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The Wolves Chronicles #0
The Whispering Mountain
Winner of the Guardian Prize for Fiction
In the small town of Pennygaff, where Owen has been sent to live after his mother’s death, a legendary golden harp has been found. Knowing of the prophesy of the Harp of Teirtu, Owen must prevent the magic harp from falling into the evil clutches of its reputed owner, the sinister and diabolical Lord Mayln. But it won’t be easy. Owen and his friend Arabis are plunged into a hair-raising adventure of intrigue, kidnapping, exotic underground worlds, savage beasts...even murder.
For only too late will Owen learn that Lord Mayln will stop at nothing to have the golden harp.
In the small town of Pennygaff, where Owen has been sent to live after his mother’s death, a legendary golden harp has been found. Knowing of the prophesy of the Harp of Teirtu, Owen must prevent the magic harp from falling into the evil clutches of its reputed owner, the sinister and diabolical Lord Mayln. But it won’t be easy. Owen and his friend Arabis are plunged into a hair-raising adventure of intrigue, kidnapping, exotic underground worlds, savage beasts...even murder.
For only too late will Owen learn that Lord Mayln will stop at nothing to have the golden harp.
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
42 people are currently reading
1782 people want to read
About the author
Joan Aiken
333 books602 followersJoan Aiken was a much loved English writer who received the MBE for services to Children's Literature. She was known as a writer of wild fantasy, Gothic novels and short stories.
She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).
Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.
Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.
Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.
Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.
She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).
Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.
Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.
Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.
Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
October 31, 2018
The Whispering Mountain, which John Clute calls an "associate title" in his encyclopedia of supernatural fiction writers, seems at first glance to be unrelated to the previous three in Aiken's Wolves Chronicles, except for the fact that it is set in the same alternative Britain. Much like Susan Cooper's
Over Sea, Under Stone
and
The Dark Is Rising
however, it introduces characters that enter the mainstream of the storyline in later titles, though in a much less vital capacity than seen in Cooper's sequence.
When young Owen Hughes comes to stay with his stern, unbending grandfather in the small Welsh village of Pennygaff, he finds himself falsely accused of stealing the Telyn Teirtu, a golden harp with a storied history stretching back to the days of King Arthur and before... Setting out to find the lost treasure, Owen must contend with the arrogant Marques of Malyn, a mysterious foreign gentleman calling himself the Seljuk of Rum, and the Tylwyth Teg, the legendary "Fair People" who live inside the Whispering Mountain... A rich and entertaining fantasy, so steeped in the folklore and culture of Wales, that a Welsh glossary is included at the back.
I am fortunate enough to own a first (American) edition of this wonderful title, which includes the black & white illustrations by Frank Bozzo - sadly missing from later editions.
Addendum: Because the reading order of this series is somewhat complicated, I have included this handy guide, which is organized by publication date, and which I recommend to prospective readers of the series, rather than the one offered here on Goodreads:
Reading Order for the Series:
1) The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
2) Black Hearts in Battersea
3) Nightbirds on Nantucket
4) The Whispering Mountain
5) The Cuckoo Tree
6) The Stolen Lake
7) Dido and Pa
8) Is Underground
9) Cold Shoulder Road
10) Dangerous Games
11) Midwinter Nightingale
12) The Witch of Clatteringshaws
A few notes:
-- Is Underground is the American name for the British original, Is . Similarly, Dangerous Games was originally published in Britain as Limbo Lodge .
-- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase features two characters that recur, but the two young heroines do not.
-- The Stolen Lake is the point at which the chronology becomes somewhat complicated, as it is the sixth book, but chronicles events that occur in between Night Birds on Nantucket (#3) and The Cuckoo Tree (#5).
-- Is Underground (or Is ) and Cold Shoulder Road both feature Is Twite, cousin to the main heroine, Dido. They occur alongside the other books, and their position in the series is not chronologically relevant.
-- Dangerous Games ( Limbo Lodge ) is another title that backtracks in the chronology...
--Although not technically part of the series, Aiken's Midnight Is a Place does occur in the same alternative timeline, and is set in Blastburn, the same imaginary city that features in the other books.
When young Owen Hughes comes to stay with his stern, unbending grandfather in the small Welsh village of Pennygaff, he finds himself falsely accused of stealing the Telyn Teirtu, a golden harp with a storied history stretching back to the days of King Arthur and before... Setting out to find the lost treasure, Owen must contend with the arrogant Marques of Malyn, a mysterious foreign gentleman calling himself the Seljuk of Rum, and the Tylwyth Teg, the legendary "Fair People" who live inside the Whispering Mountain... A rich and entertaining fantasy, so steeped in the folklore and culture of Wales, that a Welsh glossary is included at the back.
I am fortunate enough to own a first (American) edition of this wonderful title, which includes the black & white illustrations by Frank Bozzo - sadly missing from later editions.
Addendum: Because the reading order of this series is somewhat complicated, I have included this handy guide, which is organized by publication date, and which I recommend to prospective readers of the series, rather than the one offered here on Goodreads:
Reading Order for the Series:
1) The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
2) Black Hearts in Battersea
3) Nightbirds on Nantucket
4) The Whispering Mountain
5) The Cuckoo Tree
6) The Stolen Lake
7) Dido and Pa
8) Is Underground
9) Cold Shoulder Road
10) Dangerous Games
11) Midwinter Nightingale
12) The Witch of Clatteringshaws
A few notes:
-- Is Underground is the American name for the British original, Is . Similarly, Dangerous Games was originally published in Britain as Limbo Lodge .
-- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase features two characters that recur, but the two young heroines do not.
-- The Stolen Lake is the point at which the chronology becomes somewhat complicated, as it is the sixth book, but chronicles events that occur in between Night Birds on Nantucket (#3) and The Cuckoo Tree (#5).
-- Is Underground (or Is ) and Cold Shoulder Road both feature Is Twite, cousin to the main heroine, Dido. They occur alongside the other books, and their position in the series is not chronologically relevant.
-- Dangerous Games ( Limbo Lodge ) is another title that backtracks in the chronology...
--Although not technically part of the series, Aiken's Midnight Is a Place does occur in the same alternative timeline, and is set in Blastburn, the same imaginary city that features in the other books.
August 4, 2013
Not strictly a prequel to the Wolves of Willoughby Chase sequence (our young hero Owen Hughes re-appears around the time of the plot to slide St Paul’s Cathedral into the Thames at a coronation, in The Cuckoo Tree), The Whispering Mountain can nevertheless be enjoyed as a standalone novel. It also adds to our knowledge and understanding of Joan Aiken’s alternative history of the world in the early 19th century, sometimes called the James III sequence or, as I prefer to call it, the Dido Twite series (from the most endearing character featured in most of the books).
Set in and around the western coast of Wales, the tale features elements of Welsh mythology, Dark Age history and traditions of Nonconformism and mining, along with several other typical Aiken themes – such as Arthurian legend (revisited in The Stolen Lake), slavery underground (as in Is), mistaken identities (as in The Cuckoo Tree) and dastardly villains (as in all the titles of the sequence). Although convoluted, the plot draws you along to the inevitable conclusion, and as always Aiken doesn’t shy away from death even when writing for a youngish audience.
Of especial interest is the Welsh setting and use of language and traditions away from Aiken’s usual specialities such as the southeast of England. Living in West Wales, I was particularly intrigued to see aspects of different real localities transmogrified to suit the story and the conceit of an alternative geography of Britain (Malyn Castle is like Harlech Castle transferred to the region of Aberystwyth); and the use of Welsh phrases and idioms (there is a glossary at the end) when characters speak English struck chords even for someone like me with only a passing acquaintance with the language. I also loved the puns, such as the placename Pennygaff which, although it has a Welsh look to it (real placenames include Pen-y-Fan and Pen-y-Bont, literally ‘Mountain Top’ and ‘Bridgend’ respectively), is actually taken from the name for a type of popular but seedy early Victorian theatrical show. Malyn Castle (and its Marquess of Malyn) is a wonderful composite of malign (a good description of the marquess), melyn (Welsh for ‘yellow’, perhaps a reference to the marquess’ love of gold) and Malin Head (the most northerly point in Ireland, famous from the BBC Shipping Forecast, with its 1805 Martello tower looking very castle-like).
And the story? This is the tale of Owen Hughes, son of Captain Hughes of the Thrush and the grandson of another Owen Hughes, keeper of the Pennygaff museum. Bullied at school, young Owen falls in with heroes, villains and bystanders: who to trust with the ancient harp kept in the museum? The villains are often the most memorable, ruffians like Toby Bilk (slang for ‘cheat’) and Elijah Prigman (‘thief’), and blackguards like the Marquess himself. To right the balance there are kind monks, a future king, a travelling poet and his daughter by a Maltese beauty, Arabis Camilleri. The daughter, also called Arabis (a kind of rockcress; also Welsh arabus means ‘witty’) is the same age as Owen. And we mustn’t forget a mysterious Eastern potentate and the equally mysterious cave-dwelling troglodytes under the eponymous Whispering Mountain. Which does more than whisper in the denouement, in an underground version of the famous Devil’s Bridge inland from Aberystwyth.
As I hope this account suggests, this a book worth reading for its spirited liveliness and sheer inventiveness even if you’re not a dyed-in-the-wool Aiken fan. Maybe after sampling The Whispering Mountain you may be tempted to try the other alternate histories in the series. There’s even a chance you might not be disappointed. To add to the delight there’s a map but, sadly, only a handful of illustrations by the inestimable Pat Marriott in the original hardback and the Puffin paperbacks. Later issues, such as the Red Fox edition, include neither map nor illustrations, a miscalculation especially with books aimed at a young adult market but no less a mistake with readers of all ages.
http://wp.me/p2oNj1-t
Set in and around the western coast of Wales, the tale features elements of Welsh mythology, Dark Age history and traditions of Nonconformism and mining, along with several other typical Aiken themes – such as Arthurian legend (revisited in The Stolen Lake), slavery underground (as in Is), mistaken identities (as in The Cuckoo Tree) and dastardly villains (as in all the titles of the sequence). Although convoluted, the plot draws you along to the inevitable conclusion, and as always Aiken doesn’t shy away from death even when writing for a youngish audience.
Of especial interest is the Welsh setting and use of language and traditions away from Aiken’s usual specialities such as the southeast of England. Living in West Wales, I was particularly intrigued to see aspects of different real localities transmogrified to suit the story and the conceit of an alternative geography of Britain (Malyn Castle is like Harlech Castle transferred to the region of Aberystwyth); and the use of Welsh phrases and idioms (there is a glossary at the end) when characters speak English struck chords even for someone like me with only a passing acquaintance with the language. I also loved the puns, such as the placename Pennygaff which, although it has a Welsh look to it (real placenames include Pen-y-Fan and Pen-y-Bont, literally ‘Mountain Top’ and ‘Bridgend’ respectively), is actually taken from the name for a type of popular but seedy early Victorian theatrical show. Malyn Castle (and its Marquess of Malyn) is a wonderful composite of malign (a good description of the marquess), melyn (Welsh for ‘yellow’, perhaps a reference to the marquess’ love of gold) and Malin Head (the most northerly point in Ireland, famous from the BBC Shipping Forecast, with its 1805 Martello tower looking very castle-like).
And the story? This is the tale of Owen Hughes, son of Captain Hughes of the Thrush and the grandson of another Owen Hughes, keeper of the Pennygaff museum. Bullied at school, young Owen falls in with heroes, villains and bystanders: who to trust with the ancient harp kept in the museum? The villains are often the most memorable, ruffians like Toby Bilk (slang for ‘cheat’) and Elijah Prigman (‘thief’), and blackguards like the Marquess himself. To right the balance there are kind monks, a future king, a travelling poet and his daughter by a Maltese beauty, Arabis Camilleri. The daughter, also called Arabis (a kind of rockcress; also Welsh arabus means ‘witty’) is the same age as Owen. And we mustn’t forget a mysterious Eastern potentate and the equally mysterious cave-dwelling troglodytes under the eponymous Whispering Mountain. Which does more than whisper in the denouement, in an underground version of the famous Devil’s Bridge inland from Aberystwyth.
As I hope this account suggests, this a book worth reading for its spirited liveliness and sheer inventiveness even if you’re not a dyed-in-the-wool Aiken fan. Maybe after sampling The Whispering Mountain you may be tempted to try the other alternate histories in the series. There’s even a chance you might not be disappointed. To add to the delight there’s a map but, sadly, only a handful of illustrations by the inestimable Pat Marriott in the original hardback and the Puffin paperbacks. Later issues, such as the Red Fox edition, include neither map nor illustrations, a miscalculation especially with books aimed at a young adult market but no less a mistake with readers of all ages.
http://wp.me/p2oNj1-t
July 22, 2016
I had to take a couple of runs at this book to get through it over the years. The only connection to the Wolves sequence is a very passing mention that Owen grew up on the good ship Thrush. Other than that, nada.
I remember my mom checking this book out of the library when it came out back in 1968 (or probably 1970 for it to get to our tiny rural library). I also vaguely remember it was returned unfinished, and over the years I wondered why. Now I know. Not content with cod-Welsh (happy we are, is it, bachgen look you) and cod-Scotch (neither of which must have made Aiken any friends over the borders, if indeed anyone there read it) Aiken gives so much space to her personally invented fake thieves' cant that between the three of them the book is almost unreadable.
Owen goes from victim to Gary Stu at lightning speed; the moment he gets away from his grandfather's village of Pennygaff, his innate talents shine. Wish fulfillment for adolescents, anyone?
It could have been a good adventure story if she hadn't so obviously been writing for herself. I got the feeling there were a lot of private jokes involved. Certainly not Aiken's best work, which is a shame because it could have been so much better with just a little less self-indulgence. I found myself skimming the nonsense-slang and weird "dialect speech". She lards Welsh words hither and yon, without having the skill to give the child reader (her supposed audience) enough context to understand the meaning. Few kids would like a book where they constantly have to refer to a glossary, even in the late sixties, look you. I know she can write better than this, even within the silly parameters of the series; she has done.
Two and a half stars because it is set in Wales.
I remember my mom checking this book out of the library when it came out back in 1968 (or probably 1970 for it to get to our tiny rural library). I also vaguely remember it was returned unfinished, and over the years I wondered why. Now I know. Not content with cod-Welsh (happy we are, is it, bachgen look you) and cod-Scotch (neither of which must have made Aiken any friends over the borders, if indeed anyone there read it) Aiken gives so much space to her personally invented fake thieves' cant that between the three of them the book is almost unreadable.
Owen goes from victim to Gary Stu at lightning speed; the moment he gets away from his grandfather's village of Pennygaff, his innate talents shine. Wish fulfillment for adolescents, anyone?
It could have been a good adventure story if she hadn't so obviously been writing for herself. I got the feeling there were a lot of private jokes involved. Certainly not Aiken's best work, which is a shame because it could have been so much better with just a little less self-indulgence. I found myself skimming the nonsense-slang and weird "dialect speech". She lards Welsh words hither and yon, without having the skill to give the child reader (her supposed audience) enough context to understand the meaning. Few kids would like a book where they constantly have to refer to a glossary, even in the late sixties, look you. I know she can write better than this, even within the silly parameters of the series; she has done.
Two and a half stars because it is set in Wales.
July 11, 2022
First published in 1968, this romantic and slightly whimsical novel with has all the hallmarks of a children's classic. The extensive use of the Welsh language and its mythology adds a distinctive touch and the characters, especially Arabis, are a delight. The perfect introduction to Joan Aiken's world.
January 30, 2011
I love the language in this book -- a spectacular display of gorgeous phrases, lost words, and perfectly-pitched dialect, from Welsh idioms to 17th-century scientific jargon to London thieves' cant.
December 22, 2017
I read this for the #1968 Club - here is a link to my review:
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
July 26, 2010
I love this book. Another one I've read over and over.
Aiken is a genius.
Owen is an outcast in his town. Grudgingly taken care of by his grandfather, picked on by the bigger boys, Owen is nonetheless trying to make the best of things.
Then a chance encounter with an old friend turns into a bigger adventure with a search for a stolen harp, the discovery of a lost race of people, and the search for the truth about his own, and his friend's past.
Aiken writes a complex and compelling story, deftly weaving multiple threads into one revealing whole.
Aiken is a genius.
Owen is an outcast in his town. Grudgingly taken care of by his grandfather, picked on by the bigger boys, Owen is nonetheless trying to make the best of things.
Then a chance encounter with an old friend turns into a bigger adventure with a search for a stolen harp, the discovery of a lost race of people, and the search for the truth about his own, and his friend's past.
Aiken writes a complex and compelling story, deftly weaving multiple threads into one revealing whole.
January 30, 2010
"Although the harp was dirty and broken, Owen thought it one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen, and he could not forbear passing his hand round the graceful, flowing lines of the frame, and then plucking with the tip of his finger at the last remaining string. The sound it gave out was low but piercingly clear; it seemed to fill the whole room with echoes."
Owen Hughes has a tough life. His crochety grandfather who runs the Pennygaff museum takes him for granted and constantly finds fault with his work. One night the Telyn Teirtu, the golden harp of legend is stolen from the museum and Owen is accused of the crime. He must recover it before his grandfather or the town of Pennygaff will forgive him. Fortunately he has a few allies to help him along the way. His good friend Arabis, her father and pet bird accompany him on a quest through a dangerous forest, into an underground system of caverns and into Castle Malyn. Unfortunately the castle is owned by the Marquess of Malyk who is obsessed with gold and his guest, the Seljuk of Rum has his own reasons for wanting the harp. Owen must outwit each in turn to reclaim the harp and return it to its rightful place.
My favourite character was Arabis. She's a bit off the wall, talks to her bird a lot but she's original. Owen on the other hand felt somewhat cliche. He's an orphan, the other children in the village bully him and he maybe kinda likes Arabis a little bit.
Aiken has a very lyrical style of writing that made for a very fluid read. I also liked the mythology incorporated into the book. Not only did the story incorporate several different creatures and stories from Welsh legend but they were seamlessly integrated into the story.
My main problem with the book was caring about the main characters. I didn't feel invested with them, despite enjoying Arabis' character. I was really looking forward to this book because it took place in Wales and I thought I'd be safe because this book won a Guardian Award in the 60s. I know other people who have enjoyed this book but it just wasn't for me.
Owen Hughes has a tough life. His crochety grandfather who runs the Pennygaff museum takes him for granted and constantly finds fault with his work. One night the Telyn Teirtu, the golden harp of legend is stolen from the museum and Owen is accused of the crime. He must recover it before his grandfather or the town of Pennygaff will forgive him. Fortunately he has a few allies to help him along the way. His good friend Arabis, her father and pet bird accompany him on a quest through a dangerous forest, into an underground system of caverns and into Castle Malyn. Unfortunately the castle is owned by the Marquess of Malyk who is obsessed with gold and his guest, the Seljuk of Rum has his own reasons for wanting the harp. Owen must outwit each in turn to reclaim the harp and return it to its rightful place.
My favourite character was Arabis. She's a bit off the wall, talks to her bird a lot but she's original. Owen on the other hand felt somewhat cliche. He's an orphan, the other children in the village bully him and he maybe kinda likes Arabis a little bit.
Aiken has a very lyrical style of writing that made for a very fluid read. I also liked the mythology incorporated into the book. Not only did the story incorporate several different creatures and stories from Welsh legend but they were seamlessly integrated into the story.
My main problem with the book was caring about the main characters. I didn't feel invested with them, despite enjoying Arabis' character. I was really looking forward to this book because it took place in Wales and I thought I'd be safe because this book won a Guardian Award in the 60s. I know other people who have enjoyed this book but it just wasn't for me.
May 20, 2015
This is one of the first books I actually remember being given and reading as a child (the other two are Bambi and Lloyd Alexander's The Book of Three). I think it might have been what spawned my lifelong love of Things Welsh. Owen's adventures with the Harp of Teirtu and the quest of the Seljuk of Rum to find his missing people are exciting, endearing, and great fun. There's music, poetry, kidnapping, spelunking, a pretty girl with a tame crow, and royalty-in-disguise ("Jamie Neddie Stuart", if I recall correctly!). Pretty much something for everyone.
As a side note, coming back to the book as an adult I found my curiosity drawn to Owen's father. I wondered about his backstory, what made him the dour man he is. Another one of those gaps that makes one want to fill it with story!
As a side note, coming back to the book as an adult I found my curiosity drawn to Owen's father. I wondered about his backstory, what made him the dour man he is. Another one of those gaps that makes one want to fill it with story!
March 23, 2025
Great story although even with the glossary in the back I had to use my imagination to get to an understanding of the dialogue. But the language gives such color to the story I consider it more of a feature than a bug.
October 31, 2025
This is a classic tale set in an alternative Britain (and this one, an alternative Wales) in the early 19th century. The world that Aiken creates here is extended through other books she has written, and I've read a couple of those (out of order). Her works are standalone tales, even though the world is shared by many of them, and this is a complete and enjoyable story about young Owen who goes to live with his crotchety (or downright mean) grandfather. His grandfather keeps a museum which has come into possession of an item, the harp of Teirtu. However there are people who want the harp, and when it is stolen, Owen is kidnapped to pin the blame on him.
The ensuing adventures are cleverly written, with many enjoyable characters, and a great deal of various dialects (which I also recall reading in other works by this author). Plenty of Welsh words, and the legend of the Tylwyth Teg is integrated into the story, with quite an interesting twist.
It is rightly a classic. Whether the dialect is a bit overdone will be a matter of taste. The tale is a good one, and the book is readable and enjoyable.
The ensuing adventures are cleverly written, with many enjoyable characters, and a great deal of various dialects (which I also recall reading in other works by this author). Plenty of Welsh words, and the legend of the Tylwyth Teg is integrated into the story, with quite an interesting twist.
It is rightly a classic. Whether the dialect is a bit overdone will be a matter of taste. The tale is a good one, and the book is readable and enjoyable.
June 26, 2021
Fun but confusing in places. There are some lovely features in this book, like Arabis’s practical skills as a healer and the use of Welsh words and idioms. There were also two other significant dialects in the books, Scots and some kind of bizarre Cockney-spoonerism-criminal speech, which probably makes this book a bit too perplexing for its target audience. Owen was a nice protagonist, he reminded me of Reynie from THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY. I wanted to see more of Arabis’s hawk!
August 4, 2022
The books seems to aim at a very young audience which is fluent in a variety of british dialects. In the second half of the book, there is an awful lot of back and forth between two places, which I found a little tiring. However, the story itself is quite entertaining and I will probably try the next book in the "Wolves Chronicles" soon.
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August 13, 2023dnf Jan 2021.
I probably would have loved it when I was a kids and read Wolves of Willoughby Chase over & over. But that didn't hold up to my reread recently, and this is not for me at all.
I am glad though for the Starscapes imprint, for bringing back older, forgotten works of speculative fiction for young teens. I will continue to look for more from them.
And I will still look for more of Aiken's short story collections, as I believe that's where she really shines. (I just finished my third read of The Serial Garden: The Complete Armitage Family Stories, August 2023)
I probably would have loved it when I was a kids and read Wolves of Willoughby Chase over & over. But that didn't hold up to my reread recently, and this is not for me at all.
I am glad though for the Starscapes imprint, for bringing back older, forgotten works of speculative fiction for young teens. I will continue to look for more from them.
And I will still look for more of Aiken's short story collections, as I believe that's where she really shines. (I just finished my third read of The Serial Garden: The Complete Armitage Family Stories, August 2023)
September 10, 2017
A bit too convoluted.
April 10, 2024
Plot 2/5
I believe this story is intended to be plot-focused, however the structure is so poorly framed, it was hard for me to maintain interest long-term, so I feel it took me much longer to finish this one than necessary. The pacing of the story is completely unbalanced. It felt rushed in some ways and slow in others. The point of view switches randomly, so you never know which characters it's going to focus on next, making it difficult to follow and immerse myself into. Initially I thought this was going to be more of an adventure story, which it kind of was, but the "adventure" aspects didn't even really get started until the book was already halfway over, and it was a total slog to get there.
Characters 3/4
The only characters I really found myself liking Arabis and her dad. I always liked reading about her part in the story and felt kind of uninterested whenever she'd leave the spotlight. I also liked the pit pit people or "faeries" I only wish there was more about them included as I found their struggles far more interesting than Owen earning the respect of his bullies. Speaking of which, I didn't care much for Owen, who felt like a wimp at the beginning of the story and then somehow magically became OP protagonist who could solve any problem so his peers could pat him on the back for it. I have no idea how this instant metamorphosis came about other than he happens to be the protagonist. All the other characters aside from Arabis, her Father, and Owen spent such little time in the spotlight I barely got the chance to know them, to where they felt more like plot devices than people. This story certainly suffers from a severe case of "too many unimportant characters with names I don't care enough about to remember" syndrome. Way too many characters are introduced way too quickly and all at once, so that they all become forgettable and feel very lacking in terms of depth.
Setting 2/5
While there are a few nice descriptions, there's not nearly as much as I would like to see. The reason why this score is so low, is because it takes place in an AU England and, instead of describing the scenery or even explaining where or what these places are, automatically assumes the reader is an expert in the country, its history, and its languages. The characters use a slew of foriegn languages and accents that slows down the reading as I'm trying to decipher what they're saying. It is very fourth-wall breaking and ruins the immersion. I don't understand it when authors stylize their dialogue with accents instead of just explaining how they spoke with a such in such accent in the narration and allowing the reader to use their imagination if they choose to do so. I also would prefer, if instead of having a glossary at the back, there were asterisks or footnotes at the bottom of the page, so I wouldn't have to spend time flipping back and forth. Regardless of the format, what is being said should outweight the importance of how someone is saying it.
Overall 2/5
As part of my New Years Resolution, my goal is to read roughly a dozen or so books that I've had for many years, but have never finished or some even touched. This is one that I started many years ago back in high school, but never finished. Now I know why. I would not recommend this book to anyone who isn't British, as is I found it not only a dull and uninspiring read, but made all the more frustrating, because of the language barrier.
I believe this story is intended to be plot-focused, however the structure is so poorly framed, it was hard for me to maintain interest long-term, so I feel it took me much longer to finish this one than necessary. The pacing of the story is completely unbalanced. It felt rushed in some ways and slow in others. The point of view switches randomly, so you never know which characters it's going to focus on next, making it difficult to follow and immerse myself into. Initially I thought this was going to be more of an adventure story, which it kind of was, but the "adventure" aspects didn't even really get started until the book was already halfway over, and it was a total slog to get there.
Characters 3/4
The only characters I really found myself liking Arabis and her dad. I always liked reading about her part in the story and felt kind of uninterested whenever she'd leave the spotlight. I also liked the pit pit people or "faeries" I only wish there was more about them included as I found their struggles far more interesting than Owen earning the respect of his bullies. Speaking of which, I didn't care much for Owen, who felt like a wimp at the beginning of the story and then somehow magically became OP protagonist who could solve any problem so his peers could pat him on the back for it. I have no idea how this instant metamorphosis came about other than he happens to be the protagonist. All the other characters aside from Arabis, her Father, and Owen spent such little time in the spotlight I barely got the chance to know them, to where they felt more like plot devices than people. This story certainly suffers from a severe case of "too many unimportant characters with names I don't care enough about to remember" syndrome. Way too many characters are introduced way too quickly and all at once, so that they all become forgettable and feel very lacking in terms of depth.
Setting 2/5
While there are a few nice descriptions, there's not nearly as much as I would like to see. The reason why this score is so low, is because it takes place in an AU England and, instead of describing the scenery or even explaining where or what these places are, automatically assumes the reader is an expert in the country, its history, and its languages. The characters use a slew of foriegn languages and accents that slows down the reading as I'm trying to decipher what they're saying. It is very fourth-wall breaking and ruins the immersion. I don't understand it when authors stylize their dialogue with accents instead of just explaining how they spoke with a such in such accent in the narration and allowing the reader to use their imagination if they choose to do so. I also would prefer, if instead of having a glossary at the back, there were asterisks or footnotes at the bottom of the page, so I wouldn't have to spend time flipping back and forth. Regardless of the format, what is being said should outweight the importance of how someone is saying it.
Overall 2/5
As part of my New Years Resolution, my goal is to read roughly a dozen or so books that I've had for many years, but have never finished or some even touched. This is one that I started many years ago back in high school, but never finished. Now I know why. I would not recommend this book to anyone who isn't British, as is I found it not only a dull and uninspiring read, but made all the more frustrating, because of the language barrier.
May 16, 2024
This is set in Aiken’s world of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase where the Stuart King James III is the ruler of Great Britain, but being a kind of prequel does not feature most of the characters from those stories.
Our protagonist here is young Owen Hughes who lives in the town of Pennygaff in Wales. His mother is dead and his father serving in the navy somewhere in Asia. As a result he stays with his grandfather, the keeper of the town’s museum whose most precious holding is the golden harp of Teirtu.
Pennygaff lies under the lea of the local mountain Fig-Hat Ben which makes a sound when the wind is up, hence the book’s title. It is also rumoured to be the home of small, possibly magical, humans who are only occasionally glimpsed.
The local laird, Lord Malyn, wants the harp for himself but Owen’s grandfather disputes his title to it since it belongs to the last survivor of an order of monks. Malyn sets two criminals, Prigman and Bilk - who converse throughout in thieves’ cant – to steal the harp. Queering the pitch is the mysterious foreigner, The Seljuk of Rum, prone to speaking like a thesaurus. Sand somewhere in the neighbourhood, incapacitated by a hunting accident, is David James Charles Edward George Harold Richard Tudor-Stuart, the Prince of Wales. Who for some reason speaks in a kind of cod Scots.
Other notable characters are itinerant Tom Dando and his daughter Arabis who make their living by selling herbal remedies and the like and whom Owen met on his way to Wales from London.
When the harp is stolen from the museum Owen is kidnapped by Bilk and Prigman and given the blame for it. Many scrapes and adventures ensue including meetings with the clan who live secretly in the mountain and gave rise to the rumours of people living there. Their Middle-Eastern origins – they use camels for transport – tie them to The Seljuk of Rum.
The text deploys a lot of Welsh words but there is a glossary of them to be found among the Extras. The thieves' cant might have been a hindrance to a young reader but context usually makes it obvious what is meant.
In these books we are never in any doubt as to who is good and who the baddies are. Aiken characterises the latter in just enough of an over the top way to ensure that while her heroes and heroines are all resourceful and competent.
It’s all a jolly good romp and as is to be expected in YA fiction, all’s well that ends well.
Our protagonist here is young Owen Hughes who lives in the town of Pennygaff in Wales. His mother is dead and his father serving in the navy somewhere in Asia. As a result he stays with his grandfather, the keeper of the town’s museum whose most precious holding is the golden harp of Teirtu.
Pennygaff lies under the lea of the local mountain Fig-Hat Ben which makes a sound when the wind is up, hence the book’s title. It is also rumoured to be the home of small, possibly magical, humans who are only occasionally glimpsed.
The local laird, Lord Malyn, wants the harp for himself but Owen’s grandfather disputes his title to it since it belongs to the last survivor of an order of monks. Malyn sets two criminals, Prigman and Bilk - who converse throughout in thieves’ cant – to steal the harp. Queering the pitch is the mysterious foreigner, The Seljuk of Rum, prone to speaking like a thesaurus. Sand somewhere in the neighbourhood, incapacitated by a hunting accident, is David James Charles Edward George Harold Richard Tudor-Stuart, the Prince of Wales. Who for some reason speaks in a kind of cod Scots.
Other notable characters are itinerant Tom Dando and his daughter Arabis who make their living by selling herbal remedies and the like and whom Owen met on his way to Wales from London.
When the harp is stolen from the museum Owen is kidnapped by Bilk and Prigman and given the blame for it. Many scrapes and adventures ensue including meetings with the clan who live secretly in the mountain and gave rise to the rumours of people living there. Their Middle-Eastern origins – they use camels for transport – tie them to The Seljuk of Rum.
The text deploys a lot of Welsh words but there is a glossary of them to be found among the Extras. The thieves' cant might have been a hindrance to a young reader but context usually makes it obvious what is meant.
In these books we are never in any doubt as to who is good and who the baddies are. Aiken characterises the latter in just enough of an over the top way to ensure that while her heroes and heroines are all resourceful and competent.
It’s all a jolly good romp and as is to be expected in YA fiction, all’s well that ends well.
July 5, 2024
Do not believe any reviews that tell you this has fantasy elements. At best it has elements of welsh myth, but even those are a stretch.
This book is a children's book from the late 60's. It's the last to be written, but the first in the series, of the Joan Aiken novels commonly referred to as the Wolves of Willoughby Chase.
So if it's not fantasy, then what is it?
The Whispering Mountain is a sort of adventure story with a wide cast of characters that is very thin on plot. It's not one of the old-boys Secret Seven or Famous Five Blyton novels, but something far less clever.
Our story starts off with Owen hiding at school on a rainy evening. Owen is new to the village following his naval officer father's disappearance in China and the school bullies don't let him forget it. As he flees for cover he runs into an old friend Arabis, who shelters him in her traveller wagon with her dreamy, poet father. On their way back to his home in the town museum, run by his terrible grandfather, he tells her of a recent acquistion: a legendary gold harp that is linked to the epnymous mountain and the castle that sits astride it.
What ensues is.. shenanigans. Owen is kidnapped and incapacitated. One party seizes the harp. We meet a monk that has recently been to China and can make spectacles. The harp vanishes. Arabis finds the Fairy/Furry men in the mountain where everything not hewed from the rock is made from camel hair or gold. Owen has returned to town and is shunned by his grandpa again. Owen sets out on a quest for the harp with his bullies (??) and they meet the Prince of Wales, who is scottish, and is attacked by a boar. Arabis sets off on her own quest up the mountain.
And then some moderate action.
This went on way too long. The characterization is good but the characters are boring. The concept is good, but the writing and plotting can't handle it. The last 100 pages were a real chore and the payoff wasn't there.
Honestly, I'm not sure I'll read Wolves.
One thing I did enjoy was the unashamed evilness of some of the adults (very of-its-time) and the equally unfiltered use of dialects throughout the book. As a native of the UK it was a treat to read.
So, two stars because it wasn't terrible but also because it really wasn't for me.
This book is a children's book from the late 60's. It's the last to be written, but the first in the series, of the Joan Aiken novels commonly referred to as the Wolves of Willoughby Chase.
So if it's not fantasy, then what is it?
The Whispering Mountain is a sort of adventure story with a wide cast of characters that is very thin on plot. It's not one of the old-boys Secret Seven or Famous Five Blyton novels, but something far less clever.
Our story starts off with Owen hiding at school on a rainy evening. Owen is new to the village following his naval officer father's disappearance in China and the school bullies don't let him forget it. As he flees for cover he runs into an old friend Arabis, who shelters him in her traveller wagon with her dreamy, poet father. On their way back to his home in the town museum, run by his terrible grandfather, he tells her of a recent acquistion: a legendary gold harp that is linked to the epnymous mountain and the castle that sits astride it.
What ensues is.. shenanigans. Owen is kidnapped and incapacitated. One party seizes the harp. We meet a monk that has recently been to China and can make spectacles. The harp vanishes. Arabis finds the Fairy/Furry men in the mountain where everything not hewed from the rock is made from camel hair or gold. Owen has returned to town and is shunned by his grandpa again. Owen sets out on a quest for the harp with his bullies (??) and they meet the Prince of Wales, who is scottish, and is attacked by a boar. Arabis sets off on her own quest up the mountain.
And then some moderate action.
This went on way too long. The characterization is good but the characters are boring. The concept is good, but the writing and plotting can't handle it. The last 100 pages were a real chore and the payoff wasn't there.
Honestly, I'm not sure I'll read Wolves.
One thing I did enjoy was the unashamed evilness of some of the adults (very of-its-time) and the equally unfiltered use of dialects throughout the book. As a native of the UK it was a treat to read.
So, two stars because it wasn't terrible but also because it really wasn't for me.
July 5, 2024
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
I'm finally going through my physical library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.
I'm only adding one book per author and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
I'm finally going through my physical library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.
I'm only adding one book per author and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
September 4, 2019
The mountain "whispers" because its deep caves are inhabited by a tribe of goldsmiths whose ancestors came from the cities of Sair and Taidon to work for the feudal lord of Malyn, generations ago, and who never figured out the way back home. This is alternative history.
Bespectacled Owen Hughes' mother has died, his father has been injured at sea, his grumpy grandfather has just made himself unpopular in the little town of Pennygaff, and he's also the smallest boy in the school. Naturally he is being bullied. He might sit down and feel sorry for himself if he weren't so busy having a preposterous adventure, trying to find the golden harp the wicked Marquess of Malyn has hired thieves to steal from the town museum. Other people who have some claim to the harp meet one another, and the adventure goes on and on and gets wackier and wackier. In the end Owen has earned the respect of the seven bigger boys, and also of King James III.
Nothing about this story even claims to be believable but it holds together well, it's funny, and it's part of the Wolves Chronicles. If you like alternative history you'll love this book.
Bespectacled Owen Hughes' mother has died, his father has been injured at sea, his grumpy grandfather has just made himself unpopular in the little town of Pennygaff, and he's also the smallest boy in the school. Naturally he is being bullied. He might sit down and feel sorry for himself if he weren't so busy having a preposterous adventure, trying to find the golden harp the wicked Marquess of Malyn has hired thieves to steal from the town museum. Other people who have some claim to the harp meet one another, and the adventure goes on and on and gets wackier and wackier. In the end Owen has earned the respect of the seven bigger boys, and also of King James III.
Nothing about this story even claims to be believable but it holds together well, it's funny, and it's part of the Wolves Chronicles. If you like alternative history you'll love this book.
Read
November 17, 2020This book took me far longer to read than it should have, because I got distracted by reading fanfic halfway through. Unfortunately this meant I lost the thread of the plot a bit, and found it difficult to get back into it. Now that's on me, for ruining my own reading experience, but with that said I don't think that this is Aiken's best, consisting mostly of people running around in caves and into tunnels and up mountains and into more tunnels and into more caves and through dungeons and up rock faces and in more tunnels. It's meandering and confusing. I quite liked the inclusion of all the Welsh. I didn't realise there was a glossary at the end but the context provides a lot of clues as to the words, and I know a tiny bit about Welsh, enough to know what a crwth was, how the letter w is pronounced and so on. I'm not sure how well a child could follow this book but I imagine a certain kind of child could be very absorbed and fascinated. However, it could have just been my reading experience and pandemic brain, but I don't think this book holds a candle to the other Wolves Chronicles books I devoured as a child.
January 6, 2025
This is supposed to be part of the series that either starts w/this book or starts w/The Wolves of Willoughby Chase”. I’ve been reading the series and know that I’ve not read this one before (I’ve for sure read 1-3 - assuming this one is #4). I’ve seen this book listed as #1 and n #4 in the series. To be honest I have no idea how it fits into the series other than some kids have to battle evil forces. None of the characters have been in any of the other 3 books - maybe they will appear in future books of the series?
This one takes place in Wales and there is A LOT of old English dialects that can be hard to follow. It is pretty short with a lot of action so I did manage to read it to the end. I did like the 2 main characters who did their best to right wrongs but ultimately I was a little confused by how the story line and characters fit into the series.
I couldn’t find a copy of it anywhere - not the library, eBay, amazon, etc. I ended having to resort to Ocean of which I really don’t like to do but I got desperate. At this point I suspect one could read the series and skip this one and nothing would be lost. *I might have to change this after reading the next few.*
This one takes place in Wales and there is A LOT of old English dialects that can be hard to follow. It is pretty short with a lot of action so I did manage to read it to the end. I did like the 2 main characters who did their best to right wrongs but ultimately I was a little confused by how the story line and characters fit into the series.
