SOUNDTRACK: NORSEWIND-“Landvaettir” (2011).
On September 2, we went to ScanFest, a festival of all things Scandinavian. We had a wonderful time (despite the downpour). The food was great, the stalls were selling cool wares and the entertainment was stellar (I loved the wife carrying contest–win your wife’s weight in beer!).
There were also musicians. We were only able to see a couple, but one was Norsewind, a folk band from Berks County, PA, who play traditional Scndinavian music (and Irish pub songs). I don’t know any of the songs they played that day, but I happened upon their reverbnation site, where you can hear 11 tracks. And I chose this title because I have no idea what it means.
Live, the band was loud and really dynamic. I especially enjoyed what I think was the intro to a song–three members on stage pounding the hell out of traditional drums–it was very cool. These studio recordings are a little anemic–at least compared to their live show. But they do display a nice range of sounds and styles and I enjoyed them very much.
When we finished Droon we wanted to move on to a new series. Beast Quest was heavily advertised in the back of the Droon books, so we thought we’d give it a try. Adam Blade (really?) has created a vast world in Avantia. As of this writing, there are 72 books in the series (not including several special edition). Yes, that is eighty-three books in total.
Sadly I just learned that Scholastic, the American publishing company of Beast Quest has only released 24 books (plus 2 special editions) in the United States. A brief rant here. I think Scholastic books is really wonderful. They have released some amazing books over the years. I can’t even count the number of awesome series that Scholastic has picked up. HOWEVER, Scholastic has a horrible track record of starting to release series and then ceasing in the middle. The biggest crime has been Ulysses Moore, which they have ceased after 4 books (even though the series is up to Book 10 or 11 in their native Italy AND they are releasing the author’s newer series now. Now we have this. As you’ll see in the post, I’m the first to admit that the first six books in the series aren’t very good. But now that we’re up to 20, the books and plots have gotten so much better. And just as we’re getting really into it, the plug has been pulled? I understand the economics of publishing and that if something isn’t selling you give up on it. But seriously, you’re heavily advertising a series that you’re not going to finish? How expensive can it be to produce these series of kids books? It’s so disappointing.
End rant.
Begin review.
In the Beast Quest books, the hero, Tom, is given a series of tasks. Each task lasts exactly 6 books (each six book series has a theme). As I mentioned above, the first six books are not really that good. The set up is interesting, but the execution falls flat because each book proves to be pretty much exactly the same. Learn about Beast, hike across the country to the Beast, defeat the Beast, rejoice. Strangely, although these stories are written for a slightly older grade level than Droon, I felt like the actual stories were much less sophisticated than Droon.
Backing up a bit… Tom lives in Avantia, a land that is protected by six magical beasts. The beasts are kind of like myths–everybody believes in them but no one has seen them. And the evil Wizard Malvel has turned all of the good Beasts evil. Now they are doing damage to the country of Avantia in their own inimitable way.
As the first book starts, Tom’s family is under terrible duress (naturally, Tom’s parents are gone, and he is being raised by his aunt and uncle). Tom goes to see King Hugo who, through a series of events, sends Tom on the Quest–to return the Beasts to the good side (by removing the golden lock that Malvel has placed on each of them).
The Wizard gives him a sword and shield and a horse named Storm and tells him to accept help wherever Tom can get it. After setting out, Tom quickly runs into Elenna and her wolf (!) Silver who is excited to help him in is quest. And off they go.
Book 1: Ferno the Fire Dragon
In the first book, we learn mostly what I wrote above and also about the kind of challenges that Tom is in for. We learn that Tom must not harm the Beasts, even though they have turned vicious–they have been unfairly imprisoned. And Tom uses brains and brawn to win the challenge. This story worked quite well because there was so much to set up in the beginning.
Book 2: Sepron the Sea Serpent
Because this challenge was set under water, it added a new sense of difficulty. It also allowed Tom and Elenna to have different levels of challenges. This one probably should have come later in the Quest because being underwater was a cool twist. Elenna proves to be very helpful, although I feel like she is underused. I realize that Tom is the hero and he get all of the rewards and all of the glory, but Elenna, who is a great female character who is awesome with a bow and arrow and is fearless in battle and who has a wolf for a pet for cripes sake, really doesn’t do all that much. On the plus side she’s not just reduced to screaming on the sidelines, she does actually fire arrows and such, but the final moments are all left to Tom–it’s not as much of a partnership (like other kids’ books are) it’s more of a quest with a sidekick. Which I guess is what it is meant to be.
Book 3: Cypher the Mountain Giant [in the UK, where these are from, the title and character are known as Arcta the Mountain Giant. I have no idea why it was changed.]
It’s not that the challenges in these stories aren’t good. The final two chapters are usually quite exciting with a new challenge based on the kind of Beast and its location. So the mountain giant takes them up into the mountains as opposed to the sea. And Blade has some very good ideas about the challenges that Tom and Elenna will face. And some of the scenes are, if not exactly scary, kind of exciting.
Book 4: Tagus the Horse Man
However, what happens is that the first seven or so chapters are about the four heroes wandering around wondering what is to come next. And since we know that they are going to defeat the monster (in every adventure series it is safe to assume that the hero will win, but since we know at the outset that there are six Quests in this series, we know that he’s going to defeat at least the first 5), the waiting to get to the battle can be tiring.
Book 5: Tartok the Ice Beast [in the UK, where these are from, the title and character are known as Nanook the Snow Monster–I don’t know why they changed it but Nanook is an awful, awful name].
Plot aside, there’s some really cool features in the stories. Aduro has given them a living map–when they unfold the map, it is a 3-D representation of Avantia and of where the Beast is located. It’s a very cool concept and I’d love to see it in action! Speaking of seeing, there are illustrations in the book, but they’re very simple and really not all that interesting. After Tom defeats each Beast, he is given a charm which possesses magic powers. One protects him from water, and another from falling from great heights, another from fire. These are very cool, and make Tom a better warrior as the stories moves along.
Book 6: Epos the Flame Bird
The Beats themselves are pretty cool. One wonders how Blade is going to come up with 72 Beasts (although I know some get used twice–a cool idea later on). But he starts off with a good collection. I mean, how on earth do you fight a Phoenix?
The books are fairly short (all about 74 pages) which means you can finish them in two nights (or one night if bedtime starts early enough). And in the later books the 74 pages are well-packed with story. But as I mentioned, these first six don’t quite fill the stories with action.
But they do get better! Let’s hope we’ll be able to finish the series.
I Just Read About That... 
Leave a comment