Die Eisfestung

by Jonathan Stroud

Der knisternde Psychothriller des umjubelten Bartimäus-Starautors


Eigentlich wissen Emily und Simon so gut wie nichts über Marcus. Es war Zufall, dass sie einander auf dem gesperrten Burggelände begegneten; und es war nur eine fixe Idee, einzusteigen und in der Ruine zu übernachten. Einfach so, als kleiner Nervenkitzel inmitten öder Ferien. Doch Marcus verwandelt die Burg in eine Festung mit vereisten Treppen und bereit liegenden Wurfgeschossen. Emily und Simon sind bei ihm, als er schwört, nie mehr nach Hause zurückzugehen – die beiden machen sich ihren eigenen Reim auf die blauen Flecken in Marcus’ Gesicht. Währenddessen rücken sie draußen vor: zunächst nur Marcus’ Vater, dann der Burgwächter, Polizei, eine Sozialarbeiterin, Feuerwehr mit Gerät – die Belagerer, der FEIND, der Markus herausholen will! Was als übermütiges Spiel begann, schlägt still, heimlich und leise um in einen Albtraum.


• Atmosphärisch dicht, unglaublich fesselnd – Hochspannung, die den Atem verschlägt
• Mit Kartenmaterial der Burgruine

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure, Contemporary, Audiobook, Thriller

282 pages, Hardcover

First published February 5, 2004

About the author

Jonathan Anthony Stroud is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths.

Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for the Walker Books store. He worked with different types of books there and this soon led to the writing of his own books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.

In May 1999, Stroud published his first children's novel, Buried Fire, which was the first of a line of fantasy/mythology children's books.

Among his most prominent works are the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy. A special feature of these novels compared to others of their genre is that Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons. This is done by examining the perspective of the sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni Bartimaeus. The books in this series are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, and Ptolemy's Gate, his first books to be published in the United States.

Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his two children, Isabelle and Arthur, and his wife Gina, an illustrator of children's books.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't help worrying that Stroud spent all his humor and creativity on the Bartimeaus books. I want so bad to really enjoy his other work but it tends to leave me a little disappointed. This book had many fun and redeeming plot developments, but ultimately it crash landed in a pile of doo doo at the end. The story was about three early teens who end up sneaking into a castle and staying the night. It had some nice camping and ghost story qualities which I loved, but the characters were a little under developed and not exactly endearing. Don't you hate when fictional characters do stupid stuff and make the wrong choices? Not to mention the moral of the story might have been that sometimes kids aren't really abused, they are just calling wolf, so be weary of alleged child abuse...um, I don't think that is the best message. Oh well. I refuse to give up on you Stroud, but please, do better next time.

[Jenny's Lesestoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein sehr spannendes Buch - OHNE MYSTISCHE ELEMENTE!!
Ein Buch über Freundschaft und über die Entdeckung einer alten Burg. Sehr spannend erzählt und "Umgangssprache" hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Das machte die ganze Geschichte lebendig und real.
Leider hat mich das Ende sehr enttäuscht, es ist ein sehr offenes Ende und es gibt keine Message oder zumindest einen Ausweg aus einer bestimmten Situation. Das hat mir leider sehr gefehlt.
Ansonsten ein sehr atmosphärisches Buch, das mich sehr gut unterhalten konnte.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jugend Spannungsroman, der sich flott lesen lässt, mir aber zu schnell abgehandelt wurde

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three present-day teens are thrown together in the last defense of a medieval castle—each one lonely for a different reason. Emily is an only child whose schoolmates either pick on her or ignore her. Simon is the youngest child of a big, blue-collar, trouble-making family, who often gets picked on at home. And as for Marcus... well, he's not even from the West Norfolk village where the children sneak onto the grounds of a ruined castle for a bit of sledding and snowball-fighting. No one really knows much about him, except that his imagination is sparked by the romance and mystery of a castle that entertained kings, withstood sieges, and even hosted its very own ghost story.

