The Trumpet of Terror

Choose Your Own Adventure #55

by Deborah Lerme Goodman

The year is 938. You are about to set off on your first sea voyage when you see a man who you believe might be Odin, the Norse god who once gave your great-grandfather a magical trumpet....

Genres: Choose Your Own Adventure, Fiction, Gamebooks, Fantasy, Childrens, Collections, Mythology

114 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

“That gives me an idea!” you exclaim. “Actually, it gives me TWO ideas!”

Found this at a used bookstore, fell in love with that incredible cover, and decided to relive my youth for $3. It was....certainly an experience.

Another favorite quote: “Gods are only brave when they are immortal,” Odin replies sadly. “Without immortality and without courage we are nothing more than human beings with a lot of magic equipment.”

[Brendan Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was hilarious. Losing an eye is a freaky option.

[Remo · Rating 4 out of 5]

La serie de Elige tu propia aventura es, literalmente, un clásico de nuestra infancia. He releído algunos, años después, y me parecen un poco cortos de miras, limitados en las posibilidades, pero cuando tenía 10 años cada uno de ellos era una maravilla lista para ser explorada hasta que hubiera dado todo lo que tenía dentro.
Al final siempre sabías que ibas a recorrer todos y cada uno de los caminos posibles. La emoción estaba, por tanto, en ganar y pasarte la historia al primer intento. Si no podías, pues nada, seguro que en el intento 18 acababas encontrando el camino. A veces los autores iban "a pillar", poniéndote los resultados buenos detrás de decisiones que eran claramente anómalas.
Recuerdo haber aprendido tanto palabras como hechos y datos en estos libros. No nadar contra la corriente cuando quieres llegar a tierra, dónde colocarse cuando un avión va a despegar, un montón de cosas interesantes y un montón de historias vividas, decenas por cada libro, que convirtieron a las serie en una colección fractal, donde cada vez podías elegir un libro nuevo entre los que ya tenías.
Llegué hasta el tomo 54 y dejé de tener interés por la serie, pero la serie siguió hasta superar los 180 títulos. Tal vez mis hijos quieran seguir el camino que yo empecé. Si quieres que lo sigan, pasa a la página 7.

[Dominique Liongson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book that exposed me to Norse Mythology. It introduced me to Odin, Thor, Loki, and other characters. Lots of adventures to choose from. If it is a book where the options the reader decides from makes the difference, it's a book of 28 possible endings. The endings are results from making choices. Like I may choose to lose one eyeball in exchange for supernatural intelligence, or not at all. Either I turn out to be a winner or a loser in the ending of the stories. I think this is a fun and exciting read. Don't let dream-squashers tell you this book is lousy. Give it a go and see for yourself. Relax... it is fiction; it is healthy to enjoy moderately the world of make believe. Be aware of the borderline that separates fact from fiction and you will be fine. Cheers.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read this book since I was a kid (sadly got separated from all my books at one point) so I might be looking back through rose tinted glasses, but I remember this book being incredible. From Odin's sad confession that gods are only brave when immortal, to Hera laughing at the sound of the Trumpet of Terror, the character portraits were amazing. And I pretty much learned everything I know about Norse mythology from this book. If I'm ever blessed with little ones in the house again, I'll be getting it for them (and checking for anything no longer acceptable... it's amazing what we used to think was fine back then!)

[Helen Pugsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh.
It's good enough I'd name one of my trumpets the trumpet of terror🎺 but I'm not exactly raving about it. I especially don't like how the book can end by you choosing to go on a side quest. Like any good adventurer I chose to play it several times.
It just didn't do it for me...

[M.A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simplistic story that serves as an introduction to Norse mythology. The plot isn't much to speak of, but it's mildly educational.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read. A lot of fun paths with unique deaths. Had a lot of fun reading this to my niece and nephews.

[Patrick Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the ultimate Choose Your Own Adventure. LIBRO ULTIMO!

[Arhaan Shaikh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just horrible

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I blew the trumpet, and the book ended. Pretty anti-climactic, but two stars because it seemed like a good idea.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these books as child but now I am enjoying them with my son and getting him to choose the adventure is great and he loves these books.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love choose your own adventure books! This one was pretty fun and had several endings that were a little dark but mostly the endings were happy.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I died so many times I forgot what the goal of the game was lol but it was cool knowing about Norse Mythology. But I found the correct ending and it was a good read albeit frustrating.

[Petercsm730 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thor, Odin, Loki, and you!

The Trumpet of Terror (Choose Your Own Adventure #55) by Deborah Lerme Goodman follows a young Danish boy in 938 A.D. as he gets ready to set sail on a voyage. His great-grandfather was given the Trumpet of Terror from the Norse god Odin himself. I thought this book was a lot of fun and the author has done a good amount of research on the topic of Norse mythology. There's even a name glossary and brief history given at the book's beginning, which I found helpful and interesting. Early on a decision either keeps you on your sea-bound journey or has you helping the Norse gods get rid of a witch who has invaded their kingdom with the bulk of the book being dedicated to the latter path. Along the way you may encounter a war boat made out of fingernail clippings from the dead, a dungeon with walls of slithering snakes, and cloud rivers full of icy knives. The author doesn't skimp on exciting scenarios.

There's one non-ending in the book where you complete a side-quest but don't get a chance to finish the main one. I wish the author had just looped this path back into the main quest (which she does for another path). I hate when I reach THE END and my character hasn't finished his/her adventure. There's also one selfish ending you can take that actually ends up being pretty positive, which is something unusual for these books (though The Antimatter Formula had one too).

The art in the book is by Ted Enik. His art is very precise and well-done. But his drawings are cartoonish and definitely at odds with the straight-forward writing. At one point you encounter a giant wolf with a blood stain on its chest but the drawing makes it look like a chubby dog from a Looney Tunes cartoon. The ridiculous cover is another good example. Doesn't exactly scream 'The Trumpet of Terror', does it? I found this mismatch disappointing, especially considering that the artist IS talented, but some kids will get a kick out of the funny drawings. Others probably won't.

Overall this is a fun read with lots of well-done and surprising twists. Despite its ridiculous cover.

[A book away from an episode of hoarders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite of all the Choose Your Own Adventure books. I read most of them growing up but I read this one so many times all of the pages fell out of it.

I bought another copy off ebay recently to read again.