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The Monstrous Child by Francesca Simon (view source)
Revision as of 16:23, 24 September 2020
, 16:23, 24 September 2020no edit summary
So, in the world of teen and young adult literature, apparently still dominated by feisty heroines who rush about with bows and arrows, killing the baddies and the undead (or, alternatively, marrying them) Hel is absolutely unique. Her tongue is so sharp she actually does come close to some form of humour, and her plight has the grandeur and horror of tragedy. The language is that of a twenty-first century teen, yelling ''out of order'' and ''no fair'' at a world that doesn't care, and readers who enjoy the twists and turns of Norse mythology will derive real pleasure from this story. Just don't be misled by the author's name – ''Horrid Henry'' it ain't!
In some ways this book is linked to the author's other two Norse myth-stories, [[The Sleeping Army by Francesca Simon|The Sleeping Army]] and [[The Lost Gods by Francesca Simon|The Lost Gods]], which are both very good indeed. However, they will probably appeal to younger readers, and they have a lightness of touch not evident here. Another book – or set of books, rather – which deals with the darker side of mythology is [[The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper]], a justifiably well-known tale which, despite its age, is still a firm favourite. And for saga-lovers, there's also [[Slave Girl by Jackie French]], not about the gods this time, but about a girl taken captive in a Viking raid. Stirring stuff! You might also enjoy [[The Parent Swap Shop by Francesca Simon and Pete Williamson]].
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