Trollogy!

Tales of the Dark Forest #3

by Steve Barlow, Steve Skidmore

Bertram loves to feel the grass beneath his feet the sun on his face, the wind in his hair, which would be fine for a human. But Bertram is a troll. And sunlight turns normal trolls to stone.
Disowned by his own kind, and accompanied only by Cliff the semi-suicidal lemming, Bertram sets off into the Dark Forest. He finds refuge and friendship in the city of Dun Indewood until a massive Troll army appears before the city hell-bent on revenge.
Bertram must choose his side, and dispel the shadow of the Troll Lord, if he is to save the people of Dun Indewood and free his own…

Review: “This is an absolutely stonking book. I couldn’t stop laughing and when I did I just started again.”

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Humor

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Steve Barlow (real name Steven Lowe) was born in Britain. He studied at Warwick University and Nottingham University, and worked at various times as a teacher, actor, stage manager and puppeteer. Then he went to teach in Botswana. On his return to the UK he met Steve Skidmore, collectively known as The Two Steves—are British collaborative writers who mostly work in the field of children's literature. They have written over 70 books together.

Reviews

[Seb · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Bertram loved the sound of birdsong, and the wind as it rustled through the grass. He loved the sun on his back.
None of this would’ve been unusual if Bertram had been human. It would’ve been normal. It would’ve been expected. But Bertram wasn’t human.

Bertram was a troll.”


This is a brilliant book. A great follow up to Goodknyght & Whizzard, this tells the story of Bertram and his journey to Dun Indewood with Cliff the Lemming, and how he has to save the day.

With a similar layout and nods to The Lord of the Rings, this is by no means a spoof of that series and does very well to stand on its own. Mentions of previous characters in the Tales of the Dark Forest series makes the world feel more fleshed out and well developed, and the development of new characters is done very well.

Towards the end of this book, I wanted to continue reading right through to the end. Funny, witty and genuinely enjoyable. Definitely a series I will recommend to others.

[A A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't understand why there aren't more reviews for this series

I am surprised that a series this well written and engaging is not a lot more popular. Lots of borrowed ideas but that is half the fun of them seeing how the ideas are incorporated into the tale. Easy reading and humorous. Read first three and just going to buy the fourth.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I have ever read a book that kept me giggling and smiling throughout the entire story. However, this book was magic! From the very start I had a constant smirk on my face. Who wouldn't when the main character is Bertram a Half Human/Troll who was raised to be all Troll and his sidekick a Lemming named Cliff that keeps finding different way to kill himself, yet fails at every attempt. Together these two are a comedic duo that is a must read. Throw in some adventure to the Topside, and back into the mountain where the trolls live and you got yourself a can't put down, laugh out loud book! Happy reading everyone!