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Beetlebrow
Two sixteen-year-old girls are struggling to survive in the poverty-stricken streets of Stellingkorr. Beetlebrow – devastated by the death of her mother – meets Pook – newly escaped from her drunken parents.
The two girls scale the walls of the royal palace in search of work. King Ancissus – impressed with their ingenuity and skill – tasks them with delivering a cryptic message to the distant eastern city of Dalcratty. Success could save Stellingkorr; failure could mean starvation for its people.
Beetlebrow and Pook are forced to lie, fight and steal to keep heading east. Through the violence and squalor of towns and arid plains, army camps and prisons, they have only each other to depend upon.
"Beetlebrow", the first book of "The Beetlebrow Trilogy", is the gritty debut novel from Ben Parker. In this epic coming-of-age fantasy, two bold and fearless young women find a love they could never have imagined.
The two girls scale the walls of the royal palace in search of work. King Ancissus – impressed with their ingenuity and skill – tasks them with delivering a cryptic message to the distant eastern city of Dalcratty. Success could save Stellingkorr; failure could mean starvation for its people.
Beetlebrow and Pook are forced to lie, fight and steal to keep heading east. Through the violence and squalor of towns and arid plains, army camps and prisons, they have only each other to depend upon.
"Beetlebrow", the first book of "The Beetlebrow Trilogy", is the gritty debut novel from Ben Parker. In this epic coming-of-age fantasy, two bold and fearless young women find a love they could never have imagined.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2016
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 22, 2018
Beetlebrow the Thief
Trilogy Book 1
von Ben Parker
Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd
Cover:
The cover looks a bit overwhelming on me, due to the mood of the colors and the extensive landscape
Review:
"Two teenage girls, Beetlebrow and Pook, living in a desperate world, are trying to end the hunger aching in their streets.
But first they must find their way through sinister palaces, dank dungeons, and winding mazes of alleyways, encountering kings, prostitutes, scholars and cut-throats, and delving deep into the centuries-spanning cult of the Unfinished Painting of Essum…
'Beetlebrow the Thief' launches the epic adventure trilogy of their story."
A story that has attracted me emotionally. She is narrated from Beetlebrow's point of view, a 16-year-old girl who is attentive, spontaneous and resilient. Pooks, however, is bigger but younger, she is an open-minded personality and almost everyone darling. They both get together and escape their fate. It is a dystopia. The descriptions are alive throughout the book. Sub-characters are carefully provided with bittersweet backgrounds, so you can not see exactly what motives behind it. The lesbian love relationship is clearly visible from the beginning. Sexism and other prejudices inherent in the world are addressed, but not tolerated. Without it you really want to immerse yourself in this book so completely, that unfortunately it is over sooner than you would like. Towards the end you can not wait to finally read the next in the series.
4/5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd for the review copy.
Trilogy Book 1
von Ben Parker
Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd
Cover:
The cover looks a bit overwhelming on me, due to the mood of the colors and the extensive landscape
Review:
"Two teenage girls, Beetlebrow and Pook, living in a desperate world, are trying to end the hunger aching in their streets.
But first they must find their way through sinister palaces, dank dungeons, and winding mazes of alleyways, encountering kings, prostitutes, scholars and cut-throats, and delving deep into the centuries-spanning cult of the Unfinished Painting of Essum…
'Beetlebrow the Thief' launches the epic adventure trilogy of their story."
A story that has attracted me emotionally. She is narrated from Beetlebrow's point of view, a 16-year-old girl who is attentive, spontaneous and resilient. Pooks, however, is bigger but younger, she is an open-minded personality and almost everyone darling. They both get together and escape their fate. It is a dystopia. The descriptions are alive throughout the book. Sub-characters are carefully provided with bittersweet backgrounds, so you can not see exactly what motives behind it. The lesbian love relationship is clearly visible from the beginning. Sexism and other prejudices inherent in the world are addressed, but not tolerated. Without it you really want to immerse yourself in this book so completely, that unfortunately it is over sooner than you would like. Towards the end you can not wait to finally read the next in the series.
4/5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd for the review copy.
December 21, 2016
Beetlebrow follow the fortunes of a daring young girl and a friend she makes along the way. Although set in what to me seemed a futuristic setting, a lot of the description and action could have been set in a version of ancient Rome. Don't misunderstand me, I liked this and the way that the two styles overlap. It is simply what it put me in mind of.
As well as charting the adventures and challenges of Pook and Beetlebrow, the book touches upon their blossoming relationship, which is sensitively handled. A very promising start to the trilogy, I am sure YA fans and enthusiasts will find this book to very much to their liking.
As well as charting the adventures and challenges of Pook and Beetlebrow, the book touches upon their blossoming relationship, which is sensitively handled. A very promising start to the trilogy, I am sure YA fans and enthusiasts will find this book to very much to their liking.
September 2, 2016
This tale of two street urchins given a Tolkeinesque quest across a divided kingdom was a real surprise and much more satisfying than many novels in the Fantasy genre. The grounded background evokes images more reminiscent of historical fiction and the focus on character development rather than superfluous world building creates an authentic and convincing journey that allows the reader to immerse themselves in this intricately detailed road trip as our two vulnerable lead characters slowly but surely move from each more perilous leg of their journey to the next. Highly recommended.
September 24, 2018
Living in a world of poverty drives Beetlebrow to desperate actions.
I have a small comment I wish to get out of the way in the interests of complete honesty before my review proper and that is that I would have liked fewer uses of the pronoun ‘she’ in the writing for my personal taste. That said, I understand entirely how Ben Parker’s unique writing style requires this approach. Beetlebrow The Thief is such a multi-layered and intelligently themed novel that places two females at its heart in a feminist and supportive manner that there needs to be a written style that will support and underpin the themes.
Beetlebrow The Thief may be a young adult book but it is hugely rewarding for an adult reader as the themes presented are so allegorical and equally applicable to history and modern societies alike. Females in Beetlebrow The Thief are frequently regarded as second class and abused verbally, sexually and physically by men. It is no surprise that Beetlebrow is rarely called by her real name as females are seen as second class citizens. Ben Parker is not overly explicit here, and he balances the brutality in the text with a glorious tenderness between Beetlbrow and Pook as they develop their own relationship so that he really makes the reader contemplate relationships and love.
I loved Ben Parker’s exploration of the corruption of power and the way in which two lowly females are able to succeed through their own wits (and frequently deviousness) in what is a male dominated society. So many aspects such as hunger and poverty made me reflect on what is happening in the world today.
Alongside a fast paced and exciting plot Ben Parker’s writing has enormous appeal to the senses. Particularly from Beetlebrow’s perspective, the descriptions are vivid and clear so that there is a cinematic feel at times. I thought this was a hugely successful element as all my senses were fully engaged by the writing.
But the success for me in Bettlebrow The Thief really comes through Beetlebrow herself. She is no idealised character, but is prepared to lie, cheat and use physical violence if required. And that is the crux. If required. Ben Parker throws an uncomfortable spotlight onto how and why those in desperate circumstances have to behave simply to survive. I found this very powerful and often quite disturbing. Beetlebrow is also capable of overwhelming love, sensuality and loyalty so that she is a completely wonderful human creation.
Beetlebrow The Thief is an intriguing read. It can be enjoyed simply as an exciting fantasy adventure, but I think that would be doing it a disservice. Beetlebrow The Thief is a complex, multifaceted and thought provoking book too.
I chat with the author here too: https://lindasbookbag.com/2018/09/24/...
I have a small comment I wish to get out of the way in the interests of complete honesty before my review proper and that is that I would have liked fewer uses of the pronoun ‘she’ in the writing for my personal taste. That said, I understand entirely how Ben Parker’s unique writing style requires this approach. Beetlebrow The Thief is such a multi-layered and intelligently themed novel that places two females at its heart in a feminist and supportive manner that there needs to be a written style that will support and underpin the themes.
Beetlebrow The Thief may be a young adult book but it is hugely rewarding for an adult reader as the themes presented are so allegorical and equally applicable to history and modern societies alike. Females in Beetlebrow The Thief are frequently regarded as second class and abused verbally, sexually and physically by men. It is no surprise that Beetlebrow is rarely called by her real name as females are seen as second class citizens. Ben Parker is not overly explicit here, and he balances the brutality in the text with a glorious tenderness between Beetlbrow and Pook as they develop their own relationship so that he really makes the reader contemplate relationships and love.
I loved Ben Parker’s exploration of the corruption of power and the way in which two lowly females are able to succeed through their own wits (and frequently deviousness) in what is a male dominated society. So many aspects such as hunger and poverty made me reflect on what is happening in the world today.
Alongside a fast paced and exciting plot Ben Parker’s writing has enormous appeal to the senses. Particularly from Beetlebrow’s perspective, the descriptions are vivid and clear so that there is a cinematic feel at times. I thought this was a hugely successful element as all my senses were fully engaged by the writing.
But the success for me in Bettlebrow The Thief really comes through Beetlebrow herself. She is no idealised character, but is prepared to lie, cheat and use physical violence if required. And that is the crux. If required. Ben Parker throws an uncomfortable spotlight onto how and why those in desperate circumstances have to behave simply to survive. I found this very powerful and often quite disturbing. Beetlebrow is also capable of overwhelming love, sensuality and loyalty so that she is a completely wonderful human creation.
Beetlebrow The Thief is an intriguing read. It can be enjoyed simply as an exciting fantasy adventure, but I think that would be doing it a disservice. Beetlebrow The Thief is a complex, multifaceted and thought provoking book too.
I chat with the author here too: https://lindasbookbag.com/2018/09/24/...
August 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, the plot, the characters, the romance.
The book starts out as fast paced but still allows for excellent world building- possibly one of the best examples I’ve read. By this I mean, there was no information dumped on the reader unnecessarily whilst still providing a detailed picture of the world in which this book is set. I really enjoyed the details such as the pay gap between genders, the depiction of poverty and homophobia; they brought this book to life for me.
I felt that this was a plot driven book, which is in no way a negative, but it did mean I felt less connected to the characters then I would have liked. Also, I felt that the romance could have definitely had more of a build up and there could have been a bit more tension between the characters before their feelings for each other were revealed.
Saying that, once they were ‘together’ I really appreciated the normalisation of an lgbtqa+ relationship whilst also including homophobia; it made it realistic and I thought, speaking from personal experience, it was an accurate representation- thank you Ben!
There were a couple of small pacing issues I had: it was wonderfully action packed and fast paced but then somewhere in the middle I found it got a little repetitive and slow. But then it picked up in the last portion and I loved it. Unfortunately though I felt the ending was a tad rushed.
All in all, this book is worth the read for the great depiction of a relationship between two girls, the incredible world building and the kickass, girl power action. I really enjoyed the book from start to finish.
The book starts out as fast paced but still allows for excellent world building- possibly one of the best examples I’ve read. By this I mean, there was no information dumped on the reader unnecessarily whilst still providing a detailed picture of the world in which this book is set. I really enjoyed the details such as the pay gap between genders, the depiction of poverty and homophobia; they brought this book to life for me.
I felt that this was a plot driven book, which is in no way a negative, but it did mean I felt less connected to the characters then I would have liked. Also, I felt that the romance could have definitely had more of a build up and there could have been a bit more tension between the characters before their feelings for each other were revealed.
Saying that, once they were ‘together’ I really appreciated the normalisation of an lgbtqa+ relationship whilst also including homophobia; it made it realistic and I thought, speaking from personal experience, it was an accurate representation- thank you Ben!
There were a couple of small pacing issues I had: it was wonderfully action packed and fast paced but then somewhere in the middle I found it got a little repetitive and slow. But then it picked up in the last portion and I loved it. Unfortunately though I felt the ending was a tad rushed.
All in all, this book is worth the read for the great depiction of a relationship between two girls, the incredible world building and the kickass, girl power action. I really enjoyed the book from start to finish.
August 22, 2018
Beetlebrow the Thief
Trilogy Book 1
von Ben Parker
Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd
Cover:
The cover looks a bit overwhelming on me, due to the mood of the colors and the extensive landscape
Review:
"Two teenage girls, Beetlebrow and Pook, living in a desperate world, are trying to end the hunger aching in their streets.
But first they must find their way through sinister palaces, dank dungeons, and winding mazes of alleyways, encountering kings, prostitutes, scholars and cut-throats, and delving deep into the centuries-spanning cult of the Unfinished Painting of Essum…
'Beetlebrow the Thief' launches the epic adventure trilogy of their story."
A story that has attracted me emotionally. She is narrated from Beetlebrow's point of view, a 16-year-old girl who is attentive, spontaneous and resilient. Pooks, however, is bigger but younger, she is an open-minded personality and almost everyone darling. They both get together and escape their fate. It is a dystopia. The descriptions are alive throughout the book. Sub-characters are carefully provided with bittersweet backgrounds, so you can not see exactly what motives behind it. The lesbian love relationship is clearly visible from the beginning. Sexism and other prejudices inherent in the world are addressed, but not tolerated. Without it you really want to immerse yourself in this book so completely, that unfortunately it is over sooner than you would like. Towards the end you can not wait to finally read the next in the series.
4/5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd for the review copy.
Trilogy Book 1
von Ben Parker
Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd
Cover:
The cover looks a bit overwhelming on me, due to the mood of the colors and the extensive landscape
Review:
"Two teenage girls, Beetlebrow and Pook, living in a desperate world, are trying to end the hunger aching in their streets.
But first they must find their way through sinister palaces, dank dungeons, and winding mazes of alleyways, encountering kings, prostitutes, scholars and cut-throats, and delving deep into the centuries-spanning cult of the Unfinished Painting of Essum…
'Beetlebrow the Thief' launches the epic adventure trilogy of their story."
A story that has attracted me emotionally. She is narrated from Beetlebrow's point of view, a 16-year-old girl who is attentive, spontaneous and resilient. Pooks, however, is bigger but younger, she is an open-minded personality and almost everyone darling. They both get together and escape their fate. It is a dystopia. The descriptions are alive throughout the book. Sub-characters are carefully provided with bittersweet backgrounds, so you can not see exactly what motives behind it. The lesbian love relationship is clearly visible from the beginning. Sexism and other prejudices inherent in the world are addressed, but not tolerated. Without it you really want to immerse yourself in this book so completely, that unfortunately it is over sooner than you would like. Towards the end you can not wait to finally read the next in the series.
4/5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd for the review copy.
November 26, 2017
A Complex Multi-Stranded Fantasy Novel
“Beetlebrow” is a complex multi-stranded fantasy novel. Partly a tale of adventure and mystery, partly a novel of friendship, partly a story about becoming adult, partly a thriller, it has something to offer on every level. It starts out with two young heroes who undertake a perilous mission through strange lands to heal their city. They must overcome dangers and outwit their pursuers.
They travel through a richly-imagined world and Beetlebrow learns how to lead and make choices, and that the right way forward is not always the most comfortable. Finally she solves the puzzle and brings redemption.
The novel is written in an engaging and immediate style and the language develops with the hero’s understanding of her world (I particularly liked ‘the moon as a curved blade of white metal’). The writer brings the lands she travels vividly to life, and there are layers of experience below the narrative, for example, what is the significance of the Painting City with its unfinished portrait or the encounter in the desert? Perhaps other tales about her adventures will follow. If you like a fantasy that draws you into a richly imagined world, read this book – you won’t be disappointed.
“Beetlebrow” is a complex multi-stranded fantasy novel. Partly a tale of adventure and mystery, partly a novel of friendship, partly a story about becoming adult, partly a thriller, it has something to offer on every level. It starts out with two young heroes who undertake a perilous mission through strange lands to heal their city. They must overcome dangers and outwit their pursuers.
They travel through a richly-imagined world and Beetlebrow learns how to lead and make choices, and that the right way forward is not always the most comfortable. Finally she solves the puzzle and brings redemption.
The novel is written in an engaging and immediate style and the language develops with the hero’s understanding of her world (I particularly liked ‘the moon as a curved blade of white metal’). The writer brings the lands she travels vividly to life, and there are layers of experience below the narrative, for example, what is the significance of the Painting City with its unfinished portrait or the encounter in the desert? Perhaps other tales about her adventures will follow. If you like a fantasy that draws you into a richly imagined world, read this book – you won’t be disappointed.
November 20, 2018
This is a fantastic start to a new trilogy. Told through the eyes of 16yr old Beetlebrow. We follow Beetlebrow and Pook through a dystopian world full of fantastical palaces and mazes.
The author has done an amazing job of describing the world around them, making the reader feel included in what’s happening around them. There’s been great attention to detail in describing the characters personalities, and the same amount of detail has gone into the secondary characters we meet along the way. Altogether, a fabulous book qui look forward to the next.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my arc.
The author has done an amazing job of describing the world around them, making the reader feel included in what’s happening around them. There’s been great attention to detail in describing the characters personalities, and the same amount of detail has gone into the secondary characters we meet along the way. Altogether, a fabulous book qui look forward to the next.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my arc.
August 24, 2016
Beetlebrow follows the story of two young girls, Beetlebrow and Pook, on a journey to deliver a message from one king to another to save their people.
We start out with Beetlebrow and learning about her home life with her mum and two brothers which is terrible. It really sets the scene and you can feel the impoverishment of the town and of Beetlebrow's family. Her brothers are both just horrible human beings, but her mother does everything she can for the family.
Without any spoilers, circumstances occur and Beetlebrow decides to leave and she goes to find Pook whom she had met in the market previously and had hit it off with and the story progresses from there.
The book is well written, though there are a few minor things that have been missed in editing. I felt the world building was very strong and I could quite easily picture each town and place that is visited throughout the story. There is one part where they are crossing a desert and I really became immersed and I could feel the heat and dryness of it and just how awful it would have been.
Beetlebrow's character was also well developed and the decisions she made, made sense from what we knew about her life, especially as we also get to see more of her brothers personalities. Her relationship with her mother was really nice and I liked that we got to see more of it at points throughout the book. Pook however I felt that I never really got to know her as much and she seemed a bit one dimensional and she slept or was tired an awful lot throughout the story. I also felt that the description "her slim body" was overused for both her and Beetlebrow.
The relationship between Beetlebrow and Pook isn't just a friendship, they become partners too as their love for each other becomes stronger. One of my favourite scenes in the book is when Beetlebrow is trying to tell Pook how she feels about her and she's explaining that when she saw girls talking to their friends she'd want to talk to her friends like that if she had any, but with Pook she feels that these things just aren't enough and she wants to say so much more. This to me is one of the best descriptions of how you feel when you love someone, everything just is so much more special with that person than with everyone else.
I would definitely have preferred this book to be longer so that the journey felt a lot more epic. I feel a lot of scenes could have done with more time focusing on them so you got a real feel of the danger etc of what was happening at the time. But the story definitely does not feel rushed, this would just be my preference. Also I am hoping that there is a book following Beetlebrow as I would like to find out what happened following the decisions made at the end of the story.
Overall though a really great book and one I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I am definitely hoping for a second book so I can continue following Beetlebrow's adventures.
I received a copy of Beetlebrow direct from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review and others was originally posted on my blog http://lifeofanerdishmum.blogspot.co.uk/
We start out with Beetlebrow and learning about her home life with her mum and two brothers which is terrible. It really sets the scene and you can feel the impoverishment of the town and of Beetlebrow's family. Her brothers are both just horrible human beings, but her mother does everything she can for the family.
Without any spoilers, circumstances occur and Beetlebrow decides to leave and she goes to find Pook whom she had met in the market previously and had hit it off with and the story progresses from there.
The book is well written, though there are a few minor things that have been missed in editing. I felt the world building was very strong and I could quite easily picture each town and place that is visited throughout the story. There is one part where they are crossing a desert and I really became immersed and I could feel the heat and dryness of it and just how awful it would have been.