Though Simon is the natural trouble-maker and Marcus is captivated by the castle, it is Emily who instigates the break-in. It's only a matter of a bit of rope and a climb up to a first-floor window. (That's one floor up from ground level, for those of us reading on the left side of the Pond.) The first time they get in, they explore the layout, discovering such points of interest as the murder holes, through which the castle's defenders could shoot arrows straight down or pour oil on the heads of their attackers. Another time they remember to bring enough supplies to stay overnight, building a fire and munching sandwiches in a room that hasn't seen overnight guests in over three hundred years.

With each visit, they run greater risks of being caught by their parents or turfed out by the caretaker. But on their third visit to the old castle, things go right out of control. Marcus turns up bruised and frightened, claiming that his father had beaten him for lying about where he was on the night of the sleepover. He says he has run away from home and claims the castle as his refuge. Then Marcus's father shows up looking for him, and brings policemen and others to aid in the search. What else can Em and Simon do than stand by their friend?

And so the castle faces its last siege, defended by three desperate children armed with little more than sticks, stones, snowballs, jugs of water (perfect for making ice-slicks in the frozen corridors), and an intimate knowledge of the ruins. Thanks to one boy's overactive imagination and his two friends' trusting nature, what might have been only a short prank pulled by ill-behaved youngsters becomes an all-out emergency—a one-day war—and, in a surprisingly powerful climax, a taut-strung, life-or-death drama.

The author of such supernaturally souped-up tales as Buried Fire, The Leap, and the Bartimaeus trilogy, here proves that literal magic does not a magical story make. The power of storytelling, demonstrated through the stories Marcus tells within this story, is a magic to be reckoned with. There is a line between romanticized history and outright fiction, between lie and delusion, between courage and madness, no less wonderful and dangerous than the boundaries of the land of Faerie. And when it comes to pulling someone back from the brink, there is nothing like the voice of a friend.

[Ashlyn Ahrendsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three kids--Emily, Simon and Marcus, find themselves wanting to discover an old abandoned castle. They live in a town with not much to do, and so one day they decide to cross over the walls and explore. Marcus knows much about this castle and tells them of a siege that happened 300 years earlier. After a fun night in the castle, they leave and go back to their normal lives. Soon however, Emily and Simon notice smoke coming from the castle's chimney and discover Marcus has once again crossed over. They go searching for him and find Marcus all beat up. Marcus tells of how mad his father was at him for coming home so late after the night in the castle (which of course he didn't know about). Marcus swears he'll never go home, so after police and his father show up at the castle, Marcus, Simon, and Emily find themselves in their own war-- The Last Siege.

This book had absolutely no character development. We learn a little about Marcus, but nothing about Emily and Simon. I liked the idea of the story, but felt it dragged on and wasn't necessarily engaging. I would have much rather liked a shorter book with much less details, or a larger book with more plot, and character development. Wouldn't recommend this book.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

After Bartimaeus, I expected something as grand as it, in terms of stories, characters, plots. I was greatly mistaken. I don’t know what’s the point of the story. Did Marcus tell his friends the real story about his injury and abuse? If he lied, why? I really didn’t get it.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I attempted to read this but it was so tirelessly boring I couldn't finish it. I enjoyed the Bartimaeus Trilogy and although those books had their moments of flagging enthusiasm, they had rousing plots, the resolutions of which I looked forward to discovering. Halfway through The Last Siege I never had a clear understanding of what was at stake for the characters-- what was the plot? what was the conflict? why should I care? I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it just seemed to go on and on describing things that were happening without ever even accidentally creating a sense of narrative. Is that even possible? Stroud manages it here.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

WHAT is the point of this book? Mr. Stroud, I read this because I'm a fan of the Bartimaeus Trilogy. I adore Barty, and I love Nathaniel and you broke my heart by killing him in the end... HOW COULD YOU!!?? See, I love the story and I'm so affected by the characters. But this- The Last Seige--huh?
Why write it even? You didn't write anything about the characters that would make me care for them and what they will do. The characters are underdeveloped and did not earn anything from me as a reader. I can't feel for them, much less care how they will end up. There's a lot of historical info in your story here, but sadly you have weak characters and a feeble plot. The story's end only made me question why did you have to write this pointless story? But I forgive you. What's one unimpressive story? Please do keep on writing more 5stars worth of books!

