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Have Sword, Will Travel #1
Have Sword, Will Travel
It is strange enough that Odo and Eleanor have stumbled upon a sword in a dried-up river outside their village. It is even stranger that Odo is able to remove it from where it's buried. And it's REMARKABLY strange when the sword starts to talk.
Odo and Eleanor have unearthed Biter, a famous fighter from earlier times. By finding Biter, Odo instantly becomes a knight -- a role he is exquisitely unsuited for. Eleanor, however, would make a PERFECT knight -- but she's not the one with the sword.
Finding Biter is only the start -- boy, girl, and sword must soon go on a quest to save their kingdom from threats in both human and dragon form, in this new fantasy triumph from Garth Nix and Sean Williams.
Odo and Eleanor have unearthed Biter, a famous fighter from earlier times. By finding Biter, Odo instantly becomes a knight -- a role he is exquisitely unsuited for. Eleanor, however, would make a PERFECT knight -- but she's not the one with the sword.
Finding Biter is only the start -- boy, girl, and sword must soon go on a quest to save their kingdom from threats in both human and dragon form, in this new fantasy triumph from Garth Nix and Sean Williams.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2017
81 people are currently reading
1861 people want to read
About the author
Garth Nix
236 books15k followersGarth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia, to the sound of the Salvation Army band outside playing 'Hail the Conquering Hero Comes' or possibly 'Roll Out the Barrel'. Garth left Melbourne at an early age for Canberra (the federal capital) and stayed there till he was nineteen, when he left to drive around the UK in a beat-up Austin with a boot full of books and a Silver-Reed typewriter.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
January 26, 2026
Odo and Eleanor, best friends, plan on going eeling in the mostly dried up river near their village.
"Odo and Eleanor did not set out to find their destiny. At best, they were hoping for eels."
While going through the sludgy river bed, something rather unexpected happens.
Turns out they found Biter - a talking sword - and it has plans for them.
"Odo and Eleanor screamed as the sword erupted out of the water."
After a quick knighting of Odo (which Eleanor is only a little miffed about), they set off.
And soon adventure finds them - and very quickly they realize that wanting adventure and actually having one is two entirely different things.
"What Eleanor liked the most was looking for adventure."
I thought this was a fun adventure - it didn't blow my mind but I was rather entertained throughout.
I really like books when boys and girls are friends but NOT in love - I honestly get so tired of everyone always falling in love all time, so this book was completely a breath of fresh air.
The two of them were a great team and had a playful, witty friendship-relationship.
The talking sword - ah - where do I begin? Talking inanimate objects are my spirit animal.
Biter was hilariously pompous and a great addition to the team.
I thought the "Big Bads" of the book were sufficiently bad, though lacking a smidge of reasoning behind the evilness.
All in all - such a fun fantasy!
Audiobook Comments
Read by Marisa Calin and it was a delight to listen to - great tone and inflection throughout.
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November 28, 2021
My first (very brief) review for the new year!
A fun childrens fantasy book that I had a blast reading. An interesting adventure with a lot of good humour. I enjoyed the dynamic between Odo, Eleanor and Biter the enchanted sword as they set off on their quest to find a dragon. 🐲
I'll be checking out the next book!
A fun childrens fantasy book that I had a blast reading. An interesting adventure with a lot of good humour. I enjoyed the dynamic between Odo, Eleanor and Biter the enchanted sword as they set off on their quest to find a dragon. 🐲
I'll be checking out the next book!
November 21, 2017
Breezed through this in no time. Simple fantasy story about 2 friends who find talking sword and go on an adventure. Nothing overly original or 5 star but dialogue is witty, pace is great and characters quite charming. Obviously a YA type fantasy novel but could appeal to readers who have kids in their young to mid teens. Has great themes that arent ro adult minded. Made me chuckle a few times. Will probably pick up the 2nd when it arrives if I want a light quick easy fantasy read.
October 25, 2017
What’s better than stumbling upon an ancient sword lying in a river? Well, how about stumbling upon an ancient sword in a river, pulling it out and having it yell at you! Have Sword, Will Travel is the beginning of a compelling adventure featuring Odo, Eleanor and an enchanted, talking sword named Biter. Odo and Eleanor have grown up with a quiet village life and Odo is content with their day-to-day activities but Eleanor has always dreamed of being a knight, saving people and doing something larger than that. So, she’s clearly delighted when Odo is the one to awaken the sword and is knighted himself whilst she is named his squire!
It seems it was destined for Odo to find this sword though because for some reason the river that flows down through the villages is drying up and the suspect behind it is none other than an infamous, fearsome dragon much older than the children who have been tasked to defeat it by Biter. Odo, Sir Odo now, is hopeless at first and honestly a little uninterested in being a knight at all while Eleanor is discouraged that she wasn’t the one knighted but she’s still going to be a good friend and assist Odo on his quest because it’s still an adventure they can share together.
Eleanor and Odo were an impressive duo and I love that they had a great friendship that grew over the course of the book throughout troubling times that challenged them. Odo really struggled with his newfound responsibility while Eleanor was sometimes challenged with the jealousy she felt over being his squire and not the knight herself. Despite their own issues they still worked as a fantastic team together and they are now a favourite duo of mine! You also cannot forget a huge part of this book, the enchanted sword that started their epic adventure! Biter just sounds like the coolest thing ever as a talking sword should be but the sword was also dangerous and mysterious so you weren’t really sure if it was a good or bad thing for the duo because it constantly got them into hot water!
There were also some other characters I found interesting that you have to read about in this book to love/despise like Urthkin, Sir Saskia and Runnel! I loved when Odo and Eleanor met the Urthkin because it didn’t go at all how I expected and it was just fantastic how it was yet another example of how this book used wit over violence. Sir Saskia was also a notable character as a famous female knight and a hero to Eleanor while Runnel carried terrifying turn of events for the group! I can honestly say I can’t wait to see what happens to all of the characters in the next book as well as the fearsome dragon!
The cover of this book is also more beautiful than I can say because it’s so shiny and golden! I loved the writing style in this book as well because I really couldn’t tell the difference between what was written by the co-writers Garth Nix and Sean Williams. This is the first book I’ve read from either of the authors despite having their books on my TBR for ages and I was not disappointed at all in this fantastic book so I’ll definitely be reading more from this duo. Another fantastic thing about this book is that it’s children’s fiction that could be read by all ages because it was a pure delight of adventure with plenty of wit and humour. This book surprised me at every turn and I loved that it was an adventure set in a medieval setting with knights, dragons, curses and enchanted swords that is perfectly aimed for younger children but was also wonderfully written from skilled authors that can cater to any age. I’m so excited to continue this series and that ending was so unexpected!
(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Have Sword, Will Travel is out on the 25th of October, 2017!)
It seems it was destined for Odo to find this sword though because for some reason the river that flows down through the villages is drying up and the suspect behind it is none other than an infamous, fearsome dragon much older than the children who have been tasked to defeat it by Biter. Odo, Sir Odo now, is hopeless at first and honestly a little uninterested in being a knight at all while Eleanor is discouraged that she wasn’t the one knighted but she’s still going to be a good friend and assist Odo on his quest because it’s still an adventure they can share together.
Eleanor and Odo were an impressive duo and I love that they had a great friendship that grew over the course of the book throughout troubling times that challenged them. Odo really struggled with his newfound responsibility while Eleanor was sometimes challenged with the jealousy she felt over being his squire and not the knight herself. Despite their own issues they still worked as a fantastic team together and they are now a favourite duo of mine! You also cannot forget a huge part of this book, the enchanted sword that started their epic adventure! Biter just sounds like the coolest thing ever as a talking sword should be but the sword was also dangerous and mysterious so you weren’t really sure if it was a good or bad thing for the duo because it constantly got them into hot water!
There were also some other characters I found interesting that you have to read about in this book to love/despise like Urthkin, Sir Saskia and Runnel! I loved when Odo and Eleanor met the Urthkin because it didn’t go at all how I expected and it was just fantastic how it was yet another example of how this book used wit over violence. Sir Saskia was also a notable character as a famous female knight and a hero to Eleanor while Runnel carried terrifying turn of events for the group! I can honestly say I can’t wait to see what happens to all of the characters in the next book as well as the fearsome dragon!
The cover of this book is also more beautiful than I can say because it’s so shiny and golden! I loved the writing style in this book as well because I really couldn’t tell the difference between what was written by the co-writers Garth Nix and Sean Williams. This is the first book I’ve read from either of the authors despite having their books on my TBR for ages and I was not disappointed at all in this fantastic book so I’ll definitely be reading more from this duo. Another fantastic thing about this book is that it’s children’s fiction that could be read by all ages because it was a pure delight of adventure with plenty of wit and humour. This book surprised me at every turn and I loved that it was an adventure set in a medieval setting with knights, dragons, curses and enchanted swords that is perfectly aimed for younger children but was also wonderfully written from skilled authors that can cater to any age. I’m so excited to continue this series and that ending was so unexpected!
(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Have Sword, Will Travel is out on the 25th of October, 2017!)
April 6, 2018
A fantasy adventure involving two children, Eleanor and Odo, and a magical talking sword called Hildebrand FoeBiter. Biter is an inspired creation - obliging but overbearing, always on the ready to avenge the slightest wrong, imagined or real. A classic sidekick in other words, keen of edge but less so in the brains department. Conveniently, he doesn’t so much talk as declaim portentously in boldy-face - very handy when reading to my 7 and 11-year old granddaughters who were both enthralled by the characters and adventures in this book.
Odo is knighted by Biter, though it turns out he isn’t actually authorized to do that, and Eleanor becomes his squire – though she in fact wants to be a knight far more than does Odo. I’m glad to say too that there’s no distinction made between male or female roles in Nix’s book.
Their quest is to find out who is causing the life-giving river through their village to dry up, and of course dragons of the most fearsome kind are suspected. On their journey they encounter the usual array of underworld creatures, cowed serfs, tyrannical overlords and the like – one of the more colourful is Sir Saskia, an imposing and proud female knight, whom Eleanor would love to emulate of course, but of possibly dubious character. (Though the 7-year-old had her fingered from the start!)
The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars was the ending which was a bit anticlimactic , and that was followed by an Epilogue which was nothing more than a trailer for the next book in this series. Really, that’s no way to end an adventure, even if you intend there to be another!
Odo is knighted by Biter, though it turns out he isn’t actually authorized to do that, and Eleanor becomes his squire – though she in fact wants to be a knight far more than does Odo. I’m glad to say too that there’s no distinction made between male or female roles in Nix’s book.
Their quest is to find out who is causing the life-giving river through their village to dry up, and of course dragons of the most fearsome kind are suspected. On their journey they encounter the usual array of underworld creatures, cowed serfs, tyrannical overlords and the like – one of the more colourful is Sir Saskia, an imposing and proud female knight, whom Eleanor would love to emulate of course, but of possibly dubious character. (Though the 7-year-old had her fingered from the start!)
The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars was the ending which was a bit anticlimactic , and that was followed by an Epilogue which was nothing more than a trailer for the next book in this series. Really, that’s no way to end an adventure, even if you intend there to be another!
January 5, 2024
Seldom does a fantasy/action adventure book get a 5 star rating from this librarian, but Have Sword, Will Travel is a fantastic choice for that tricky age group of 4th-6th grade who want to read about magic, sword-fighting and dragons and think that they need lots of blood and gore to go with it, but really don't need the level of violence and sometimes romance/sex that may come with the genre. Nix and Williams give readers plenty of action with a strong female protagonist and her male friend who becomes strong as the plot progresses. There are magical swords, a malevolent former knight, dragons and bannochs, and a river that should flow but doesn't. This series opener ends with Eleanor and Odo coming into their own as the river flows once again, foes have been vanquished, knighthood officially conferred on them both and bilewolves entering their town. With swords at the ready, the authors leave readers reaching for book 2, Let Sleeping Dragons Lie. Highly recommended for libraries/readers in grades 4-8 with no content reservations or warnings.
May 15, 2018
Have Sword, Will Travel by Garth Nix & Sean Williams is the first book in a new middle-grade fantasy series... a start to yet another series, yay. It is about two kids who find an enchanted sword, and then go on adventures with it. That's the basic plot of the story and it doesn't really steer away from that. It's just a simple, cute fantasy-adventure.
I had to read this for my library review group. I like fantasy and thought this looked to be a fun read, but I didn't connect to the characters and the story itself didn't hold my interest. It's not that it is a bad book, but I don't think it was really for me. I like fantasy stories to have a darker edge. Have Sword may have been going for more of a Princess Bride kind of story, but I don't feel it succeeded.
Overall, this might be fun for kids but I don't think I'll continue on with the series myself.
I had to read this for my library review group. I like fantasy and thought this looked to be a fun read, but I didn't connect to the characters and the story itself didn't hold my interest. It's not that it is a bad book, but I don't think it was really for me. I like fantasy stories to have a darker edge. Have Sword may have been going for more of a Princess Bride kind of story, but I don't feel it succeeded.
Overall, this might be fun for kids but I don't think I'll continue on with the series myself.
December 23, 2024
Listen. Strange swords lying in the bottom of dried up rivers distributing... themselves... is no basis for a system of knighthood. Supreme executive knightlyness derives from having earned your knighthood, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony preformed by a talking sword with amnesia.
This book is so fun! Biter is similar to sword-nimi from the Stormlight Archives, so you like that character you'll probably like him. Biter is a self-possessed, slightly crazy (though less insanely bloodthirsty), sentient sword in search of a good Knight. What he finds instead is two children. But he'll make the most of it!!
Odo and Eleanor are really enjoyable characters - Odo never wanted to be a knight, but is unfortunately knighted immediately by Biter. Eleanor's only dream is to be a knight like her mother before her, but she is instead relegated to being a squire.
But instead of a usual roll reversal story (just let the girl do it!! She'll be better at it anyway! Why are knights so sexist??), we see that it's not really a gender thing, it's just the way life goes sometimes. Odo is cautious and doesn't always want to get involved, but his heart and his courage and his compassion give him some really valuable skills as a knight. And we see that Eleanor has the determination and confidence and the willpower to be a knight, but she can be hot-headed and rash. (Also I loved the juxtaposition of her going around helping people who are hurt and wounded by using her considerable skills she's gained from her father's apothecary - and she doesn't even think twice about it. That is arguably more valuable than being a knight.)
It's not really about which one of them would be better at the job, it's about the choices they make when faced with hard decisions. And they both grow and make mistakes and get better and try their best.
