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Crog
When Wilf sees the simple wooden bowl in the local museum, he’s not sure why he’s so drawn to it – but it has him mesmerized. Leaving with the bowl under his jacket, he notices two men in dark suits heading purposefully inside, and something tells him he should make a quick exit.
The next morning, there’s someone in his room: Crog. Dressed in muddy rags, with black stubs for teeth and a grisly rope around his neck, Crog isn’t sure how he ended up here – but he knows it’s because of the bowl. Three thousand years ago, Crog was tasked with protecting the bowl from those who want it to gain power, and he failed once. But he won’t fail again.
Within minutes, the doorman at Wilf’s apartment is lying dead, the men in suits closing in. Wilf, Crog and Wilf’s twin sister Ishbel are suddenly on the run – and those who want the bowl are only one step behind.
The next morning, there’s someone in his room: Crog. Dressed in muddy rags, with black stubs for teeth and a grisly rope around his neck, Crog isn’t sure how he ended up here – but he knows it’s because of the bowl. Three thousand years ago, Crog was tasked with protecting the bowl from those who want it to gain power, and he failed once. But he won’t fail again.
Within minutes, the doorman at Wilf’s apartment is lying dead, the men in suits closing in. Wilf, Crog and Wilf’s twin sister Ishbel are suddenly on the run – and those who want the bowl are only one step behind.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2014
2 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 3, 2024
Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: Death from old age
Score: Two out of ten.
Crog was disappointing. Three stars was too much. One will do.
Crog seemed like an interesting and original yet obscure novel about some creature arising from his sleep and a bowl but it ultimately very much underwhelmed me and I found a lot of problems with this which I'll get to later on. Crog by Amanda Mitchison begins with a rather flat character Wilf making a questionable decision of stealing a bowl from a museum and he escapes, that doesn't seem that important at first but it'll play a major role in the plot soon enough. He meets back with his sister Ishbel when they meet some random creature from 3000 years ago called Crog, he's apparently the protector of the bowl for whatever reason and it has been stolen before so he plans for that to not happen again and so Wilf and Ishbel run away from their home and from the police to try and keep the bowl for themselves and I didn't like these characters because they didn't develop at all and they were quite irritating to read at times when they argued over each other. In the end, Crog comes back for the bowl and they give it back to him but he wants the last piece of the bowl and they find that and give that to him as well, afterwards, he dies for whatever reason but it's mostly likely due to old age, he's 3000 years old after all but anyways that ends in the story in a fizzling-out manner, it's such a shame that it had to end this way. If you like fantasy books try the Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo.
Trigger warnings: Death from old age
Score: Two out of ten.
Crog was disappointing. Three stars was too much. One will do.
Crog seemed like an interesting and original yet obscure novel about some creature arising from his sleep and a bowl but it ultimately very much underwhelmed me and I found a lot of problems with this which I'll get to later on. Crog by Amanda Mitchison begins with a rather flat character Wilf making a questionable decision of stealing a bowl from a museum and he escapes, that doesn't seem that important at first but it'll play a major role in the plot soon enough. He meets back with his sister Ishbel when they meet some random creature from 3000 years ago called Crog, he's apparently the protector of the bowl for whatever reason and it has been stolen before so he plans for that to not happen again and so Wilf and Ishbel run away from their home and from the police to try and keep the bowl for themselves and I didn't like these characters because they didn't develop at all and they were quite irritating to read at times when they argued over each other. In the end, Crog comes back for the bowl and they give it back to him but he wants the last piece of the bowl and they find that and give that to him as well, afterwards, he dies for whatever reason but it's mostly likely due to old age, he's 3000 years old after all but anyways that ends in the story in a fizzling-out manner, it's such a shame that it had to end this way. If you like fantasy books try the Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2015
I hate to say this, but 'Crog' is not one of my favourite books.....
Don't get me wrong, it's original, sometimes funny, there's adventure, but it just didn't grip me like so many others have done recently. (e.g. The Itch series)
For me, I think it had a lot to do with the characters: Wilf is a troublemaker and I find it hard sympathising with him, while his cousin is always complaining and as for Crog, I really did try and understand his character, but found that I didn't care enough about him either. There wasn't enough build up for you to care about them at all really, so you couldn't be bothered to invest your time.
The whole plot with the bowl and a ritual really confused me too.
One chapter I did love was when Wilf drinks from the bowl and something amazing happens. I won't spoil it, but let's just say there's darkness, intrigue and sadness as well. The description in that is wonderful!
The end was disappointing as well for me, simply because it felt as though the author had told her story and that was that. There were loose ends too I felt, with the bad guys Badger and Snout. Who were those guys really? Were they involved with the ritual, or just sent by the police to get the bowl?
