Зверовете от безпощадната гора

The Five Realms #3

by Kieran Larwood, David Wyatt (Illustrator), Кийрън Ларуд

От носителя на наградата Blue Peter Кийрън Ларуд – третата книга за епичната битка на Подкин срещу гормите, „Зверовете от Безпощадната гора“, вече е тук.

Бардът вдигна поглед към трите фигури, които ги бяха наобиколили. Носеха черни наметала и дълги роби. Под качулките слънчевите лъчи играеха по шлифовани кости, осеяни със спирали и руни. От дупките в маските към него се бяха насочили три чифта очи: студени, спокойни, безчувствени.
– Да – каза бардът. – Това са танцуващи с кости. Ала недей да се вълнуваш толкова. Дошли са, за да ме убият…

Вместо това бардът е отведен в храма на танцуващите с кости заедно с чирака си Ру, където ще трябва да разкаже историята, която му е донесла толкова много неприятности.

В продължението на удивителната сага за Подкин Едноухия смелият заек, Паз и Пук са готови за битка, за да защитят дома си и да обединят клановете, но за да го направят, ще имат нужда от силата на вълшебния лък Душестрел. Това е единственото оръжие, което може да спаси всички. Докато смелите зайци прекосяват мрачните горски дебри обаче, разбират, че са били предадени…

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Rabbits

344 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2018

About the author

Kieran Larwood is the author of Freaks, and was the winner of the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2011.
Kieran is one of only two male Reception class teachers on the Isle of Wight.
His days mainly consist of singing nursery rhymes, tying shoelaces, trying to locate who has had an ‘accident’ by sense of smell alone, and vast, endless mountains of paperwork.
Kieran graduated from Southampton University with a degree in English, and also did a foundation year at Falmouth College of Art. Ever since he first read The Hobbit at age six, he has been passionate about stories and storytelling.
Kieran lives with his family on the Isle of Wight. It is his dream to write full time and leave the ‘accidents’ to someone else.

Reviews

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 4 out of 5]

They thought they would be safe inside the thick forest. They were wrong. The Gorm are at their doorstep, threatening to destroy the entire forest. But the balance has a way of restoring itself. And the old forest has a secret that just might give the rabbits what they need to win the war.


This book definitely feels inspired by Lord of the Rings. The Gorm destroying the forest and the old forest presenting the heroes with the means to fight the Gorm in battle feels very familiar. It’s reminiscent to the orcs destroying the forest and the Ents fighting back in Lord of the Rings. Naturally there’s more to it than this, but I don’t want to say too much and spoil the fun.


The bard having to tell the story in front of an army of this world’s deadliest assassins only elevates Podkin’s story. As one wrong word from the bard might mean the end of the story. This also makes for an even more gripping read as Podkin’s tale reaches its epic climax.


Overall, a very satisfying end to the Podkin trilogy.

[Elwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es muss nicht immer der 800-Seiten Fantasywälzer sein. Manchmal möchte man einfach nur dem Barden am Lagerfeuer lauschen. Auch wenn das diesmal ein ziemlich ungemütliches Lagerfeuer war ;)

[Layla Crowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical fast paced fantasy that reminds me of the fantastic Redwall series I adored as a child!

The illustrations are stunning and this story is so beautifully told. The characters are so well written that you fall in love with them instantly. The sense of trust, loyalty and love is interwoven in every chapter.

I can't wait to read more when the next book is out later this year!

[Učitaj se! | Martina Štivičić · Rating 4 out of 5]

"'Neke se priče kazuju zbog zabave', kaže bard. 'Neke se priče kazuju da bi se prenijele pouke. Neke se priče kazuju da pomognu ljudima razmišljati, a neke... neke se kazuju da ljudima pokažu istinu. Ne voli svatko da mu se kaže istina.'"

Legendarnog Podkina Jednouhog u trećem dijelu sage o Pet kraljevstava čeka puno toga. Pustolovine, otkrića, drevne obiteljske razmirice i, na kraju svega toga, jedna epska bitka.

Duboko u Čemernoj šumi, siguran u zečinjaku Mračna rupa, u kojem je, zajedno sa suborcima, obitelji i prijateljima našao utočište, Podkin se priprema za neizbježan sukob s opakim Gvozdenima. Zečinjak Mračna rupa u međuvremenu je, stalnim priljevom drugih zečeva u bijegu pred Gvozdenima prerastao u pravi zečinjak, zbog čega iznenadna vijest da Gvozdeni svojim golemim strojevima velikom brzinom uništavaju šumu i sve su im bliže, u svima izazove nalet straha i suočavanje s činjenicom da će se, kako stvari stoje, s Gvozdenima sukobiti puno prije no što su to mislili (i puno prije no što su se za to uspjeli pripremiti).

Suočeni s neizbježnim, zečevi iz Mračne rupe pomoć odluče potražiti u zečinjaku Podkinovog ujaka, što neće biti lak zadatak budući da Podkinova majka i njegov ujak za sobom još vuku davno posijano sjeme razmirice, ljutnje i zamjeranja, koje će biti jako teško spriječiti da proklija. No, put onamo odvest će ih u dubine Čemerne šume u koje još nikad nisu zašli, a u kojima navodno obitava tajanstvena Zvijer Čemerne šume. Istina, mit, neprijatelj ili saveznik? Još jedna zagonetka za Podkina za riješiti...

Pustolovna priča o hrabrim zečevima i opakim Gvozdenima u ovom romanu dolazi do kulminacije, i to takve kakvu sam nekako očekivala malo dalje u priči. U tom me smislu baš iznenadio smjer u kojem je saga krenula, ali nicely done. Očekuj neočekivano. :)

Vjeran sebi, Podkin je i dalje tek zečić koji neprestano raste i sazrijeva, a ono najbolje u njemu uvijek izleti van baš u onom trenutku u kojem je potrebno. Podkinova hrabrost i snalažljivost još su ga jednom doveli do neočekivanog Dara, otkrivajući nam pri tome još malo o mitologiji i povijesti samih Pet kraljevstava, te uvodeći nas još malo dublje u njihovu magiju. Priča o Darovima, Božicama, Čuvarima, Gormaleku i nastanku Gvozdenih maštovita je i čarobna, ujedno i jako zanimljiva. A sve to zajedno upleteno u priču o jednom hrabrom malom zecu i njegovim prijateljima - pomalo neuobičajenom izboru za junake - fantastično osmišljeno.

Jedino što me malo omelo u čitanju, da to tako kažem, je odabir pravopisa i mali kaos koji nastane nakon 160 i neke stranice, kada se imena likova i predmeta počnu brkati (doslovno sve u jednom trenu postane Dušomor), neke riječi ostanu neprevedene, neke malo na engleskom, malo na hrvatskom, i tak. No nije mi ova zbrka pokvarila priču, da ne mislite. Podkinove avanture su sve nadoknadile.

Da ne znam da postoje nastavci, imala bih dojam da se radi o trilogiji, i to trilogiji s epskim završetkom. Naravno, ostavljeno je dovoljno prostora i nedovršenih niti koje još treba utkati u ovu sagu, bez brige. O Podkinu se ima još štošta za reći.

[Veronika Pizano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Druhá línia s bardom dostáva ešte viac priestoru, boj so zlom vrcholí. Aj keď séria končí, ostáva priestor na vyrozprávanie ďalších príbehov, ktoré nasledujú, alebo ktoré len môžu nastať. Táto séria má naozaj všetko, čo má dobrá detská fantasy mať, určite po nej siahnite.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory. Has kept up the quality for 3 books so far. Excellent stuff. Both my 8 year old and I are completely addicted.

[Niki (nikilovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I raced through the Podkin series. It was fun, action-packed, had great characters, and we didn't want to stop reading it each night. There were many nights where my kids begged me to read just one more chapter. I love seeing how excited they were about the series. We're looking forward to revisiting the Five Realms in the Uki books.

[Els - cygny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to use Roeland's words first "I don't understand how a writer can come up with such amazing ideas!"

He absolutely loved the ideas of the weapons the Goddess gave the rabbits. His favourite character was definitely Podkin.

As for me... I think I haven't read a children's book (or series, in this case) I was this invested in since I was an actual kid. I loved the idea of the different timelines, of the story of Podkin and friends being told by a travelling bard, whose story is also told. I sometimes found myself wanting the interludes more than the actual story of Podkin though. Don't get me wrong, I loved that too, but in the end, the bard was my absolute favourite. Also loved the history about the Ancients.

The end of book 3 had me crying, actually crying! And to think that I already knew part of what was going to happen (Roeland spoiled like everything! To be fair, it was mostly before I was planning to read it as well), it still made me really sad. It was so well written.

I can't write much more without spoiling, but I just love when characters that leave, return later on in the story. I'm such a sucker for that. And also, wolves!

Loved the trilogy, definitely reading more books by Mr Larwood!

[Ysgrublaidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Het einde van de trilogie... maar eigenlijk vraagt het om meer. Al zag ik op de site van Kieran Larwood dat er aan een nieuwe trilogie wordt gewerkt die in dezelfde wereld afspeelt. Andere karakters, dat dan weer wel. Want ergens kreeg ik toch het gevoel dat er meer verhaal zit achter dit slotdeel. Ja, het sluit de trilogie mooi af met een laatste veldslag die voor vrede zorgt, maar iets duisters blijft toch hangen. Wie weet komen we Podkin (en Paz en Poek) in de toekomst nog eens tegen, want ik heb weer erg genoten van dit derde deel.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Трета книга успява да задържи ниво тази поредица, впечатлен съм. И се очертава нова сюжетна арка от тук нататък.

[Bruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Predivna!

[R1 Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stoopid bunnies with weapons

Good, theatrical. Just what a movie needs; not a book.
Menacing.

"DON'T DIG 2 DEEP!!!"

[Grace Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. It's like a perfect communion between watership down and lotr. Such creative world building and lore. And the character growth throughout, especially for Podkin, is excellent.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

er zitten wel hele spannende stukken, maar ook oersaaie stukken in. Verder een heel spannend boek met mooie plaatjes. ( review van mijn zoon 11 jaar)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love these books SO MUCH.
Podkin holds a special place in my heart. Also, when I read these I always imagine them being turned into a cartoon tv series or something, where the bard tells us a story per episode

[Mara Cernat · Rating 5 out of 5]

În volumul acesta ni se relevă fațeta post-umană a poveștii, ceea ce nu am mai întâlnit în cărțile pentru copii pe care le-am citit până acum. Excepțională!

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in the Five Realms series and, as with the first two, both the cover (Fernando López Juárez) and interior (David Wyatt) illustrations are stunning and perfectly matched to the book. The cover had me so excited about what this instalment would bring and felt so in keeping with the story so far, while David Wyatt's soft pencil sketches inside are full of detail and atmosphere.

The story itself picks up where The Gifts of Dark Hollow left us, and it is, like the first two books, told through the tales of this travelling bard, which is inspired and works wonderfully. The majority of the book is his telling of Podkin's 'legendary' adventure, we are simultaneously told his story through odd chapters set in the present day.

The old characters are back and there are some interesting new faces too - I particularly liked meeting the Guardians and loved reading more about the Bonedancers (David Wyatt's illustration of them was spot on too). The relationship between the three siblings - Podkin, Paz and Pook - has always been well-depicted with plenty of humour and warmth, and it is lovely to see how Podkin, particularly, is growing and changing with each book.

The world-building in the series as a whole is fantastic, and this instalment is no exception. I'm always completely transported to the centre of the action, whether that be a warm and busy warren, the bonedancer's temple or the heart of the forest.

There's a particularly well-written battle which pulls no punches and makes no attempt to hide the sorrows and losses of war. It's quite a skill to depict a battle in this way - on the one hand exciting and nail-bitingly tense, on the other senseless, confusing and sad, and all the while remaining firmly age-appropriate

This series has it all - magic, adventure and folklore, as well as danger, humour and hope by the bucketload.If you haven't read it yet, start with book one (The Legend of Podkin One Ear)- you'll be clamouring for more as soon as you've finished! And if you have read the first two, you'll be as enthralled as ever by book three. Personally, I'm already getting impatient for book four!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Assassins called bonedancers have finally tracked me down, and my storytelling skills are the only thing that may save me... "Podkin and his friends had already defeated the Gorm a couple of times, but the enemy regrouped and inflicted even more devastation. It didn't seem possible that anything could destroy the whole Grimheart Forest, but the Gorm had created a new weapon of destruction. Podkin's forces numbered around sixty, while the Gorm countered with hundreds of metal warriors. Podkin and his sister Paz had collected several Gifts of the Goddess, but they knew they needed at least one more, a magic bow held by their uncle. They ventured into the forest in search of his warren, but his hate for their mother was powerful. Then, along the way, Podkin and Paz discovered there was a traitor among them."