Anyway, this is a middle grade book that doesn't feel middle grade. Garth Nix is great at writing characters that don't feel limited by their age, and that's true here too. Plus it has dragons, sword fighting, quests, knights, secret plots, and creepy grandmas in the woods. What else could you want?? If you need a quick and enjoyable read, give this a shot.
This book is so fun! Biter is similar to sword-nimi from the Stormlight Archives, so you like that character you'll probably like him. Biter is a self-possessed, slightly crazy (though less insanely bloodthirsty), sentient sword in search of a good Knight. What he finds instead is two children. But he'll make the most of it!!
Odo and Eleanor are really enjoyable characters - Odo never wanted to be a knight, but is unfortunately knighted immediately by Biter. Eleanor's only dream is to be a knight like her mother before her, but she is instead relegated to being a squire.
But instead of a usual roll reversal story (just let the girl do it!! She'll be better at it anyway! Why are knights so sexist??), we see that it's not really a gender thing, it's just the way life goes sometimes. Odo is cautious and doesn't always want to get involved, but his heart and his courage and his compassion give him some really valuable skills as a knight. And we see that Eleanor has the determination and confidence and the willpower to be a knight, but she can be hot-headed and rash. (Also I loved the juxtaposition of her going around helping people who are hurt and wounded by using her considerable skills she's gained from her father's apothecary - and she doesn't even think twice about it. That is arguably more valuable than being a knight.)
It's not really about which one of them would be better at the job, it's about the choices they make when faced with hard decisions. And they both grow and make mistakes and get better and try their best.
Anyway, this is a middle grade book that doesn't feel middle grade. Garth Nix is great at writing characters that don't feel limited by their age, and that's true here too. Plus it has dragons, sword fighting, quests, knights, secret plots, and creepy grandmas in the woods. What else could you want?? If you need a quick and enjoyable read, give this a shot.
June 1, 2022
This was a fun and enjoyable read. I'm still on the lookout for children's read alouds for this summer, and Garth Nix is a wonderfully imaginative author, so I thought I'd give this a whirl. However the audio was perfect, and while we may listen to this over the summer, I will not try to improve upon this. The story features, a girl who wants to be a knight, her friend who is knighted by an enchanted talking sword, a dragon, quests, and bandits! A great story, can't wait to see what my kids think of it.
June 18, 2019
This review and others posted over at
my blog.
I picked this up because I’m a big fan of Nix’s work (and middle-grade fantasy) and it was…meh.
Odo and Eleanor are likable enough, though I didn’t really connect or empathize with them. I did appreciate the tension surrounding Eleanor’s desire to be a knight and the jealousy she experienced at Odo’s suddenly becoming one. Yet, she never sabotaged his efforts at learning swordcraft from Biter and was a constant support, all while watching what Biter taught Odo and committing it to memory. The two have their tiffs, but there are no major betrayals or drama because more than they want adventure or peace and quiet, they value their friendship. I enjoyed how, while reluctant to become a knight, Odo did his best to be strong and just.
I did highlight one quote where Odo is talking about wanting to give the sword to a real knight:
“So you want to be a miller?” asked Eleanor.
“It’s all I know.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
I think that’s a good point for everyone to remember – you don’t have to become something just because that’s all you know. You can learn to be something more.
Biter, the talking sword, both bored and annoyed me. Also, to emphasize his deep and magical voice, they used a very stylized font. While I appreciate the idea, at times it was hard to read. I wish they’d just used bold or something.
The end turned out a little differently than I suspected, so that was interesting, I guess. But really, nothing about the characters, plot or writing really grabbed me. I think this is better suited to the younger end of middle-grade audiences. It’s probably a good starting point for young readers who are comfortable with chapter books but aren’t ready to tackle anything too lengthy or complex yet. I’m not sure how else to say that – I feel like that comes across as an insult, but I don’t mean it that way. This is a solid book, but not one that I’ll hang on to.
I picked this up because I’m a big fan of Nix’s work (and middle-grade fantasy) and it was…meh.
Odo and Eleanor are likable enough, though I didn’t really connect or empathize with them. I did appreciate the tension surrounding Eleanor’s desire to be a knight and the jealousy she experienced at Odo’s suddenly becoming one. Yet, she never sabotaged his efforts at learning swordcraft from Biter and was a constant support, all while watching what Biter taught Odo and committing it to memory. The two have their tiffs, but there are no major betrayals or drama because more than they want adventure or peace and quiet, they value their friendship. I enjoyed how, while reluctant to become a knight, Odo did his best to be strong and just.
I did highlight one quote where Odo is talking about wanting to give the sword to a real knight:
“So you want to be a miller?” asked Eleanor.
“It’s all I know.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
I think that’s a good point for everyone to remember – you don’t have to become something just because that’s all you know. You can learn to be something more.
