As you read the reviews on Bookshop Talk, you'll notice that every review is positive. No, we're not a bunch of literary
pushovers who love everything we pick up; we just see no point in telling you about a book if we didn't like it.

September 29, 2012

THE FLOATING ISLAND by Elizabeth Haydon, 2006

Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme--known as Ven--is the youngest son of a long line of famous shipwrights. He dreams not of building ships, but of sailing them to far-off lands where magic thrives. Ven gets his chance when he is chosen to direct the Inspection of his family's latest ship--and sets sail on the journey of a lifetime. Attacked by fire pirates, lost at sea and near death, Ven is rescued by a passing ship on its way to the Island of Serendair. Thankful to be alive, little does Ven know that the pirate attack--and his subsequent rescue--may not have been an accident. (Amazon)

Review by Emily, basically a bibliophile

When I first picked up The Floating Island from the new book shelf at my library, I was only a little interested. Then I read the back cover. It said, "Being thrown in jail to rot is not especially fun. Being thrown in jail when you are innocent is worse. Being thrown in jail to await having your head cut off is the worst of all." It just got better from there. After reading the back cover, I said to myself, "This is something I want to read!"
  
And it just kept getting better. Ven Polypheme is a Nain, one of a short race of metalworkers. He is not, however, a dwarf. His family builds ships, and for his birthday, his greatest wish is to go out on one of their test runs. His brothers all think that he is crazy - no self-respecting Nain would ever actually want to get on a boat! But he does go out, and promptly gets shipwrecked and taken in by some passing sailors. But not before he meets a merrow, Amariel, who keeps him company, and an albatross, who gives him a feather. Along his journey, he meets many other interesting characters.
  
As for the rest of the story, well, you'll just have to read it. The people and places are fascinating, and Ven's adventurous spirit gets him in - and out of - quite a few bad situations. He's chased by dogs, meets a king, finds the Floating Island, gets thrown in jail on trumped-up charges, and makes several steadfast friends, whose abilities are just as interesting as Ven's.
  
If you're wishing for a good rollicking adventure with minimal violence, a surplus of wit, and clever characters, this is a good book to consider reading.
  
Market: Young Adult Fantasy
Language: Mild
Sensuality: None
Violence: Mild
Mature Themes: None

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Ooo--this sounds exciting! I love adventure novels with a fair dose of piracy!