You really need to read the previous books first. The unique twist to the series is how it is told in two settings. A bard named Wulf (his true identity was revealed in a previous book) shares the story of Podkin and his quest to stop Scramashank, leader of the Gorm. This book seems to end the war, but the resolution leaves some questions. Podkin is an endearing main character, as he's an unassuming hero. He's thrust into the role of a leader, but he questions all of his decisions. It's a lot of responsibility, and he thinks his sister Paz would make a great chief. However, women are rarely considered for that position, and the story addresses this injustice. The book unites unlikely allies to combat the Gorm juggernaut. At the core of the conflict is an ages old feud between the gods and goddesses. Podkin pursues the history of it and makes it the focus of his strategy. Overall, this is an entertaining series that's easy to read. It's being shared by a storytelling bard! Give it a shot.

[Ben Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
The Beasts of Grimheart continues the tale of Podkin One-Ear and his companions as they venture deeper into danger. The story follows Podkin, Paz, and their allies as they journey to rescue the mysterious goddess of the forest, who has been captured by the dark forces of the Gorm. Their quest takes them into the heart of Grimheart Forest, a place of ancient magic, wild creatures, and lurking danger. Along the way, they encounter new allies and terrifying beasts, testing their bravery and the strength of their bond.

Initial Thoughts:
From the opening chapters, Larwood re-establishes the rich world of the Five Realms with confidence and flair. The story feels darker and more urgent than its predecessors, and the tension builds effectively as the group ventures into the unknown. I was particularly struck by the maturity of the themes, loyalty, sacrifice, and the battle between light and corruption, all handled with a sensitivity that makes the story resonate with older readers as well as younger ones.

Enjoyment:
This is an engaging and atmospheric read, full of adventure and heart. The pacing is excellent, blending moments of action with quieter, more reflective passages that develop the characters. Larwood’s descriptive writing continues to impress; his ability to create vivid settings and memorable creatures makes the world feel completely alive. The emotional depth of the story also stands out, with genuine warmth between the main characters and a growing sense of responsibility in Podkin as he begins to understand his role in the wider struggle.

Objections:
There are moments when the tone becomes quite dark, which may not appeal to all younger readers. Some sections within the forest are heavily detailed, and younger audiences might find the mythology and magical elements slightly dense. However, these complexities also add richness and reward more careful reading.

Final Thoughts:
The Beasts of Grimheart is a thrilling and beautifully crafted continuation of the Podkin One-Ear saga. It balances fast-paced adventure with emotional storytelling and offers a meaningful exploration of courage, friendship, and destiny. Larwood’s world continues to expand in fascinating ways, and this instalment reinforces his reputation as one of the most imaginative contemporary writers of children’s fantasy. A strong and memorable addition to the series, highly recommended for confident readers who enjoy immersive, character-driven adventures.

[Teddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

not sure what to write about this one. i enjoyed my time with it, but found the beginning to be lackluster. the plot revolves around one forest, so doesn't feel as massive of an adventure as the first book. although - with the looming threat present throughout - maybe it's right for this book to feel a bit claustrophobic.

despite the few flaws, this is still a very cozy read, with some great action peppered in. i loved the introduction of the wardens, even if they were just to lead our protagonist to another gift. that being said, the premise surrounding this gift is well-executed, and leads to a great extract later on about the origins of the villain (sorry for the vague terms, the names escape me). the imagination around some of the characters, the wardens especially, is astounding. certain characters also shine through this book, such as crom(?), where we see him struggle with having to see the witch who blinded him.

aspects that are introduced as minimal return later to serve a bigger purpose, and the book leaves no hanging threads - while still setting up for a potential sequel. i particularly love how the bard at the time - yarrow - notes he'll have to apprentice pook, the bard we follow now. writing this, i've only just realised that's why pook was so upset over the high bard dying, since that was yarrow too.

while i won't immediately be reaching for the next book, i recommend the series as a whole to anyone with an interest in fantasy or animal-protagonist books. a solid story overall.

[Hallien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Králičia trilógia vrcholí v umne vystavanom závere, pred ním však čaká na družinu ďalšie dobrodružstvo - nové postavy sú ešte lepšie a unikátnejšie než v Dare Temravy, a čitateľovi sa konečne odhaľuje i čo-to z pozadia a tajomstiev starého sveta. Ako malá výčitka mi napadá, že dvanásť darov bohýň padá Podkinovej družine do náručia akosi rýchlo - skúsený literárny "ždímač" by sériu natiahol hádam aj na dvanásť kníh...
Ale to nie je vždy dobré! Preto tlieskam autorovi za to ako sa mu podarilo sa vysporiadať so záplavou darov a zároveň si nechať otvorené možnosti pre ďalšie pokračovania. V angličtine už je napísaná ďalšia trilógia ktorá vyzerá ako možný spinoff, alebo je minimálne zasadená do rovnakého sveta.
Záverečný stret tiež krásne vystihuje hranicu medzi serióznosťou a dostupnosťou detskému čitateľovi. Navyše slovenské vydanie je podarené, preklad je prakticky bezchybný a dopĺňajú ho krásne ilustrácie a výborné obálky. Verím že trilógia poteší takmer každého detského čitateľa túžiaceho po dobrodružstve, a vrelo ju odporúčam.

[Lizz Axnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book not realizing it was the last book in a trilogy. However, I felt like the author gave us enough clues to prior stories that you could read this and understand it without having read the previous books in the series.

The story is about a world run by rabbits. An evil entity has possessed some of the rabbits and turned them into Gorm, who are determined to destroy the forest and all its inhabitants. The plot itself is a story within a story, about a bard who must tell a tale in order to save his life.

This book was intriguing enough for me to finish it but not enough to want to seek out others in the series. I think younger audiences will enjoy the story. If I were younger, this probably would have been right up my alley. Great story that kept the pages turning but probably not something I would read again.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic end to the first part of the series. I love the way this series has been told. I love these characters. Special mention to Rue (Wulf's apprentice) because I didn't put him in my last review! Here we meet the Forest Wardens. I love them! Little Pook making friends with Pocka the warden baby and the wolves is just adorable (and then heart breaking after the battle when he is howling into the woods and gets no response). And Kieran has described everything so well that I can see it all and that is why I was in tears for the battle (and deaths, I'm glad he didn't skip over death in this series). I was in two minds about starting the Uki part of the series but I definitely will.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is just so good. The world is vibrant and brimming with life, and the story just keeps getting deeper and more interesting with each instalment. Podkin, Paz and Pook are winning characters and the cast that surround them are equally as compelling. Larwood uses his words with magic - spinning a universe of colour that you can't help but be drawn into. I love the story within a story framework and how this gives the series room to move while still allowing for a satisfying conclusion. Wonderful for kids (9+?) and adults alike, I had to have a moment when I finished to just let the book soak in.

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having taken years to pick up the first book in the series, despite a friend telling me I’d like it a lot, I’ve absolutely zoomed through this series these last few months and just fallen in love with the world and narrative style. In the series, a bard and his young apprentice have been travelling around and learning about the tale of Podkin One-Ear, a legendary rabbit who came up against the terrifying Gorm, who want to enslave all rabbits and destroy nature. This time, the bard must finish the tale under life-threatening conditions, and although I suspected the book would have a happy(ish) ending, I was honestly on the edge of my seat reading it till I found out everyone’s fate. I loved seeing how much the characters, especially Podkin and Paz, have developed and changed throughout the series, as well as loving a lot of the supporting cast and enjoying meeting this book’s new additions. I couldn’t be any more obsessed with the worldbuilding in these books at this point, and it’s just so perfectly paced. The battle at the end is epic (although there was a death I was very upset about!) and I loved the end of Podkin’s tale, but I’m equally excited to meet Uki and discover another Five Realms story soon.

[Zuzka-knižníček · Rating 5 out of 5]

Třetí díl této dokonalé série a pořád je to neskutečná jízda, na začátku jsem se do knížky vnořila (ano, nory hrají důležitou roli v knížkách) a na koni jsem se vynořila, doslova. Pořád mě nepřestává fascinovat, že mě tak baví číst příběh o králících, ale je to tak skvěle vystavěný svět, příběh, prostě všechno včetně dokonalých ilustrací. K přečtení rozhodně doporučuji a už bych si prosila díl další :-) Knížka je totiž opravdu pro všechny generace a to je skvělé.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked this book best of the three; there is a more diverse cast of characters and it was a satisfying conclusion to Podkin's story. Content considerations: more unsettling illustrations, Bonedancers (assassins first mentioned in the previous book) are out to get a character, the main goal of the book is to kill the Gorm leader, some more talk of how the gods first came to earth and defeated the iron thing/Gormalech, there is a battle with minor gore mentioned. 7+

[Jodie Cotgreave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this series, each new volume brings with it, action adventure and truely loveable characters. This installment feels a smidge more mature with the development of moral lessons weaved within the narrative.
As a 33 year old bookseller this is absolutely one of my favourite fantasy series and i'd highly recommend it to kids and adults alike.

[Robin Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite ongoing children's series. I think it's fantastic - the Redwall of today! (8+)

*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. If you use it in any marketing material, online or anywhere on a published book without asking permission from me first, I will ask you to remove that use immediately. Thank you!*