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A Riddle for a King
Philo longs for freedom and adventure, and he most certainly gets it when he lands in the strangest of a place where nothing makes sense, a place packed with riddles and paradoxes. Will Philo ever make it home? Will he make sense of the conundrums that litter his path? An addictive, delightfully bamboozling story sure to thrill and intrigue puzzle-loving readers.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2024
3 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Mark Forsyth
21 books907 followersMark Forsyth is a writer, journalist and blogger. Every job he’s ever had, whether as a ghost-writer or proof-reader or copy-writer, has been to do with words. He started The Inky Fool blog in 2009 and now writes a post almost every day. The blog has received worldwide attention and enjoys an average of 4,000 hits per week.
Mr. Forsyth currently resides in London.
Mr. Forsyth currently resides in London.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 21, 2024
What a wonderfully eccentric book! This is something special and it really captured my imagination. Mark Forsyth is a master of words and the riddles that he includes had me laughing out loud to my friends. Its weird, quirky and utterly bonkers. I loved it!
September 14, 2024
I’m really on the fence with this one and genuinely don’t know what to write for the review. Felt like a mix of a few books mixed together. Some really funny moments. I did lose track in places with so many people talking in riddles. I just don’t know!
November 13, 2024
A dash of Alice in Wonderland mixed with a splash of the Wizard of Oz and a bunch of funky fun mind bending riddles, and you have Riddle for a King. Very fun, very cooky, and totally original!
December 25, 2024
Enchanting modern 'Phantom Tollbooth'.
This was fantastic. I started it and immediately it took me back to the age of 10, reading my favourite book - the Phantom Tollbooth - snuggled up by my bedroom radiator, enjoying the wordplay and otherworldly Alice-like adventures of a child in a dreamworld.
The hero is even called Philo (to rhyme with Tollbooth's Milo). In trying to keep up with his aunt and uncle's (think Oz) batty timekeeping schedule, Philo follows a strange little creatures and finds a hidden door and route into a very curious land. In his Dorothy-esque quest to get home, meets a whole host of bizarre characters and hears all about the Wizard-like King who is much loved but never seen, and whose magic and presence could do much to help his people.
It's Narnia, it's Oz. It's The Kingdom of Wisdom. It's wonderful!
All the way through, this had the feel of an old children's classic with a timeless narrative, protagonist, story and setting. It plays with words and philosophy, time and physics. There are riddles and puns and puzzles. A witch turning people into teapots. A flying castle.
It's batty and brilliant and I want to read it again, to my son next.
I haven't read Forsyth's adult output, but he's got his tone set just right for children's fiction. Outstanding. Highly recommended.
For ages 8-13.
This was fantastic. I started it and immediately it took me back to the age of 10, reading my favourite book - the Phantom Tollbooth - snuggled up by my bedroom radiator, enjoying the wordplay and otherworldly Alice-like adventures of a child in a dreamworld.
The hero is even called Philo (to rhyme with Tollbooth's Milo). In trying to keep up with his aunt and uncle's (think Oz) batty timekeeping schedule, Philo follows a strange little creatures and finds a hidden door and route into a very curious land. In his Dorothy-esque quest to get home, meets a whole host of bizarre characters and hears all about the Wizard-like King who is much loved but never seen, and whose magic and presence could do much to help his people.
It's Narnia, it's Oz. It's The Kingdom of Wisdom. It's wonderful!
All the way through, this had the feel of an old children's classic with a timeless narrative, protagonist, story and setting. It plays with words and philosophy, time and physics. There are riddles and puns and puzzles. A witch turning people into teapots. A flying castle.
It's batty and brilliant and I want to read it again, to my son next.
I haven't read Forsyth's adult output, but he's got his tone set just right for children's fiction. Outstanding. Highly recommended.
For ages 8-13.
October 16, 2024
A riddle for a king.
Written by Mark Forsyth
Illustrations by Matthew Land
Published by David Fickling books
There are some books that the moment you open them you quickly discover that you are reading something extremely special, and this is actually what I thought when I opened this book.
Philo is the main character, a young boy living with his aunt and uncle when somehow he manages to fall out of the human world only to end up in a parallel magical world. There he gets into trouble and he's the only one able to get out of it. There are lots of challenges along the way and he manages to make a couple of new friends. Eventually he makes it back to his world where he starts to see the world in a different way.
The way this book is written is to make you feel as if the book is talking to you, that the characters are including you in the storyline.
There are many funny parts in the book which will have you laughing out loud.
Throughout the book there are riddles that you will need to work out with the characters. The plot is well throughout and the story runs at a good pace
This book deserves to be read out loud and it would make a great class read.
There’s something special about this book.
Written by Mark Forsyth
Illustrations by Matthew Land
Published by David Fickling books
There are some books that the moment you open them you quickly discover that you are reading something extremely special, and this is actually what I thought when I opened this book.
Philo is the main character, a young boy living with his aunt and uncle when somehow he manages to fall out of the human world only to end up in a parallel magical world. There he gets into trouble and he's the only one able to get out of it. There are lots of challenges along the way and he manages to make a couple of new friends. Eventually he makes it back to his world where he starts to see the world in a different way.
The way this book is written is to make you feel as if the book is talking to you, that the characters are including you in the storyline.
There are many funny parts in the book which will have you laughing out loud.
Throughout the book there are riddles that you will need to work out with the characters. The plot is well throughout and the story runs at a good pace
This book deserves to be read out loud and it would make a great class read.
There’s something special about this book.
February 2, 2025
Fühlt sich bisschen an wie eine Mischung aus Lemony snicket, Alice im Wunderland und der Zauberer von Oz - ich liebs, vor allem diese logisch unlogischen Paradoxe xD
Ich fand nur etwas merkwürdig, dass Verity und Philo nicht mal einen Gedanken daran verschwednen, dass Mr. Spronkel zwischendrin verschwindet, also er wird einfach nie mehr erwähnt bis er am Ende wieder auftacht? Bissl weird. Aber darüber kann ich hinweg sehen ;)
Ich fand nur etwas merkwürdig, dass Verity und Philo nicht mal einen Gedanken daran verschwednen, dass Mr. Spronkel zwischendrin verschwindet, also er wird einfach nie mehr erwähnt bis er am Ende wieder auftacht? Bissl weird. Aber darüber kann ich hinweg sehen ;)
February 14, 2025
Quite simply the best book I ever read.
Excentric, clever wordplay, fast paced, lighthearted and fun. However, as the author says: every absurd situation the protagonist finds himself in, they are all based on real situations or philosophies. From Renée Descartes to Protagoras…
I take of my hat to the writer, and to his pen. Now if you’ll excuse me; I have to go out to buy a hat.
Excentric, clever wordplay, fast paced, lighthearted and fun. However, as the author says: every absurd situation the protagonist finds himself in, they are all based on real situations or philosophies. From Renée Descartes to Protagoras…
I take of my hat to the writer, and to his pen. Now if you’ll excuse me; I have to go out to buy a hat.
February 5, 2025
This book was AMAZING I love how funny it is and all the riddles are insane i love Mr spronkle and the penguin gate argh now I can’t stop thinking about penguins 😡 but anyway it is amazing and you should definitely read it IMMEDIATELY
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2025
My three kids (15, 11, and 9) loved this book. My 11 year-old said, "This book is so well composed," and my 15 year-old, a regular logophile, added no few treasures to her vocabulary. And the youngest thought it hilarious.
January 22, 2025
Best story of that kind after Lewis Carrol (imho)
November 12, 2025
An extremely charming romp through an Alice in Wonderland style world, but sadly lacking a bit in character development. Still worth a peruse!
January 27, 2025
I thought that it was really funny and I enjoyed it so much. I would recommend it to anyone who likes adventure stories!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews