11-13)Ĭhainani works an elaborate sea change akin to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), though he leaves the waters muddied.Įvery four years, two children, one regarded as particularly nice and the other particularly nasty, are snatched from the village of Gavaldon by the shadowy School Master to attend the divided titular school. Since it’s printed in a nearly illegible typeface, though, few readers will stay the course long enough to experience its many other faults. Many members of this all-rodent cast appeared in a much-referred-to prequel no doubt the series will continue until the author’s will (or money) gives out. Inspired by new clues, Birch, joined by watchmaker Hermuk Tantamoq and adventuress/pilot Linka Perflinger (both mice), race nefarious con artist Hinkum Stepfitchler III and his intended victim, cosmetics queen Tucka Mertslin, to a lost library of the Cats, where, after predictable treachery, captures and escapes, everyone ends up about where you’d expect. After 76 pages of scene-setting, the adventure finally begins with the story of battered old chipmunk Birch Tentintrotter, a brilliant linguist who, years ago, was ruined and nearly killed by mysterious enemies after translating an ancient want ad from a supposedly-mythical Cat civilization.
Rare glimmers of wit aside, this tale has nothing to offer but trite dialogue, typecast characters, a plot built from lackluster set pieces and a bewildering array of odd names.
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