This book takes place in a midieval abbey. Having lost his entire family to a fire, and no one else to take him in, Will is sent to live in an abbey. Well, more like he is sent to become free labor to the monks of the abbey.
One day as Will is gathering firewood he comes across a hobgoblin stuck in an animal trap. The creature is badly injured and will most likely die if he is not treated immediatly. His only hope is the healer, Brother Snail, of the abbey. However, the monks don't take kindly to strange creatures entering their midst. Will wants to help the hob but has to risk sneaking it into the abbey, a dangerous job that could cost him his home.
What William doesn't realize is that he is a rare type of person who has the gift of the sight. Will is one of very few that can see creatures like that of the hob. After managing to sneak the hob into Brother Snails hut Will wonders if the healer will even treat the hob. Brother Snail is much more understanding than the other monks would be and treats the hob's injuries.
Once the hob feels more comfortable Will and Brother Snail begin to talk to him. He refuses to tell them his name saying it will give them power over him so the two decide to call him Brother Walter for the time being and allow him to stay with Brother Snail until he is healed.
Brother Walter becomes good friends with Will and Brother Snail and even begins telling them a little about the Fay world and all the creatures that live in it. Brother Walter seems content to laze around until a secret is uncovered and a strange guest appears. Jacobus Bone, a leper, and his manservant Shadlok appear and ask to stay at the abbey. They question Will about the secret he uncovered but Will refuses to tell him anything.
The secret of the abbey is the death of an angel. The monks witnessed the death and buried the body, but no one can remember where.
Throughout the rest of the story is about Will helping Shadlok uncover the truth about the angel.
Pat Walsh tells a great tale of friendship. When Will looses his family in a fire he replaces them with Brothers Snail and Walter. He manages to piece himself together and move on with his life using the support of his new friends. I believe that Walsh also hints at believing in yourself and how believing you can do something is a wonderful and powerful thing. If you believe in yourself then anything can happen.
For me this book was extremely boring towards the begining. The book doesn't really get exciting until around the twentieth chapter. After that point the book becomes a little more exciting. Being the first book in a series it makes sense that this book would have a little more backstory than the books that follow. This book while not entirely exciting is definetly intresting and entertaining. I would give this book a b rating.
Theres is only one instance of swearing in this book and no innapropriate scenes. It does get a little gory and gruesome throughout the book. I encourage all fantasy lovers to read this book.
1 comment:
Do you know if this is a series book or if it is the only one?
I liked your review.
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