Anyway, it was a cool read and some of the imagery used was amazing. I hate to give it 2/10 but that's just my opinion, I see that loads of you guys really enjoyed the novel, so each to their own.
Don't get me wrong, it's original, sometimes funny, there's adventure, but it just didn't grip me like so many others have done recently. (e.g. The Itch series)
For me, I think it had a lot to do with the characters: Wilf is a troublemaker and I find it hard sympathising with him, while his cousin is always complaining and as for Crog, I really did try and understand his character, but found that I didn't care enough about him either. There wasn't enough build up for you to care about them at all really, so you couldn't be bothered to invest your time.
The whole plot with the bowl and a ritual really confused me too.
One chapter I did love was when Wilf drinks from the bowl and something amazing happens. I won't spoil it, but let's just say there's darkness, intrigue and sadness as well. The description in that is wonderful!
The end was disappointing as well for me, simply because it felt as though the author had told her story and that was that. There were loose ends too I felt, with the bad guys Badger and Snout. Who were those guys really? Were they involved with the ritual, or just sent by the police to get the bowl?
Anyway, it was a cool read and some of the imagery used was amazing. I hate to give it 2/10 but that's just my opinion, I see that loads of you guys really enjoyed the novel, so each to their own.
June 29, 2015
Who knows why Wilf steals things. Top end cars, wallets, anything that he sets his mind to take. It’s a challenge. And his way of thinking is, that people are asking for trouble if they leave their stuff (even if locked) for someone to take. They are being careless.
He doesn’t need to steal. He lives in an expensive apartment building with his twin sister Ishbel (Ishie) and they look after themselves while their banker father is away on business – which is quite a lot of the time. But one day, he steals the wrong thing - something someone else was planning to steal. And they want it back. But so does someone else.
That someone is a 3000 yr old boy, and he needs Wilf and Ishie to help him take it back to where it belongs - or does it?
Something different, packed with adventure and a deadly chase. I really would've liked to know what happened afterwards - there was a lot of explaining to do...
He doesn’t need to steal. He lives in an expensive apartment building with his twin sister Ishbel (Ishie) and they look after themselves while their banker father is away on business – which is quite a lot of the time. But one day, he steals the wrong thing - something someone else was planning to steal. And they want it back. But so does someone else.
That someone is a 3000 yr old boy, and he needs Wilf and Ishie to help him take it back to where it belongs - or does it?
Something different, packed with adventure and a deadly chase. I really would've liked to know what happened afterwards - there was a lot of explaining to do...
April 2, 2024
"Crog" by Amanda Mitchison is a novel that unfortunately falls short of expectations, deserving only a one-star rating. Despite its intriguing premise, the execution of the story leaves much to be desired, resulting in a disappointing and unengaging reading experience.
The novel follows the journey of Crog, a young boy living in prehistoric times, as he embarks on a quest to find his missing family. The concept of exploring prehistoric life and the challenges faced by early humans has the potential for an enthralling narrative. However, Mitchison's execution fails to deliver on this promise.
One of the main issues with "Crog" is the lack of compelling characterization. Crog himself remains a shallow and underdeveloped protagonist throughout the book. His motivations and emotions are inadequately explored, making it difficult for readers to form a meaningful connection with him. The supporting characters also suffer from a lack of depth and fail to leave a lasting impact.
The pacing of the story is another significant drawback. "Crog" progresses at a slow and meandering pace, with little sense of urgency or narrative drive. The plot lacks tension and fails to maintain reader engagement, resulting in a tedious reading experience. The narrative often feels disjointed and lacks a clear direction, further contributing to the overall sense of confusion and disinterest.
Additionally, the prose in "Crog" is lackluster. Mitchison's writing style fails to captivate readers, lacking the descriptive power and evocative language necessary to bring the prehistoric setting to life. The dialogue is often stilted and unconvincing, further undermining the immersion in the story.
While the concept of exploring prehistoric times is intriguing, the execution in "Crog" fails to live up to its potential. The shallow characterization, slow pacing, and lackluster prose result in a disappointing and unengaging reading experience. If you are looking for a compelling and well-crafted story set in prehistoric times, "Crog" is not the book to fulfill that desire, warranting a one-star rating.
The novel follows the journey of Crog, a young boy living in prehistoric times, as he embarks on a quest to find his missing family. The concept of exploring prehistoric life and the challenges faced by early humans has the potential for an enthralling narrative. However, Mitchison's execution fails to deliver on this promise.
One of the main issues with "Crog" is the lack of compelling characterization. Crog himself remains a shallow and underdeveloped protagonist throughout the book. His motivations and emotions are inadequately explored, making it difficult for readers to form a meaningful connection with him. The supporting characters also suffer from a lack of depth and fail to leave a lasting impact.