Beetlebrow's character was also well developed and the decisions she made, made sense from what we knew about her life, especially as we also get to see more of her brothers personalities. Her relationship with her mother was really nice and I liked that we got to see more of it at points throughout the book. Pook however I felt that I never really got to know her as much and she seemed a bit one dimensional and she slept or was tired an awful lot throughout the story. I also felt that the description "her slim body" was overused for both her and Beetlebrow.
The relationship between Beetlebrow and Pook isn't just a friendship, they become partners too as their love for each other becomes stronger. One of my favourite scenes in the book is when Beetlebrow is trying to tell Pook how she feels about her and she's explaining that when she saw girls talking to their friends she'd want to talk to her friends like that if she had any, but with Pook she feels that these things just aren't enough and she wants to say so much more. This to me is one of the best descriptions of how you feel when you love someone, everything just is so much more special with that person than with everyone else.
I would definitely have preferred this book to be longer so that the journey felt a lot more epic. I feel a lot of scenes could have done with more time focusing on them so you got a real feel of the danger etc of what was happening at the time. But the story definitely does not feel rushed, this would just be my preference. Also I am hoping that there is a book following Beetlebrow as I would like to find out what happened following the decisions made at the end of the story.
Overall though a really great book and one I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I am definitely hoping for a second book so I can continue following Beetlebrow's adventures.
I received a copy of Beetlebrow direct from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review and others was originally posted on my blog http://lifeofanerdishmum.blogspot.co.uk/
September 30, 2016
Beetlebrow is an epic romp of a story that is fast paced and beautifully written.
What really struck me with this book was the way in which Ben had managed to create an entirely new world that I could, see, taste and smell. The absolute poverty and base desire to simply survive on a daily basis was told with such humility and compassion that I instantly befriended Beetlebrow and happily went with her on her journey throughout the pages of the book. As a mother, I also wanted to reach out and tell her that everything was going to be okay.
Beetlebrow is the central character in the book, who together with Pook, begin an adventure to deliver a cryptic message to the city of Dalcratty. What I enjoyed most about this book was their story, which was one of friendship brought about by necessity, the necessity to survive. Although this book is about a lesbian relationship, the focus is very much upon young love, teenage love, those feelings that we all have when we meet someone for the first time and do not know what to say, do or how to act, and this is what Ben beautifully portrays through his writing, that of the unknown. The way in which Ben writes about their feelings towards each other, and in particular Beetlebrow's difficulties in articulating those feelings, is very raw and poignant.
Their relationship, and in fact the role of women, is portrayed very strongly within the book. They are living in male dominated times, with women forced into prostitution and begging just to be able to eat. Both Pook and Beetlebrow are strong female leads, who, together, will not allow men to dominate them. They are strong willed and opinionated and ultimately survivors. I loved them.
The only slight downside for me with this book, was that I would have loved to have known more about Pook, about her story, but perhaps this will be revealed within the second book in the trilogy.
Beetlebrow is a wonderful debut novel about the strength of women and survival within the bleakest of circumstances. I very much look forward to reading more by Ben Parker.
With thanks to the author and Conrad Press for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
What really struck me with this book was the way in which Ben had managed to create an entirely new world that I could, see, taste and smell. The absolute poverty and base desire to simply survive on a daily basis was told with such humility and compassion that I instantly befriended Beetlebrow and happily went with her on her journey throughout the pages of the book. As a mother, I also wanted to reach out and tell her that everything was going to be okay.
Beetlebrow is the central character in the book, who together with Pook, begin an adventure to deliver a cryptic message to the city of Dalcratty. What I enjoyed most about this book was their story, which was one of friendship brought about by necessity, the necessity to survive. Although this book is about a lesbian relationship, the focus is very much upon young love, teenage love, those feelings that we all have when we meet someone for the first time and do not know what to say, do or how to act, and this is what Ben beautifully portrays through his writing, that of the unknown. The way in which Ben writes about their feelings towards each other, and in particular Beetlebrow's difficulties in articulating those feelings, is very raw and poignant.
Their relationship, and in fact the role of women, is portrayed very strongly within the book. They are living in male dominated times, with women forced into prostitution and begging just to be able to eat. Both Pook and Beetlebrow are strong female leads, who, together, will not allow men to dominate them. They are strong willed and opinionated and ultimately survivors. I loved them.
The only slight downside for me with this book, was that I would have loved to have known more about Pook, about her story, but perhaps this will be revealed within the second book in the trilogy.
Beetlebrow is a wonderful debut novel about the strength of women and survival within the bleakest of circumstances. I very much look forward to reading more by Ben Parker.
With thanks to the author and Conrad Press for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
November 22, 2016
Review to follow soon
Oh I do love strong, well written female characters and in Beetlebrow and her companion, Pook, we certainly get two great protagonists.
A wonderfully imagined dystopian novel set in a male dominated land in which poverty prevails, women, very much secondary citizens, forced to beg or into prostitution. On the face of it Beetlebrow and Pook's lot is a grim one and yet ...
A story of determination, of a love born out of friendship, of a friendship born out of necessity .. the necessity to survive. Whilst the setting of the book is nothing short of breathtaking in its detail - lovers of world centred novels will not be disappointed - it was however the girls relationship that made the book for me. Beautifully and sensitively captured, it evoked all of the feelings of first love.
A great start to what promises to be a wonderful trilogy. I look forward to the next instalment and, hopefully, learning a bit more of Pook's story.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed on behalf of the author, no financial compensation was asked for nor given
Oh I do love strong, well written female characters and in Beetlebrow and her companion, Pook, we certainly get two great protagonists.
A wonderfully imagined dystopian novel set in a male dominated land in which poverty prevails, women, very much secondary citizens, forced to beg or into prostitution. On the face of it Beetlebrow and Pook's lot is a grim one and yet ...
A story of determination, of a love born out of friendship, of a friendship born out of necessity .. the necessity to survive. Whilst the setting of the book is nothing short of breathtaking in its detail - lovers of world centred novels will not be disappointed - it was however the girls relationship that made the book for me. Beautifully and sensitively captured, it evoked all of the feelings of first love.
A great start to what promises to be a wonderful trilogy. I look forward to the next instalment and, hopefully, learning a bit more of Pook's story.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed on behalf of the author, no financial compensation was asked for nor given
July 10, 2016
I discovered a strange and unforgettable world in this book. There was an overall feeling of a world being in a dark place which gave me sympathy for this young girl. From the opening page I wanted Beetlebrow to find happiness, in some form,and for her life to become easier.
Ben's writing is intense, he takes you into the characters. You see the world through their eyes and the scant descriptions of the surrounding landscape only adds to the overall gritty feeling of the world Beetlebrow lives in, and gave me a better understanding of what was happening around her.
The sexual content was intriguing as it was only sprinkled here and there implying much but giving little away. We were given a taste of their feelings for each other and we were teased just enough to keep me hooked.
The bad guys in the story were indeed nasty and some of the good guys had question marks around them in my opinion. The world Ben created was dark, dangerous and the plot was strong, so yes I would read the next story in this series.
Ben's writing is intense, he takes you into the characters. You see the world through their eyes and the scant descriptions of the surrounding landscape only adds to the overall gritty feeling of the world Beetlebrow lives in, and gave me a better understanding of what was happening around her.
The sexual content was intriguing as it was only sprinkled here and there implying much but giving little away. We were given a taste of their feelings for each other and we were teased just enough to keep me hooked.
The bad guys in the story were indeed nasty and some of the good guys had question marks around them in my opinion. The world Ben created was dark, dangerous and the plot was strong, so yes I would read the next story in this series.
July 20, 2017
The novel is set in a dystopian world reminiscent of The Hunger Games, where the majority of people are starving. The wealthy royals governing this world are at war. By a strange chance, two poor teenage girls, Beetlebrow and Pook, become involved in a vital mission, and face all manner of challenges with ingenuity on their way to carrying it out. Gradually, they come to see their mission in a different light.
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