fight the French. Billy gets invited to join the society on this adventure, which they start on a fantastical flying ship. They must find clues from the Indians and the landscapes, while Billy struggles with his relationship with his father who turns out to be completely bigoted against the Indians. Also, their locations may be betrayed because the French keep finding them...and so does a giant bear.
I read Kirby's Icefall years ago and really loved it. I think most of the reason I didn't as much care for the Lost Kingdom was the setting simply isn't as magical. There are prehistoric beasts, a flying ship, and some other bits and pieces of magic things, but overall it was a coming-of-age adventure story in the Americas. Well done in some areas. I didn't see a need for so MANY historical tie-ins (the main characters are already based on real people) but I guess in some ways that's fun. I liked Billy's character and the conflicts he has, morally, personally.
I did finish reading it and I wasn't exactly bored, just not terribly interested. The writing was good.
I think young readers would have fun with the book.
I read Kirby's Icefall years ago and really loved it. I think most of the reason I didn't as much care for the Lost Kingdom was the setting simply isn't as magical. There are prehistoric beasts, a flying ship, and some other bits and pieces of magic things, but overall it was a coming-of-age adventure story in the Americas. Well done in some areas. I didn't see a need for so MANY historical tie-ins (the main characters are already based on real people) but I guess in some ways that's fun. I liked Billy's character and the conflicts he has, morally, personally.
I did finish reading it and I wasn't exactly bored, just not terribly interested. The writing was good.
I think young readers would have fun with the book.
September 18, 2024
As far as adventure/sci-fi goes, I t’s not a bad book. It’s definitely ya, but it’s an easy read.
I was expecting scifi going in just based on the cover. As I started I realized it was be historical fiction adventure. Then as I got further I realized it was alternative history.
I thought the plot was decent. My only issue was the father’s distrust of Andrew for being of Native American ancestry. Though I guess it matches the actual sentiments of the time period.
I had a hard time gauging Billy’s age. sometimes he read as like a 12/13 year old. Other times he seems maybe like 15/16.
My only true issue with the book wad the bear wolf and how it followed them. As a biologist… top predators like bears and wolves have ranges. They generally won’t leave them unless very desperate for food. In this case, the bear wolf followed them for a vendetta it felt like. So unlikely from a biological aspect.
I was expecting scifi going in just based on the cover. As I started I realized it was be historical fiction adventure. Then as I got further I realized it was alternative history.
I thought the plot was decent. My only issue was the father’s distrust of Andrew for being of Native American ancestry. Though I guess it matches the actual sentiments of the time period.
I had a hard time gauging Billy’s age. sometimes he read as like a 12/13 year old. Other times he seems maybe like 15/16.
My only true issue with the book wad the bear wolf and how it followed them. As a biologist… top predators like bears and wolves have ranges. They generally won’t leave them unless very desperate for food. In this case, the bear wolf followed them for a vendetta it felt like. So unlikely from a biological aspect.
June 13, 2019
Fantasy adventure set during the French and Indian War in the U.S. While fictional, this fun adventure still manages to feel historical. It follows the story of Billy who is accompanying his father for the first time on one of his expeditions. Their mission is to sail a flying ship westward to find the lost colony of Welshmen supposed to be in the interior of North America. Along the way, Billy finds out more about his father than he ever knew, and discovers a deep prejudice against Indians that he does not share. Although based on real people, the story is an obvious fantasy that includes living mastodons, vacuum-powered flight, and the fountain of youth. As a coming of age story, I liked the tone and the theme of forgiveness.
November 21, 2019
Billy Bartram lives a normal life until some people came outside his house and the unknown people were French. He had a normal life but then, his dad told him something that changed his life forever. Billy learned that his dad was part of a society or a group with scientists and philosophers. They were on an expedition or an amazing adventure to find the lost kingdom of the Welsh prince Madoc. Billy helps his dad by drawing the specimen they find. They went on a big aeroship to go to the lost kingdom. They face challenges, terrifying creatures, traitors, the french, and spies. They need aids for the coming war with French. If you want to know what is going on and how this book ends read "The Lost Kingdom" by Matthew J. Kirby.
By,
Sashwat Naik
By,
Sashwat Naik
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2024
🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
The Lost Kingdom is fun-filled coming-of-age adventure. Being Steampunk, of course, it is set in a somewhat alternate historical setting of the world and this novel, it's in mid 18th century of America as the English settlers are in conflict against the French. The story is told from the perspective of a 13 yo boy, Billy Bartram, who is to accompany his father and a secret society of philosophers and scientists in search of an ally in this conflict; an ally which has a mythical reputation. And they will be travelling in a flying ship!
There would be amazing things to discover, conflicts and betrayals, but most of all, lots of growing up to do. I really do love the ending for this protagonist.
The Lost Kingdom is fun-filled coming-of-age adventure. Being Steampunk, of course, it is set in a somewhat alternate historical setting of the world and this novel, it's in mid 18th century of America as the English settlers are in conflict against the French. The story is told from the perspective of a 13 yo boy, Billy Bartram, who is to accompany his father and a secret society of philosophers and scientists in search of an ally in this conflict; an ally which has a mythical reputation. And they will be travelling in a flying ship!
There would be amazing things to discover, conflicts and betrayals, but most of all, lots of growing up to do. I really do love the ending for this protagonist.
July 27, 2017
I'm still in the middle of this book after a year, but I don't want to finish it. I'm a big fan of Matt Kirby, but this one is a struggle for me. Mostly, it's the ONLY female character. Being female, I'm bothered by her role in the book (as the one that gets left behind and then the one that causes problems). The men are patronizing scientists and the main character is clueless to the point of being irritating.
This book feels like a man's club wandering in the wilderness. The plot feels like a man's club wandering in the wilderness. Basically, I just wanted off the balloon. So I haven't finished it. Maybe I will one day and then I'll update this review.
This book feels like a man's club wandering in the wilderness. The plot feels like a man's club wandering in the wilderness. Basically, I just wanted off the balloon. So I haven't finished it. Maybe I will one day and then I'll update this review.
August 29, 2018
This is a colonial era adventure story. Ben Franklin forms a philosophical society and they are tasked with finding a lost Welsh kingdom. The hope is that this kingdom will side with the Americans to win the war against Britain. The adventurers take off in a ship that is able to fly. They are pursued on their journey by the French who also look to find the hidden kingdom. There is deceit among the society members and everyone is suspicious. There are many close calls with the French, wild animals, weather, and a falling sky ship. The pace is well done and the characters are believable. This is a good adventure for kids who like their historical fiction with a little action.
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