The pacing of the story is another significant drawback. "Crog" progresses at a slow and meandering pace, with little sense of urgency or narrative drive. The plot lacks tension and fails to maintain reader engagement, resulting in a tedious reading experience. The narrative often feels disjointed and lacks a clear direction, further contributing to the overall sense of confusion and disinterest.
Additionally, the prose in "Crog" is lackluster. Mitchison's writing style fails to captivate readers, lacking the descriptive power and evocative language necessary to bring the prehistoric setting to life. The dialogue is often stilted and unconvincing, further undermining the immersion in the story.
While the concept of exploring prehistoric times is intriguing, the execution in "Crog" fails to live up to its potential. The shallow characterization, slow pacing, and lackluster prose result in a disappointing and unengaging reading experience. If you are looking for a compelling and well-crafted story set in prehistoric times, "Crog" is not the book to fulfill that desire, warranting a one-star rating.
May 10, 2021
I bought the book but I didn't opened it yet, because my religion teacher told me it might be filled with ancient curses and if I open it I might curse my neighbours cat, which I have no problem with, but it's his 17th cat and I'm getting tired of paying for his deaf cats every few weeks. But I think the book smells really nice and I'm planning to use it in a cooking recipe. I think I might make Lasagna with the pages but I'm not sure yet. I mean I once tried tiramisu, but I confused the milk with citric acid which melted my teeth away and destroyed the inside of my stomach. I mean it all went fine. I survived it. It also brings some features. Since my stomach now consists of my whole body, i can store foods everywhere in my body. Sometimes i eat whole cans of foods without opening them. Then I push the cans inside my arms so it feels like I'm having really really really really really really really really really strong muscles. sometime it doesnt work which isn't very pleasant. On the other hand it's also funny to prank friends with that. Anyways, it is incredible. This book truly changed my life, this is possibly the most useful book I've ever read, no, this is the most useful thing on the history of the planet, every man, animal and plant should worship the ground at it's feet, I only wonder what it'll do next. I would rate the book 8/10.
May 14, 2015
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads, and even if I didn´t fall for it, it was entertaining enough.
I think anyone interested in this book have to keep in mind that it is focus for young teenagers, meaning the writing is very simple, the plot not overly developed and the characters not very deep. Don’t get me wrong, I love young adult literature, but this one was not for me.
That is what put me off the book. So much could have been explained further about the back story, dig more in the past life of the characters but in this version, we can only have little grasps of it.
I supposed the author wanted to keep the book short, with a fast past so a young lector won´t be bored.
The characters are very hard to get attached to, I found them bland and with no back bone or special personality. The hero and his sisters are very hard to love they are so pampered and take things too easily for granted.
Crog was fun in an out of his time personage, with an unexpected twist for him at the end. I was really not expecting him to turn out that way and it was fun to read.
The best scene is when Will drink from the bowl, that was a great scene and I wanted more of it. Too bad we had to go to the next scene.
This book will attract young boys with all the running from adults, being wild in the forest and a guy doing forbidden things.
It was just not appealing to me.
With a longer length, a bigger explanations of the Valley people, Crog´s past and the provenance of the Bowl, it would have been a great book.
I think anyone interested in this book have to keep in mind that it is focus for young teenagers, meaning the writing is very simple, the plot not overly developed and the characters not very deep. Don’t get me wrong, I love young adult literature, but this one was not for me.
That is what put me off the book. So much could have been explained further about the back story, dig more in the past life of the characters but in this version, we can only have little grasps of it.
I supposed the author wanted to keep the book short, with a fast past so a young lector won´t be bored.
The characters are very hard to get attached to, I found them bland and with no back bone or special personality. The hero and his sisters are very hard to love they are so pampered and take things too easily for granted.
Crog was fun in an out of his time personage, with an unexpected twist for him at the end. I was really not expecting him to turn out that way and it was fun to read.
The best scene is when Will drink from the bowl, that was a great scene and I wanted more of it. Too bad we had to go to the next scene.
This book will attract young boys with all the running from adults, being wild in the forest and a guy doing forbidden things.
It was just not appealing to me.
With a longer length, a bigger explanations of the Valley people, Crog´s past and the provenance of the Bowl, it would have been a great book.
February 10, 2015
Amanda Mitchison has invented a marvellous anti-hero in the shape of the light-fingered Wilf. There is so much to like in this book, it's intriguing and fast-paced with a fantastic chase, ghosts, the Scottish landscape and the fingers of the far distant past coming to haunt. Crog himself is a great invention, and his fascination at the modern world is funny and endearing. Best bit - when the gang hide out in the hideous 'show homes'!
June 21, 2015
First of all I need too say a big thank you for my copy or crog that I received through goodreads first reads. I found this book very easy too read and quite hard too put down! It really pulls the reader along with the story and you don't want too leave. I enjoyed the way it was written and found some parts very amusing. Thanks again!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews