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The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon
The König is a tyrant. His subjects are starving. And all-out war is fast approaching. Will a pair of young, courageous brothers save their kingdom?
When an emissary sent by the König himself stops by the remote mouse colony of Long Meadow, the peaceful life Sommer and Nesbit have shared is turned upside down—and the brothers are catapulted into separate death-defying adventures. Sommer, levelheaded and clever, is ordered to the palace to join the König’s illustrious Eagle Guard as it prepares to face a full-scale invasion by the nefarious Emperor Wolfsmilch and his army of a hundred thousand forest mice. Meanwhile, the small but spirited Nesbit is banished to the Forest of Lost Life for insulting the König, and must dodge hungry predators at every turn.
The brothers struggle to reunite and defy the oppressors who threaten everyone and everything they have ever known and loved. But time is quickly running out for both of them—and the fate of the kingdom hinges on one last, daring mission.
Set against the magnificent backdrop of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria, The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon is an action-packed adventure story for young readers and adults alike.
When an emissary sent by the König himself stops by the remote mouse colony of Long Meadow, the peaceful life Sommer and Nesbit have shared is turned upside down—and the brothers are catapulted into separate death-defying adventures. Sommer, levelheaded and clever, is ordered to the palace to join the König’s illustrious Eagle Guard as it prepares to face a full-scale invasion by the nefarious Emperor Wolfsmilch and his army of a hundred thousand forest mice. Meanwhile, the small but spirited Nesbit is banished to the Forest of Lost Life for insulting the König, and must dodge hungry predators at every turn.
The brothers struggle to reunite and defy the oppressors who threaten everyone and everything they have ever known and loved. But time is quickly running out for both of them—and the fate of the kingdom hinges on one last, daring mission.
Set against the magnificent backdrop of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria, The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon is an action-packed adventure story for young readers and adults alike.
316 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2014
13 people are currently reading
821 people want to read
About the author
Lowell H. Press
1 book7 followersLOWELL H. PRESS was inspired to write The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon, his first novel, during a summer spent in Vienna, Austria, in 2001. While his wife went to work in the city, Lowell and their two-and-a-half-year-old son spent many a day at Schönbrunn Palace. The magnificent world of the palace and its glorious park lent itself well to a story about a kingdom of mice existing in the remarkable age of the Habsburgs, Beethoven, and the young Duke of Reichstadt, the son of Napoleon Bonaparte. Lowell lives with his wife, Sasha, their two sons, Logan and Hayden, and their two cats near Seattle, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 7, 2017
Nesbit lives in the mouse colony of Long Meadow, situated within the gardens of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria. Every mouse in the colony must pay tribute to their ruler, the König, in the form of food, which the mice refer to as Essen. But a harsh winter lies ahead, and Nesbit and his family need their Essen to survive until spring. When the König's Field Marshal arrives demanding more Essen, Nesbit speaks up on behalf of all mice and is sent to the Forest of Lost Life as punishment. From there he must face many perils and foes on his quest to be reunited with his family.
Meanwhile, Nesbit's brother Sommer is enlisted in the König's army and sent on an impossible mission to retrieve the Sacred Goldessen of the Sun and Moon, a specific type of cheese no mouse has ever been able to retrieve before. When Sommer learns a terrible truth about the kingdom, he hopes to find his brother and band together in a rebel assault before winter arrives.
The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon is a richly imagined narrative. The author presents readers with a thorough hierarchical system of mice with various military ranks and pedestrian classes. The mice have their own words for certain objects, such as menshen for humans or gravel grinder for carriages. They even have their own beautiful lore about the origins of mice:
The Sun and the Moon collided with such force that they shattered into a million tiny pieces. The whole sky, in the middle of the day, went black - pitch-black. The darkest black imaginable. But then, the pieces of the Sun and the Moon, trailing sparkling tails, began to light the sky as they rained down on Earth. And do you know what they were, when they came down, those millions of tiny pieces? The were mice. Millions of tiny mice made up of the fragments of the Sun and the Moon.
Nesbit and Sommer's adventures emphasize how much more harrowing the world is when one is only a few inches tall. A garden that humans meander through is divided into various mice towns and regions. A bowl-shaped water fountain, aesthetic and audibly pleasing for mankind, is known by mice as The Fountain of Certain Death, for any mouse who falls into the bowl will surely drown before getting out. One tiny blackberry is a juicy meal for a mouse. A speck of cheese fallen to the floor is a glorious serving of Goldessen, the most desirable food known to mice. A playful cat, coddled by humans, is a vicious predator feared by mice:
There - by the light of the burning bough, squarely in the middle of the path - flickered the luminous golden eyes of a large cat, its head a black silhouette, the short black hair of its body shimmering in an eerie glow. The mice could just barely make out, hanging from the cat's mouth, the limp body of [. . .]. The cat turned and dashed into the stormy night with its prey.
Because this is a middle grade novel, it must be said that quite a few mice reach a violent end, and a fair amount of gruesome injuries are described.
It was clear that the blood came from multiple wounds around the mouse's ears and neck. In fact, one ear appeared to have been ripped of entirely, and one eye was closed and bloody.
But there's much more to this book than a few mice meeting their demise. With perilous missions, the looming threat of invasion, rumors of war, countless close calls, triumphs and failures, tender moments and a pinch of humor, The Kingdom of the Sun and the Moon is a grand adventure that reads like two books in one.
The boy laughed to himself. "Of course, I am just pretending that you have such a destiny - as if mice live in a world of kingdoms like we humans do." The boy thought about it a little bit, then added, "Oh, but what if you did? That would be something indeed. A kingdom of mice!" He laughed again.
Meanwhile, Nesbit's brother Sommer is enlisted in the König's army and sent on an impossible mission to retrieve the Sacred Goldessen of the Sun and Moon, a specific type of cheese no mouse has ever been able to retrieve before. When Sommer learns a terrible truth about the kingdom, he hopes to find his brother and band together in a rebel assault before winter arrives.
The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon is a richly imagined narrative. The author presents readers with a thorough hierarchical system of mice with various military ranks and pedestrian classes. The mice have their own words for certain objects, such as menshen for humans or gravel grinder for carriages. They even have their own beautiful lore about the origins of mice:
The Sun and the Moon collided with such force that they shattered into a million tiny pieces. The whole sky, in the middle of the day, went black - pitch-black. The darkest black imaginable. But then, the pieces of the Sun and the Moon, trailing sparkling tails, began to light the sky as they rained down on Earth. And do you know what they were, when they came down, those millions of tiny pieces? The were mice. Millions of tiny mice made up of the fragments of the Sun and the Moon.
Nesbit and Sommer's adventures emphasize how much more harrowing the world is when one is only a few inches tall. A garden that humans meander through is divided into various mice towns and regions. A bowl-shaped water fountain, aesthetic and audibly pleasing for mankind, is known by mice as The Fountain of Certain Death, for any mouse who falls into the bowl will surely drown before getting out. One tiny blackberry is a juicy meal for a mouse. A speck of cheese fallen to the floor is a glorious serving of Goldessen, the most desirable food known to mice. A playful cat, coddled by humans, is a vicious predator feared by mice:
There - by the light of the burning bough, squarely in the middle of the path - flickered the luminous golden eyes of a large cat, its head a black silhouette, the short black hair of its body shimmering in an eerie glow. The mice could just barely make out, hanging from the cat's mouth, the limp body of [. . .]. The cat turned and dashed into the stormy night with its prey.
Because this is a middle grade novel, it must be said that quite a few mice reach a violent end, and a fair amount of gruesome injuries are described.
It was clear that the blood came from multiple wounds around the mouse's ears and neck. In fact, one ear appeared to have been ripped of entirely, and one eye was closed and bloody.
But there's much more to this book than a few mice meeting their demise. With perilous missions, the looming threat of invasion, rumors of war, countless close calls, triumphs and failures, tender moments and a pinch of humor, The Kingdom of the Sun and the Moon is a grand adventure that reads like two books in one.
The boy laughed to himself. "Of course, I am just pretending that you have such a destiny - as if mice live in a world of kingdoms like we humans do." The boy thought about it a little bit, then added, "Oh, but what if you did? That would be something indeed. A kingdom of mice!" He laughed again.
September 23, 2015
I liked the premise of the story with two mice brothers, Sommer and Nesbit. One brother is big, strong and brave. The younger mouse is small, timid and bullied. The older brother, Sommer, is taken away to be a palace guard. The younger mouse must now learn to fend for himself. All does not go well for Nesbit but in his journeys he learns that his brother is in danger. Will Nesbit find the courage to save his older brother?
A tale of courage and standing up for what you believe is right. A story filled with action, suspense and a pint sized protagonist.
The visual language was very well done and I could picture the mice, with their short attention spans, scurrying around sniffing and scratching here and there.
It was repetitious at times and there was a lot of going over the story which bogged it down in places. I did get bored with it about 70% through but this is a children’s story and I feel there is enough to keep them entertained.
There is a lot of violence between the mice that may be distressing for younger children. I would recommend this for 10 years +. A good story with a wide scope for discussion.
With thanks to Netgalley and Parkers Mill Publishing for my copy to read and review.
A tale of courage and standing up for what you believe is right. A story filled with action, suspense and a pint sized protagonist.
The visual language was very well done and I could picture the mice, with their short attention spans, scurrying around sniffing and scratching here and there.
It was repetitious at times and there was a lot of going over the story which bogged it down in places. I did get bored with it about 70% through but this is a children’s story and I feel there is enough to keep them entertained.
There is a lot of violence between the mice that may be distressing for younger children. I would recommend this for 10 years +. A good story with a wide scope for discussion.
With thanks to Netgalley and Parkers Mill Publishing for my copy to read and review.
October 8, 2015
When I saw that this historical fantasy was set in the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria, I jumped at the chance to read it. I will be visiting the palace myself in in 2016 and thought it would help me get my bearings; even if it is a mouse-eyed bearing! THE KINGDOM OF THE SUN AND MOON is a fantasy adventure story marketed for children - however I think it should be read by older children, advanced readers, and young adults because while there is not a lot of blood and guts there is quite a bit of violence – mice being assassinated, peaceful mice being slaughtered, cats eating mice and the like. There is even a scene where a brave little mouse nearly gets his tail chopped off when he hides in carrot leaves in the kitchen!
The Konig is a chilling little character, a deliciously twisted and evil little mouse – a mouse equivalent of all the cruel despots that we have read about over the past 100 years plus. But like all tyrants – and an end to their reign does come eventually – and great sacrifices occur to get that outcome. I liked the adventure component of the story was well plotted and had interesting variations of the human world. The story did drag for me a bit in some parts, and was a little bit repetitious in other parts, and a couple of threads weren’t closed off for me satisfactorily – or else I missed the closure – an example of this was the owl and how/why it fitted in.
I liked how the author made up his own mouse words from the Austrian language around him; humans are menschen, food is essen and cheese is goldenessen. There was a glossary (and maps) but when you read an e-book these are virtually impossible to access without a lot of palaver.
Overall I think kids will love this story – mouse customs and fables, adventure, bullies, good guys, bad guys and lots of twists and turns.
C – Above average - was very readable and I really liked it but was easily able to put it down and walk away for a while.
With thanks to Parkers Mill Publishing and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
The Konig is a chilling little character, a deliciously twisted and evil little mouse – a mouse equivalent of all the cruel despots that we have read about over the past 100 years plus. But like all tyrants – and an end to their reign does come eventually – and great sacrifices occur to get that outcome. I liked the adventure component of the story was well plotted and had interesting variations of the human world. The story did drag for me a bit in some parts, and was a little bit repetitious in other parts, and a couple of threads weren’t closed off for me satisfactorily – or else I missed the closure – an example of this was the owl and how/why it fitted in.
I liked how the author made up his own mouse words from the Austrian language around him; humans are menschen, food is essen and cheese is goldenessen. There was a glossary (and maps) but when you read an e-book these are virtually impossible to access without a lot of palaver.
Overall I think kids will love this story – mouse customs and fables, adventure, bullies, good guys, bad guys and lots of twists and turns.
C – Above average - was very readable and I really liked it but was easily able to put it down and walk away for a while.
With thanks to Parkers Mill Publishing and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
September 28, 2020
First book of the Rainbow Readathon: Red.
This book was interesting and fun to read. I enjoyed reading some of the mice legends, and I think this book offered some intriguing commentary on real life, which I wish it had leaned into more. All in all, I think this is a pretty good children's book and entertaining for older people, too.
This book was interesting and fun to read. I enjoyed reading some of the mice legends, and I think this book offered some intriguing commentary on real life, which I wish it had leaned into more. All in all, I think this is a pretty good children's book and entertaining for older people, too.
January 9, 2017
While this book didn't work for me, I didn't hate it while reading it. My real negative feelings towards it started when I was gathering my usual information to write this review.
First I brought up the Amazon page. In big, bold text, there are two messages about Kingdom of the Sun and Moon winning awards:
Winner of the 2015 Gold Benjamin Franklin Award for Teen Fiction
Winner of the 2015 Silver Benjamin Franklin Award for Young Reader Fiction
Never having heard of those, I googled it. "The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, which include fifty-five categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for indie publishers and self-published authors." I could be totally off base here, but fifty-five categories? That's an awful lot of awards to give out, and that it's for "indie publishers and self-published authors" makes me even more skeptical.
So, looking at the Amazon reviews: 22 of them, almost all 5 stars with just a couple 4 stars. Suspicious. (Boy do I miss the days when I could trust Amazon reviews, before self-published books bought and traded for five star reviews.)
So lastly, seeing "Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.", I googled the "publisher". Parkers Mill Publishing. It has no mention at all online other than in relation to this book.
Sigh.
I'm really tired of the dishonesty in self-publishing. I'm tired of having to do all this detective work to figure out if a book is self-published or not. (Why does it matter? Because it's very, very, very rare that a self-published book is even close to worth its cover price, and I've been ripped off by them too many times. Remember that Zoo book? Now and then I reread my review of it just to laugh at how awful it was.)
Well, on to the book's plot. Another book about talking animals, but this time of the Redwall variety instead of "real" animals. Two mice, brothers, ended up on very different paths in life. One became a palace guard for the king, the other was banished from the kingdom.
While I liked how the mice were written (they came off as real mice doing these non-mouse things), the characters made such dumb decisions and didn't see such obvious plots and happenings, I just couldn't enjoy the story.
My biggest issue with the book (and the biggest thing that kept knocking me out of the story's mood) was that the author peppered in German words. Food was "Essen" ('to eat' in German), cheese was "Goldessen" (gold food), the mice had a König (king), and on and on. German nouns are capitalized, so it made it especially jarring. We'd get sentences like this: "All mice love Essen, but they especially love Goldessen." I do like it when a book uses words from a foreign language (especially if it's a fictional language), but it made just no sense at all here. Why did mice just randomly use German words?
I only reached the 50% mark of the book before giving up on it.
First I brought up the Amazon page. In big, bold text, there are two messages about Kingdom of the Sun and Moon winning awards:
Winner of the 2015 Gold Benjamin Franklin Award for Teen Fiction
Winner of the 2015 Silver Benjamin Franklin Award for Young Reader Fiction
Never having heard of those, I googled it. "The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, which include fifty-five categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for indie publishers and self-published authors." I could be totally off base here, but fifty-five categories? That's an awful lot of awards to give out, and that it's for "indie publishers and self-published authors" makes me even more skeptical.
So, looking at the Amazon reviews: 22 of them, almost all 5 stars with just a couple 4 stars. Suspicious. (Boy do I miss the days when I could trust Amazon reviews, before self-published books bought and traded for five star reviews.)
So lastly, seeing "Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.", I googled the "publisher". Parkers Mill Publishing. It has no mention at all online other than in relation to this book.
Sigh.
I'm really tired of the dishonesty in self-publishing. I'm tired of having to do all this detective work to figure out if a book is self-published or not. (Why does it matter? Because it's very, very, very rare that a self-published book is even close to worth its cover price, and I've been ripped off by them too many times. Remember that Zoo book? Now and then I reread my review of it just to laugh at how awful it was.)
Well, on to the book's plot. Another book about talking animals, but this time of the Redwall variety instead of "real" animals. Two mice, brothers, ended up on very different paths in life. One became a palace guard for the king, the other was banished from the kingdom.
While I liked how the mice were written (they came off as real mice doing these non-mouse things), the characters made such dumb decisions and didn't see such obvious plots and happenings, I just couldn't enjoy the story.
My biggest issue with the book (and the biggest thing that kept knocking me out of the story's mood) was that the author peppered in German words. Food was "Essen" ('to eat' in German), cheese was "Goldessen" (gold food), the mice had a König (king), and on and on. German nouns are capitalized, so it made it especially jarring. We'd get sentences like this: "All mice love Essen, but they especially love Goldessen." I do like it when a book uses words from a foreign language (especially if it's a fictional language), but it made just no sense at all here. Why did mice just randomly use German words?
I only reached the 50% mark of the book before giving up on it.
July 5, 2015
Actually, three and a half stars, verging on four. I really liked this book! But it is not - quite - on the level of "Watership Down", "Bambi", "The One and Only Ivan", or other classic animal storeis. Still, it's a good adventure story, well-plotted and with interesting incidents. Kids who love animal fantasies should be enthralled.
Two brave young field mice, brothers Sommer and Nesbit, find themselves in danger of their lives. The Koenig has called Sommer,the elder and stronger, to be a member of his guard. The youngsters lost their elder brother when he was called to be a guard, and little Nesbit is terrified this will happen to Sommer. So he speaks out. As a result, he's condemned to death. Things get really bad when their father is also attacked by a rebel mouse and (apparently) finished off by a big black cat. All this happens in the first thirty pages. Nesbit struggles to stay alive in the Schonbrunn gardens, while Sommer is brought to the palace to be sent on a suicide mission. Then Nesbit, who has managed some extraordinary feats despite his small size, encounters a forest mouse and learns what the Koenig (the mouse king) is really doing. He has to get word to Sommer if he is to save his brother's life.
I liked the cat! And the young brother mice are attractive protagonists, and the mouse ways and customs (sprinkled with German vocabulary here and there) are interesting. It's not, perhaps, the most original tale in the world, and some interesting characters are brought in and then seemingly dropped.(The young doe, Star, for one example.) I also got a bit annoyed at some of the German, and the glossary. In some cases, the translations and pronunciation guides are accurate. In others, they aren't. And, though the mouse-eye view of Schonbrunn in the early 19th century has its attractions, I sometimes wanted a broader and clearer picture of exactly where the mice were and what was happening. Richard Adams succeeds in giving us that view in "Watership Down". Mr. Press doesn't, quite. However, I must say that his insane Koenig is a chilling villain. And the political games this wicked mouse plays are really something.
Recommended for most libraries. A charming book with a lot of room for discussion.
Two brave young field mice, brothers Sommer and Nesbit, find themselves in danger of their lives. The Koenig has called Sommer,the elder and stronger, to be a member of his guard. The youngsters lost their elder brother when he was called to be a guard, and little Nesbit is terrified this will happen to Sommer. So he speaks out. As a result, he's condemned to death. Things get really bad when their father is also attacked by a rebel mouse and (apparently) finished off by a big black cat. All this happens in the first thirty pages. Nesbit struggles to stay alive in the Schonbrunn gardens, while Sommer is brought to the palace to be sent on a suicide mission. Then Nesbit, who has managed some extraordinary feats despite his small size, encounters a forest mouse and learns what the Koenig (the mouse king) is really doing. He has to get word to Sommer if he is to save his brother's life.
I liked the cat! And the young brother mice are attractive protagonists, and the mouse ways and customs (sprinkled with German vocabulary here and there) are interesting. It's not, perhaps, the most original tale in the world, and some interesting characters are brought in and then seemingly dropped.(The young doe, Star, for one example.) I also got a bit annoyed at some of the German, and the glossary. In some cases, the translations and pronunciation guides are accurate. In others, they aren't. And, though the mouse-eye view of Schonbrunn in the early 19th century has its attractions, I sometimes wanted a broader and clearer picture of exactly where the mice were and what was happening. Richard Adams succeeds in giving us that view in "Watership Down". Mr. Press doesn't, quite. However, I must say that his insane Koenig is a chilling villain. And the political games this wicked mouse plays are really something.
Recommended for most libraries. A charming book with a lot of room for discussion.
June 6, 2015
This was a great story. I didn't enter to win it on Goodreads, and the author was at BookCon 2015...and I had no inclination to go to him. I didn't want "another animal book." But the line was short, and a free book is worth it in the end, and I am so glad I got it.
People are Menschen. Food is Essen. Cheese is Goldenessen
Nesbit is the youngest of three mouse brothers whose father, Lavendel, is the Lead Mouse of Long Meadow. The eldest brother died a few years ago in the König's army. His slightly older brother Sommer is recruited to be part of the König's Eagle Guard. But Nesbit understands that the König is a tyrant, and speaks against the mouse King. Mice are starving to death and Nesbit speaks his mind. His insults force him to be chased into the Forest of Lost Life, where everyone knows the König's guard kills any mouse who is exiled.
But Nesbit survives.
Lowell H. Press describes both Sommer's and Nesbit's stories as the mice fight in different ways to survive in the Kingdom of the Double-Headed Eagle. Sommer is on a mission to find the Goldenessen of the Sun and the Moon. He learns that those directly under the König is just as bad and will kill for questioning much of anything. He also learns of lore about mice as well as the goldenessen. Nesbit adventures towards the palace and his brother.
The end was beautiful
- There are humans and other animals, and some of the latter help the mice despite all odds. On page 28, Press writes that one of the mice tilts his head up to better look behind him. This shows a great understanding of mouse anatomy.
- There is an interesting (and very true) understanding/view of humans from a mouse's point-of-view.
- In one scene, the mice are gnawing on a rope to break a cat free. It makes me think of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with the mice and Aslan.
People are Menschen. Food is Essen. Cheese is Goldenessen
Nesbit is the youngest of three mouse brothers whose father, Lavendel, is the Lead Mouse of Long Meadow. The eldest brother died a few years ago in the König's army. His slightly older brother Sommer is recruited to be part of the König's Eagle Guard. But Nesbit understands that the König is a tyrant, and speaks against the mouse King. Mice are starving to death and Nesbit speaks his mind. His insults force him to be chased into the Forest of Lost Life, where everyone knows the König's guard kills any mouse who is exiled.
But Nesbit survives.
Lowell H. Press describes both Sommer's and Nesbit's stories as the mice fight in different ways to survive in the Kingdom of the Double-Headed Eagle. Sommer is on a mission to find the Goldenessen of the Sun and the Moon. He learns that those directly under the König is just as bad and will kill for questioning much of anything. He also learns of lore about mice as well as the goldenessen. Nesbit adventures towards the palace and his brother.
The end was beautiful
- There are humans and other animals, and some of the latter help the mice despite all odds. On page 28, Press writes that one of the mice tilts his head up to better look behind him. This shows a great understanding of mouse anatomy.
- There is an interesting (and very true) understanding/view of humans from a mouse's point-of-view.
- In one scene, the mice are gnawing on a rope to break a cat free. It makes me think of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with the mice and Aslan.
December 5, 2014
Even though I have cats and would look askance (as would they) at any mice in the house, I thoroughly enjoyed this debut fantasy novel by Lowell H. Press about a colony of mice living in between the cats and the people in a 1700s-era castle.
Well written with memorable characters, a wonderful setting, and a derring-do plot that is perfect for readers aged 10 and up, "The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon" also has a strong foundation of mouse culture, myth and history to help make the tale about beleaguered mice ruled by a selfish king very satisfying.
You, too, will enjoy the exploits of brothers Sommer and Nesbit as they set out against great odds to make things right.
Well written with memorable characters, a wonderful setting, and a derring-do plot that is perfect for readers aged 10 and up, "The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon" also has a strong foundation of mouse culture, myth and history to help make the tale about beleaguered mice ruled by a selfish king very satisfying.
You, too, will enjoy the exploits of brothers Sommer and Nesbit as they set out against great odds to make things right.
August 18, 2015
Originally posted on my blog, With Her Head in a Book
I received this eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
Did Not Finish at 22%
The Kingdom of the Sun and the Moon has a good premise - a daring mission, impending doom, rebellion… Best of all, two brothers with a bond stronger than the scent of Limburger. And who doesn’t love an animal story?
The reason I couldn’t continue with this novel is because of the writing style. I understand it’s classified as Children’s Literature and of course doesn’t need to be written like a great classic. I get that. I felt like the novel was unnecessarily “dumbed down.” Even if the novel is focused towards kids, it’s not like they’re stupid. If they can decipher all the strange words the author created, then they can pick up on the not-so-subtle meaning of ‘Rot Hune.’ Or, better yet, the author could make use that wonderful writing technique “Show Don’t Tell.”
Another point that bothered me is the absentmindedness of the writing style or perhaps all of the narrators in general. Scenes are riddled with distractions. “Oh look at this. Oh, yes that’s also very interesting. What were we doing? Wait, there’s a new smell! I think it’s food. I hope it’s food. Right, back to the plot. Ooooh! Would you look at this?” Much could have been cut out for more enticing moments and therefore, a higher quality story.
Having said all that, the novel is still going to be a great read for kids. There are many silly, funny, and cheesy (ha ha) moments that are sure to make this book memorable, There are many one liners I highlighted and am still laughing at. The novel is also set in the beautiful castle and garden of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria. That would make for one fantastic vacation destination after finishing this reading.
I would recommend this for children say, ten and younger. There are a few deaths and nasty enemies made apparent straight off the bat but tastefully done so that shouldn’t leave concerned parents worried. The Kingdom of the Sun and the Moon reminds me of Redwall, so to any readers that enjoyed the great mouse adventure, look for similar features in this novel when it hits shelves September 30, 2015.
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Writing Style: 1/5
All Around Idea: 3/5
Total: 2/5
I received this eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
Did Not Finish at 22%
The Kingdom of the Sun and the Moon has a good premise - a daring mission, impending doom, rebellion… Best of all, two brothers with a bond stronger than the scent of Limburger. And who doesn’t love an animal story?
The reason I couldn’t continue with this novel is because of the writing style. I understand it’s classified as Children’s Literature and of course doesn’t need to be written like a great classic. I get that. I felt like the novel was unnecessarily “dumbed down.” Even if the novel is focused towards kids, it’s not like they’re stupid. If they can decipher all the strange words the author created, then they can pick up on the not-so-subtle meaning of ‘Rot Hune.’ Or, better yet, the author could make use that wonderful writing technique “Show Don’t Tell.”
Another point that bothered me is the absentmindedness of the writing style or perhaps all of the narrators in general. Scenes are riddled with distractions. “Oh look at this. Oh, yes that’s also very interesting. What were we doing? Wait, there’s a new smell! I think it’s food. I hope it’s food. Right, back to the plot. Ooooh! Would you look at this?” Much could have been cut out for more enticing moments and therefore, a higher quality story.
Having said all that, the novel is still going to be a great read for kids. There are many silly, funny, and cheesy (ha ha) moments that are sure to make this book memorable, There are many one liners I highlighted and am still laughing at. The novel is also set in the beautiful castle and garden of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria. That would make for one fantastic vacation destination after finishing this reading.
I would recommend this for children say, ten and younger. There are a few deaths and nasty enemies made apparent straight off the bat but tastefully done so that shouldn’t leave concerned parents worried. The Kingdom of the Sun and the Moon reminds me of Redwall, so to any readers that enjoyed the great mouse adventure, look for similar features in this novel when it hits shelves September 30, 2015.
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Writing Style: 1/5
All Around Idea: 3/5
Total: 2/5
November 13, 2015
The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon
Lowell H. Press
Fantasy
Review: Nesbit and Sommer are brothers living in the Long Meadow mouse colony. Their colony is one of many along the castle belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte’s Son. The brother’s kingdom is run by a mouse known as the Konig and it is on the orders of the Konig that Sommer must go to the palace for a special mission and that the garden mice must give all of their essen or food to him. Nesbit, not liking how the Konig treats the garden mice, speaks up and in doing so gets the punishment of death. Of course, Sommer is unaware of this development and goes off with the Thistle Guard who take care of all trouble outside the castle. Nesbit thankfully escapes with the help of some unlikely sources, such as an owl and a cat. Because of this he becomes known as hexenmeister or a magician. At the same time Sommer arrives at the palace with a group of other cadets who are being sent on a suicide mission. Soon enough both brothers start to realize things are not what they seem in the kingdom.
This book left me with mixed feelings. I truly enjoyed the story and could not wait to see how both Sommer and Nesbit did on their journeys. At the same time I felt that it got a little too violent for the age group. I am not saying that you should not let your 10-14 year olds read this but I guess with cute little mice I was expecting less violence. That being said, this was still a very enjoyable read. Nesbit was so cute and very lucky. So many times he defies what should be happening to him. Sommer also comes up against impossible odds and is very lucky with the outcome. Together these brothers must help to save their whole kingdom and face many dangers on the way.
I also liked many of the secondary characters who help out the brothers. My favorite is probably Morchel the little mouse who becomes Sommers second in command when they go out on missions. He is brave and even when things look dire he does not shy away from the challenge. There were many other great characters both mice and other creatures that help this book be well written.
I recommend this book to young fans of the Redwall series by Brian Jacques.
I received a free ecopy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.
Lowell H. Press
Fantasy
Review: Nesbit and Sommer are brothers living in the Long Meadow mouse colony. Their colony is one of many along the castle belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte’s Son. The brother’s kingdom is run by a mouse known as the Konig and it is on the orders of the Konig that Sommer must go to the palace for a special mission and that the garden mice must give all of their essen or food to him. Nesbit, not liking how the Konig treats the garden mice, speaks up and in doing so gets the punishment of death. Of course, Sommer is unaware of this development and goes off with the Thistle Guard who take care of all trouble outside the castle. Nesbit thankfully escapes with the help of some unlikely sources, such as an owl and a cat. Because of this he becomes known as hexenmeister or a magician. At the same time Sommer arrives at the palace with a group of other cadets who are being sent on a suicide mission. Soon enough both brothers start to realize things are not what they seem in the kingdom.
This book left me with mixed feelings. I truly enjoyed the story and could not wait to see how both Sommer and Nesbit did on their journeys. At the same time I felt that it got a little too violent for the age group. I am not saying that you should not let your 10-14 year olds read this but I guess with cute little mice I was expecting less violence. That being said, this was still a very enjoyable read. Nesbit was so cute and very lucky. So many times he defies what should be happening to him. Sommer also comes up against impossible odds and is very lucky with the outcome. Together these brothers must help to save their whole kingdom and face many dangers on the way.
I also liked many of the secondary characters who help out the brothers. My favorite is probably Morchel the little mouse who becomes Sommers second in command when they go out on missions. He is brave and even when things look dire he does not shy away from the challenge. There were many other great characters both mice and other creatures that help this book be well written.
I recommend this book to young fans of the Redwall series by Brian Jacques.
I received a free ecopy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.
November 7, 2015
Verging on four stars.
The Schönbrunn Palace is the beautiful prison where the son of Napoleon Bonaparte is guarded. Down in the palace's magnificent Viennese gardens, colonies of mice are under threat as autumn shifts towards winter. Their König is being blackmailed by the feral Emperor Wolfsmilch who demands the Sacred Goldessen as the price for keeping his army of one hundred thousand forest mice from attacking. Every last morsel of food is needed by the König and those garden mice who even so much as hesitate to give all their winter hoard are ruthlessly cut down.
Sommer and Nesbit are two rather ordinary mouse brothers impelled into adventure when Field Marshal Osterglocke arrives, accompanied by his Thistle Guard. Sommer is recruited for a dangerous mission - to retrieve the Sacred Goldessen from a kitchen full of cats. Without the Sacred Goldessen to keep Wolfsmilch happy, there'll be a war that none of the colonies will survive.
Team after team has been sent to the brave the perils of the kitchen. None have survived.
Nesbit unfortunately insults the Field Marshal and orders are given to dispose of him. His quick wits and fast manoeuvring allow him to avoid an owl, hitch a ride on a carriage and survive being carried along by the scruff of his neck in a cat's mouth after a fall into the Fountain of Certain Death.
The various mice who observe his escape tell a story which grows, almost by the minute, into the legend of the Hexenmeister - the magician mouse who can call other animals to his aid and whom death cannot touch.
Meanwhile, Sommer is discovering he's not only been chosen for a suicide mission, he's been given command of the assault squad. What an honour! He's not too sure why mostly rookies have been selected for this elite team when the König's own second-in-command, the ferocious and formidable Rot Hüne, could surely succeed on his own where others have failed!
Nesbit, after his hair-raising escape, happens to encounters couple of a forest mice. They insist they've never heard of Wolfsmilch. In addition, they claim that all forest kin are far too independent to have an Emperor.
Just what is going on in the Kingdom of the Sun and Moon?
The Schönbrunn Palace is the beautiful prison where the son of Napoleon Bonaparte is guarded. Down in the palace's magnificent Viennese gardens, colonies of mice are under threat as autumn shifts towards winter. Their König is being blackmailed by the feral Emperor Wolfsmilch who demands the Sacred Goldessen as the price for keeping his army of one hundred thousand forest mice from attacking. Every last morsel of food is needed by the König and those garden mice who even so much as hesitate to give all their winter hoard are ruthlessly cut down.
Sommer and Nesbit are two rather ordinary mouse brothers impelled into adventure when Field Marshal Osterglocke arrives, accompanied by his Thistle Guard. Sommer is recruited for a dangerous mission - to retrieve the Sacred Goldessen from a kitchen full of cats. Without the Sacred Goldessen to keep Wolfsmilch happy, there'll be a war that none of the colonies will survive.
Team after team has been sent to the brave the perils of the kitchen. None have survived.
Nesbit unfortunately insults the Field Marshal and orders are given to dispose of him. His quick wits and fast manoeuvring allow him to avoid an owl, hitch a ride on a carriage and survive being carried along by the scruff of his neck in a cat's mouth after a fall into the Fountain of Certain Death.
The various mice who observe his escape tell a story which grows, almost by the minute, into the legend of the Hexenmeister - the magician mouse who can call other animals to his aid and whom death cannot touch.
Meanwhile, Sommer is discovering he's not only been chosen for a suicide mission, he's been given command of the assault squad. What an honour! He's not too sure why mostly rookies have been selected for this elite team when the König's own second-in-command, the ferocious and formidable Rot Hüne, could surely succeed on his own where others have failed!
Nesbit, after his hair-raising escape, happens to encounters couple of a forest mice. They insist they've never heard of Wolfsmilch. In addition, they claim that all forest kin are far too independent to have an Emperor.
Just what is going on in the Kingdom of the Sun and Moon?
December 19, 2014
The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon by Lowell H. Press is a wonderful tale of grit and courage. Nesbit and Sommer are two little mice who live in Long Meadow. As anticipated, the eldest of the two, Sommer, is soon drafted into the Konig’s guard. It is what the young mouse had always dreamt off. But, instead of the expected honour and patriotism the young mouse longed for as part of the Eagle Guards, he soon discovers things are not quit as they should be. With the threat of Emperor Wolfsmilch’s imminent invasion of the Kingdom, Sommer quickly finds out just how hard it is to know who to trust.
While Sommer is taken to the Palace to serve his Konig, Nesbit meanwhile is getting himself into a barrel of trouble. Banished from his beloved Long Meadow, he is now a fugitive and has become an enemy of the Konig.
What I liked about the book -
I liked so many things about the book. The author is highly skilled in descriptive prose, giving enough information so the reader can clearly envision the scenes without being bombarded by wordiness. The story is both dark and funny and I loved the ‘mice culture’. The tale moves along at a good pace and I was never bored, always wanting to find out what happens next. My favourite character was Rot—dark, evil, mysterious and so horribly cruel. I was intrigued by the idea of The Giver and The Taker and how the mice perceived these two (or maybe one?) entities and their role within nature.
What I didn’t enjoy that much -
One small (tiny, tiny) niggle. I wondered about the cat. I thought the story behind the cat’s change of nature could have been developed a teensy bit more. I don’t want to put any spoilers in this review so won’t say more.
Final thoughts -
I really enjoyed this book. Great story and excellent writing makes this a wonderful read for both adults and middle grade.
STAR RATING: 5 Stars
Review will also be posted on my blog: http://jackiegmills.wordpress.com/
While Sommer is taken to the Palace to serve his Konig, Nesbit meanwhile is getting himself into a barrel of trouble. Banished from his beloved Long Meadow, he is now a fugitive and has become an enemy of the Konig.
What I liked about the book -
I liked so many things about the book. The author is highly skilled in descriptive prose, giving enough information so the reader can clearly envision the scenes without being bombarded by wordiness. The story is both dark and funny and I loved the ‘mice culture’. The tale moves along at a good pace and I was never bored, always wanting to find out what happens next. My favourite character was Rot—dark, evil, mysterious and so horribly cruel. I was intrigued by the idea of The Giver and The Taker and how the mice perceived these two (or maybe one?) entities and their role within nature.
What I didn’t enjoy that much -
One small (tiny, tiny) niggle. I wondered about the cat. I thought the story behind the cat’s change of nature could have been developed a teensy bit more. I don’t want to put any spoilers in this review so won’t say more.
Final thoughts -
I really enjoyed this book. Great story and excellent writing makes this a wonderful read for both adults and middle grade.
STAR RATING: 5 Stars
Review will also be posted on my blog: http://jackiegmills.wordpress.com/
August 9, 2015
Fans of The Tale of Despereaux will love this new story that also has elements of Watership Down. The setting is the fabulous Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna with the action taking place in the surrounding gardens and within the very walls of the palace itself. Nesbit is the youngest son of Lavendel, the leader of the garden mice in the Long Meadow. His oldest brother Blum was recruited to become an Eagle Guard to the Konig (king) and was never seen again. Now his older brother Sommer has also been recruited, even though everyone expected him to become their colony's leader after Lavendel. When Nesbit protests the news that his brother will be joining the guard in the palace and that the colony must turn over all the Essen (food) they have gathered for the winter, he is exiled to the Forest of Lost Life.
What follows is the most amazing set of adventures you could ever expect one small mouse to live through. The members of Nesbit's family must survive attacks by cats, owls, and evil mice; find the Sacred Goldessen (legendary cheese); protect the kingdom from The Army of a Hundred Thousand; and discover the truth of the Konig's plans for everyone. All in a day's work, right?
The author has done a wonderful job of showing us the palace and its gardens through the eyes of these tiny creatures. Everything from the names they give locations in the garden (The Light Path, The Dark Path, The Fountain of Certain Death), to the little habits they have (grooming their whiskers, stamping their feet to warn of danger), and even their own myths and tales, all make them come to life as both individuals with their own personalities and as a group with their own culture.
Lowell Press has joined the ranks of Kate DiCamillo, Dick King-Smith, and E.B.White as a teller of excellent animal stories.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
What follows is the most amazing set of adventures you could ever expect one small mouse to live through. The members of Nesbit's family must survive attacks by cats, owls, and evil mice; find the Sacred Goldessen (legendary cheese); protect the kingdom from The Army of a Hundred Thousand; and discover the truth of the Konig's plans for everyone. All in a day's work, right?
The author has done a wonderful job of showing us the palace and its gardens through the eyes of these tiny creatures. Everything from the names they give locations in the garden (The Light Path, The Dark Path, The Fountain of Certain Death), to the little habits they have (grooming their whiskers, stamping their feet to warn of danger), and even their own myths and tales, all make them come to life as both individuals with their own personalities and as a group with their own culture.
Lowell Press has joined the ranks of Kate DiCamillo, Dick King-Smith, and E.B.White as a teller of excellent animal stories.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
May 9, 2015
I got this book through Goodreads first reads.
Generally I try not to read books about a fictional world of mice. It’s a long story but basically as a child the TV version of Redwall traumatised me. I’m glad I made an exception with this.
Nesbit and Sommer are brothers from the colony of Long Meadow and when a member of the Thistle Guard comes recruiting Nesbitt ends up banished from the garden and Sommer is sent to the palace. Their respective adventures help determine the fate of the Kingdom (as these things so often do…).
Nesbitt is alarmingly lucky, surviving freak accident after freak accident and I’m glad because I like his sense of justice. He, like his father, realises that the König is taking away the Essen and giving nothing back and that is wrong. He isn’t afraid to speak his mind.
Sommer is the older sibling and has the physical strength that Nesbitt lacks, hence the recruitment as a guard (well sort of it’s more than that). I’m proud that he is able to motivate his fellow cadets; he makes a good leader taking the ideas of those that he works with. I really liked the way the dynamic of that group was established. I loved those cadets. I didn’t have high hopes for Morchel when he was first introduced but I was wrong about him.
I liked the pace and the action is fun, I was never bored and frequently surprised. The enemy was devious. Each story arc fit together without getting to confusing. I really enjoyed the whole kingdom and backstory to build the culture and habits of the mice. I would also like to point out that the provided ruling structure mappy thing really helped, I occasionally got confused with how some of the mice fit into the hierarchy of the kingdom and so I needed to check.
Generally I try not to read books about a fictional world of mice. It’s a long story but basically as a child the TV version of Redwall traumatised me. I’m glad I made an exception with this.
Nesbit and Sommer are brothers from the colony of Long Meadow and when a member of the Thistle Guard comes recruiting Nesbitt ends up banished from the garden and Sommer is sent to the palace. Their respective adventures help determine the fate of the Kingdom (as these things so often do…).
Nesbitt is alarmingly lucky, surviving freak accident after freak accident and I’m glad because I like his sense of justice. He, like his father, realises that the König is taking away the Essen and giving nothing back and that is wrong. He isn’t afraid to speak his mind.
Sommer is the older sibling and has the physical strength that Nesbitt lacks, hence the recruitment as a guard (well sort of it’s more than that). I’m proud that he is able to motivate his fellow cadets; he makes a good leader taking the ideas of those that he works with. I really liked the way the dynamic of that group was established. I loved those cadets. I didn’t have high hopes for Morchel when he was first introduced but I was wrong about him.
I liked the pace and the action is fun, I was never bored and frequently surprised. The enemy was devious. Each story arc fit together without getting to confusing. I really enjoyed the whole kingdom and backstory to build the culture and habits of the mice. I would also like to point out that the provided ruling structure mappy thing really helped, I occasionally got confused with how some of the mice fit into the hierarchy of the kingdom and so I needed to check.
March 22, 2016
I received a free copy of The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon from Goodreads First Reads.
The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon is an intriguing tale primarily surrounding the adventures and brave acts of two mice, brothers Sommer and Nesbit of the Long Meadow colony. Through a series of unusual events, the brothers' paths divide then, ultimately, merge as the secrets of their kingdom are slowly revealed.
Recruited to join the Eagle Guard, an elite force in the König's army, Sommer faces a doomed mission and almost certain death. Meanwhile, having made an unfortunate remark about the König, Nesbit embarks on an equally perilous flight from the König's ruthless forces while evading vicious predators at every turn. Yet, apart and together, the brothers must succeed if their kingdom is to survive their harsh König's rule and see a brighter future.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and would consider rereading it again. Press is an excellent storyteller. The pacing was appropriate--picking up during the action scenes, which came pretty often. The twists and turns in the plot kept it very engaging. At times, I was only one step ahead of where the story would take me next. (That's what I get for thinking the plot of a children's story would be obvious and uncomplicated. ^_^)
Overall, I think it's a great book. The way the story concluded was satisfying, albeit a little sad. I miss Sommer, Nesbit, and their friends already. Still, I would recommend this book to lovers of children's fiction of all ages.*
*There is some violence and death that might not be appropriate for very young audiences. But even Disney movies have that soooo...use your own discretion.
The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon is an intriguing tale primarily surrounding the adventures and brave acts of two mice, brothers Sommer and Nesbit of the Long Meadow colony. Through a series of unusual events, the brothers' paths divide then, ultimately, merge as the secrets of their kingdom are slowly revealed.
Recruited to join the Eagle Guard, an elite force in the König's army, Sommer faces a doomed mission and almost certain death. Meanwhile, having made an unfortunate remark about the König, Nesbit embarks on an equally perilous flight from the König's ruthless forces while evading vicious predators at every turn. Yet, apart and together, the brothers must succeed if their kingdom is to survive their harsh König's rule and see a brighter future.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and would consider rereading it again. Press is an excellent storyteller. The pacing was appropriate--picking up during the action scenes, which came pretty often. The twists and turns in the plot kept it very engaging. At times, I was only one step ahead of where the story would take me next. (That's what I get for thinking the plot of a children's story would be obvious and uncomplicated. ^_^)
Overall, I think it's a great book. The way the story concluded was satisfying, albeit a little sad. I miss Sommer, Nesbit, and their friends already. Still, I would recommend this book to lovers of children's fiction of all ages.*
*There is some violence and death that might not be appropriate for very young audiences. But even Disney movies have that soooo...use your own discretion.
July 26, 2016
The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon was an interesting readb y Lowell H Press.
This book was clearly made for a much younger audience - perhaps middle grade? The story follows a group of mice (yes, first person animal...not my forte) and their adventures. It's filled with courage, hope, action, adventure, talking animals, suspense and a beautifully woven tale.
I did enjoy this book, but it was not aimed for the adult audience. Younger readers would find this book way more interesting than I did. It did not have me hooked, despite the twists and turns within this. It simply didn't move well with an adult audience, in my opinion. Lowell H Press is amazing! For a child's book it's great, but if I had to read this to a child I would probably get bored very quickly. I personally like stories that can sit well with both adults and children. That being said, it still had incredible benefits!
The book is visual and gives an enchanting set of descriptions as you go along. You can picture to world forming around you, which is very rare in the books I've read. The tale that's woven would get kids excited - mice battles, brotherhood, friendship, courage! These are all types of topics kids are interested in! Read this to children, it's a great read!!
Overall, I think this was a cute children's novel. I would recommend it to schools and libraries to fill their shelves, because it's definitely age appropriate for children.
Two out of five stars - great children's read, did not work well for the adult audience (in my opinion).
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This book was clearly made for a much younger audience - perhaps middle grade? The story follows a group of mice (yes, first person animal...not my forte) and their adventures. It's filled with courage, hope, action, adventure, talking animals, suspense and a beautifully woven tale.
I did enjoy this book, but it was not aimed for the adult audience. Younger readers would find this book way more interesting than I did. It did not have me hooked, despite the twists and turns within this. It simply didn't move well with an adult audience, in my opinion. Lowell H Press is amazing! For a child's book it's great, but if I had to read this to a child I would probably get bored very quickly. I personally like stories that can sit well with both adults and children. That being said, it still had incredible benefits!
The book is visual and gives an enchanting set of descriptions as you go along. You can picture to world forming around you, which is very rare in the books I've read. The tale that's woven would get kids excited - mice battles, brotherhood, friendship, courage! These are all types of topics kids are interested in! Read this to children, it's a great read!!
Overall, I think this was a cute children's novel. I would recommend it to schools and libraries to fill their shelves, because it's definitely age appropriate for children.
Two out of five stars - great children's read, did not work well for the adult audience (in my opinion).
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
March 23, 2017
Tate
3/23/17
My Book Review On The Kingdom Of Sun And Moon
The rating on good reds for The Kingdom of Sun and Moon was a 3.82.
summery- Summer is a garden mouse who lives in the colony of Long Meadow. One day field marshal Osterglocke comes and takes Summer to complete an impossible mission. His brother Nesbit gets in trouble with Osterglocke and Osterglocke attacks him. Nesbit strikes back and gets in lots of trouble. Summer misses his colony. You'll find out a dreadful truth if you read the Kingdom of sun and moon.
reflection-In my opinion I would think this is one of the best books I've read. I would have gave this book a 4.45 because it always has adventure and action. Another reason is that the author makes the story cool and makes you want to keeps reading The Kingdom of sun and moon. My final reason I liked this book is because it's always has cliffhangers at the end of most chapter that wants you to continue reading. Also the character have awesome personality and traits that you can relate to. Hope you read the Kingdom of sun and moon and like it as much as me.
About the author- The author of the kingdom of sun and moon is Lowell H. Press. Lowell was inspired to make The Kingdom Of Sun And Moon when one summer in 2001 his family visited Vienna, Austria and him and his son 2 and half year old son visited Schöbrunn palace. He lives near Seattle, Washington. He has two cats and two son named Hayden and Logan. An interesting fact about the author is that The Kingdom Of Sun And Moon was his first book he's written.
July 7, 2015
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads First reads, thank you!
"The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon" is set in and near the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, and is a fascinating locale. I read this to my sons, and they thoroughly enjoyed both the setting and plot. They were also enthralled by the many mouse characters, especially Sommer and his brother Nesbit.
Nesbitt is banished from the kingdom and the guards attempt to kill him. He makes many miraculous escapes and is helped by both an owl and a cat, who usually eat mice. Meanwhile, Sommer is going through intrigues of his own in the Konig's palace and is also nearly killed a few times.
When the brothers finally meet up again, they overthrow the evil Konig and rescue the black cat who helped Nesbitt. This was an enjoyable read, both for my sons and myself. It was never boring, that's for sure! So read this one if you like a lot of action and unique settings, and your kids (10 and up is what the book says) will like it too!
"The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon" is set in and near the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, and is a fascinating locale. I read this to my sons, and they thoroughly enjoyed both the setting and plot. They were also enthralled by the many mouse characters, especially Sommer and his brother Nesbit.
Nesbitt is banished from the kingdom and the guards attempt to kill him. He makes many miraculous escapes and is helped by both an owl and a cat, who usually eat mice. Meanwhile, Sommer is going through intrigues of his own in the Konig's palace and is also nearly killed a few times.
When the brothers finally meet up again, they overthrow the evil Konig and rescue the black cat who helped Nesbitt. This was an enjoyable read, both for my sons and myself. It was never boring, that's for sure! So read this one if you like a lot of action and unique settings, and your kids (10 and up is what the book says) will like it too!
June 8, 2015
A kingdom of mice. A looming invasion. A local power-grab. An unjust banishing. Lowell weaves together a credible tale of incredible mice. Engaging, winsome, and just. It's nice to see a book for children that is still in the old vein of right prevailing. The fact that things work out in the end is important, but it's the telling that matters - the bravery, the self-sacrifice, the honor. Noble traits aren't often lauded in tales anymore, and I applaud Lowell for turning out a quality work that tells a different story of good vs evil.
I received a complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest review.
PS - It's refreshing to read an ebook with no formatting errors! This is surprisingly rare in my experience.
I received a complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest review.
PS - It's refreshing to read an ebook with no formatting errors! This is surprisingly rare in my experience.
April 13, 2015
I really enjoyed this story of a kingdom of mice in different places of society, from garden mice to the palace mice, each vying for a place of survival, though royalty were oppressive to the lower class ones. I liked the strategies and plots of the unlikely heroes to overcome the tyrants and help those who were trying to live peaceably. It did have similar veins of other books I've read (Redwall, Watership Down) but, all in all, the author built a convincing life of mice and their true heroes that make the world a better place to live in. I recommend this to all who love to read a good fantasy story and want to believe in the good winning at the end.
August 24, 2015
I loved this. A weak animal story makes me turn away in disgust (Yes Michael Morpurgo, I'm looking at you) but a good one always pulls me on board and this was excellent. Others have compared it to Watership Down but it bears very little resemblance to that classic. Instead it is very much itself. It put me in mind of The Secret of Nimh but more because it was about mice than anything else. This is an action packed adventure with characters you can't help but fall for. As a bonus it is set against the beautiful Schonbrunn palace in Vienna.
This is well imagined and fun with plenty of excitement. Readers of Robin Jarvis, Brian Jaques, Richard Adams and Gary Kilworth will love it.
This is well imagined and fun with plenty of excitement. Readers of Robin Jarvis, Brian Jaques, Richard Adams and Gary Kilworth will love it.
November 10, 2015
Thanks to Netgalley for a preview! The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon is action-packed, features an unlikely hero, and demonstrates how team work can affect change. It was great from beginning to end. There are quite a few characters, but the author did a great job developing each one enough to be memorable when they reappear. Many reviewers noted that it is a violent book, and I agree. It heightened the action and suspense, but may not be a good choice for the squeamish or children younger than ten.
May 5, 2016
I liked this book, but I felt the beginning was a little slow and I had trouble connecting with the characters. My peak interest in the book was when I only had 20% left to read. I am not usually a fan of books that are epic in scope, and this being about two individual mice in the kingdom just wasn't that engaging to me. That said, it doesn't talk down to its audience and if you are someone who's really interested in Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, you'll find the setting of the novel fascinating.
February 20, 2017
"The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon" is a story written for children. In my opinion the optimal age range to read this novel would be from 9-12 years. It is an animal story about 2 mice brothers, one big and brave and one small and timid and of how each goes through their own trials and tribulations for survival. I enjoyed the book for the most part but would caution parents that there is killing and death in the story (without the gore). I enjoyed that the setting was in and around the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria as I visited there many years ago. A good reads give away, thanks!
August 10, 2015
I remember receiving this book and the look I gave with the comment, "A mouse book? Really? It's a mouse book..." I don't know what I expected, but from the beginning I was hooked, and not at all disappointed that it was "a mouse book!" It has adventure, bullies, good guys, bad guys, danger, all the makings of a great story! Check out this book, and don't be deterred by the mice!
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
April 19, 2015
A great story for fans of Brian Jacques or Erin Hunter! The main cast of characters is all mice, along with a few other creatures, and a couple of human appearances. Not as much time spent on the minute details (like Jacques' descriptions of meals!) so this story moves pretty fast. A good adventure, with a bit of historical backstory concerning the location of the action, and one of the humans Nesbit the mouse encounters during his adventure.
February 8, 2015
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads!
A most enjoyable read. Eloquently written such that there were many times I had to remind myself that the characters were MICE! I definitely would recommend this book to others!
A most enjoyable read. Eloquently written such that there were many times I had to remind myself that the characters were MICE! I definitely would recommend this book to others!
July 26, 2015
A one off tale of a mouse kingdom. All in a day and a night the Kingdom of the Sun and Moon gets a new leader(s). As good as the Redwall series, but just one tale of great adventure, hero's galore. Don't miss this great little book!
May 6, 2016
Delightful story about a kingdom of mice that lived in a human's castle. Just like the real world of kingdoms, there was political intrigue, traitors, Warriors, and unwilling heroes. Upper elementary students will enjoy this fantasy.
December 23, 2025
An entertaining book. Even mice yearn for freedom.
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