[Rozarka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people here complain about this book not being like Bartimaeus Sequence. I couldn't care less. If it was it would mean the author can't write anything else and is only repeating himself all over again. This book is more intimate, just a glimpse into several kids' life and their desire for adventure. I was a bit afraid that it would turn into Home Alone In A Castle, but it stayed realistic, didn't emphasize the technical part of the siege and stayed focused on the kids; I liked that.

Also, no romance here which is a big plus for me.

[Daria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had been expecting something along the lines of time-travel and an actual siege of the old castle ruins in medieval times. This sort of adolescent story does not appeal to me (they never do, I confess), but there's no denying that Jonathan Stroud's writing is nothing short of brilliant, as always.

[Iva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Анотація мене геть задурила!

Привиди у цій повісті є, але привиди ці - не містичні, а психологічні.
Знову про ненавішування ярликів, про раціональне мислення, про розуміння одне одного. Про втрати, зраду та дружбу. Про власну гідність - не на останньому місці.
І як же прекрасно те, що проза Страуда цілком витягається діалогами! Тепер це не фентезі, а така собі соц драма, а от елемент діалогів лишився доставляючим.

[B-zee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ending macam apa ini?! Yah, tapi cerita di balik masing-masing karakternya cukup menarik. Dan kisah petualangannya cukup seru kalau bukan karena faktor luar (di luar buku ini) yang mengganggu hari-hari ini. 3.5 bintang deh.

[Barb Middleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had a hard time staying focused on this one. Try His other books. They’re fantastic.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sympathetic to kids and their desire to do something. Interesting perspective on feeling embattled and under siege by hostile forces

[Lexie Layman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly disappointed.

[Annika · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ich weiß gar nicht wo ich genau anfangen soll ... Vielleicht erst mal mit dem positiven. Die Idee der Geschichte war nicht schlecht und hätte durchaus Potenzial gehabt es zu einem (Jugend-)Thriller zu machen. Der Schreibstil war ganz gut, wie man es von Jonathan Stroud gewohnt ist und sorgt dadurch schon für kurze Spannungsmomente. Dadurch auch 1 Stern.
Nun leider zu dem großen negativen Aspekt dieses Buches. Erstens fand ich die Charaktere Emily, Simon und von allem Markus ganz schrecklich. Es soll sich um Teenager handeln, die sie meiner Meinung nach eher wie bockige Kinder aufführen und total irrational handeln. Für keinen der Protagonisten konnte ich Sympathie entwickeln. Es war einfach nur schrecklich. Zweitens kommt dann die schwache Geschichte, die sich von schlimm langweilig zu noch viel schlimmer entwickelt. Teils hat mich der ganze Plot sehr gelangweilt und teils, vor allem gegen Ende der Geschichte, einfach nur stark frustriert, weil ich es einfach nur so blöd fand. Ich hätte in manchen Augenblicken das Buch am liebsten an die Wand geworfen. Zu guter Letzt kann ich nur sagen, dass das Buch überhaupt nicht hält, was es verspricht. Unter einem Thriller stelle ich mir etwas anderes vor. Auch wenn es einen Jugendthriller darstellen soll, kann ich mir nicht vorstellen, dass irgendjemand diesem Buch auch nur im entferntesten etwas abgewinnen kann.
Ich lese selten Bücher, die mir so absolut nicht gefallen, daher auch die "harten" Worte. Ich kann es nicht empfehlen und muss ganz klar sagen, da ist die Zeit und das Geld besser in ein anders Buch investiert. Für mich also ein absoluter Flop.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit boring until the big climactic finish. I didn't like Marcus pretty much from the beginning. Also, from the back of the book I thought there would be a supernatural element to it, so I was a bit disappointed on that front.

[Klara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Also so sehr gelangweilt habe ich mich schon lange nicht mehr.

Drei Kinder verstecken sich in einer Burg. Die Eltern und die Polizei versuchen sie da heraus zu bekommen.

Das wars. Hoffe ich hab nicht zu viel gespoilert.

[Camille · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh, really disappointed with this story. Had an interesting premise that fizzled out. I have enjoyed Stroud's other books.

[Inga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Eisfestung ist eine mittelalterliche Burg in England. Es ist Winter und die drei Jugendlichen Emily, Simon und Marcus wissen nicht so recht, was sie mit sich anfangen wollen. Der Zufall treibt sie alle zu der Burg, in deren Burggraben man immerhin Schlittenfahren kann. Sie kennen sich bis zu diesem Tag nicht: Emily ist Einzelkind und ihre Eltern lassen ihr viele Freiheiten, Simon leidet unter seinen groben Brüdern, die ihn schikanieren, und Marcus kommt aus einem weiter entfernten Ort. Letzterer ist völlig begeistert von der Burg und den Geschichten, die sich dort ereignet haben. Obwohl die Burg von einem (nicht allzu zuverlässigen) Wachmann überprüft wird, gelingt es den dreien einzusteigen. Sie erforschen das Gemäuer, doch die Zeit reicht nicht aus, um alles zu erkunden, daher beschließen sie, noch einmal wiederzukommen und dort zu übernachten - ein Abenteuer mit vielen spannenden Momenten und einer guten Portion Gespenstergeschichten.

Doch als Marcus am nächsten Morgen verschläft, nimmt die Geschichte eine andere Wendung. Er bekommt Ärger mit seinem Vater zuhause und flieht zurück in die Burg, wo ihn Emily und Simon wieder aufspüren. Plötzlich wird aus dem Burgspiel Ernst, denn natürlich sucht Marcus' Vater und kurz darauf auch die Polizei nach ihm... Eine handfeste Belagerung, wie aus einer von Marcus' Geschichten, beginnt.

Jonathan Strouds Schreibstil macht Die Eisfestung zu einem leicht und spannend zu lesenden Abenteuer. Auch die Idee einer Belagerung in der Jetztzeit ist interessant (Originaltitel: The Last Siege). In der Grundanlage sind auch die Charaktere der Protagonisten in Ordnung, Emily emotional, aber vernünftig, Simon begeisterungsfähig und tatkräftig, wobei Marcus manipulativ und fantasievoll zugleich ist. Dennoch bleiben die drei seltsam flach und entwickeln sich nicht in vollem Potenzial. Allein Emily, aus deren Sicht wir die Geschichte miterleben, zeigt Züge von Reflexion und Weiterentwicklung in ihrem Charakter. Was ich am meisten vermisst habe in Die Eisfestung ist der Humor und Sarkasmus, der Jonathan Strouds andere Bücher durchdringt, sei es die Bartimäus-Reihe oder die Geisterserie um Lockhart & Co. Es ist, als hätte der Autor hier bewusst ernsthaft mit seinem Thema umgehen wollen. Aber untertitelt als Thriller bleibt die Geschichte dann doch ziemlich bodenständig und vorhersehbar, die Spannung gerade im Showdown springt nicht so recht über.

[leilanis_books . · Rating 3 out of 5]

<
Genau dies tun 3 Jugendliche im Roman Die Eisfestung, in dem Emily, Simon und Marcus nach einer zufällig entstandenen Schneeballschlacht am Fuß einer Burgruine beschließen, diese zu erobern. Was als harmloser Trip beginnt, weitet sich bald zum Alptraum aus. Denn der geheimnisvolle Marcus weigert sich beharrlich, die Expedition als Spiel zu begreifen. Als sein Vater am Fuß der Burg erscheint, um die Gruppe herauszuholen, sichert er die Festung gegen mögliche Angreifer -- die „Feinde“ -- ab. Und als dann sogar Polizei und Feuerwehr anrücken, eskaliert die Situation..>>

Zuerst einmal möchte ich mich ganz doll bei meinen Mitstreiterinnen und Burgfräuleins Ramona und Jenny bedanken. Das gemeinsame lesen hat unglaublich viel Spaß gemacht und zusammen konnten wir viel über den Inhalt des Buches nachdenken, und die möglichen Hintergründe diskutieren.

Das ist tatsächlich ein riesengroßes Plus in dem Buch, dass es sehr lange so viele Möglichkeiten offen lässt, und den Leser auf viele falsche Fährten führt.

Das Setting in der Eisfestung war großartig und das miteinander der drei Kids, Emily, Markus und Simon war absolut authentisch, so dass man gleich mitten drin in der Geschichte war.

2 Sterne möchte ich aber dennoch abziehen, da mir die Message hinter dem Buch fehlte, da es sich doch an Kinder wendet und mir die Auflösung auch viel zu rasch kam, und es zudem nicht befriedigend aufgelöst wurde.

Deswegen konnte mich die Eisfestung trotz aller Pluspunkte leider nicht gänzlich überzeugen.

[Mio · Rating 3 out of 5]

You pick up a book called The Last Siege and naturally, you’re thinking action, high stakes, maybe some grand medieval battles. Instead, you get three teenagers breaking into a snow-covered castle, which somehow spirals into a slow-burn psychological drama with a creeping sense of doom. And you know what? I think I liked it.

The story follows Emily, Marcus, and Simon, three kids from very different backgrounds who, on a whim, decide to explore an abandoned castle. What starts as an innocent adventure quickly takes a darker turn as their stay extends longer than planned, and the castle becomes less of an escape and more of a prison—both physically and emotionally. Stroud nails the eerie, desolate atmosphere, making you feel the cold, the isolation, and that unsettling realization that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

But here’s where I got a little lost. The tension builds beautifully, but then... not much happens for long stretches. There’s conflict, yes—internal and external—but it’s more of a slow simmer than a full boil. The characters are compelling yet frustrating, making choices that range from deeply relatable to downright baffling. And that ending? I sat there for a minute, trying to process whether it was quietly brilliant or just... abrupt. Maybe both?

That said, there’s something undeniably haunting about this book. It lingers. It’s not your typical adventure story, and it’s certainly not the high-energy siege I initially pictured, but it’s a poignant, strangely beautiful meditation on friendship, loss, and the fragile line between childhood and something much heavier.

[Maryna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Самое главное, что вы должны знать, когда беретесь за чтение этой книги (особенно, если вы уже знакомы с более знаменитыми сериями Страуда про Амулет или Локвуда) - это то, что произведение не имеет никакого отношения к жанру фэнтези. Здесь нет вообще ничего "волшебного" - ни мистики, ни капли альтернативной истории. Это социальная драма о подростках. Да, она облачена в довольно динамичную форму осады замка, но все же это книга о проблемах современных детей и их взаимоотношениях родителями и обществом. Для меня "Последняя осада" не дотянула до положительной оценки. Первая причина, пожалуй, в том, что это, с моей точки зрения, такой себе большой рассказ. Герои приходят из ниоткуда и уходят в никуда. Нет, персонажи не плоские и Страуд умеет описать их чувства и эмоции, но на протяжении всей книги меня преследовало ощущение отсутствия какой-то твердой основы повествования. "Последняя осада" - как маленькая зарисовка, но объемом в 300 страниц. Вторая причина в том, что мне не понравился конец. Дело не в том, что я бы хотела другу судьбу героям, а в том, что, к сожалению, после прочтения книги возникает сакраментальное "ну и?". Однако, не смотря на все это, Страуд - писатель высокого уровня и это сложно не признать даже в произведении, которое тебе не понравилось. Просто эта книга - не моя. Это более ранняя работа писателя и, наверное, он еще просто не "вошел" в тот стиль, который делает его в моих глазах одним из самых интересных современных авторов для юношества.

6 / 10

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book in the young adult genre about a group kids or young adults (we are not given a definite age) who are thrown together by circumstance and then break into a castle and occupy it. Some interesting stories from the fertile and imaginative mind of one of them carry the story through until we get to the last siege itself - the young people against the authorities.

The author is a talented and versatile writer and this is quite a different story from the Bartimeus books and Stroud's other fantasy works. This is grittier, thought provoking stuff. Nevertheless I fear it will not engage the intended audience in the same way as his other works.

I was considering giving this just 3 stars for that reason, but on reflection, I think the themes in this book are sufficiently thought provoking that I would still recommend it as a good read in some circumstances, so I have upped that to 4 stars. Nevertheless if you want one book by this author to start with, take a look at "The Amulet of Samarkand" instead.

If you want a cautionary tale about trust, friendship, and the dangers of a a great imagination, then by all means read this.

[Cherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3 1/2 stars really.

I love Jonathan Stroud's writing but didn't find this story as compelling as other things I've read from him. The description of the castle and the portrayal of the children and their interactions were excellent and believable. The plot just felt somewhat lacking I guess. It felt more like a short story than a novel.



The reader for the audiobook was also good, although I really hate when they translate from British English to American English and it was even more jarring to hear Americanisms like the word "flashlight" in a British accent so many times. They never get those translations right. They choose a few words and swap them out but inconsistently, for example, biscuit becomes cookie but they didn't bother trying to translate "custard cream" into "sandwich cookie" or something like that. They didn't translate "jumper" into "sweater" or various other things.... It's just always a mishmash and awkward.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was curious how a non-Bartimaeus book would go. A hint at a ghost story and the romance of the castle’s history were red herrings—this plot stayed firmly in the present day.

This is a prosaic world of broken homes, lower-middle class family struggles, and tweens in search of fun acting out when cross but lacking judgement to assess or respond appropriately in search of justice.

I agree with other reviews that this book was not as engaging, because the characters were less sympathetic, did not seem to evolve, and the moral takeaways from the resulting action were troublesome. And almost no humor to lighten the brooding drama.

I liked that the kids were drawn to the possibilities of exploring the castle and appreciate its history. I would not recommend it for kids without family discussions about the consequences of the kids’ actions to damage property, bully others, lie to authority figures, with disturbing allegations of child abuse.

[R-Qie R-Qie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Berkisah tentang petualangan tiga remaja di dalam kastil tua pada musim dingin yang menimbulkan kehebohan hingga melibatkan polisi dan pemadam kebakaran.

Tidak seperti novel Stroud lainnya, dalam novel ini sama sekali tidak ada unsur fantasi. Akan tetapi, tetap asyik untuk diikuti. Tentang persahabatan dan keluarga. Ada hikmah yang bisa menjadi bahan perenungan.

Hanya saja saya kesulitan membayangkan deskripsi isi kastil yang menjadi latar utama. Meski ada denah lantai dasar hingga menara di halaman awal, tetap tidak banyak membantu. Saya cukup terganggu dengan kata 'nggak' yang bertebaran. Ketika membaca novel terjemahan atau drama dan film luar yang di-dubbing menggunakan kata seperti nggak, gitu, dan sejenisnya terasa aneh bagi saya. Belum lagi typo yang walaupun sedikit, berpengaruh pada mood membaca.
—

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read, only about 2 hours.
More of a book about a place (this unnamed castle in rural UK) than about the characters themselves. Plot twists galore (pretty good for YA fiction) but it ended in an unsettling way. Motivations of a critical character weren't conveyed fully. I can imagine it would lead for confusion with younger readers.

This doesn't relate much to the plot, but I find it pertinent: why are most parents in YA novels so pathetic? It has begun to be an overused trope because authors can easily make their characters 'independent teenagers' if their parents don't care about what they do.

[1stTimeReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after reading and loving Lockwood and Co and I came in with the expectation that I may not love it as much as the series.

But this book unexpectedly touched me - I found myself really invested in these kids, in their home lives and in this siege of friendship where adults were the enemy.

I loved the characters and their dynamics, this was something Stroud is so good at writing!

My only notes were that I really wish the book had gone on for another chapter at least - I wanted to see the resolution, what happens to these kids and their friendship after the siege.
The summary was also vague enough that I half expected this to be a supernatural story (which it was not).

[Cecrops · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thriller ist die falsche Bezeichnung, zwar war Spannung hin und wieder da, aber für einen Thriller nach meinem Geschmack nicht ausreichend. Die gesamte Geschichte nimmt eine Wendung, die für mich das Ganze etwas gehaltvoller, dramatischer und somit spannender machte. Wie dies jedoch am Ende aufgelöst wurde, war für mich eher enttäuschend. Vielleicht waren die Erwartungen zu hoch, da der Autor für andere großartige Werke bekannt ist.