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Twiggles Bound
A young Halfling, Mike Shaw, finds himself locked inside of a bunker following a massive explosion. The world has then become dangerous, filled with zombies and creatures that will make your skin crawl. He had to escape in order to save himself, soon realizing that things are never going to be the same again.Can he survive this dark and treacherous place?And what is going on with his beloved dog, Twiggles, who has started to change, revealing a secret of origins that Mike would have never dreamed believing. Can a beautiful gypsy and her cat be saved from the claws of an evil doctor, as a mission goes horribly wry? Last but not least, they all set out on a magical ride through outer space and far out galaxies. It’s a quest of friendship and love, where evil has to be battled once again. Love knows no bounds when a hero takes charge.
226 pages, Paperback
Published December 4, 2016
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Louise Pohl
5 books47 followersSouth African writer of Twiggles bound. Born Michelle Louise Sanders and damn proud of it.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 19, 2017
So I decided to review this little gem with a twist. I'm going to write this review with input from my grandson who also read this book to give me a young person's view on this book because, well, it's written for pre-teens to teenagers. So I will review the writing style, storyline development and character development and my grandson will give me his thoughts on the story itself and what he felt about the characters.
Per my grandson, he loved this book. He said that it has zombies in it so it couldn't go wrong with him. He liked the action, the magic and the strange new animals. He said he would like to read more stories like this.
This story is well written with a uniquely envisioned world where zombies roam and animals evolve into new creatures, some that need radiation to live and others who eat the zombies. Humans are now called Halflings because they look half human and half something else. There are even creatures from another planet who come to earth to help the lead characters to try and defeat the evil Dr. who is trying to conquer the world.
The characters are well written and quite likeable. Mike is the seventeen year old hero of this story and is quite bright, brave and is totally alone with the exception of his dog Twiggles Tot. Cherry is a sweet, smart, beautiful girl who just happens to be a witch, although she prefers to be called a gypsy. Then there is Twiggles, the miniature Doberman Pincer...or 'minpin', who is just as much a lead character as Mike and Cherry are. He is a dog, but he is loyal, inquisitive and has started eating the dead zombies, and he begins to change.
This is a wonderful little story that I think children and pre-teens would like to read, however I think that the higher age range may be a bit of a stretch in this day and time. But I do think that the pre-teen age range is perfect for this story. Therefore I recommend this book for children between 12 and 14 years old. It is really a good little story.
Per my grandson, he loved this book. He said that it has zombies in it so it couldn't go wrong with him. He liked the action, the magic and the strange new animals. He said he would like to read more stories like this.
This story is well written with a uniquely envisioned world where zombies roam and animals evolve into new creatures, some that need radiation to live and others who eat the zombies. Humans are now called Halflings because they look half human and half something else. There are even creatures from another planet who come to earth to help the lead characters to try and defeat the evil Dr. who is trying to conquer the world.
The characters are well written and quite likeable. Mike is the seventeen year old hero of this story and is quite bright, brave and is totally alone with the exception of his dog Twiggles Tot. Cherry is a sweet, smart, beautiful girl who just happens to be a witch, although she prefers to be called a gypsy. Then there is Twiggles, the miniature Doberman Pincer...or 'minpin', who is just as much a lead character as Mike and Cherry are. He is a dog, but he is loyal, inquisitive and has started eating the dead zombies, and he begins to change.
This is a wonderful little story that I think children and pre-teens would like to read, however I think that the higher age range may be a bit of a stretch in this day and time. But I do think that the pre-teen age range is perfect for this story. Therefore I recommend this book for children between 12 and 14 years old. It is really a good little story.
June 19, 2017
Hold onto your seat as you rip into an imaginative science fiction novel. This book was very cute and funny and magical. It has many futuristic overtures. Its got zombies and gypsies, halfings and goo gums (What is a Goo Gum you say? - Well it is like this, they are cute and fuzzy and colorful and can be trained to... Well read the book and you find out what they are and who evil Dr Knarf is. Why is he trying to take over the earth?
Your typical tweeny and mid teens too will enjoy it very much. Miss Pohl may be a fledgling writer but she is off to a fantastic start. I look forward to seeing what other books she will be writing.
Your typical tweeny and mid teens too will enjoy it very much. Miss Pohl may be a fledgling writer but she is off to a fantastic start. I look forward to seeing what other books she will be writing.
September 26, 2017
What a great and entertaining futuristic story with unicorns and fantastic creatures. Of two young kids that are to save the world and make it a better place to live. Of trust and faith and good and evil! It is a great story for everyone to read! Thank you Louise!
June 27, 2017
A must read for any fantasy enthusiast! Written by a very inspirational author
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2017
What an enjoyable story 👍🏼💖
May 25, 2017
I received this book for an honest review.
When I first started the novel I felt it was very robotic. There was no connection with the characters.
But I started it again and once I got familiar with the authors writing, i found it quite imaginative.
This is a science fiction novel with a hint of action and adventure. Twiggle is a magical dog, who is presumed dead in the beginning.
The book contains Zombies and halflings.
I would recommend the book for a younger crowd of people who like futuristic stories, and Star Wars fans.
I think the Author has done a decent job on her first novel. There is room for improvement but overall well done.
When I first started the novel I felt it was very robotic. There was no connection with the characters.
But I started it again and once I got familiar with the authors writing, i found it quite imaginative.
This is a science fiction novel with a hint of action and adventure. Twiggle is a magical dog, who is presumed dead in the beginning.
The book contains Zombies and halflings.
I would recommend the book for a younger crowd of people who like futuristic stories, and Star Wars fans.
I think the Author has done a decent job on her first novel. There is room for improvement but overall well done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2017
Wow..and I mean WOW.
This book had me from the start as I read this with an open mind. I usually don't read books like this one but I loved it. I couldn't put it down as events are always happening in this fast paced story. The author has a brilliant imagination and thoughts for this book to happen. Oh I loved the evil Doctor getting his just deserts. lol The year 3014 seems a long way off but this story begins with earth changed, adults are no longer but as Zombies, and the young are Halflings which are hiding from the zombies. To made it worse there's a mad scientist who's planing to take over the earth.
Mike and his dog Twiggles are in the center of it all hunkered down underground. A baby named Crystal and Cherry and her cat join the crusade to survive.. Mike is asked if he's ready, wise, and strong enough for whats about to happen that will change their world. This is a great book if you have an open mind or those of you who love futuristic/scientific and wild imaginative stories.
This book had me from the start as I read this with an open mind. I usually don't read books like this one but I loved it. I couldn't put it down as events are always happening in this fast paced story. The author has a brilliant imagination and thoughts for this book to happen. Oh I loved the evil Doctor getting his just deserts. lol The year 3014 seems a long way off but this story begins with earth changed, adults are no longer but as Zombies, and the young are Halflings which are hiding from the zombies. To made it worse there's a mad scientist who's planing to take over the earth.
Mike and his dog Twiggles are in the center of it all hunkered down underground. A baby named Crystal and Cherry and her cat join the crusade to survive.. Mike is asked if he's ready, wise, and strong enough for whats about to happen that will change their world. This is a great book if you have an open mind or those of you who love futuristic/scientific and wild imaginative stories.
April 24, 2017
Very entertaining and imaginative read. I did find it one that I had to really 'read' so it is not for the light reader... you have to be devoted to reading it. But it was good.
February 19, 2018
41/2-Stars for ‘Twiggles Bound,’ by Louise Pohl
Suspend, in fact, expel your imagination for this creative Fantasy / Adventure with a nice side dish of Science Fiction.
Sci-Fi, in lit or film, typically reaches a point where it crosses that fine line and ventures into the realm of fantasy. Time Travel – Advanced alien civilisations – Traversing interstellar space and time via wormholes, etc.
Twiggles Bound, by Louise Pohl, interestingly does the opposite.