Biter, the talking sword, both bored and annoyed me. Also, to emphasize his deep and magical voice, they used a very stylized font. While I appreciate the idea, at times it was hard to read. I wish they’d just used bold or something.
The end turned out a little differently than I suspected, so that was interesting, I guess. But really, nothing about the characters, plot or writing really grabbed me. I think this is better suited to the younger end of middle-grade audiences. It’s probably a good starting point for young readers who are comfortable with chapter books but aren’t ready to tackle anything too lengthy or complex yet. I’m not sure how else to say that – I feel like that comes across as an insult, but I don’t mean it that way. This is a solid book, but not one that I’ll hang on to.
December 3, 2017
Odo and Eleanor, poking about in a river that was rapidly sinking despite the rain, were looking for eels. What they found was a magical sword.
It cut Odo's finger, and the blood roused it - the blood of a true knight. Except he's not. So the sword knights him on the spot. And with one thing and another, Eleanor becomes his squire, and they set out to find out why the river is failing.
A light high fantasy ensues.
It involves Eleanor's father rebuking the sword for asking for his name without giving his own first, as the stranger; a woman who lives in a chapel; the draconian origin of a firestarter, a duel and a wrestling move; something that smokes like a dragon; the question of armor; what a certain knight is like, and more.
It cut Odo's finger, and the blood roused it - the blood of a true knight. Except he's not. So the sword knights him on the spot. And with one thing and another, Eleanor becomes his squire, and they set out to find out why the river is failing.
A light high fantasy ensues.
It involves Eleanor's father rebuking the sword for asking for his name without giving his own first, as the stranger; a woman who lives in a chapel; the draconian origin of a firestarter, a duel and a wrestling move; something that smokes like a dragon; the question of armor; what a certain knight is like, and more.
May 6, 2019
General implied spoilers ahead!
That said, let me introduce Flagon the Fierce and Friendly Welsh Dragon, with his third Goodreads review. Flagon says:
ROARYAY! These Nix and Williams people really understand the truth about human-Dragon relations! It's great to get a story that explains it properly. It's also very funny, especially Biter and Runnel the sword siblings. Roar! I'd happily read more about them!
That said, let me introduce Flagon the Fierce and Friendly Welsh Dragon, with his third Goodreads review. Flagon says:
ROARYAY! These Nix and Williams people really understand the truth about human-Dragon relations! It's great to get a story that explains it properly. It's also very funny, especially Biter and Runnel the sword siblings. Roar! I'd happily read more about them!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2019
Tbh if I were a super mega powerful dragon I too would refer to myself as "The Mighty [name]"
August 12, 2021
Ok, so this is a fantasy book for kids, and at times feels rather constrained for that reason. But it's a light read, it's fun and quirky, and will serve as a great introduction for younger readers into the fabulous world of knights and dragons.
November 16, 2018
This is a book for non-thinking readers. A lot of what happens in this book is just stupid. Two kids, Odo and Eleanor, find a talking magic sword and immediately are coerced into thinking of themselves as a knight and a squire and leaving on a mission to kill a dragon. The adults they inform of their plans just point out the need for provisions and a map and let them go. No one thinks to say "Don't you think you ought to practice with that sword first?"
[BTW, the following contains SPOILERS because, frankly, this book deserves to be spoiled.]
If anything the villains are worse. A disgraced female knight has taken up with bandits. She has the bandits harass a town and then she shows up and pretends to drive them off. Then she strips the town of all its valuables as compensation for her services. Why? Why not just rob the town? In theory it is to avoid the attention of the king's army, but somehow this knight got her bandits to build a dam first. Because bandits are known for their dam building. And how does drying up a river not garner the attention of the king? Furthermore, the knight then heads down the dried up river to run her extortion scheme. So, essentially, the knight is driving away, by drought, the people she is intending to prey upon.
Odo and Eleanor essentially accomplish nothing by skill. Having been taken in by the knight, who claims to be on her way to slay the dragon, Odo and Eleanor turn for home. Then, against all common sense and decency, Eleanor sneaks away from Odo in the middle of the night to approach the female knight about becoming her squire. Never mind that the female knight has already made it clear that Odo and Eleanor are unwanted. Then, for no real reason since Eleanor is still clueless, she decides to sneak into the knight's camp instead of just walking in, where by a miracle akin to winning several lotteries in a row, Eleanor is able to overhear the female knight confess her evil plans. Eleanor then escape the camp unnoticed.
Next Odo and Eleanor, who still don't really know the full story, return to their dragon hunt because now they know the female knight isn't going to deal with their imagined dragon problem. In attempting to sneak up on the dragon Odo and Eleanor end up in exactly the right place to free a slave who can tell them the rest of the story. Then Odo and Eleanor, who have been worried about killing bad guys with their magic sword, blow up the dam potentially killing hundreds of innocents. Odo and Eleanor acknowledge the possibility that blowing up the dam will kill innocents but then immediately dismissed BASED ON THE GUESS THAT THOSE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY LEFT THEIR HOMES. I LACK THE WORDS TO ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THIS LEVEL OF STUPIDITY.
