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Riddley Bundleforth & The Banshee Bell: A Dragon Mist Chronicle
EVERYONE SHOULD MATTER TO SOMEONE. Abandoned at 14, now getting hungry, Riddley Bundleforth collects his only saleable possessions, a few scented, tallow tapers he’s dipped. Leaving his village, he makes his way to Dragon Mist, an ancient castle where master chandlers make and sell marvelous magic candles. Arriving at the bazaar, hoping to find buyers, Riddley discovers the fortress has its own crises, including a shattered tower bell. Desperate for shelter and food, he makes a series of wild promises to fix the guild's woes. Unimpressed by his bravado, the mages wait for his failure as Riddley has no magic to work his cures, and their most impressive sorcery has already failed. When the boy’s seven days are up, everyone gathers – will the orphan deliver on his promises? Or will he be banished from Dragon Mist when he’s indentured for hard labor by the local king’s man? Filled with cranky frost giants, a prissy fairy queen, an insecure leprechaun, and one lonely banshee, Roulf Burrell's, Riddley Bundleforth and the Banshee Bell is the first book in a new fantasy series. Purchase a bit of magic with Riddley Bundleforth and the Banshee Bell and share the light and hope of friendship.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2021
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About the author
Roulf Burrell
1 book2 followersRoulf Burrell was an information manager for a quasi-municipal, raw water acquisition and transfer agency (read faceless government bureaucrat) for 25 years before early retirement. Having quit the government, he dropped the “bureaucrat” and rented a face (the picture is the best one he could afford.) Determined to write the kinds of books that had offered him a respite during his troubled teenage years (a time that lasted until he was 50,) Roulf started Riddley Bundleforth & The Banshee Bell. He is now working on the sequel, Riddley Bundleforth & The Hag Rider.
Mr. Burrell has won a few awards including Writer’s Digest’s Word Painting & Your Writing Assignment contests, David Letterman’s Late Show - Top Ten contest, and the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference “Not Yet Published” prose contest. His co-authored script “Back Home In East L.A.” also placed in the top thirty in the Templeton Foundation’s Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays.
Mr. Burrell has won a few awards including Writer’s Digest’s Word Painting & Your Writing Assignment contests, David Letterman’s Late Show - Top Ten contest, and the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference “Not Yet Published” prose contest. His co-authored script “Back Home In East L.A.” also placed in the top thirty in the Templeton Foundation’s Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 28, 2023
Riddley Bundleforth & the Banshee Bell hooked me immediately. I was disappointed when I finished the book—not because of the ending—but because I didn’t want it to end. And this was a personal surprise because I’m not a fantasy enthusiast. The book is story-rich.
The plot kept a steady pace of twists and turns. Better yet, vivid characters jumped off the pages and became real. Moody screaming banshees, a vanity-stricken queen fairy, a flighty discontent stepstool, and others showcased author Roulf Burrell’s magical wordsmithing. His make-believe characters made me a believer—fantasy isn’t just for kids. This book crosses ages and will be enjoyed by both teens and adults.
Riddley lives in desperate times when poverty’s tight grip keeps families scrambling to survive. Additionally, the power-hungry sheriff creates fear and crushes hope as he and his hench men demand unfair taxes or services without pay. Riddley Bundleforth, a young teen and unseemly hero, is caught with no way out. He is disowned and abandoned by his stepmother and uncle when his father is killed. The sheriff now demands Riddley pay back taxes.
When the destitute orphan sells his last batch of candles, he clings a thread of hope—maybe he can secure an apprenticeship position at the ancient castle fortress of Dragon Mist. But first, he must do the impossible: The massive bell in the castle tower has been broken. But before it can be fixed, the half ogre blacksmith Draleen must find a husband, and before she can find a husband, the gremlins must be ousted from the livery, and before they will leave…
In order to save himself, Riddley promises to get the bell fixed and to solve everyone’s troubles—knowing he can’t.
Burrell spins the tale with crisp details, spurring my imagination to experience the smells, sights and sounds of each scene. Better yet is the witty humor sprinkled throughout the book. There are no violent, dark scenes.
If you enjoyed the 2017 Newberry Honor book, The Inquisitor’s Tale, then you’ll love Riddley Bundleforth & the Banshee Bell
The plot kept a steady pace of twists and turns. Better yet, vivid characters jumped off the pages and became real. Moody screaming banshees, a vanity-stricken queen fairy, a flighty discontent stepstool, and others showcased author Roulf Burrell’s magical wordsmithing. His make-believe characters made me a believer—fantasy isn’t just for kids. This book crosses ages and will be enjoyed by both teens and adults.
Riddley lives in desperate times when poverty’s tight grip keeps families scrambling to survive. Additionally, the power-hungry sheriff creates fear and crushes hope as he and his hench men demand unfair taxes or services without pay. Riddley Bundleforth, a young teen and unseemly hero, is caught with no way out. He is disowned and abandoned by his stepmother and uncle when his father is killed. The sheriff now demands Riddley pay back taxes.
When the destitute orphan sells his last batch of candles, he clings a thread of hope—maybe he can secure an apprenticeship position at the ancient castle fortress of Dragon Mist. But first, he must do the impossible: The massive bell in the castle tower has been broken. But before it can be fixed, the half ogre blacksmith Draleen must find a husband, and before she can find a husband, the gremlins must be ousted from the livery, and before they will leave…
In order to save himself, Riddley promises to get the bell fixed and to solve everyone’s troubles—knowing he can’t.
Burrell spins the tale with crisp details, spurring my imagination to experience the smells, sights and sounds of each scene. Better yet is the witty humor sprinkled throughout the book. There are no violent, dark scenes.
If you enjoyed the 2017 Newberry Honor book, The Inquisitor’s Tale, then you’ll love Riddley Bundleforth & the Banshee Bell
February 25, 2021
A highly imaginative debut
Welcome to Dragon Mist where the characters are as charming as they are unique. Orphaned Riddley's mouth sometimes makes promises he cannot expect to keep, but along the way toward fixing the bell and finding a home, he stumbles upon the treasure of friendship in unexpected places. I can't wait to see what happens next for Riddley and his new friends.
Welcome to Dragon Mist where the characters are as charming as they are unique. Orphaned Riddley's mouth sometimes makes promises he cannot expect to keep, but along the way toward fixing the bell and finding a home, he stumbles upon the treasure of friendship in unexpected places. I can't wait to see what happens next for Riddley and his new friends.
April 19, 2021
I enjoyed this book. Great characters and story. Hurrah!
September 10, 2021
This was an entertaining book. If falls in the tradition of Diana Wynne Jones or Eva Ibbotson
type of fantasy. If you enjoyed that sort of book, you'll enjoy this.
type of fantasy. If you enjoyed that sort of book, you'll enjoy this.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews