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Tales from Schwartzgarten: The Woebegone Twins by Christopher William Hill (view source)
Revision as of 17:15, 26 November 2013
, 17:15, 26 November 2013no edit summary
But in this particular town, many things are not what they first seem to be, and soon the unfortunate twins are running for their lives, assisted and protected by people who are experts in horror, bloodshed and illusion. Rats and cobwebs, sinister castles and far too many cockroaches for comfort are only some of the lesser evils they face in their desperate attempts to escape their terrible fate.
Unlike the hero (if he can be called that) of the first book in the series [Tales from Schwartzgarten: Osbert the Avenger by Christopher William Hill|Tales from Schwartzgarten: Osbert the Avenger]] the twins are not criminals, and they do not commit even the tiniest of murders. All the horrors and misery are inflicted on them, and there are several points in the story where it would be hard to imagine a happy ending for this unhappy brother and sister. And yet, for all the peril and woe, this book will appeal to a wide range of readers. Many young people (not to mention the not-so-young) enjoy a good dollop of scariness in their books, that delicious shiver of excitement as the hero finds himself in yet another utterly hopeless situation. Add to that some very funny scenes and some of the oddest characters in contemporary fiction, and enjoyment is guaranteed. Plus — a reassuringly crucial factor — no matter how dire the problem the heroes face, it's obvious they can't die. There are dozens and dozens of pages left to read, and what would they be about?
This is a well-written, funny and gruesome tale which will delight readers and horrify Serious People. And the good news is that there are two more books promised in the same series, so don't put that nightlight away: you're going to need it for some time yet.