I couldn’t find a copy of it anywhere - not the library, eBay, amazon, etc. I ended having to resort to Ocean of which I really don’t like to do but I got desperate. At this point I suspect one could read the series and skip this one and nothing would be lost. *I might have to change this after reading the next few.*
February 28, 2018
Loved it! I see why the Wolves of Willoughby Chase series stuck in my head for so long, and I kept wanting to find the rest of the series. The range of accents portrayed was amazing! I loved the characters and think this would be a great story to read to kids, with the exception that the end resolved things by killing off the bad guys. Growing up this was my main idea for solving theoretical issues, and I think it's great when I find clever solutions in stories that protect people, and also don't require mortal harm. I'd want to share as many stories like that with my kids as possible, and after a rip-roaring ride from "bullied kid" to "let's bring down a tyrant even though it could be said I'm just a gypsy medic, you're an orphan, and people used to think this tribe was a race of fantastical people", I'd hoped the author had some non-kill-off the evil guys way of resolving the situation to satisfaction. But I did love reading this, and loved learning about these characters who were portrayed so deeply with just a few words here and there. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2017
It is our world and yet it is decidedly Aiken's world too described by her as ‘‘alternate-history fantasies’’ set within the early nineteenth century, this is a wonderful story whose plot, characters and language are as richly woven as the world.
A story about a wicked Marquess' desperate attempt to capture an ancient, golden harp and the town's museum ownership and his grandson's attempts to stop him, as with many of the Wolves Chronicles, we have here a story which respects the past and owes much to it. With the tale set deep in the heart of Wales, an amalgam of characters collide to either work against or together to unearth the harp of Teirtu and it is, in the end, up to the children to save the past from greed and nurture it.
Aiken states that whenever you create a world then, as a writer, you must ‘‘immerse yourself in its atmosphere and topography’’ and in this book she does so with great aplomb. For some readers, the language and rich writing may be a challenge but the rewards are many.
A story about a wicked Marquess' desperate attempt to capture an ancient, golden harp and the town's museum ownership and his grandson's attempts to stop him, as with many of the Wolves Chronicles, we have here a story which respects the past and owes much to it. With the tale set deep in the heart of Wales, an amalgam of characters collide to either work against or together to unearth the harp of Teirtu and it is, in the end, up to the children to save the past from greed and nurture it.
Aiken states that whenever you create a world then, as a writer, you must ‘‘immerse yourself in its atmosphere and topography’’ and in this book she does so with great aplomb. For some readers, the language and rich writing may be a challenge but the rewards are many.
May 13, 2019
I wanted to like this a little more than I did (doesn't everyone, while they're reading?) but there were too many characters, too many disparate plot elements, too many locations—it read like one of those Justice League comics where each hero runs off to do their own thing rather than staying together and battling epically as a unit.
If you like her, you won't hate it, it's her voice and her tone, but it's not her best. I think it's over-reaching—it's delightful when two or three separate pieces come together, aha!—but it's somewhat annoying when seven or eight do.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
If you like her, you won't hate it, it's her voice and her tone, but it's not her best. I think it's over-reaching—it's delightful when two or three separate pieces come together, aha!—but it's somewhat annoying when seven or eight do.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
August 31, 2017
This book isn't actually a sequel to The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, or either of the two following novels in that series - but it is set in the same world. There are no crossover characters from any of the previous books, but the new characters are fascinating and memorable, and the story is every bit as engaging and enjoyable as any of the others. That would be because Joan Aiken is such a stellar writer. And if this is your first introduction to 18th/19th century British thieves cant, you'll be enjoying this fascinating dialect as well.
January 28, 2025
Enjoyed re-reading this romp from my childhood. Joan Aiken's marvellous children's books are worth it for the joy she puts into the dialogue and dialect. In this case welsh, scottish, thieves cant and some fun with other different ways of talking.
Story-telling sometimes a bit rushed, especially at the beginning when there was so much explaining i honestly thought i had missed a previous book. Yet who can complain when you've got caverns, in a mountain, with a castle on top, and a wide forest, with an underground river, and a rising flood and dungeons and blizzards. Breathless.
Story-telling sometimes a bit rushed, especially at the beginning when there was so much explaining i honestly thought i had missed a previous book. Yet who can complain when you've got caverns, in a mountain, with a castle on top, and a wide forest, with an underground river, and a rising flood and dungeons and blizzards. Breathless.
May 5, 2018
2 stars is probably a bit harsh as it's not the book's fault that I'm not a child any more. But reading this as an adult was a slog. Story was a bit erratic and I found the slang/Welsh/Scottish dialect from some of the characters difficult (and sometimes annoying!) to read.
I'll give the next book in the series a go but if I don't enjoy it then maybe it's better to leave this series in my past.
I'll give the next book in the series a go but if I don't enjoy it then maybe it's better to leave this series in my past.
December 18, 2024
For some reason, books set in Wales always seem to be quite fun.
The writing is very lovely, reminds me of Frances Hardinge a bit. Same with the whimsical characters like Arabis and her father.
Warning, this book has a bunch of Welsh, and Scottish accent written phonetically, and a thieves' cant of nonsense words. I just guessed what it meant from context, tbh I quite liked it, but I think some people might hate it.
The writing is very lovely, reminds me of Frances Hardinge a bit. Same with the whimsical characters like Arabis and her father.
Warning, this book has a bunch of Welsh, and Scottish accent written phonetically, and a thieves' cant of nonsense words. I just guessed what it meant from context, tbh I quite liked it, but I think some people might hate it.
August 1, 2025
Another book I chose because of its cover- a mural of sketches of incidents in the book. In the vein of Treasure Island or Harry Potter, a young adult adventure with an every chapter ending in a (sometimes literal) cliffhanger. Set in Wales in an apparent alternate history in later 1800s - it’s part of a series of books of similar characters. Weird - the slang in the book is an awful lot like what I recall from A Clockwork Orange…
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