Life is an adventure. Anything in the world is possible – by will and by luck, with a moist carrot, a wet nose and a slice of mad courage!
Little Shylo Tawny-Tail is proud to call himself one of the Royal Rabbits of London, a secret order who live under Buckingham Palace and fight evil across the world. But high up in London’s famous skyscraper, the Shard, the horrible Ratzis are plotting to cause chaos during a visit from the President of the United States. And when the Grand Burrow is attacked and Shylo is kidnapped, it looks as though they might just manage it! Can Shylo escape in time to save the day?
Santa Montefiore is the number one bestselling author of over thirty novels and has sold over eight million copies worldwide. Her books have been translated into twenty-five languages and she won an RNA Award for The Temptation of Gracie in 2019, which is currently in development for film. Born in England in 1970, she grew up in Hampshire and now lives in London with her husband, writer Simon Sebag-Montefiore, their daughter, son, and dog Simba.
Shadows in the Moonlight is the first novel of a trilogy following the character Pixie Tate, with Secrets of the Starlit Sea following in summer 2025. Santa loves to hear from readers and you can find her at www.santamontefiore.co.uk.
3.25 - cute, bienveillant et divertissant ; j’y ai moins trouvé mon compte que dans le premier mais timmy me fait tjrs autant sourire et les auteurs sont géniaux à inclure plein de formats dans le livre : très chouette pour des enfants
Wieder ein zuckersüßes Abenteuer mit Shylo und den königlichen Kaninchen - diesmal müssen sie den Staatsbesuch des amerikanischen Präsidenten retten, den die bösen Ratzis sabotieren wollen.
Life is an adventure. [...] Anything in the world is possible - by will and by luck, a moist carrot, a wet nose and a slice of mad courage.
O carte degeaba, ce m-a obligat să-mi încalc principiul conform căruia nu dau sub 4 stele unei cărți pentru copii. Trecut la categoria 8-14 ani, romanul e infantil. Nu e potrivit totuși nici pentru copiii de grădiniță, căci e violentă, cu bodyguarzi și altele asemenea. Scris școlărește, e plictisitor până după jumătate, apoi sec în momentul în care începe acțiunea, ce înșiră clișee expirate, găselnițe fără sens, repetate până dincolo de saturație. Induce idei greșite (cleptomania e acceptabilă, ba chiar adorabilă), personajul așa-zis curajos e tolomac, succesul apare miraculos și întâmplător, iar glumele izolate sunt răsuflate. Ca film animat, ar putea funcționa (drepturile au fost deja achiziționate de un studio), dar numai dacă animatorii și scenariștii pun o doză mare de umor înăuntru. O carte are totuși nevoie măcar de un pic de substanță.
Am împrumutat cartea de la o fetiță. Le-a fost recomandată ei și colegilor de către învățătoare ca lectură de vacanță. Dacă vrem să creștem copii netoți, da, e o recomandare bună.
What would the world think of a President who is terrified of rats? What if rats knew this and wanted to broadcast this fact to the world? Embarrassment and chaos could ensue and that is exactly what the Ratzis want. However, a timid rabbit named Shlyo, who is a member of the Royal Rabbits, is more brave than even he believes. The Royal rabbit's jobs are to protect the king and queen and they are doing just that in the burrow against a force of Ratzi's. As the battle continues below, two rats have a plan to sneak into the dinner where the President and the royals are dining. Shylo facing danger of his own still manages to save the State Dinner from ruin with the help of a few brave rabbits and the corgis. This endearing tale encourages even a reluctant individual to have courage and bravery in the face of insurmountable odds. Sometimes a little bravery is just enough.
Escape From the Palace (The Royal Rabbits of London #2) by Santa Montefiore and Simon Sebag, illustrated by Kate Hindley. 201 pages. Aladin (Simon & Schuster), 2017. $17.
The Royal Rabbits of London and Shylo Tawny Tail are once again tasked with the difficult job of protecting the queen from the horrible Papa Ratzi and his horde of rats. They will have to work extra hard because the President of the United States is coming for a special dinner visit. The Royal Rabbits will get the chance to work with their counterparts, the Secret Service Rabbits of the United States, who have accompanied their president. Both groups will need to work together to foil Papa Ratzi's diabolical plans.
This is another fun adventure story that focuses on the secret burrow of rabbits working to protect the world from evil. This installment adds a fun element with the American rabbits coming for a visit. Although there is a lot of content that might go over the heads of younger readers, the humor in the story will appeal to all.
Toujours un plaisir de lire les aventures de Timmy. L'humour des Lapins de la couronne d'Angleterre me fait toujours hurler de rire ! A conseiller dès 8 ans pour les bons lecteurs.
Phantasievoll, rasant & lustig. Charmant-schräge Charaktere & traumhafte Illustrationen. Die Story kann mit dem Vorgänger aber nicht mithalten.
Inhalt:
Der legendäre Geheimbund der königlichen Kaninchen bewacht und beschützt noch immer die königliche Familie. Gut verborgen unter dem Buckingham Palast haben die Mitglieder des Bundes ihre Augen und Ohren überall.
Shylo ist noch ganz neu und muss sich direkt beweisen:
Die fiesen Ratzis - eine Bande von Super-Ratten - wollen den König und die Königin lächerlich machen und den Präsidenten der USA erniedrigen, um dessen Staatsbesuch zu sabotieren und die Welt ins Chaos zu stürzen.
Keine leichte Aufgabe für den Neuling! Obendrein hat das Oberhaupt der Ratzis den kleinen Shylo auf dem Kieker und seine gesamte Rattenbande auf ihn angesetzt ...
Altersempfehlung:
etwa ab 9 Jahre
Einbandgestaltung und Illustrationen:
Wie bereits der Vorgänger ist auch dieser Band ist ein wahres Schmuckstück und macht einen hochwertigen Eindruck. Neben dem großen Format ist dies auch dem bezaubernden, mit hellblau-metalic-Folie veredelten Einband zu verdanken.
Die Illustrationen im Innern sind detailliert, farbenfroh und mit viel Herz und Charme gestaltet. Zusätzlich gibt es kleine Vignetten und Pfotenabdrücke, die sich - als Daumenkino - an der rechten Buchseite entlangwinden.
Die ganzseitigen Zeichnungen unterstreichen aber nicht nur die Handlung, sondern erwecken Shylo und die anderen Figuren zum Leben. Die königlichen Kaninchen strotzen nur so vor Eleganz. Dagegen wirken die KANUSA (Kaninchen der USA) mit ihren schwarzen Anzügen und Sonnenbrillen obercool!
Im direkten Gegensatz dazu stehen die schmierigen und verlotterten Ratzis.
Mein Eindruck:
Dies ist das zweite Abenteuer der königlichen Kaninchen und ereignet sich unmittelbar sechs Wochen nach dem ersten. Vorkenntnisse sind nicht zwingend notwendig, da die Geschehnisse in einer Rückblende kurz zusammengefasst werden.
Die Charaktere werden im Verlauf der Geschichte sehr detailliert beschrieben.
Das kleine Kaninchen Shylo (mit Augenklappe wegen seines Schielens) ist ein liebenswertes Kerlchen, welches allerdings noch immer ein wenig mit Selbstzweifeln kämpft. Und das obwohl die Eliteeinheit, die königlichen Kaninchen von London, ihn aufgenommen haben.
"Du bist ein schlaues und tapferes Kaninchen."
"Ich glaube, ich hatte einfach Glück", sagte Shylo bescheiden.
Belle de Plote schüttelte den Kopf. "Du hast dir dein Glück selbst verdient, und du kannst das wieder tun, sooft du willst. Wenn du an dich glaubst, kannst du alles schaffen."
(Zitat, vgl. S. 31)
Mut und Zuversicht lassen den kleinen Kerl aber auch dieses Mal wieder über sich hinauswachsen. Unterstützung erhält er von den Kaninchen Clooney, Laser und Belle de Pfote sowie den Agenten der KANUSA.
Shylos bester Freund und Vertrauter ist Horatio, ein altes, kauziges Kaninchen in seinem zerschlissenen Ohrensessel inmitten von Büchern. Davon sollte man sich aber nicht täuschen lassen: Er war das mutigste aller Königlichen Kaninchen und ein Lebensretter.
Die Vereinigung der Ratzis führt auch in diesem Band nichts Gutes im Schilde. Im Gegensatz zu normalen Ratten, wühlen sie nicht einfach im Müll, sondern durchforsten das Internet und erzeugen ein undurchdringliches Netz aus Lügen, Intrigen und Hass. Sie sind durch und durch böse und durchtrieben.
Den Anführer, der von allen Papa Ratzi (nicht liebevoll als Vater, sondern in Anlehnung an Paparazzi) genannt wird, hat keiner seiner Anhänger je zu Gesicht bekommen. Gefürchtet wird er vor allem wegen seiner Grausamkeit: wer nicht spurt, dem lässt er ein Ohr oder eine Pfote abschneiden.
Mit seinen Gefangenen, die er in einem Glasturm einsperrt, geht er ebenfalls wenig zimperlich um. Nichts für schwache Nerven!
Dieses Abenteuer punktet hauptsächlich mit faszinierenden Charakteren und interessanten Schauplätzen (z. B. ein geheimes Tunnelsystem unter dem königlichen Palast sowie unter ganz London). Die Story selbst ist zwar rasant, aber etwas dürftig.
Abschließend finden sich noch ein paar Fakten über den amerikanischen Präsidenten und das weiße Haus, ein Quiz sowie ein Rezept für Butterscotch auf Eis.
Band 2 endet mit einem Cliffhanger. Wie gut, dass Band 3 schon bereit liegt.
Fazit:
Liebenswerte und heldenhafte Hauptfiguren und schaurig-böse Fieslinge in einer atmosphärischen Kulisse.
Das Abenteuer selbst kann mit dem Vorgänger nicht mithalten. 3,5 von 5 Karotten für den zweiten Band.
...
Rezensiertes Buch: "Die königlichen Kaninchen von London - Flucht aus dem Turm" aus dem Jahr 2018
After closing the first book in this series, a few weeks ago, I wanted more. I fell in love with the little brave rabbit Shylo and with the wonderful world Montefiore crafted. Unfortunately the next books weren't translated in Dutch, so I had to get the English ones. (No problem at all, but if I had known that I might have gotten the first one in English too!)
And although this book was just as amusing as the first book in the series, I want to start this review with saying that for me something was missing. The first book truly was about this small rabbit, laughed at and bullied, who had to untangle a huge mess and become a hero. And it was a very cute and empowering story. In this book there is so much attention for all the other characters, that it's sometime as if Shylo isn't the centre of the universe anymore. And I understand he's not, but I'd love him to be.
But, apart from that I did enjoy reading this book a lot! I love the wonderful world of the Royal Rabbits and the American Rabbits and the Foxes and the Rats. I love how the Corgi's are incorporated in the story, even though they're not the main characters. I love how fascinating and almost magical this world is and how it's not even that unthinkable that this is going on right under our noses while we have no idea.
It's a little bit like reading a James Bond story for children. It has epic fights, danger and wonderful situations where characters have to be brave and work together. Especially kids will really enjoy this exciting adventure and it's not a punishment for adults to read it too.
But, I do hope that in the third book Shylo is back to centre stage. He deserves that!