Here is a pure fantasy tale, replete with a witch in the form of a sweet, sensitive girl, a telepathic dog who is actually an alien from a distant galaxy, Trolls, and an incredibly powerful magic wand, to name a few incidentals, that just happens to cross that line into the world of Science Fiction. [Genetic mutation, radioactive fallout and a robot army are a mere smattering of the Science Fiction devices found in Twiggles Bound.]
And to top things off, Ms Pohl’s effort was distinctly meritorious.
[Warning: Spoilers ahead]
The world has been ‘mostly’ destroyed following a meteorite strike at a nuclear power plant, ‘remote probability, but feasible, right?’ and Earth’s remaining population is now divided between zombies and rapidly mutating Halflings. [Humans that are typically good natured and seldom, if ever, have a taste for human flesh,]
So far so good, as they say, and a fine setting for a good Sci-Fi yarn.
Enter Mike, a young, resourceful and richly idealistic Halfling who could very probably find brightness in the deepest darkest tunnel or mineshaft, and his devoted dog Twiggles. And Cherry, a young and deeply sensitive Gypsy, her preferred title over Witch, and her equally devoted cat Gompie.
Following their accidental discovery of a baby in a gutted bunker, and Twiggles’ ill-advised, albeit fortunate, feeding on Zombie flesh, the story makes a rapid departure from Sci-Fi into the realm of Fantasy / Adventure
As the delightful couple, and their pets, set out for safety, they will encounter the story’s excessively wicked, delightfully vile antagonist, the evil Dr Knarf, who, with his army of genetically mutated dogs, and determined plan to take over the world, as is in this case, is the embodiment of all evils.
Twiggles Bound, is bounding with energy, imagination, charm, likeable characters and wit.
From Twiggles repeatedly scolding Mike for his wandering thoughts about how beautiful Cherry is, [No jealousy here, there’s just a bit too much going on right now for romance pal] to Dr Karf’s vociferous outbursts, such as:
“Gibbles, with my evil Goo Gum army, and the vicious dogs, nobody will be able to
defeat me. I’m going to rule this world, while making it miserable and evil.”
(and)
“Who is down here, and who dares disturb my evil sleep? When I find you, I’m going to use you for my warped experiments. I also intend to do nasty things to you, so come out and make my day.”
And so on. [Okay, I admit freely that Dr Knarf was my favourite character.]
[Summary]
This is a warm, entertaining, fanciful and heartening tale which delineates and elaborates on the brightness and darkness within people. It also touches, delicately, on the issue of the fragility of our planet from advancing technology.
With all the author put into this story, I could go on and on describing the intergalactic space travel, the collection of an infinitely powerful wand from a distant planet, the radiation eating Goo Gums, a robot army, an underground palace, and the final battle. But, I do believe I’ve reached my spoiler limit for this review.
[Criticisms]
Minor, and purely technical which made this a 41/2 rather than a 5-star review.
Chapter Length: Twiggles Bound, I believe, is mainly intended for young readers for whom shorter chapters are more appropriate.
Explanations: Again, for the younger readers, I believe better explaining Genetic Mutation, Radiation, and Accelerated Evolution due to radioactive fallout would have been prudent.
[Recommendation]
Did I like this book and would I recommend it?
The answer to both questions is a big, resounding yes.
Twiggles Bound was craftily written for young and mature readers. It makes a profound moral statement which neither dominates nor detracts from the story. It’s both simple and complex, credit the author for the neat balancing act, making it an ideal read for the entire family.
And if you’re an animal lover, which this author so undoubtedly is, you will love Twiggles Bound.
Review by T.E. Mark – Author
15/Feb/2018
Suspend, in fact, expel your imagination for this creative Fantasy / Adventure with a nice side dish of Science Fiction.
Sci-Fi, in lit or film, typically reaches a point where it crosses that fine line and ventures into the realm of fantasy. Time Travel – Advanced alien civilisations – Traversing interstellar space and time via wormholes, etc.
Twiggles Bound, by Louise Pohl, interestingly does the opposite.
Here is a pure fantasy tale, replete with a witch in the form of a sweet, sensitive girl, a telepathic dog who is actually an alien from a distant galaxy, Trolls, and an incredibly powerful magic wand, to name a few incidentals, that just happens to cross that line into the world of Science Fiction. [Genetic mutation, radioactive fallout and a robot army are a mere smattering of the Science Fiction devices found in Twiggles Bound.]
And to top things off, Ms Pohl’s effort was distinctly meritorious.
[Warning: Spoilers ahead]
The world has been ‘mostly’ destroyed following a meteorite strike at a nuclear power plant, ‘remote probability, but feasible, right?’ and Earth’s remaining population is now divided between zombies and rapidly mutating Halflings. [Humans that are typically good natured and seldom, if ever, have a taste for human flesh,]
So far so good, as they say, and a fine setting for a good Sci-Fi yarn.
Enter Mike, a young, resourceful and richly idealistic Halfling who could very probably find brightness in the deepest darkest tunnel or mineshaft, and his devoted dog Twiggles. And Cherry, a young and deeply sensitive Gypsy, her preferred title over Witch, and her equally devoted cat Gompie.
Following their accidental discovery of a baby in a gutted bunker, and Twiggles’ ill-advised, albeit fortunate, feeding on Zombie flesh, the story makes a rapid departure from Sci-Fi into the realm of Fantasy / Adventure
As the delightful couple, and their pets, set out for safety, they will encounter the story’s excessively wicked, delightfully vile antagonist, the evil Dr Knarf, who, with his army of genetically mutated dogs, and determined plan to take over the world, as is in this case, is the embodiment of all evils.
Twiggles Bound, is bounding with energy, imagination, charm, likeable characters and wit.
From Twiggles repeatedly scolding Mike for his wandering thoughts about how beautiful Cherry is, [No jealousy here, there’s just a bit too much going on right now for romance pal] to Dr Karf’s vociferous outbursts, such as:
“Gibbles, with my evil Goo Gum army, and the vicious dogs, nobody will be able to
defeat me. I’m going to rule this world, while making it miserable and evil.”
(and)
“Who is down here, and who dares disturb my evil sleep? When I find you, I’m going to use you for my warped experiments. I also intend to do nasty things to you, so come out and make my day.”
And so on. [Okay, I admit freely that Dr Knarf was my favourite character.]
[Summary]
This is a warm, entertaining, fanciful and heartening tale which delineates and elaborates on the brightness and darkness within people. It also touches, delicately, on the issue of the fragility of our planet from advancing technology.
With all the author put into this story, I could go on and on describing the intergalactic space travel, the collection of an infinitely powerful wand from a distant planet, the radiation eating Goo Gums, a robot army, an underground palace, and the final battle. But, I do believe I’ve reached my spoiler limit for this review.
[Criticisms]
Minor, and purely technical which made this a 41/2 rather than a 5-star review.
Chapter Length: Twiggles Bound, I believe, is mainly intended for young readers for whom shorter chapters are more appropriate.
Explanations: Again, for the younger readers, I believe better explaining Genetic Mutation, Radiation, and Accelerated Evolution due to radioactive fallout would have been prudent.
[Recommendation]
Did I like this book and would I recommend it?
The answer to both questions is a big, resounding yes.
Twiggles Bound was craftily written for young and mature readers. It makes a profound moral statement which neither dominates nor detracts from the story. It’s both simple and complex, credit the author for the neat balancing act, making it an ideal read for the entire family.
And if you’re an animal lover, which this author so undoubtedly is, you will love Twiggles Bound.
Review by T.E. Mark – Author
15/Feb/2018
November 19, 2017
I am Colby and I am 10 years old. I enjoyed reading this story. At some points, I had a hard time because some of the words were big and hard to pronounce, but my mom helped me. The story was easy to follow and made sense. I am glad I read this book. I will tell my friends to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews