The Woebegone Twins

Tales from Schwartzgarten #2

by Christopher William Hill

When twins Greta and Feliks lose their beloved Aunt Gisela to a poisoned marzipan cake and are sent to the ill-omened Schwartzgarten Reformatory for Maladjusted Children it seems their fate is sealed...that is until they are rescued by the glamorous and wealthy Olga Van Veenen, a fabulous children's author. The two twins are grateful but something tells them that Olga's motives are not entirely genuine...The Woebegone Twins is a tale of murder and mayhem, fact and fiction. The heroes are horrid. The plots are peculiar. And things are not always as they seem. If you prefer cleavers to kittens and fiends to fairies...then welcome to the gruesomely funny tales from Schwartzgarten.

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy

340 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2013

About the author

Christopher is an extremely well-renowned writer, recipient of the Peter Tinniswood Award and a BBC Radio & Music Award. He also adapted John Masefield’s classic THE MIDNIGHT FOLK for radio. His experience in writing for children includes having twice written for the National Theatre’s prestigious Connections project. His first play, MULTIPLEX (2003) was performed on the Olivier stage, and has received over forty productions by teenage casts in the UK and internationally. HEARTBREAK BEAUTIFUL (2009) was performed at the National Theatre, and has already had sixteen productions in the UK and was performed in Sao Paulo, Brazil last Autumn. He wrote ITTULLKYLLYOOIFFYOODOO, a play for primary school children, which has been performed at Polka Theatre, Plymouth Theatre Royal, Dundee Rep and York Theatre Royal. He lectures annually at the Arvon Foundation. His plays for BBC Radio 4 include KILLING MAESTROS (Tinniswood Award), ACCOLADES, PUNDITS, and LOVE ME, LIBERACE.

Reviews

[Ayomide · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is good but not as good as Osbert the Avenger.

It starts with Morbide ,an actor, coming into their house. the twins mistake him for a murderer but after some explanation Morbide takes them around the theater. Their aunt Gisela unfortunately and
the twins go into the reformatory but are soon taken out by a famous author. But is she all seems?

It is an exciting book with a lot of surprises.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back again with a second book in this gorgeous, exciting, bloody series called Schwartzgarten Tales.

This time the main characters are a sister and a brother, they are twins. They don't have the easiest of lives (which seems to be a recurring theme), their parents left them/died and they live with their aunt. Things happen and their aunt dies under mysterious circumstances, they are forced to live with a writer they met a few times.

I loved, adored this book, and I do have to say this one is less gory (at least in the beginning) than the previous book. Also throughout this book the twins don't do any of the murders or deaths, they remain pretty pure throughout their ordeals, unlike the previous book which featured a main character who killed off people one by one. And while I liked that one, but like I said back then, I wouldn't recommend that one for kids (too bloody and disturbing), however, I would recommend this book to kids (12+ though). It is more mystery and some mysterious deaths or disappearances happen, but they aren't super gruesome for most of the time.

It was an interesting read, and I loved the twins, I loved their aunt, I loved Morbide. They were great characters. I loved how the twins have some darker side to their mostly good side(they are interested in deaths/murders) that made them (for me) more human and it made the story more interesting. Especially since I was waiting for them to start doing some murders (sorry, but the previous book). I loved how close they were, and that no matter what situations they went through, they stayed close and helped each other out.

The Aunt, my oh my, I really liked her, she was the kind of woman I am sure people will love always (even though she has quite a temper). I was very sad when my suspicions proved to be right and her life was short-lived. But the time she was around, I enjoyed her and her relationship with the twins. Not many people would adopt kids like that, especially twins, and it is admirable she tried her best to make their lives great and fun.

Morbide, ah, my favourite character after the Twins. At the beginning I was thinking he was the catalyst, the bad guy, the murderer, the one to start doing bad stuff, but no, no, no, I was totally wrong. After a few pages I started to like him, and I really hoped he would live through the book. I won't say what happens to him, that is all a secret you will have to find out.

My first impressions on the writer were pretty correct and I was happy that my instincts didn't betray me on this one. I knew she was up to no good, and at times she was truly scary too with all she did to the kids. I can see where she gets her inspiration for her books, and sorry, what the hell? Disturbing and scary. Same goes for the two who are her cohorts. Though I never expected, or should I say suspected that person to be one of her cohorts.

Again there was a great map of the city with new locations, however I would have loved a map for Sunken City (Venice?? Seems to match, it is pretty sunken, they have boats, Piazza's) and of course the horror castle of the writer. Please more maps!

All in all the book is fantastic, and I can't wait until October when book 3 comes out!

Review first posted on http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Faith Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

My opinion on my IG account https://www.instagram.com/p/CBAwdDLj2...

[Naomi Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books, the twins dynamic brings the book alive and the colourful descriptions of the food , characters and settings gives the book so much life
10/10 would recommend

[Ethan Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Middle School Book Club #1:

Trying to read some of my classroom library books so I know what to recommend to my students.

This one moved quickly and almost felt like a budget version of 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'. I would recommend this one to a reader that struggles with attention. I feel it would hold one's interest as the plot is changing and unfolding so rapidly.

[Overbooked ✎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is about two twins (Greta and Feliks) living with an eccentric aunt who smokes cigars and prepares famous vanilla puddings (the parents abandoned them and later died) and Karloff, the resident parrot. Aunt Gisela used to be a movie actress but to help ends meet, takes in a lodger Mr Morbide (a fellow horror movies actor). The misfortunes of the twins have just started… aunty dies and the twins end up first in the local reformatory for maladjusted children and later are adopted by Olga Van Veenen, a peculiar writer of murder stories for children.

I particularly like the characters in the Schwartzgarten Tales series. The adults are eccentric if not evil, in this book, the twins (who eat far too many sweets) are clever, but I would have preferred to know more about their personality, as to me, they are often treated as a pair rather than individually. The story, with its twist and turns, shocking events and adventurous escapes, keeps the reader’s attention alive till the end.

I personally preferred the first book in the series (Osbert the Avenger) because that story was less conventional (the boy takes his murderous revenge against the adults). In this second book, the twins’ chase-and-escape type of adventures are quite representative of the YA genre and sometimes feels repetitive.
With the exciting and scary plot and deliciously wicked evildoers, this book would suit older children who like adventures and the horror genre. Recommended to Lemony Snicket fans.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that positively scoots along at rocket speed. If you have a tween who's a reluctant reader, they may get into this because the action starts very quickly and keeps on coming. It's dark and bloody, but not anywhere near as black as the first book (Osbert the Avenger) mainly because the perpetrators of crime in this book are the more usual villainous adults. (Osbert was a little disturbing in that regard.) This book did indeed seem more like Lemony Snicket romp, as advertised on the cover. But it's not evocative of Dahl in my opinion. But that's really not relevant except with respect to the marketing.

Love the Chris Riddell cover and map as usual. Always excellent.

Don't expect any deep, complex character development in this one. (Actually, you DO get deep, complex character development in Osbert the Avenger...)

[LeslecturesdeMylene · Rating 4 out of 5]

15/20
En bref, si certaines choses sont cousues de fils blancs, l'auteur arrive quand même à nous surprendre à plusieurs reprises. Les personnages et les lieux sont bien décrits, on s'imagine sans peine les différentes scènes et on est facilement pris par l'intrigue. Un nouveau voyage à Sinistreville moins sombre que le premier mais qui reste quand même assez glauque !

http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...

[Emilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book, it was interesting and the characters were mischievous. The plot kept me interested throughout the whole book.

[Samsalaqueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't fully understand kid books or YA books. They are being smugly waved off by adults but I just read the journey of two kids who faced child neglect, whose family got murdered, who have been kidnapped and witnessed decapitation and several other deaths.

Loved every bit of it and for the full experience I advice to have hot chocolate and overly sweet treats at hand while reading this book. Although if you eat candy when they do , you will end up diabetic...

[Vir · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was dissapointed with this book, having loved Osbert so much. The Woebegone Twins was a good story though, i admit. And i did like it, but i had high expectations from the last book.

[Linda Hanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book; however, I am not the target audience.

[Ionsboys]

it's good but not as osbert

[Chakiyah Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

its amazing book i have a copy myself

[Alita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could try the jelly skulls in real life

[Joy Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not bad I love all the things in this book 10 out of 10 recommend

[Sahel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like this book a lot because the type of book it is and the plots and twists and everything just doesn't work with me.For example the person that adopted them with love and spent so much money on them tries to kill them like that is just really weird.

Another reason I don't like this book is the fact that it is just very fast and one second they are opening up there hearts and loving a woman the next second they are trying to run away from the same woman.So in my opinion it should not be read but another reason why it is bad is because it is Christopher William Hill's first book.

I don't feel any pity for the characters because they get to live a good life after they are adopted by a rich author.They are quite dumb because they don't like her and get suspicious about her.Even after they had been loved so much by her.

I just hate this book so much that I actually didn't want to read it half way through but I urged myself.As this is the first in the series in my opinion it doesn't set a good tone for the series so I urge readers to read the Lily Livered prince before they read this one because the Lily livered prince gives you more info about the city that this is based in.

One of the main reasons that I hate this book is because of the fact that there has been a generous lady who opened up her heart for some orphaned kids and now for some reason they are getting on her case and acting as if there is something wrong about her.

This book in my opinion shouldn't be read or if the author was to have made this book he should have put it after not as the first because I did not want to read the rest.

[Matilda Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greta and Feliks are known as The Mortenberg Twins, although their actual names are Greta Woebegone and Feliks Woebegone. They are orphans and live with their Aunt Gisela. Aunt Gisela used to be an actress, with her friend, Morbide. Morbide stays in Aunt Gisela's house, and rents a room, since they are low on money. At first, Greta and Feliks think Morbide murdered their aunt, but soon they realise Morbide is on their side.

Morbide helps Greta and Feliks escape the evil clutches of the so called 'Olga Van Veneen', a famous author, who at first Greta adores. But as soon as Aunt Gisela is murdered, and Olga Van Veneen starts to track them down, Greta begins to dislike her, understandably. The case goes so far, and the twins are in such danger, they have to wear fake noses, and have their faces covered in plaster, so no one can see their true identity...

I thought this book was written very well, and I think I will go on to read one of the author's other books, such as 'Osbert The Avenger'. I thought he had a very good style of writing, and I think children from all over the world will love reading this book of gruesome adventures.

[Richie Brown]

This has: twice as many characters, twice as many locations and twice as many protagonists as Christopher William Hill needed to give us. This unfortunately doesn't mean it's double the fun. Instead, it's only half the book that Osbert the Avenger was.

It's a decent premise and the writing is good enough, but the ending is a little flat and the decision to make the antagonist a children's author for no really good reason (why not a rival film maker?) shows where the author's head was when he writing this!

[Simon Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I much preferred this second Tales of Scheartzgarden novel to the last. The characters are more rounded and the mystery element keeps the reader guessing. The world remains vivid and well drawn and we get much more of a sense of it through the narrative of this story. Look forward to the next instalment.

[Z.R. Southcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the two orphans' guardian dies, they're lost in an adventure where it's almost impossible to tell friend from foe-who-wants-to-kill-them.

Much like A Series of Unfortunate Events, but with less sarcasm and humorously-defined words.

[Blue Mountains Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book from the Tales from Schwartzgarten series. This one wasn’t as graphically murderous as the first in the series (thankfully) - it was an enjoyable little story.

ANON

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Hope the kids in book club do too.

[Melisande · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://accrocdeslivres.blogspot.fr/20...

[Aidan Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of mystery and wonder reveals the big plot set up.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOL to this book