A couple of weeks ago my wife and I finished 100 Cupboards, a book that we got from the library and listed to on our commute. Read by Russell Horton, the books are on Audible and if you have an account there I recommend them. We started Dandelion Fire the very day we completed 100 Cupboards and enjoyed every minute of it. The story continues pretty much where the previous book left off and continues with the characters we loved and introduces us to a couple of new ones. We learn more about the past and are able to start to understand how the magic works. I liked the way it was set up and it have several twists that I didn't see coming. Didn't see them coming at all. I was happy that the characters were able to grow and develop and while I was infuriated with one of them, I couldn't fault her pre-teen logic.
Plot: After the adventures of the early summer that led to the 100 cupboards being discovered and opened, Henry is facing the prospect of returning to his own parents who have been rescued from the rebels that captured them during their trip to South America. Unfortunately, he doesn't want to return. His parents are getting a divorce but more dismal is the fact that he knows that if he returns he won't be able to do any of the things that he has come to love. However, Henry has a plan to avoid the lawyer that will be sent to fetch him - he intends to hide in the cupboards. Despite the danger and damage that was done the last time the cupboards was used Uncle Frank has yet to plaster over them. Henry plans are solid, but are derailed when he's struck by a bolt of lightning, or by what appeared to be lightning, and is changed forever. Blinded and in pain Henry is kidnapped by an evil wizard, Darius. Henrietta, knowing of Henry's plans to hide in the cupboards, goes looking for him and ends up lost herself. Frank and Dotty and the other two girls are frantic as they try to find out what happened to both of them. That's when things get really bad. In the end, Henry is reunited with family and finds out he is a seventh son of a seventh son, Frank sets out to find his birthplace, Henrietta learns the truth about her grandfather and Darius becomes stronger than even he thought was possible. And who would have thought of the power of a dandelion.
My personal favorites: This book was more intense than the last, or rather it was intense more often than the last. The author did a good job of balancing the tension so we had periods of calm interspersed with both victory and defeat - so it wasn't desensitizing. As I mentioned, I really hated one of the characters, but it was because she was a well written pre-teen and thought and acted like one - as frustrating as that is. Uncle Frank and Zeke were awesome, as they were in the first. We also get to meet some new heroes that are equally awesome. I liked the way that the enemy was not weak. When Darius first appears it's a terrifying encounter as it appears that our heroes are powerless against him. Also, unlike young adult books where the adults are idiots and the "kids" have to do everything the challenges that Henry and his fellow young characters are ones that are more realistic to his abilities. I also have never thought of dandelions in the way they portrayed them here. It was rather philosophical and even a bit inspiring. Not that I'm going to spare them when the spring comes.
Considerations: Like I mentioned, this book was a little more intense and a little more violent, but again, nothing graphic. The action is well blocked and nothing I would hesitate to read to my children when they reach the age of nine or ten. There really is nothing in this book that I found objectionable.
We started the next book, The Chestnut King, as soon as we finished this one. We really enjoyed Dandelion Fire and have even discussed adding it to our collection. The total length was just over 10 hours.
Plot: After the adventures of the early summer that led to the 100 cupboards being discovered and opened, Henry is facing the prospect of returning to his own parents who have been rescued from the rebels that captured them during their trip to South America. Unfortunately, he doesn't want to return. His parents are getting a divorce but more dismal is the fact that he knows that if he returns he won't be able to do any of the things that he has come to love. However, Henry has a plan to avoid the lawyer that will be sent to fetch him - he intends to hide in the cupboards. Despite the danger and damage that was done the last time the cupboards was used Uncle Frank has yet to plaster over them. Henry plans are solid, but are derailed when he's struck by a bolt of lightning, or by what appeared to be lightning, and is changed forever. Blinded and in pain Henry is kidnapped by an evil wizard, Darius. Henrietta, knowing of Henry's plans to hide in the cupboards, goes looking for him and ends up lost herself. Frank and Dotty and the other two girls are frantic as they try to find out what happened to both of them. That's when things get really bad. In the end, Henry is reunited with family and finds out he is a seventh son of a seventh son, Frank sets out to find his birthplace, Henrietta learns the truth about her grandfather and Darius becomes stronger than even he thought was possible. And who would have thought of the power of a dandelion.My personal favorites: This book was more intense than the last, or rather it was intense more often than the last. The author did a good job of balancing the tension so we had periods of calm interspersed with both victory and defeat - so it wasn't desensitizing. As I mentioned, I really hated one of the characters, but it was because she was a well written pre-teen and thought and acted like one - as frustrating as that is. Uncle Frank and Zeke were awesome, as they were in the first. We also get to meet some new heroes that are equally awesome. I liked the way that the enemy was not weak. When Darius first appears it's a terrifying encounter as it appears that our heroes are powerless against him. Also, unlike young adult books where the adults are idiots and the "kids" have to do everything the challenges that Henry and his fellow young characters are ones that are more realistic to his abilities. I also have never thought of dandelions in the way they portrayed them here. It was rather philosophical and even a bit inspiring. Not that I'm going to spare them when the spring comes.
Considerations: Like I mentioned, this book was a little more intense and a little more violent, but again, nothing graphic. The action is well blocked and nothing I would hesitate to read to my children when they reach the age of nine or ten. There really is nothing in this book that I found objectionable.
We started the next book, The Chestnut King, as soon as we finished this one. We really enjoyed Dandelion Fire and have even discussed adding it to our collection. The total length was just over 10 hours.
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