When last we saw Shylo Tawny-Tail, a shy country bunny, he had just helped the Royal Rabbits of London save the Queen from a most humiliating experience, devised by the evil Ratzis. The RRL’s were so grateful and impressed that he was made a member of the secret society, complete with their badge imprinted on his paw.
The Ratzis (the grossest rats that ever lived) have a new scheme in mind. This time they want to embarrass the Royal Family and the President and First Lady of the United States in front of the entire world and ruin the relationship the two countries share! Ohhhh those nasty creatures! They have uncovered the President’s biggest secret and plan to expose it during a televised State Dinner.
Readers learn more about the Ratzis, especially Papa Ratzi who controls this revolting gang of very large, very stinky two hundred rats. No one has ever seen him and he communicates via hologram texts.
Can Shylo and the rest of the RRL’s save the two countries, especially the United States, from becoming the world’s laughingstock? Surely Shylo can…thanks to the RRL’s motto: “Anything in the world is possible---by will and by luck, with a moist carrot, a wet nose, and a slice of mad courage!”
A fun little book that chapter book readers will surely enjoy.
The Royal Rabbits of London: Escape From the Tower gets 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
The Royal Rabbits of London join forces with the American Rabbits of the United States when the Ratzis threaten a meeting between the British Queen and the American President. The Ratzis, under the control of the mysterious Papa Ratzi, plan to embarrass the President on camera and cause chaos. Once again, Shylo the smallest of the Royal Rabbits finds that he is the one who must save the day. Lots of action and plenty of wonderfully detailed illustrations make this an exciting adventure with the promise of more to come.
I found this book by a coincidence in the book shop yesterday in English and it seemed like a really cute and sweet story for children and I could also practice my English.
I actually have to admit that I enjoyed it. I never read the first book in the series, I'm not sure if I ever will, but I enjoyed the second part. It really was a cute and sweet story, nothing terrific.
It's easily recognizable that it's a tale for children, but I think it's a good one. I also loved the illustrations.
It was through searching for more Santa Mortefiore books that I discovered this series for middle grade and younger (even older).
Call this a short and sweet review. Perfect for the targeted audience with adventure and suspense. The illustrations were great connecting the reader and characters. You are stronger than you think, courageous when you don't feel like it. Yea not just a good story but good morals for little ones.
There is no need to worry about the British Royals with The Royal Rabbits of London on the case. Having survived the Ratzis in a previous adventure, Shylo Tawny-Tale finds himself using the help of the super secret agent foxes, and aligning with ROTUS (Rabbits of the Unites States who protect the president), to keep a visit of the US President and the Queen from going pear shaped. A quick adventure for young readers with accompanying illustrations could make for a great bed-time adventure tale.
Santa and Simon Montefiore have succeeded again! I loved their first "Royal Rabbits of London" and this second installment does not disappoint. The plot is expertly wrangled and the writing is superb. Kate Hindley's illustrations are a perfect complement. What's at stake in these books can't help but make you smile. Enjoy!
This was a cute story and although I joined the party a book late, I have the opportunity to go backwards before I leap into book 3. Shyly is a cute rabbit 🐇 and although I’m supposed to dislike the rats 🐀 , I might fall in love with them instead. Hell the foxes 🦊 made me smile 😊 throughout the book 📖. The only thing I didn’t like in this book was it ended so quickly.
Un second tome qui tient toutes ses promesses : de l'action, de la bravoure, Timmy qui évolue et prend de plus en plus confiance en lui. Et un épisode qui laisse présager un Tome 3 haletant. La venue de nouveaux personnages, autant dans les méchants que dans les gentils permet au texte de se renouveler. J'adore !
Charming! I love this series, although I'm definitely biased, having been a pet rabbit owner for many years. I would have loved this series when I was a child. I still love it now! Looking forward to reading #3. Great bedtime reading. I just love the illustrations.
Shylo has to be the cutest bunny ever!! I love how he saves the day and cannot wait to see what he does in the next book. So bummed that I only have one more book to go!