About the Book
Title: The Princelings of the East (Princelings of the East Trilogy, Book 1; 2nd edition)
Author: Jemima Pett
Year published: originally published 2011
Publisher: Princelings Publications
Number of pages: 103
Recommended age: 10+
Summary (Amazon):
The Princelings of the East is the first of a trilogy telling of the adventures of Fred and George. When the King's Birthday feast is ruined by an unnatural power drain, our Princeling heroes leave their scientific experiments to set out in search of answers. They encounter the enigmatic businessman Hugo, the impressive Prince of Buckmore, the wise Lady Nimrod, the irrepressible barkeeper Victor, but find themselves threatened by those with vested interests. The scene shifts from a rural, feudal setting to the towers and heights of the curious Isle of Hattan, but where, or when, are they? Time is of the essence in solving this puzzle, and our heroes must keep their wits sharp and their heads clear if they are to survive. Suitable for good readers aged 10 and over, The Princelings of the East is a fantasy adventure with the charm of the Wind in the Willows in a world reminiscent of Anne MacCaffrey's Pern.
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The Buzz
"Jemima Pett has woven a suspenseful mystery featuring a cast of memorable characters headed by the two charismatic guinea pigs, Fred and George. Pett dives into the story right away introducing Fred and George and establishing the crux of the plot early in the book - namely, the mysterious Energy Drain. The plot line, with its many twists and turns, is very intricate and complex; thus, making it enjoyable for older tweens and even adults. Science fiction aficionados in particular will be interested in the element of time-travel in this book." ~ Mother Daughter Book Reviews, 5 Stars
"It was easy for me to settle into Pett's writing style; it's been a while since I've read anything by Anne McCaffrey or J.R.R. Tolkien, and Pett's writing is a welcomed reminder of how that style of writing can really add to a good plot-line. I have to say that I was impressed with the novel overall. Although it is for older children, it's still written in a way that will appeal to many adults." ~ Megan, Amazon, 5 Stars
"After reading The Princelings of the East, I felt as if my IQ had gone up a few points with Ms. Pett's vocabulary choices - what refreshing text. This true adventure book which includes a fight, time travel and mysterious strangers is reminiscent of Wind in the Willows - with a twist...I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading the next book in the Princelings series." ~Christine M. Goodreads, 5 Stars.
About the Author: Jemima Pett
I've been writing since I was about 8 years old. When my mum died in 2003, I found a small booklet in her box of treasures, written in a very childish hand, entitled The Little Stream. I've been writing articles and reports for newsletters and magazines ever since, but I couldn't find interesting characters and plot for a novel!
I worked in business for many years. I wrote manuals, reports, science papers, blogs, journals, anything and everything that kept the words flowing. Finally the characters jumped into my head with stories that needed to be told, and THE PRINCELINGS OF THE EAST was born.
I now live in Norfolk with my guinea pigs, the first of whom, Fred, George, Victor and Hugo, provided the inspiration for my stories. And the picture is me with Fred. That's Princeling Fred, of course!
Book Website: http://princelings.co.uk/
Author Website: http://jemimapett.com/
Twitter: @Jemima_Pett
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The Princelings of the East Blog Tour Schedule (2013)
September 23September 24
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September 27
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September 30
October 1
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October 5
October 6
October 7
*** The Princelings of the East Blog Tour Giveaway ***
My Review:
Princelings George and Fred
leave the safe confines of their home, Castle Marsh, to investigate a
mysterious and recurring Energy Drain that ruined their grandfather, King Cole’s
birthday feast (and led to a lot of good food being wasted too!). They must
find the answers since this situation cannot go on forever. Soon, there might
be no power left. Leaving the castle is easier than they imagined; in fact the
very mention of how useful a tunnel would be is enough for a tunnel to obligingly
appear. A Great Adventure calls. Fred and George, inseparable, find themselves separated
but they make the best of it. They meet a number of mysterious and sometimes
vaguely sinister characters, particularly the ones with a vested interest in
the situation. Is the production of a delicious and popular cola drink really
the problem? And is time getting messed
up somehow…?
George and Fred, although
twins, are appealing and different characters. George (the Brains – he is a
Thinker) and Fred (the Brawn – he is the Adventurer) make a great team, relying
on each other all the time. When their adventure separates them, they must
learn to rely on themselves and make decisions and choices depending on the circumstances
that confront each one. They are inventive, curious, brave, and sharp-witted,
no mean feat to survive in a variety of situations where petty politics rule.
Both George and Fred go on a real journey of discovery, but in fact, much of
the journey is internal as they miss each other’s presence, but make those
vital choices alone in the end.Author Jemima Pett creates a charming and endearing world that is a fantastical mix of medieval with technology. Detailed descriptions sink the reader right into each new location and paint vivid pictures of sights and sounds, and the way the inhabitants live. The secondary characters entertain and amuse as well, with a quaint turn of phrase, or a deep, dark purpose (depending on who it is) to give them definition. Lovely idiosyncrasies such as habits and speech patterns ensure the secondary players are fully rounded in this tale. Ms. Pett’s tongue-in-cheek humour will also give many a laugh to slightly older readers.
There is a useful list of characters and locations in the front of the book, which will help younger readers through the twists and turns of this surprisingly complex plot. The author’s illustrations that preface each chapter are delightful and help cement the reader in the context. A lovely read for all ages, with enough action, adventure, inventiveness, and fun to satisfy the most demanding reader. Fans will be delighted to learn that George and Fred’s adventures continue with the second and third books in the series. PS: George and Fred are Guinea Pigs, extremely clever ones, as you will find out!
5 comments:
Thank you so much for your thorough review of The Princelings of the East. I agree that given the complexity of the plot (complex in a GOOD way!) and the richness of the character development, the book is much more suited to a slightly older audience. It's difficult to find good books for upper middle grade that are complex and challenging enough without having violence and gore and dark themes. Thanks for taking part in the tour Fiona. :)
Thank you so much for the lovely review, Fiona! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking part in the blog tour, it is much appreciated. :)
Fabulous review Fiona. I just knew you would love this one as much as I did. Congrats to Jemima.
While reading, I kept thinking how useful George's inventions would be in solving the energy crisis in the world and ensuring a greener future.
Well, the strawberry juice power plant is out there - although it runs on hydrogen, not strawberry juice - and is called a fuel cell. Technological change usually goes hand in hand with social change, and George's world won't be immune to that.
But our intentions are good!
I'm glad it provoked these thoughts though. Thanks again for a lovely review.
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