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Mimus
Two mighty kingdoms have been engaged in endless, merciless war, but change appears imminent. King Philip is meeting his arch-enemy, King Theodo, to sign a peace treaty. But King Philip and his men are tricked and consigned to the squalid dungeons of King Theodo’s castle. Soon, 12-year-old Prince Florin is lured to the castle, where the same horror awaits him.
On a whim, King Theodo decides to make the crown prince his second fool, trained by Mimus, an enigmatic, occasionally spiteful, and unpredictable court jester. To add to Florin’s misery, he and Mimus are fed a daily portion of gruel, forced to live in a dark, damp tower, and required to entertain the court on demand. But events ultimately turn for Florin and the other captives, and it is Mimus’s intervention that helps make it possible.
On a whim, King Theodo decides to make the crown prince his second fool, trained by Mimus, an enigmatic, occasionally spiteful, and unpredictable court jester. To add to Florin’s misery, he and Mimus are fed a daily portion of gruel, forced to live in a dark, damp tower, and required to entertain the court on demand. But events ultimately turn for Florin and the other captives, and it is Mimus’s intervention that helps make it possible.
394 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2003
23 people are currently reading
1686 people want to read
About the author
Lilli Thal
8 books16 followersGerman-born in 1960, Thal was educated in medieval history, information technology, and multimedia before beginning her freelance writing career in 2002. That same year she won the "Martin" award for the best children's mystery story and has continued earning prizes for her work. Thal lives and works from her home in Germany.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
June 22, 2024
Brilliant, touching, and entertaining
The story follows a boy named Florin and a man named Mimus.
The former is the only son and heir to Philip, king of Moltovia. The latter belongs to Theodo, king of Vinland. Mimus is the jester at the court of king Theodo.
The two kingdoms - Moltovia and Vinland - have been at war for many years. Finally, hope appears on the horizon. The peace treaty is about to be concluded.
Twelve-year-old Florin is summoned to the court of Vinland where he intends to join his father.
The rumor has it that he will be betrothed to king Theodo’s only daughter.
Thus, the young prince, full of bright hopes, sets off for Vinland... However, all his plans are soon turned upside down.
Florin gets caught up in the hatred that binds his father and the king of Vinland. The boy ends up becoming little Mimus - an apprentice to Mimus, the court jester. From now on he has to forget about his princely status and wear a jester’s motley and a cap with ass’s ears.
Mimus embarks on teaching his young disciple the jester’s art. The poor boy has to spend his afternoons memorizing numerous rhymes and practicing somersaults and headstands.
At nights he is to accompany Mimus to the banquet hall or the king’s private apartments where they give their performances.
The jester is the only person who is allowed to tell the truth to the king. But there is one thing that he must avoid at all costs. He is forbidden to bore a respectable audience. The king, his family, and his guests have to be amused and distracted.
Mimus is endowed with a complex personality. He combines egotism and causticity with compassion which he struggles to hide in order not to look vulnerable.
His attitude toward Florin looks highly ambivalent. At one moment, he may save Florin’s life. At another, it feels like he does not care. But the jester is the boy’s only friend and he knows it. I found very interesting their emotional connection and how it developed over time.
The book is peopled with complex characters. Almost no one in the novel is completely ‘black’ nor ‘ white.’ King Theodo, that perfidious king, may look like an incarnation of a demon, but it turns out that he has his reasons for such cruel behavior. In the grand scheme of things, King Philip’s behavior in the past was not much better than that of Theodo’s.
Florin has yet to discover all those bitter truths.
Mimus, for his part, knows how to entertain an audience. Just listen to him:
The novel is set in a completely fictional world. The two rival kingdoms never existed. However, the descriptions of daily life (the way people eat, sleep and communicate with each other, their everyday chores and entertainments) and socio-cultural stereotypes resemble those of the Middle Ages.
The book is primarily meant for teenagers and young adults but can be read and enjoyed by all ages. It is multilayered and much more complex than one may expect.
The story follows a boy named Florin and a man named Mimus.
The former is the only son and heir to Philip, king of Moltovia. The latter belongs to Theodo, king of Vinland. Mimus is the jester at the court of king Theodo.
The two kingdoms - Moltovia and Vinland - have been at war for many years. Finally, hope appears on the horizon. The peace treaty is about to be concluded.
Twelve-year-old Florin is summoned to the court of Vinland where he intends to join his father.
The rumor has it that he will be betrothed to king Theodo’s only daughter.
Thus, the young prince, full of bright hopes, sets off for Vinland... However, all his plans are soon turned upside down.
Florin gets caught up in the hatred that binds his father and the king of Vinland. The boy ends up becoming little Mimus - an apprentice to Mimus, the court jester. From now on he has to forget about his princely status and wear a jester’s motley and a cap with ass’s ears.
Mimus embarks on teaching his young disciple the jester’s art. The poor boy has to spend his afternoons memorizing numerous rhymes and practicing somersaults and headstands.
At nights he is to accompany Mimus to the banquet hall or the king’s private apartments where they give their performances.
The jester is the only person who is allowed to tell the truth to the king. But there is one thing that he must avoid at all costs. He is forbidden to bore a respectable audience. The king, his family, and his guests have to be amused and distracted.
Mimus is endowed with a complex personality. He combines egotism and causticity with compassion which he struggles to hide in order not to look vulnerable.
His attitude toward Florin looks highly ambivalent. At one moment, he may save Florin’s life. At another, it feels like he does not care. But the jester is the boy’s only friend and he knows it. I found very interesting their emotional connection and how it developed over time.
The book is peopled with complex characters. Almost no one in the novel is completely ‘black’ nor ‘ white.’ King Theodo, that perfidious king, may look like an incarnation of a demon, but it turns out that he has his reasons for such cruel behavior. In the grand scheme of things, King Philip’s behavior in the past was not much better than that of Theodo’s.
Florin has yet to discover all those bitter truths.
Mimus, for his part, knows how to entertain an audience. Just listen to him:
"Which is the most talkative of birds?" he cried overloudly, to disguise the tremor in his voice. "No, not the parrot: the whinchat, because it chats!" Without drawing breath, he went on: "Which is the most irresolute of birds? The hawfinch, because it hums and haws! Which is the most inexperienced of birds? The greenfinch. Which is the most amorous of birds? The plover! Which is the windiest of birds? The nightingale!"
The novel is set in a completely fictional world. The two rival kingdoms never existed. However, the descriptions of daily life (the way people eat, sleep and communicate with each other, their everyday chores and entertainments) and socio-cultural stereotypes resemble those of the Middle Ages.
The book is primarily meant for teenagers and young adults but can be read and enjoyed by all ages. It is multilayered and much more complex than one may expect.
April 6, 2020
At first, I thought this intriguing story would be too slow and plodding for my short attention span. However, the story and the characters grew on me and the suspense built splendidly as well. The author successfully deepened each character without any gimmicks or plot twists. There was no literal magic here, nevertheless there was plenty of wit, cunning, trickery, and surprises. It really was worth the time spent in the “Monkey Tower.”
May 5, 2022
No, I have unfortunately not (yet) had the opportunity to get my hands on Lilli Thal's original German edition of her 2003 Mediaeval fantasy young adult novel Mimus. But being bilingual in German and English and considering that translator John Brownjohn has absolutely and totally verbally managed to render court jester Mimus' (oh so essential and often laugh out loud funny) jokes, wordplays, satirical asides etc. into a text that feels natural and generally not ever artificial or worse feeling in any manner painfully like a typical translation (and that Brownjohn's translated into English narrative for Mimus therefore also mostly flows naturally and engagingly), yes, I personally do think that John Brownjohn has in all likelihood done a very good and more than decent job rendering Lilli Thal's Mimus from German into English (but indeed, this is of course also still rather a major speculation on my part, since I have as already pointed out not read Mimus in German, something that I do hope to rectify sometime in the near future, as I am of course and naturally rather interested in doing a close comparison and contrast of John Brownjohn's translation and Lilli Thal's German original).
However, as much as I think that John Brownjohn's translation of Lilli Thal’s original German for Mimus is spectacular or rather I should say that it will likely prove itself to be spectacular once I am actually able to compare and contrast both texts, I do have to admit that with regard to in particular themes and how the presented characters of Mimus are shown, I have unfortunately found how Lilli That has penned Mimus sometimes and even much too often more than a trifle annoying and lacking. Yes, the general set-up for Mimus, Lilli Thal's narrational descriptions, and how she has shown to her readers a fantastical but still inherently realistic and historically authentic feeling Middle Ages, this is all and indeed wonderfully readable and very nicely detailed (but also with a bit too much overt violence for my reading tastes and that in my opinion, some of that featured violence is perhaps equally just a wee bit gratuitous and too deliberately exaggerated, almost as if it is perhaps meant to be triggering).
And with regard to Lilli Thal's featured characters in Mimus, well, except for the court jester Mimus who is most definitely enigmatic, delightfully nuanced and never either good or bad, but always quite in the middle (so that both readers and also his forced apprentice Florin are never quite sure regarding him and his inner self), sorry, but in Mimus (and of course in my humble opinion), the villains are mostly much much one dimensional cardboard like evil entities, and the victims (Prince Florin, his father King Phillip etc.) are rather sadly pathetic, are actually even depicted by Lilli Thal quite as one sided as the villains in many ways and also rather obviously massively and frustratingly naive. I mean, why would Florin and his father automatically believe that the rival king, that King Theodo would be honest and would not break his promise of a truce, when everything about him completely and utterly and very much clearly says otherwise. And thus, my reading pleasure of Mimus as a (Ruritanian) fantasy, as a story in and of itself has been only somewhat enjoyable (and to be honest, the best part of Mimus are the jester's, are Mimus' word plays, jokes etc. (and for me this is not enough for me to consider a higher ranking than three stars for Mimus
However, as much as I think that John Brownjohn's translation of Lilli Thal’s original German for Mimus is spectacular or rather I should say that it will likely prove itself to be spectacular once I am actually able to compare and contrast both texts, I do have to admit that with regard to in particular themes and how the presented characters of Mimus are shown, I have unfortunately found how Lilli That has penned Mimus sometimes and even much too often more than a trifle annoying and lacking. Yes, the general set-up for Mimus, Lilli Thal's narrational descriptions, and how she has shown to her readers a fantastical but still inherently realistic and historically authentic feeling Middle Ages, this is all and indeed wonderfully readable and very nicely detailed (but also with a bit too much overt violence for my reading tastes and that in my opinion, some of that featured violence is perhaps equally just a wee bit gratuitous and too deliberately exaggerated, almost as if it is perhaps meant to be triggering).
And with regard to Lilli Thal's featured characters in Mimus, well, except for the court jester Mimus who is most definitely enigmatic, delightfully nuanced and never either good or bad, but always quite in the middle (so that both readers and also his forced apprentice Florin are never quite sure regarding him and his inner self), sorry, but in Mimus (and of course in my humble opinion), the villains are mostly much much one dimensional cardboard like evil entities, and the victims (Prince Florin, his father King Phillip etc.) are rather sadly pathetic, are actually even depicted by Lilli Thal quite as one sided as the villains in many ways and also rather obviously massively and frustratingly naive. I mean, why would Florin and his father automatically believe that the rival king, that King Theodo would be honest and would not break his promise of a truce, when everything about him completely and utterly and very much clearly says otherwise. And thus, my reading pleasure of Mimus as a (Ruritanian) fantasy, as a story in and of itself has been only somewhat enjoyable (and to be honest, the best part of Mimus are the jester's, are Mimus' word plays, jokes etc. (and for me this is not enough for me to consider a higher ranking than three stars for Mimus
June 18, 2017
Read by the stupendous Maxwell Caulfield, Mimus is the tale of the young prince who gets subjected to the low embarrassing position of court jester.
Belonging to the kingdom of Moltovia, Florin is the young prince who has grown up on tales of the war between Moltovia and its neighboring kingdom, Vinland. One day he is told that a peace treaty has finally been made. Eager to rejoin his father he sets off only to realize that he has been betrayed by the king of Vinland and is instead sentenced to live out a short imprisonment as a jester under the current jester, Mimus.
Florin, or rather, Little Mimus is now at the lowest low. Jesters are not treated as humans and thus must eek out a living as an animal, always on the borderline of hunger and doing tricks for scraps of food. For the former prince, this is utter humiliation and his tutor, Mimus, is not exactly a warm figure, or is he????
This was a lovely story. Aimed for older children but still enjoyable by anyone of any age, Mimus reveals not only the main story of a prince who wants justice but of how jesters were treated and complexity of character.
As said before, a jester is basically an animal and thusly treated. Florin is constantly shocked at how his life must be lived and how others view him. He is baffled by the two faced nature of people and hates it. There is a strong theme throughout the book on how the view from the top is different from the view from the bottom. In other words, your class position really makes a mark on how you see the world. Mimus is not kind but nor is he cruel. He trains Florin severely only because he knows the repercussions of not performing to expectation. By being strict, he keeps Florin out of harm while still teaching him.
The bond that form between Florin and Mimus, is very warming. Mimus is the only one that knows of Florin's position. He pities the boy and develops a fondness for him. He essentially becomes a subtle father figure for him. There was one very warming and iconic scene in the book where this softer nature of his is revealed. Yet, Mimus is a very complex human. He is essentially a prisoner in his job as a jester. He no longer knows who he is nor what he wants. All he knows is how to act the fool. Mimus was a very interesting character and I really wanted Thal to go further into his character but I guess since this was aimed for preteens and younger, that darker side wouldn't be shown.
Overall, this was a splendid read and I would highly recommend it. It's narrated by Maxwell Caulfield and the amount of dedication and passion he put into this book was astonishing. I am the type of person who really listens to a person's voice. You could say that it's the first thing I notice about a person. Caulfield impressed me beyond measure. The accents, the diverse vocal range, all were top notch and fit each character perfectly. They would have a certain type of accent or speech due to their class, world, makeup ,etc. It was amazing. My respect for voice actors is enormous and Caulfield's voice is physical proof of why my respect is justified.
Highly recommended.
Belonging to the kingdom of Moltovia, Florin is the young prince who has grown up on tales of the war between Moltovia and its neighboring kingdom, Vinland. One day he is told that a peace treaty has finally been made. Eager to rejoin his father he sets off only to realize that he has been betrayed by the king of Vinland and is instead sentenced to live out a short imprisonment as a jester under the current jester, Mimus.
Florin, or rather, Little Mimus is now at the lowest low. Jesters are not treated as humans and thus must eek out a living as an animal, always on the borderline of hunger and doing tricks for scraps of food. For the former prince, this is utter humiliation and his tutor, Mimus, is not exactly a warm figure, or is he????
This was a lovely story. Aimed for older children but still enjoyable by anyone of any age, Mimus reveals not only the main story of a prince who wants justice but of how jesters were treated and complexity of character.
As said before, a jester is basically an animal and thusly treated. Florin is constantly shocked at how his life must be lived and how others view him. He is baffled by the two faced nature of people and hates it. There is a strong theme throughout the book on how the view from the top is different from the view from the bottom. In other words, your class position really makes a mark on how you see the world. Mimus is not kind but nor is he cruel. He trains Florin severely only because he knows the repercussions of not performing to expectation. By being strict, he keeps Florin out of harm while still teaching him.
The bond that form between Florin and Mimus, is very warming. Mimus is the only one that knows of Florin's position. He pities the boy and develops a fondness for him. He essentially becomes a subtle father figure for him. There was one very warming and iconic scene in the book where this softer nature of his is revealed. Yet, Mimus is a very complex human. He is essentially a prisoner in his job as a jester. He no longer knows who he is nor what he wants. All he knows is how to act the fool. Mimus was a very interesting character and I really wanted Thal to go further into his character but I guess since this was aimed for preteens and younger, that darker side wouldn't be shown.
Overall, this was a splendid read and I would highly recommend it. It's narrated by Maxwell Caulfield and the amount of dedication and passion he put into this book was astonishing. I am the type of person who really listens to a person's voice. You could say that it's the first thing I notice about a person. Caulfield impressed me beyond measure. The accents, the diverse vocal range, all were top notch and fit each character perfectly. They would have a certain type of accent or speech due to their class, world, makeup ,etc. It was amazing. My respect for voice actors is enormous and Caulfield's voice is physical proof of why my respect is justified.
Highly recommended.
May 20, 2016
Beautiful. There is simply no other words to describe what I felt after reading this book. When it ended, I felt as if my heart was ripped out of my body, and placed into a blender on high, while I was getting methamphetamine injected into my bloodstreams. Truly beautiful.
I had finished reading this book quite some time ago, but did not- no, could not write a proper review. Nothing in my bull**** ridden mind could come together to string a proper sentence to explain this, and do the book justice. Am I doing it justice now? No, and I will never be able to. But to quote something a science teacher said, "Remember, you should be choosing the assignment based on interest, not because you want to procrastinate. There will probably be MORE work in May/June than you have now." And yes, this is the reason I am writing this review. Onward...
This story was heart-gripping from beginning to end. I had found no faults whatsoever with this tale. In fact, even if the main characters died, I would not be mad, because I know Lilli Thal would be able to pull it off. And in a way, they did die, but shh no spoilers. Lilli Thal had really outdone herself.
One thing though, the final romance was getting quite out of hand. Joking around, as dating, I get it. Engaging them though, well, that's another piece of glass shard I will have to swallow down.
As I read this book, I personally felt pained when the once prideful prince was stripped away of his dignity, and forced to grovel at his enemy's feet. It also served to remind me at how low a human can become. The harsh reality is, we would all become like the prince, shriveling, and doing whatever I can to keep on living. The prince is very real. When I had first found flaws in the prince, I had felt disappointed. He was weak, so weak, crying, begging for himself to be spared, he made me disgusted. But, would I not do the same? Heck, would my parents be any different?
Read this book. It shows you the truth of human endurance, the breaking point between fighting and breaking. It casts real people, and not fake mary-sues to hide the author's insecurities behind. Lilli Thal didn't mind making her characters flawed, some more so than others. It only made them closer to us.
I had finished reading this book quite some time ago, but did not- no, could not write a proper review. Nothing in my bull**** ridden mind could come together to string a proper sentence to explain this, and do the book justice. Am I doing it justice now? No, and I will never be able to. But to quote something a science teacher said, "Remember, you should be choosing the assignment based on interest, not because you want to procrastinate. There will probably be MORE work in May/June than you have now." And yes, this is the reason I am writing this review. Onward...
This story was heart-gripping from beginning to end. I had found no faults whatsoever with this tale. In fact, even if the main characters died, I would not be mad, because I know Lilli Thal would be able to pull it off. And in a way, they did die, but shh no spoilers. Lilli Thal had really outdone herself.
One thing though, the final romance was getting quite out of hand. Joking around, as dating, I get it. Engaging them though, well, that's another piece of glass shard I will have to swallow down.
As I read this book, I personally felt pained when the once prideful prince was stripped away of his dignity, and forced to grovel at his enemy's feet. It also served to remind me at how low a human can become. The harsh reality is, we would all become like the prince, shriveling, and doing whatever I can to keep on living. The prince is very real. When I had first found flaws in the prince, I had felt disappointed. He was weak, so weak, crying, begging for himself to be spared, he made me disgusted. But, would I not do the same? Heck, would my parents be any different?
Read this book. It shows you the truth of human endurance, the breaking point between fighting and breaking. It casts real people, and not fake mary-sues to hide the author's insecurities behind. Lilli Thal didn't mind making her characters flawed, some more so than others. It only made them closer to us.
July 29, 2009
Mimus starts out as a classic fairy tale, with a prince and a king and a war. Luckily, it soon distinguishes itself from the other oft-trodden plot lines. Unluckily, it doesn't do much after that. There 's a big spot in the middle where not much happens at all and he just goes around jestering, and it gives the impression that with a bit less of that it could have made a good short story. Mimus is a fairy tale, and somewhat fun to read, with occaisional action bits and funny bits, but it just doesn't have enough to make it really good. It starts off on a good path, but it doesn't make enough of itself.
July 22, 2013
Like many, mistakenly, I first had Mimus marked as fantasy. I suppose I am so used to anything set in the Middle Ages including dragons and unicorns and such, but I had to take a step back and say HOLD ON! This book has more in common with Catherine, Called Birdy than Ella Enchanted (though I love both of those as well.) Mimus doesn't even have a Merlin-ish wizard like Camelot. The counties of Moltovia and Vinland might not have existed, but the story presents them in a realistic way and puts this book in the category of historical fiction.
However, even ardent fantasy lovers will be sucked up into this so-rich-and-epic-historical-fiction-its-ALMOST-magical period tale. It is just. that. AWESOME. I adored it. The characters (especially Mimus, the old jester) are complex, neither wholly evil nor wholly good. The story is engaging, though the book is long, and while written for teens would appeal to anyone over 11. (Well, I am 34 and loved it. And 11 year olds might like it/"get" it more as a read aloud. But still, it is fantastic and I think it would be great for a many ages!)
I only have ONE complaint, and it's not serious enough to lose even a fraction of a star. (Also, it might be the fault of the German-to-English translator.) I think I counted FIVE instances of the phrase "his heart beat a rapid tattoo" or some variation of it. Shake it up, JUST a little, okay? *SIGH* Anyway, wonderful book. SO good. Now I want to buy it. Own it. Loan it to friends.
However, even ardent fantasy lovers will be sucked up into this so-rich-and-epic-historical-fiction-its-ALMOST-magical period tale. It is just. that. AWESOME. I adored it. The characters (especially Mimus, the old jester) are complex, neither wholly evil nor wholly good. The story is engaging, though the book is long, and while written for teens would appeal to anyone over 11. (Well, I am 34 and loved it. And 11 year olds might like it/"get" it more as a read aloud. But still, it is fantastic and I think it would be great for a many ages!)
I only have ONE complaint, and it's not serious enough to lose even a fraction of a star. (Also, it might be the fault of the German-to-English translator.) I think I counted FIVE instances of the phrase "his heart beat a rapid tattoo" or some variation of it. Shake it up, JUST a little, okay? *SIGH* Anyway, wonderful book. SO good. Now I want to buy it. Own it. Loan it to friends.
June 15, 2015
Brief premise: The kings of Moltovia and Vinland have long hated each other, and the people passes on stories on how undesirable and repugnant the other is.
It was strange then that the King of Vinland, Theodo, invited King Philip to a peace-offering banquet in his castle. Strange, but to Prince Florin of Moltovia that meant that there will be finally peace between the neighbouring countries.
When Prince Florin receives a missive from his father to join him at the banquet, he sets off eagerly and impatiently... until King Theodo reveals his treachery upon his arrival: King Philip and his court dirty, wounded, tortured, and in chains - his army retinue dead.
Prince Florin's sharp retorts to the ridiculing jester, Mimus, earns him a place as the jester's pupil, little Mimus, and his true identity hidden from the castle's staff.
Mimus, though, is not all what he seems and help comes from the most unlikely places.
Translated from German into English by John Brownjohn.
The story is pretty engrossing (enough to make me miss my station!) and the majority of it is of Florin learning how to become a jester - much against his will, but finds that he has a knack for it (well I think so anyways).
Mimus is such a complex character... like an onion (or parfait) there are layers and layers of it. Quite like him and it kind of feels like Florin doesn't quite get Mimus and his intentions until the scene has played out.
Good pace; quite clever i thought.
It was strange then that the King of Vinland, Theodo, invited King Philip to a peace-offering banquet in his castle. Strange, but to Prince Florin of Moltovia that meant that there will be finally peace between the neighbouring countries.
When Prince Florin receives a missive from his father to join him at the banquet, he sets off eagerly and impatiently... until King Theodo reveals his treachery upon his arrival: King Philip and his court dirty, wounded, tortured, and in chains - his army retinue dead.
Prince Florin's sharp retorts to the ridiculing jester, Mimus, earns him a place as the jester's pupil, little Mimus, and his true identity hidden from the castle's staff.
Mimus, though, is not all what he seems and help comes from the most unlikely places.
Translated from German into English by John Brownjohn.
The story is pretty engrossing (enough to make me miss my station!) and the majority of it is of Florin learning how to become a jester - much against his will, but finds that he has a knack for it (well I think so anyways).
Mimus is such a complex character... like an onion (or parfait) there are layers and layers of it. Quite like him and it kind of feels like Florin doesn't quite get Mimus and his intentions until the scene has played out.
Good pace; quite clever i thought.
July 6, 2013
One of the most intriguing and enigmatic YA books I've encountered--the kind that your mind keeps turning over and over afterwards. There's an unfathomableness, a moral ambiguity to the character of Mimus which is mildly unsettling, but in a slow creeping sort of way that hits you unawares while your attention is elsewhere.
It's the sort of book that's difficult for me to frame an opinion of: there's some humor, and some action-adventurey bits, and a driving, well-paced plot, but that's not what makes the book stick in my mind. The fairly standard hot-blooded idealist of a prince is a more than passable hero; but what keeps me puzzling is that blasted inscrutable, donkey-headed, tight-fisted, too-clever-for-comfort jester. Many re-reads will occur before I get anywhere near done trying to figure him out.
It's a pity, though not really a surprise, that this isn't very widely recognised (no angsty love triangles or misunderstood supernatural creatures) but I'd recommend it wholeheartedly, to teens and adults alike.
It's the sort of book that's difficult for me to frame an opinion of: there's some humor, and some action-adventurey bits, and a driving, well-paced plot, but that's not what makes the book stick in my mind. The fairly standard hot-blooded idealist of a prince is a more than passable hero; but what keeps me puzzling is that blasted inscrutable, donkey-headed, tight-fisted, too-clever-for-comfort jester. Many re-reads will occur before I get anywhere near done trying to figure him out.
It's a pity, though not really a surprise, that this isn't very widely recognised (no angsty love triangles or misunderstood supernatural creatures) but I'd recommend it wholeheartedly, to teens and adults alike.
August 3, 2010
Okay so it took about 6 months be we finally finished this. It was good. I mean I wouldn't read it just for fun but reading it with my son WAS fun. It may have been a bit beyond his 11-year old reading level but that's another reason it was good to read this with him. He didn't ever seem to get bored so that's a good sign.
It's basically a medieval "fantasy" with no magic, set in a world with christianity but different countries. It seems kind of strange to mix the two becuase for a while you're wondering, "Is this earth?" But then there's no mention of "real" places like England or France or anything.
This isn't a romping adventure over hill and dale, it's the story of a young prince that has been captured by an enemy king. There are moments of tension and suspense and you REALLY want the good guys to win the whole time because the situation is pretty grim.
So I would suggest this to 11-13 year-olds who like medieval settings.
It's basically a medieval "fantasy" with no magic, set in a world with christianity but different countries. It seems kind of strange to mix the two becuase for a while you're wondering, "Is this earth?" But then there's no mention of "real" places like England or France or anything.
This isn't a romping adventure over hill and dale, it's the story of a young prince that has been captured by an enemy king. There are moments of tension and suspense and you REALLY want the good guys to win the whole time because the situation is pretty grim.
So I would suggest this to 11-13 year-olds who like medieval settings.
August 2, 2008
teen fic. well written and a little more grim than I thought it would be. asks the question whether one can change emotional defenses built up over many years - in this case, no.
February 15, 2025
I have now read Mimus 3 times and it truly remains one of the best books I’ve ever read. It has everything you could possibly want from a medieval prison escape story - suspense, intrigue, royal politics, characters who may or may not be able to be trusted, and just killer pacing. It’s such a fast read and every scene wastes no time in developing plot, character, and raising the stakes for Florin.
Thal has such a gift for creating wonderfully nuanced and real characters that keep you guessing what kind of decisions they’ll make. I love how nothing is simply black or white in this book. Every major character is written in a different shade of gray, even our villains, which is such a rare and impressive feat not just in young adult fiction, but in all fiction. Period. It’s so rare to have characters who are presented as having multiple facets and sides to them, depending on their loyalties and the decisions they’re faced with.
Mimus in particular is such a fascinating character and Thal just leaves you wanting to know more behind his complexities and mysterious back story. I really can’t speak highly enough about this book.
I’m so glad I found this book browsing the local library as it’s one I will continue to enjoy, recommend, and return to again and again
Thal has such a gift for creating wonderfully nuanced and real characters that keep you guessing what kind of decisions they’ll make. I love how nothing is simply black or white in this book. Every major character is written in a different shade of gray, even our villains, which is such a rare and impressive feat not just in young adult fiction, but in all fiction. Period. It’s so rare to have characters who are presented as having multiple facets and sides to them, depending on their loyalties and the decisions they’re faced with.
Mimus in particular is such a fascinating character and Thal just leaves you wanting to know more behind his complexities and mysterious back story. I really can’t speak highly enough about this book.
I’m so glad I found this book browsing the local library as it’s one I will continue to enjoy, recommend, and return to again and again
May 31, 2015
Lilli Thal skep met Mimus 'n uitstekende spanningsverhaal wat in die Middeleeue afspeel. Koning Philip van Monfiel en sy seun, kroonprins Florin, word deur 'n aartsvyand, koning Theodo van Vinland, in 'n lokval gelei en gevange geneem. Philip en belangrike adellikes van Monfiel word in die kerker aangehou, terwyl op Florin 'n besondere vernedering wag: hy word die hofnar se leerjonge. Gedurende die maande in Kasteel Bellingar leer hy dinge wat nooit van 'n seun uit die adelstand verwag sal word nie: liedjies, rympies, raaisels, akrobatiese toertjies. Ter wille van sy lewe werk hy hard om die verspottighede te bemeester, ten spyte van die haas onmenslike omstandighede van die hofnar se lewe.
Oor 'n avontuurverhaal sê 'n mens so min as moontlik om die leser se pret nie te bederf nie. Die presiese aard van die bevredigende slot moet dus verhuld bly. Thal se navorsing oor die Middeleeue verseker 'n geloofwaardige uitbeelding van die lewe in dié tydperk, al gebeur sommige dinge dalk net té maklik. Sy slaag egter daarin om groot diepte aan die verhaal te verleen deur belangrike vraagstukke in te weef. Albei lande is Christelik: hoe mag 'n mens dus bid vir militêre sukses teen jou vyand? Hoe ver mag 'n mens gaan om wraak te neem weens 'n wandaad wat teen jou gepleeg is? Waar lê die kern van 'n mens se identiteit? En watter rol speel hoop in oorlewing?
Oor alles troon die grootse figuur van Mimus, die hofnar. Hy word gruwelik verneder en in aaklige omstandighede laat leef, maar hy het feitlik heeltemal vrye sê voor die koning. Hy behandel Florin net so sleg as wat hy self behandel word, maar tog ontpop hy onder die vreemdste omstandighede as 'n steunpilaar. Hy verleen 'n nuwe dimensie en selfs waardigheid aan die konsep van lojaliteit - en maak die leser bewus van die dun skeiding tussen lojaliteit en eiebelang. In hierdie figuur het Thal iets besonders geskep: 'n komplekse karakter wat die leser telkens verras.
Ten slotte is Mimus 'n ongewone Bildungsroman waarin Florin op ongewone wyse gedwing word tot volwassenheid. Dit het welverdiende pryse en nominasies in die Duitse jeugliteratuur ontvang. Dit is jammer dat die vertaling, naas goeie Afrikaanse vindinge en verwysings, nie sonder taalfoute uit die verf gekom het nie, maar ek is dankbaar dat hierdie roman (soos 'n ander roman van Thal, Joran Noordewind) in Afrikaans beskikbaar is.
Thal writes an unusual coming-of-age novel where the crown prince Florin of Monfiel is captured by the king of Vinland and forced to become the court jester's apprentice. Given the complexity of the plot and the ideas behind it, the novel grows into a powerful tale of identity, revenge, perception and nobility. The towering figure of the court jester Mimus gives a new vision of loyalty. Unforgettable.
Oor 'n avontuurverhaal sê 'n mens so min as moontlik om die leser se pret nie te bederf nie. Die presiese aard van die bevredigende slot moet dus verhuld bly. Thal se navorsing oor die Middeleeue verseker 'n geloofwaardige uitbeelding van die lewe in dié tydperk, al gebeur sommige dinge dalk net té maklik. Sy slaag egter daarin om groot diepte aan die verhaal te verleen deur belangrike vraagstukke in te weef. Albei lande is Christelik: hoe mag 'n mens dus bid vir militêre sukses teen jou vyand? Hoe ver mag 'n mens gaan om wraak te neem weens 'n wandaad wat teen jou gepleeg is? Waar lê die kern van 'n mens se identiteit? En watter rol speel hoop in oorlewing?
Oor alles troon die grootse figuur van Mimus, die hofnar. Hy word gruwelik verneder en in aaklige omstandighede laat leef, maar hy het feitlik heeltemal vrye sê voor die koning. Hy behandel Florin net so sleg as wat hy self behandel word, maar tog ontpop hy onder die vreemdste omstandighede as 'n steunpilaar. Hy verleen 'n nuwe dimensie en selfs waardigheid aan die konsep van lojaliteit - en maak die leser bewus van die dun skeiding tussen lojaliteit en eiebelang. In hierdie figuur het Thal iets besonders geskep: 'n komplekse karakter wat die leser telkens verras.
Ten slotte is Mimus 'n ongewone Bildungsroman waarin Florin op ongewone wyse gedwing word tot volwassenheid. Dit het welverdiende pryse en nominasies in die Duitse jeugliteratuur ontvang. Dit is jammer dat die vertaling, naas goeie Afrikaanse vindinge en verwysings, nie sonder taalfoute uit die verf gekom het nie, maar ek is dankbaar dat hierdie roman (soos 'n ander roman van Thal, Joran Noordewind) in Afrikaans beskikbaar is.
Thal writes an unusual coming-of-age novel where the crown prince Florin of Monfiel is captured by the king of Vinland and forced to become the court jester's apprentice. Given the complexity of the plot and the ideas behind it, the novel grows into a powerful tale of identity, revenge, perception and nobility. The towering figure of the court jester Mimus gives a new vision of loyalty. Unforgettable.
July 3, 2009
We start with a pretty basic fantasy plot: One prince, captured by an evil king, who against all odds must somehow escape and save not only himself, but his father and the entire kingdom. But just when you think you've got the plot all figured out, it twists itself into something more interesting. The 'evil king' isn't actually any more evil than the prince's own father - they are simply two arrogant rulers with a history of mutual deception and dishonor. It's actually rather difficult to feel sympathy toward either king, because they are only reaping their just desserts. The prince, all unknowing, ends up at the end of a long war that should never had happened.
The problem with the prince is that he never really does lose his innocence regarding the war and his father's part in it. He floats through the book in a nimbus of self-righteous indignation, spurning the one man who is genuinely trying to give him aid and comfort. By the end, even as he is forced to acknowledge this one man's part in his eventual release, he still does not truly understand everything this man has done.
I speak, of course, of the jester Mimus. Utterly courageous and honorable (while disguising himself in his donkey's ears of scorn and sarcasm) he's one of the most fascinating characters I've found in recent fiction. The only thing I regret about this book is that we aren't given more understanding of Mimus and his motives. Why is so loyal to his king, despite the harsh treatment he receives? Why (given his loyalty to his own king) does he attempt to protect both the prince and the prince's father from the very beginning, disguising his help as mere jester's tricks? I was eagerly awaiting the answer, and was left disappointed.
Loved the cover as well (sorry B!). It seems to be that rare thing: a near perfect representation of the contents - which after all is not truly about the prince, but about Mimus' manipulations of the prince, the kings, and even the two kingdoms.
The problem with the prince is that he never really does lose his innocence regarding the war and his father's part in it. He floats through the book in a nimbus of self-righteous indignation, spurning the one man who is genuinely trying to give him aid and comfort. By the end, even as he is forced to acknowledge this one man's part in his eventual release, he still does not truly understand everything this man has done.
I speak, of course, of the jester Mimus. Utterly courageous and honorable (while disguising himself in his donkey's ears of scorn and sarcasm) he's one of the most fascinating characters I've found in recent fiction. The only thing I regret about this book is that we aren't given more understanding of Mimus and his motives. Why is so loyal to his king, despite the harsh treatment he receives? Why (given his loyalty to his own king) does he attempt to protect both the prince and the prince's father from the very beginning, disguising his help as mere jester's tricks? I was eagerly awaiting the answer, and was left disappointed.
Loved the cover as well (sorry B!). It seems to be that rare thing: a near perfect representation of the contents - which after all is not truly about the prince, but about Mimus' manipulations of the prince, the kings, and even the two kingdoms.
Read
May 14, 2017The kingdoms of Moltovia and Vinland have long been at war. King Philip, a just and honest king, seeks to create peace with his longtime rival, King Theodo. But Theodo is harboring a long held resentment and betrays Philip, throwing him and his men into his dungeons.
When a message is delivered to Prince Florin to join his father in Vinland, he does not question its sincerity. He and his men rush headlong into a well-crafted trap, and find themselves imprisoned. On a spiteful whim, King Theodo decides to make Florin an apprentice to his wily, trickster jester, Mimus. Finding himself at the lowest station in a rival kingdom, Florin must learn a new means of survival, a new set of rules to a deadly game, and Mimus is his only guide.
-Tiffany J.-
When a message is delivered to Prince Florin to join his father in Vinland, he does not question its sincerity. He and his men rush headlong into a well-crafted trap, and find themselves imprisoned. On a spiteful whim, King Theodo decides to make Florin an apprentice to his wily, trickster jester, Mimus. Finding himself at the lowest station in a rival kingdom, Florin must learn a new means of survival, a new set of rules to a deadly game, and Mimus is his only guide.
-Tiffany J.-
November 15, 2019
I enjoyed this story, but the ending felt a little rushed and then the settling of Mimus anticlimactic. However, the growth of Florin is fun to explore as the journey progresses. Great YA book, categorized as a fantasy but I'd consider it more of a fairy-tale.
May 14, 2025
For various reasons, a prince is forced to apprentice to the court jester, Mimus. He struggles with feelings of shame and whether he is still himself even though he is playing a fool’s, not a prince’s, part. The book also explores themes of how a bad person can seem like a good person to the people who are on that person’s side; in other words, the prince learns to put himself in others’ shoes. Overall, a well thought-out book, especially as concerns character motivation and themed. An easy read with a deeper meaning.
September 20, 2017
What a beautiful and intriguing tale! I love medieval times, and I love stories that think out of the box...Mimus had both. One of the most original books I've read in some time. Highly recommend.
May 17, 2021
This used to be my favourite book from age approximately 14 or so.
Now that i have read it again, twice as old, i still reckognize it as very good book, but at times one does reckognize, that it is written as youth book.
It almost has the depth and severity/ maturity to be considered a character drama.
It's written from the perspective of a 14 years old, but as such deals with fairly adult conflics.
It is definetively a good read, and i found myself almost shedding the occasional tear just as well as giving it a good laugh.
I would literally recommend it to anybody, irrespective of age and whether they are specifically into youth adventure novels.
Now that i have read it again, twice as old, i still reckognize it as very good book, but at times one does reckognize, that it is written as youth book.
It almost has the depth and severity/ maturity to be considered a character drama.
It's written from the perspective of a 14 years old, but as such deals with fairly adult conflics.
It is definetively a good read, and i found myself almost shedding the occasional tear just as well as giving it a good laugh.
I would literally recommend it to anybody, irrespective of age and whether they are specifically into youth adventure novels.
November 30, 2011
Mimus is a great book that contains many different elements that draw you into the story and keep you there.. Something that I found particularly enjoyable is how you can never predict what is going to happen next, and if you think you have it all figured out you are thrown a curve ball that sends the story in a completely different direction.
At the beginning of the book when Florin receives the letter supposedly sent by his father you never imagine the treachery in wait for him when he arrives at Bellingar castle. This betrayal is something totally unexpected, and even if we tried too, no one could possibly predict such an outcome. Another example is at the end of the book, when Florins father is about to be executed. At this point we know that there is a rescue mission underway to save Florin and his father but it seems like all hope is lost. King Phillip has already laid his head on the block (“...King Phillip gave a little nod, then knelt down and laid his head on the block.”) and Florin believes that everything is over (“he know knew that this was the end, and the turmoil inside him subsided. Silently he began to recite the prayer for the dead”) before Lili Thal releases the to announce that the rescue mission is underway. “...a muffled concussion shook the floor and walls and set the goblets on the table jingling...a captain came rushing in and fell on his knees before Theodo. “Your Majesty, the castle is collapsing!””
Another element that I found sets the book apart from others is how Lili Thals description of the setting is so realistic and detailed. One example of a very realistic setting is of the silver mines of Argentia. “..Instead of a mountainside green with trees and bushes, he saw bare, jutting crags and huge, black, yawning holes. It looked as if a giant had split open the mountain side with an axe... Towering glittering mountains of silver—that was how Florin had always pictured the silver mines of Argentia, not these gaping wounds in the rock.” As you can see this is a very accurate description of what actual silver mines would look like, also her use of similes and metaphors helps to describe the feeling that Florin was having while looking at the mines.
In some of the other reviews that I have read, Mimus is said to be a “dark” book. I believe that people view the book in this way simply because its characters are very realistic. For example, Theodo is not only portrayed as the vile king, but also as a loving father. This makes the character much more believable because he is a father despite his deeds, it would not be very convincing if he behaved the same way around his family as he did around his enemies, “Theodo looked peacable and relaxed at table—a sight that troubled Florin far more than the icy disdain to which the king had previously subjected him. What right had this person—this monster!—to sit with his family in the guise of an affectionate father?”
At the beginning of the book when Florin receives the letter supposedly sent by his father you never imagine the treachery in wait for him when he arrives at Bellingar castle. This betrayal is something totally unexpected, and even if we tried too, no one could possibly predict such an outcome. Another example is at the end of the book, when Florins father is about to be executed. At this point we know that there is a rescue mission underway to save Florin and his father but it seems like all hope is lost. King Phillip has already laid his head on the block (“...King Phillip gave a little nod, then knelt down and laid his head on the block.”) and Florin believes that everything is over (“he know knew that this was the end, and the turmoil inside him subsided. Silently he began to recite the prayer for the dead”) before Lili Thal releases the to announce that the rescue mission is underway. “...a muffled concussion shook the floor and walls and set the goblets on the table jingling...a captain came rushing in and fell on his knees before Theodo. “Your Majesty, the castle is collapsing!””
Another element that I found sets the book apart from others is how Lili Thals description of the setting is so realistic and detailed. One example of a very realistic setting is of the silver mines of Argentia. “..Instead of a mountainside green with trees and bushes, he saw bare, jutting crags and huge, black, yawning holes. It looked as if a giant had split open the mountain side with an axe... Towering glittering mountains of silver—that was how Florin had always pictured the silver mines of Argentia, not these gaping wounds in the rock.” As you can see this is a very accurate description of what actual silver mines would look like, also her use of similes and metaphors helps to describe the feeling that Florin was having while looking at the mines.
In some of the other reviews that I have read, Mimus is said to be a “dark” book. I believe that people view the book in this way simply because its characters are very realistic. For example, Theodo is not only portrayed as the vile king, but also as a loving father. This makes the character much more believable because he is a father despite his deeds, it would not be very convincing if he behaved the same way around his family as he did around his enemies, “Theodo looked peacable and relaxed at table—a sight that troubled Florin far more than the icy disdain to which the king had previously subjected him. What right had this person—this monster!—to sit with his family in the guise of an affectionate father?”
August 30, 2016
Once you enter the world that Thal has created in Mimus, you will find it hard to leave.
The kingdoms of Moltavia and Vinland have been at war for years, but now they seem on the verge of peace that was brokered with the assistance of a neighboring kingdom. King Theodo of Vinland has invited King Philip of Moltavia and his advisors to a celebration of peace at his castle Bellingar. Florin, King Philip's son, has been summoned to the feast and is just beginning to think about a world at peace in which he may end up betrothed to King Theodo's daughter when he is cruelly betrayed. Upon his arrival to Bellingar, he is treated to a parade of his father and advisors coming from the dungeon in shackles. Florin himself is forced into the role of apprentice jester and made to live in the monkey tower. He begins to see himself and the world in a new way.
Full of elements befitting any epic, this story follows Florin's journey from a pampered and privileged prince waiting on others to do for him, to a confident and courageous young man who takes his life into his own hands.
There is a villain who is as loving a family man as he is an evil tyrant, there is a hero who becomes strong by recognizing his own weaknesses, and there is Mimus, the jester, who unseen by most, understands the world and those around him so fully that it is painful. He teaches Florin more than the role of a jester.
Appropriate for middle school and up, this book touches on loss, perseverance, courage, and empowerment. Along the way it is also fun. Watching Mimus and Florin in their escapades and seeing Florin grow is fun, humorous and painful in turns. It is well worth the read.
The kingdoms of Moltavia and Vinland have been at war for years, but now they seem on the verge of peace that was brokered with the assistance of a neighboring kingdom. King Theodo of Vinland has invited King Philip of Moltavia and his advisors to a celebration of peace at his castle Bellingar. Florin, King Philip's son, has been summoned to the feast and is just beginning to think about a world at peace in which he may end up betrothed to King Theodo's daughter when he is cruelly betrayed. Upon his arrival to Bellingar, he is treated to a parade of his father and advisors coming from the dungeon in shackles. Florin himself is forced into the role of apprentice jester and made to live in the monkey tower. He begins to see himself and the world in a new way.
Full of elements befitting any epic, this story follows Florin's journey from a pampered and privileged prince waiting on others to do for him, to a confident and courageous young man who takes his life into his own hands.
There is a villain who is as loving a family man as he is an evil tyrant, there is a hero who becomes strong by recognizing his own weaknesses, and there is Mimus, the jester, who unseen by most, understands the world and those around him so fully that it is painful. He teaches Florin more than the role of a jester.
Appropriate for middle school and up, this book touches on loss, perseverance, courage, and empowerment. Along the way it is also fun. Watching Mimus and Florin in their escapades and seeing Florin grow is fun, humorous and painful in turns. It is well worth the read.
February 18, 2019
While King Philip of Moltovia is away trying to make peace with King Theodo of Vinland, Philip's son, 12 year old son Prince Florin is learning how to run his father's kingdom with help from his advisors. An envoy arrives at their kingdom to tell them that peace has been reached and Florin has been invited to join the celebration feast in Vinland. When he arrives in Vinland, Florin is unfortunate to discover that his father and his remaining men have been imprisoned. Theodo has also decided to apprentice Florin to his jester, Mimus. Florin must learn the harsh lessons of tom foolery, tricks, riddling, silly songs, crazy acrobatic moves to entertain the king and his family forever, unless a rescue mission from Moltovia is made.
This is an entertaining read that preteens would enjoy. There is humor, battles of wits, and sword play. Sometimes I was nervous for the characters, but being a middle grade novel I knew that it would have a happy ending. Mimus is the most interesting character in the story. Very little is known of his backstory and we get a complex person. On the one hand, he seems like a cruel teacher towards Florin, but on the other, he shows kindness towards him as well. He constantly tries to protect Florin from doing something stupid that will get him into trouble with Theodo causing harm to his father. When the young prince is having nightmares Mimus dabs a wet cloth on his forehead. It is decently written, but the chapters are too long for my taste. The long chapters make it slow at times and for a second I thought about DNFing it, because it was feeling too long. I'm glad I finished it, because I liked the ending, and I had fun on the ride.
This is an entertaining read that preteens would enjoy. There is humor, battles of wits, and sword play. Sometimes I was nervous for the characters, but being a middle grade novel I knew that it would have a happy ending. Mimus is the most interesting character in the story. Very little is known of his backstory and we get a complex person. On the one hand, he seems like a cruel teacher towards Florin, but on the other, he shows kindness towards him as well. He constantly tries to protect Florin from doing something stupid that will get him into trouble with Theodo causing harm to his father. When the young prince is having nightmares Mimus dabs a wet cloth on his forehead. It is decently written, but the chapters are too long for my taste. The long chapters make it slow at times and for a second I thought about DNFing it, because it was feeling too long. I'm glad I finished it, because I liked the ending, and I had fun on the ride.
July 2, 2012
One of the best books I've read of this genre, Mimus is intense in its premise and probably one of the most engaging stories I've had the pleasure of reading. The best part about the story is, of course, the character of Mimus, the spiteful and dark-humored Fool that is the center of the story, despite not being its protagonist. The other characters actually seemed rather grey and unoriginal in comparison to him, which is the only part about this book that I found lacking.
That aside, however, the writing is engaging and intense, and I read every single page all the way through. This may seem like a rather obvious statement, but hear me out: so many novels have stories that get bogged down in uninteresting internal monologues, exposition, wordy descriptions and, worst of all, excruciatingly detailed world-building. Don't tell me you haven't read books like this. Too often, I find myself skimming through several pages of whatever book I'm reading just to get to the good part. Yes, I'm a horrible reader in these cases. But I think it's more the fault of the book than the reader when you can skip over about three pages without missing out on anything of the story.
Not so with Mimus. Its straightforward style of storytelling had me hooked, and I had a grand time of reading it from beginning to end.
Plus, you can't deny that the cover art alone is enough to draw you in. One of the few times I can say that I borrowed a book based on the cover alone. I'm not proud of it, but I certainly do not regret doing it. This was a great book.
That aside, however, the writing is engaging and intense, and I read every single page all the way through. This may seem like a rather obvious statement, but hear me out: so many novels have stories that get bogged down in uninteresting internal monologues, exposition, wordy descriptions and, worst of all, excruciatingly detailed world-building. Don't tell me you haven't read books like this. Too often, I find myself skimming through several pages of whatever book I'm reading just to get to the good part. Yes, I'm a horrible reader in these cases. But I think it's more the fault of the book than the reader when you can skip over about three pages without missing out on anything of the story.
Not so with Mimus. Its straightforward style of storytelling had me hooked, and I had a grand time of reading it from beginning to end.
Plus, you can't deny that the cover art alone is enough to draw you in. One of the few times I can say that I borrowed a book based on the cover alone. I'm not proud of it, but I certainly do not regret doing it. This was a great book.
May 18, 2021
A surprising, and at times heart-wrenching fairy tale that brings new life to an old genre. What I liked most about "Mimus" were the many points, especially in the later half of the novel, which really made me sit up and pay attention. It's an incredibly genuine and believable story. Our hero, Florin, is brave and clever, but is still accurately portrayed as a young boy in a difficult situation – he's not a Mary Sue, and there are many times where he can only watch others decide his fate. A feeling of powerlessness (which is just as compelling as it is frustrating) wrestles constantly with hope and agency. Ideas about power, purpose, and humanity are explored here, with far more subtlety than you'd usually find in a fairy tale.
The only reason I don't give "Mimus" a higher rating is because the book could still be improved a great deal, particularly with Thal's prose. If her ideas are original, her writing is not. Details in "Mimus" are almost completely forgettable, and the language rings tinny with familiarity. I'm sure Thal didn't want to push the fairy tale envelope too much, but I still think there was huge potential in "Mimus" on the scale of the word and sentence that was never fulfilled. Nevertheless, I'm still very glad I picked it up. The titular character Mimus in particular makes the novel worth reading, and there's plenty else besides that's a happy surprise.
April 29, 2022
I needed a "light" novel to read and this popped off the shelves(actually it did that a few days ago. Seems OK so far - a bit Jack("Lyonesse") Vancean in the fantasy vein.
Onward to the mid-section of this tale and still very much entertained as Florin has much to learn from his unwanted mentor Mimus. That said, I think it's about time for "stuff" to start happening. In the words of the immortal Rodney Dangerfield... "Let's GO! While we're young."
Somewhat further on and it still... needs... to... get... GOING!
'Bout a hundred pages to go now and things are SLOWly rounding into the shape of an endgame. One gets tired of the bratty cluelessness of Florin and wonders why he hasn't been thrashed to a bloody pulp already by the vindictive King Theodo. One assumes that "good"(a relative term here as it turns out that Theodo has his reasons) will triumph eventually and that Big Mimus will play a role, perhaps even a self-sacrificing one, in the outcome. Onward!
And now done with this reasonably interesting Medieval Adventure/Suspense(?) novel. NOT fantasy fiction, as I'd first assumed.
- Anachronism alert!~Florin observes: "I'm losing my identity" ??? - that's 20th c. speak.
- 3.25* rounds down to 3*.
Onward to the mid-section of this tale and still very much entertained as Florin has much to learn from his unwanted mentor Mimus. That said, I think it's about time for "stuff" to start happening. In the words of the immortal Rodney Dangerfield... "Let's GO! While we're young."
Somewhat further on and it still... needs... to... get... GOING!
'Bout a hundred pages to go now and things are SLOWly rounding into the shape of an endgame. One gets tired of the bratty cluelessness of Florin and wonders why he hasn't been thrashed to a bloody pulp already by the vindictive King Theodo. One assumes that "good"(a relative term here as it turns out that Theodo has his reasons) will triumph eventually and that Big Mimus will play a role, perhaps even a self-sacrificing one, in the outcome. Onward!
And now done with this reasonably interesting Medieval Adventure/Suspense(?) novel. NOT fantasy fiction, as I'd first assumed.
- Anachronism alert!~Florin observes: "I'm losing my identity" ??? - that's 20th c. speak.
- 3.25* rounds down to 3*.
April 20, 2010
I'm not sure why I liked this book so much. But you know you're enjoying something when you're sad for it to end. I got to the last CD and felt a little forlorn. I actually looked forward to my commute.
The book takes place in medieval times, but has nothing of magic or fantasy. I think the real genius of this book is it's fully-developed characters and realistic details.
Be warned, the book is a little (okay a lot) depressing and has some ungodly language and a pinch of vulgarity. (I think this is the German being translated into English.) At the same time, the overt religious overtones are inspirational and quite frankly something you don't see anymore. The author makes no apologies for being a faithful Catholic and doesn't spare us the churchy stuff. While this may be annoying to those who haven't found their faith, for me it was refreshing.
Apart from being truly original, this epic has some very clever rhymes (which must've been a trick for the translator) and a fantastic climax. I'll be looking for more books by Lilli Thal.
The book takes place in medieval times, but has nothing of magic or fantasy. I think the real genius of this book is it's fully-developed characters and realistic details.
Be warned, the book is a little (okay a lot) depressing and has some ungodly language and a pinch of vulgarity. (I think this is the German being translated into English.) At the same time, the overt religious overtones are inspirational and quite frankly something you don't see anymore. The author makes no apologies for being a faithful Catholic and doesn't spare us the churchy stuff. While this may be annoying to those who haven't found their faith, for me it was refreshing.
Apart from being truly original, this epic has some very clever rhymes (which must've been a trick for the translator) and a fantastic climax. I'll be looking for more books by Lilli Thal.
November 27, 2012
I'm not sure why so many people shelved this under "fantasy" - there aren't any fantasy elements to it. The book takes place in the Middle Ages, but it's a fairly realistic Middle Ages. If you're looking for magic, elves, or witches, you won't find them here.
It's not every day that you read a complex, engaging YA historical fiction book about the Middle Ages that doesn't incorporate fantasy elements, but Mimus is just such a book - and because of its realism and its moral ambiguity, it's a book that will cross age lines very easily. I found this book extremely compelling and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any fan of historical fiction in their teens or older! The last 50 pages did kind of drag a bit, but I don't tend to like action sequences very much - I far preferred the time Thal spent developing the friendship between Mimus and Florin and the vast amounts of time she spent on Florin's inner life. If you like adventure-packed, action-a-page books, this won't appeal, but overall this is one of the best historical fiction YA books I've read.
It's not every day that you read a complex, engaging YA historical fiction book about the Middle Ages that doesn't incorporate fantasy elements, but Mimus is just such a book - and because of its realism and its moral ambiguity, it's a book that will cross age lines very easily. I found this book extremely compelling and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any fan of historical fiction in their teens or older! The last 50 pages did kind of drag a bit, but I don't tend to like action sequences very much - I far preferred the time Thal spent developing the friendship between Mimus and Florin and the vast amounts of time she spent on Florin's inner life. If you like adventure-packed, action-a-page books, this won't appeal, but overall this is one of the best historical fiction YA books I've read.
April 3, 2009
Grabbed this book at the library because the cover and story line looked good. Read it and could not get the storyline out of my mind. Even though I had to get over some of the language, I found it very entertaining.
A prince is forced into becoming a court jester after a rival king's betrayal of peace, leaving his father in a dungeons. He has to endure the torture and humiliation to buy time to save his father and himself. While his country is crumbling without a king and the numerous misfortunes that has been dealt to him and his father, he wonders if there is anyone left who would help them.
A prince is forced into becoming a court jester after a rival king's betrayal of peace, leaving his father in a dungeons. He has to endure the torture and humiliation to buy time to save his father and himself. While his country is crumbling without a king and the numerous misfortunes that has been dealt to him and his father, he wonders if there is anyone left who would help them.
December 2, 2009
Treason, trickery and Midieval mischief are the ingrediants with which Lilly Thal invites us into her world, a place full with shifting wall panels, dread and poison, a time in the history of the world where tomorrow was always doubted and honesty was always compromised by the aftereffects of a night on the street.
Unfortunately for poor Thal, this novel didn't gain so much as a few kind words from newspapers and teens afar, and was left on the shelves for adventurous readers, such as myself, that could most often be, if they wished, trendsetters.
Unfortunately for poor Thal, this novel didn't gain so much as a few kind words from newspapers and teens afar, and was left on the shelves for adventurous readers, such as myself, that could most often be, if they wished, trendsetters.
June 11, 2007
jordan's telling me that this isn't fantasy because there are no magical things, creatures that are unexplainable by science. i maintain that it is merely because it isn't happening on earth. i don't know who's right. I loved this book because there was excellent character development. As a coming of age story goes, it really got to the meat of how you define yourself when you have nothing material to your name and the few things you do have define you in a way that isn't true. So there.
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