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Rumours of the King #2
What The Sword Said
Ruel's friends have been scattered to the four winds at Baladan's orders. As each travels a difficult road they find themselves drawn to Melech's tournament. But what are they meant to do there? And does Baladan have a plan ...? This is the second book in the excellent Rumours of the King trilogy of allegorical stories which very loosely mirror the gospel of Mark. These books encourage children to look at the person of Jesus from a new perspective. Readers use their imagination to explore spirituality and find a sense of challenge and adventure in being a disciple.
162 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Steve Dixon
5 books1 followerLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Steve Dixon is an Anglican minister and the children's officer for the Manchester Diocese. He has been heavily involved in the performing arts. Steve is married and has two sons.
Steve Dixon is an Anglican minister and the children's officer for the Manchester Diocese. He has been heavily involved in the performing arts. Steve is married and has two sons.
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September 15, 2015
The twelve followers who have gathered around Baladan are dispersed and sent off on various quests - their instructions generally vague to the point of obscurity.
Ruel and Chilion are soon irritated beyond measure with each other's company. That changes when they come across an ogre threatening a knight and a lady and, with the help of Baladan's sword, defeat it.
Thassi and his three friends head north where they rescue a king's son from a robber. The prince has come in search of Baladan the dragonslayer whose reputation has spread far and wide. The North is infested with dragons and the people need help.
There's a lovely quip from Baladan at this point: This shouldn't take long. Other people's dragons are always much less trouble than your own.
Zilla and Zabad are sent east - towards their own home village. They have to face the dread of returning to the people whom they've either wounded terribly (Zabad once worked for the Dragon as The Reaper) or been wounded terribly by (Zilla has been called a witch and shunned by the villagers). Can they be reconciled to people who hate and fear them?
Lexa and Rizpa, two girls from Maon, are sent to wander down the south coast where they meet a gallant knight who is almost killed by a giant serpent coiling itself around his castle.
Zether is on a special quest by himself: it's a secret he can tell no one. Baladan has simply set him in search of fear.
All these different story threads might sound disparate and lacking in cohesion - but, strangely enough, it all works.
In fact, there's some pretty deep psychological stuff going on with the characters - especially in regard to Zether's lack of fear. Such impressive, satisfying and thought-provoking insights are evident at this point that the story starts to mightily transcend the average children's book and acquire incredible depth. There is strong motivation for the emotional direction that the plot takes. (If the whole book was like this section, I'd be inclined to give it six or seven stars.)
The latter part of the story is built around the meeting of all the friends at Earl Melech's tournament. Here the evil robber Abaddon is bribing, manipulating, coercing and often just bullying the other contestants in an attempt to win.
And it seems Baladan has no intention of taking part!
Abaddon looks set to not only become king of the lists, but king of the country. Especially since he's prepared to kill to get his way.
Zether is dismayed. He's found his fear. And it's so monstrous that it needs a strong king to deal with it. Baladan, to Zether's mind, isn't doing nearly enough to sort the mess out.
Like the first book in this series, Out of the Shadows, this story is loosely based on the gospel of Mark. And, like that first book, the parallels are subtle, relatively unobtrusive and skilfully wrought.
Ruel and Chilion are soon irritated beyond measure with each other's company. That changes when they come across an ogre threatening a knight and a lady and, with the help of Baladan's sword, defeat it.
Thassi and his three friends head north where they rescue a king's son from a robber. The prince has come in search of Baladan the dragonslayer whose reputation has spread far and wide. The North is infested with dragons and the people need help.
There's a lovely quip from Baladan at this point: This shouldn't take long. Other people's dragons are always much less trouble than your own.
Zilla and Zabad are sent east - towards their own home village. They have to face the dread of returning to the people whom they've either wounded terribly (Zabad once worked for the Dragon as The Reaper) or been wounded terribly by (Zilla has been called a witch and shunned by the villagers). Can they be reconciled to people who hate and fear them?
Lexa and Rizpa, two girls from Maon, are sent to wander down the south coast where they meet a gallant knight who is almost killed by a giant serpent coiling itself around his castle.
Zether is on a special quest by himself: it's a secret he can tell no one. Baladan has simply set him in search of fear.
All these different story threads might sound disparate and lacking in cohesion - but, strangely enough, it all works.
In fact, there's some pretty deep psychological stuff going on with the characters - especially in regard to Zether's lack of fear. Such impressive, satisfying and thought-provoking insights are evident at this point that the story starts to mightily transcend the average children's book and acquire incredible depth. There is strong motivation for the emotional direction that the plot takes. (If the whole book was like this section, I'd be inclined to give it six or seven stars.)
The latter part of the story is built around the meeting of all the friends at Earl Melech's tournament. Here the evil robber Abaddon is bribing, manipulating, coercing and often just bullying the other contestants in an attempt to win.
And it seems Baladan has no intention of taking part!
Abaddon looks set to not only become king of the lists, but king of the country. Especially since he's prepared to kill to get his way.
Zether is dismayed. He's found his fear. And it's so monstrous that it needs a strong king to deal with it. Baladan, to Zether's mind, isn't doing nearly enough to sort the mess out.
Like the first book in this series, Out of the Shadows, this story is loosely based on the gospel of Mark. And, like that first book, the parallels are subtle, relatively unobtrusive and skilfully wrought.
Displaying 1 of 1 review