The way the things pan out, Odo and Eleanor know the villainous female knight will attack their home village so they construct a raft to beat her home. The restored river is flowing too fast and Odo and Eleanor are unable to stop at their home village. CONVENIENTLY ENOUGH, when they do manage to get ashore they are deposited in the rear of the villainous knight's attack on another fortified town. Even though the female knight has shown she is easily able to defeat Odo and Eleanor before, this time she loses. BUT, THAT ISN'T CONVENIENT ENOUGH. So then the dragon shows up, turns out to be a good dragon and sets all to right.
Bottom line: This is essentially a long-winded children's fairy tale. Possible 10 to 15 year olds might enjoy it but anyone who actually wants a good book will be disappointed.
[BTW, the following contains SPOILERS because, frankly, this book deserves to be spoiled.]
If anything the villains are worse. A disgraced female knight has taken up with bandits. She has the bandits harass a town and then she shows up and pretends to drive them off. Then she strips the town of all its valuables as compensation for her services. Why? Why not just rob the town? In theory it is to avoid the attention of the king's army, but somehow this knight got her bandits to build a dam first. Because bandits are known for their dam building. And how does drying up a river not garner the attention of the king? Furthermore, the knight then heads down the dried up river to run her extortion scheme. So, essentially, the knight is driving away, by drought, the people she is intending to prey upon.
Odo and Eleanor essentially accomplish nothing by skill. Having been taken in by the knight, who claims to be on her way to slay the dragon, Odo and Eleanor turn for home. Then, against all common sense and decency, Eleanor sneaks away from Odo in the middle of the night to approach the female knight about becoming her squire. Never mind that the female knight has already made it clear that Odo and Eleanor are unwanted. Then, for no real reason since Eleanor is still clueless, she decides to sneak into the knight's camp instead of just walking in, where by a miracle akin to winning several lotteries in a row, Eleanor is able to overhear the female knight confess her evil plans. Eleanor then escape the camp unnoticed.
Next Odo and Eleanor, who still don't really know the full story, return to their dragon hunt because now they know the female knight isn't going to deal with their imagined dragon problem. In attempting to sneak up on the dragon Odo and Eleanor end up in exactly the right place to free a slave who can tell them the rest of the story. Then Odo and Eleanor, who have been worried about killing bad guys with their magic sword, blow up the dam potentially killing hundreds of innocents. Odo and Eleanor acknowledge the possibility that blowing up the dam will kill innocents but then immediately dismissed BASED ON THE GUESS THAT THOSE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY LEFT THEIR HOMES. I LACK THE WORDS TO ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THIS LEVEL OF STUPIDITY.
The way the things pan out, Odo and Eleanor know the villainous female knight will attack their home village so they construct a raft to beat her home. The restored river is flowing too fast and Odo and Eleanor are unable to stop at their home village. CONVENIENTLY ENOUGH, when they do manage to get ashore they are deposited in the rear of the villainous knight's attack on another fortified town. Even though the female knight has shown she is easily able to defeat Odo and Eleanor before, this time she loses. BUT, THAT ISN'T CONVENIENT ENOUGH. So then the dragon shows up, turns out to be a good dragon and sets all to right.
Bottom line: This is essentially a long-winded children's fairy tale. Possible 10 to 15 year olds might enjoy it but anyone who actually wants a good book will be disappointed.
June 7, 2023
The premise sounded really cool and the title was very eye-catching. I also wanted to read this book because it was co-written by an author I like, Garth Nix. I've read his Keys to the Kingdom series and really liked it, so I had somewhat high expectations for this book.
Have Sword, Will Travel is an adventure unlike any other. The story follows two heroes in the making, Odo and Eleanor, as they travel far and wide to discover why the river is drying up. From start to finish it's a non-stop journey of epic proportions. It's also surprisingly humorous - talking enchanted swords and dragons are always a win with me.
Odo, the miller's seventh son, goes from ordinary to something special - a true knight at heart. I really liked his character because he puts the needs of others before himself. He's an incredibly kind and noble young man.
Eleanor I didn't like as much. She is kind and brave but a little self-absorbed. I didn't like how she treated Odo for the first half of the novel. She has a long way to go before becoming a true knight.
Biter - the enchanted sword Odo finds - is funny. He has a really quirky, dignified personality that clashes well with Odo's.
This was a very good middle grade novel. I'm looking forward to another story featuring Odo and Eleanor. I predict more exponential growth and awesome heroic deeds will occur. Hopefully, we also get to learn how Biter ended up in the river and with pieces of his memory missing.
Have Sword, Will Travel is an adventure unlike any other. The story follows two heroes in the making, Odo and Eleanor, as they travel far and wide to discover why the river is drying up. From start to finish it's a non-stop journey of epic proportions. It's also surprisingly humorous - talking enchanted swords and dragons are always a win with me.
Odo, the miller's seventh son, goes from ordinary to something special - a true knight at heart. I really liked his character because he puts the needs of others before himself. He's an incredibly kind and noble young man.
Eleanor I didn't like as much. She is kind and brave but a little self-absorbed. I didn't like how she treated Odo for the first half of the novel. She has a long way to go before becoming a true knight.
Biter - the enchanted sword Odo finds - is funny. He has a really quirky, dignified personality that clashes well with Odo's.
This was a very good middle grade novel. I'm looking forward to another story featuring Odo and Eleanor. I predict more exponential growth and awesome heroic deeds will occur. Hopefully, we also get to learn how Biter ended up in the river and with pieces of his memory missing.
November 17, 2018
This is a very enjoyable book for young readers, four and a half stars. I like particularly that every role is equal opportunity, from hero to villain, from talking sword to occupations like miller.
Our two young heroes find an old enchanted sword in the dried-up riverbed. The sword talks, nicely in a gothic script, which will help if you are reading aloud. As the sword Biter insists on dubbing his finder a knight - to the miller's son's dismay, and the annoyance of his girl pal who really does want to be a knight - this starts an adventure. Mainly, the young people decide to go and investigate the drying up of the river. Tales have come from upstream of a blockage and a dragon. Water shortage is an incredibly topical subject so I have to commend the authors for bringing environmental awareness and water scarcity into the tale.
I would give five stars if not for some strong coincidences and convenient occurrences; the two youngsters are very brave but things do just go their way a lot. Also, why hasn't the king (who is at the end expected to deal with some bandits) done anything about the river blockage, dragon and bandits? However, it's for kids. Vocabulary is very varied and well used including terms for armour and weaponry.
I bought this in the normal way at Octocon. This is an unbiased review.
Our two young heroes find an old enchanted sword in the dried-up riverbed. The sword talks, nicely in a gothic script, which will help if you are reading aloud. As the sword Biter insists on dubbing his finder a knight - to the miller's son's dismay, and the annoyance of his girl pal who really does want to be a knight - this starts an adventure. Mainly, the young people decide to go and investigate the drying up of the river. Tales have come from upstream of a blockage and a dragon. Water shortage is an incredibly topical subject so I have to commend the authors for bringing environmental awareness and water scarcity into the tale.
I would give five stars if not for some strong coincidences and convenient occurrences; the two youngsters are very brave but things do just go their way a lot. Also, why hasn't the king (who is at the end expected to deal with some bandits) done anything about the river blockage, dragon and bandits? However, it's for kids. Vocabulary is very varied and well used including terms for armour and weaponry.
I bought this in the normal way at Octocon. This is an unbiased review.
November 17, 2020
A fairly tedious and slow story that felt it was trying too hard. The plot was fairly cookie cutter and the villian not really given any motivation. I feel that this has a lot of potential, specifically in relation to the humour - it could have been brilliant but I just found it annoying. The characters were not consistent and it felt that things happened "just because". It really was disappointing
January 1, 2021
This was a quick, fun read about a knight-wannabe and a miller's son who find an enchanted sword while eeling. Of course, the sword chooses the miller's son who embarks on a quest to rescue the drying-up river on which many villages depend. I did enjoy this since the characters, particularly Odo and Biter, were quite likable. My only issue was the title which made the Paladin theme song run through my head incessantly.
July 5, 2017
A quick, fun read about magic swords and bandits and dragons and best friends. It's also funny and occasionally silly and will keep readers entertained from start to finish. It also has some good messages to convey about not making assumptions based on appearance and gender equality and stuff, but they never get in the way of or distract from the story.
December 31, 2017
This was cute! A fun adventure story that middle grade readers will enjoy. I listened to some of the audiobook which was also enjoyable. Would recommend to adventure fans looking for a quick read.
January 5, 2026
Libby/audio
A very fun adventure. I expected a more lighthearted silly tone, based entirely on my impression of the cover, but it is a much more serious quest, starring two kids with strong hearts.
Odo doesn't want adventure or to rush off seeking danger, but his best friend Elinor wants nothing more than to be a Knight. So of course they find a sword in the river one day, and it chooses Odo as his Knight.
Thus begins an epic quest between the three, wherein they meet many creatures and vanquish foes across the land. They find they have the heart for doing good, and their minds and bodies follow.
I enjoyed the friendship between these two, and the way they didn't wallow in surliness when things didn't work out the way they initially expected. I was surprised that all the various characters they meet along the way didn't join them on their quest, but i suppose they imparted some knowledge and sent them along.
The sword was a fun character, Im a little bummed that we didn't learn all his forgotten memories.
This crew is set up to have many more adventures going forward I'm sure.
Overall, a great serious fantasy for readers young and old.
A very fun adventure. I expected a more lighthearted silly tone, based entirely on my impression of the cover, but it is a much more serious quest, starring two kids with strong hearts.
Odo doesn't want adventure or to rush off seeking danger, but his best friend Elinor wants nothing more than to be a Knight. So of course they find a sword in the river one day, and it chooses Odo as his Knight.
Thus begins an epic quest between the three, wherein they meet many creatures and vanquish foes across the land. They find they have the heart for doing good, and their minds and bodies follow.
I enjoyed the friendship between these two, and the way they didn't wallow in surliness when things didn't work out the way they initially expected. I was surprised that all the various characters they meet along the way didn't join them on their quest, but i suppose they imparted some knowledge and sent them along.
The sword was a fun character, Im a little bummed that we didn't learn all his forgotten memories.
This crew is set up to have many more adventures going forward I'm sure.
Overall, a great serious fantasy for readers young and old.
April 9, 2022
I just finished revisiting this book that I read to my kids when it was fresh off the presses about 4 years ago.
I think it's a really captivating read because it's a tale that's simple but not simplistic. Two 12-yearo-olds are on a quest to save their town from whatever is stopping-up the river, and rumour has it, that a dragon is involved. They face many obstacles, most of whom are people. Mostly it's a story about standing up against injustice, and doing the best you can against the odds.
It tells a story in an idealistic setting where society is much more egalitarian. As a parent it was very important to me that my children hear stories that weren't just about men and boys, and this is a story where being strong, or cruel, or caring, or shy, or brave.. isn't decided by your gender. It's a theme that Garth Nix has gone with in many of his books (including titles like Angel Mage, and Left Handed Booksellers of London).
I find the adventure has an easy flow with moments of tension and excitement, and quiet reflection.
I really like the book, and so do my children.
I think it's a really captivating read because it's a tale that's simple but not simplistic. Two 12-yearo-olds are on a quest to save their town from whatever is stopping-up the river, and rumour has it, that a dragon is involved. They face many obstacles, most of whom are people. Mostly it's a story about standing up against injustice, and doing the best you can against the odds.
It tells a story in an idealistic setting where society is much more egalitarian. As a parent it was very important to me that my children hear stories that weren't just about men and boys, and this is a story where being strong, or cruel, or caring, or shy, or brave.. isn't decided by your gender. It's a theme that Garth Nix has gone with in many of his books (including titles like Angel Mage, and Left Handed Booksellers of London).
I find the adventure has an easy flow with moments of tension and excitement, and quiet reflection.
I really like the book, and so do my children.
January 11, 2024
Odo and Eleanor are catching eels in the riverbed near their home village when they discover an enchanted sword. The sword awakes when Odo cuts his finger on the blade, and it declares that Odo has the blood of a true knight. Odo has never wanted to be a knight, unlike Eleanor, who has dreamed of it all her life. Prompted by the sword, they set off on an adventure to discover why the river is drying up (working theory: dragons?), and along the way they have many adventures.
This is a fun romp of a story, though the plot doesn't really bear up under close inspection. Still, it's full of humor and action, and fans of lighthearted juvenile fantasy should take a look.
This is a fun romp of a story, though the plot doesn't really bear up under close inspection. Still, it's full of humor and action, and fans of lighthearted juvenile fantasy should take a look.
July 6, 2018
Slam dunk. I've always been a fan of Nix (particularly the Keys to the Kingdom and Abhorsen series) and Williams only made the writing better! This is a fantastic first adventure full of magic, danger, and wit. I particularly enjoyed the lack of sexism, and the lovable cast of characters. Feels like a story I grew up with, in the spirit of Wrede or Rowling, but more Wrede, who's a better writer, so there you go.
January 24, 2023
Quite a fun story. Much better than the title would suggest. Could easily be four stars, except the ending leaves much to be desired. A bit too abrupt.
Still, there are a lot of fun moments to be had throughout. Each little adventure has enough humor and excitement to keep interest and drive the reader through. It may even be worth picking up the sequel.
Really not fond of the title, though.
Still, there are a lot of fun moments to be had throughout. Each little adventure has enough humor and excitement to keep interest and drive the reader through. It may even be worth picking up the sequel.
Really not fond of the title, though.
July 18, 2019
Odo and Eleanor find upon a sword in a dried-up river outside their village, and when Odo is able to pull it out, their lives change forever. The sword is the enchanted sword, Biter, and not only can it speak, but it knights Odo and send him on a quest to deafest a dragon, with Eleanor as his squire.
Such a fun, cute story, and I know my kids would love it.
Such a fun, cute story, and I know my kids would love it.
January 3, 2018
This was a fun read. I liked the fantasy and wit. The characters were interesting, and there was a lot of action, which made this a quick read. I am hoping for another book involving this duo.
December 8, 2020
A delightful tale of adventure, friendship, and what it means to be brave that subverts classic fantasy tropes at every turn. Incredibly fun.
June 7, 2024
I’m a sucker for talking sword stories. This was a really cute, fun middle grade romp with knights and a dragon and villains. I’ll definitely be reading this to my future kids
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