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Monster Blood Tattoo #3
Factotum
Rossam?nd Bookchild stands accused of not truly being a human at all, but of being a monster. Even the protection of Europe, the Branden Rose-the most feared and renowned monster-hunter in all the Half-Continent-might not be enough to save him. Powerful forces move against them both, intent on capturing Rossam?nd-whose existence some believe may hold the secret to perpetual youth.
695 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2009
About the author
D.M. Cornish
19 books683 followersD. M. (David) Cornish (born 1972) is a fantasy author and illustrator from Adelaide, South Australia. His first book is Foundling, the first part of the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy. The second book named Lamplighter was released in May 2008. The third in the series is yet to be named.
D.M. Cornish was born in time to see the first Star Wars movie. He was five. It made him realize that worlds beyond his own were possible, and he failed to eat his popcorn. Experiences with C.S. Lewis, and later J.R.R. Tolkien, completely convinced him that other worlds existed, and that writers had a key to these worlds. But words were not yet his earliest tools for storytelling. Drawings were.
He spent most of his childhood drawing, as well as most of his teenage and adult years as well. And by age eleven he had made his first book, called "Attack from Mars." It featured Jupitans and lots and lots of drawings of space battles.
He studied illustration at the University of South Australia, where he began to compile a series of notebooks, beginning with #1 in 1993. He had read Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast novels, The Iliad, and Paul Gallico's Love of Seven Dolls. Classical ideas as well as the great desire to continue what Mervyn Peake had begun but not finished led him to delineate his own world. Hermann Hesse, Kafka and other writers convinced him there were ways to be fantastical without conforming to the generally accepted notions of fantasy. Over the next ten years he filled 23 journals with his pictures, definitions, ideas and histories of his world, the Half-Continent.
It was not until 2003 that a chance encounter with a children's publisher gave him an opportunity to develop these ideas further. Learning of his journals, she bullied him into writing a story from his world. Cornish was sent away with the task of delivering 1,000 words the following week and each week thereafter. Abandoning all other paid work, he spent the next two years propped up with one small advance after the other as his publisher tried desperately to keep him from eating his furniture.
D.M. Cornish was born in time to see the first Star Wars movie. He was five. It made him realize that worlds beyond his own were possible, and he failed to eat his popcorn. Experiences with C.S. Lewis, and later J.R.R. Tolkien, completely convinced him that other worlds existed, and that writers had a key to these worlds. But words were not yet his earliest tools for storytelling. Drawings were.
He spent most of his childhood drawing, as well as most of his teenage and adult years as well. And by age eleven he had made his first book, called "Attack from Mars." It featured Jupitans and lots and lots of drawings of space battles.
He studied illustration at the University of South Australia, where he began to compile a series of notebooks, beginning with #1 in 1993. He had read Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast novels, The Iliad, and Paul Gallico's Love of Seven Dolls. Classical ideas as well as the great desire to continue what Mervyn Peake had begun but not finished led him to delineate his own world. Hermann Hesse, Kafka and other writers convinced him there were ways to be fantastical without conforming to the generally accepted notions of fantasy. Over the next ten years he filled 23 journals with his pictures, definitions, ideas and histories of his world, the Half-Continent.
It was not until 2003 that a chance encounter with a children's publisher gave him an opportunity to develop these ideas further. Learning of his journals, she bullied him into writing a story from his world. Cornish was sent away with the task of delivering 1,000 words the following week and each week thereafter. Abandoning all other paid work, he spent the next two years propped up with one small advance after the other as his publisher tried desperately to keep him from eating his furniture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
February 22, 2012
I loved this book. It was so rich and intricate, a whole new world. I adore Rossamund. I just wanted to hug him the whole book. I loved his relationship with Europe, how she called him "little man", and was tough on him at times, but you could tell how much she loved him. I loved the deft manner in which Cornish examines the ethics of the man versus monster conflict, which intimately involves both Rossamund and Europe.
This is a book not to be missed by fantasy lovers. Highly recommended, but start with Foundling.
I stand by my casting choices:
Gemma Arterton as Lady Europe, The Branden Rose
Kodi Smit-McPhee as Rossamund
Reviewed for Bitten by Books.
http://bittenbybooks.com.
This is a book not to be missed by fantasy lovers. Highly recommended, but start with Foundling.
I stand by my casting choices:
Gemma Arterton as Lady Europe, The Branden Rose
Kodi Smit-McPhee as Rossamund
Reviewed for Bitten by Books.
http://bittenbybooks.com.
November 15, 2010
I don’t read novels for young adults. This is out of necessity as a children’s librarian more than any personal animosity towards the genre. With all the great middle grade fiction out there who has time for YA? So I’m not sure how I got conned into reading the first Monster Blood Tattoo Foundling back in 2006. However it happened, I was immediately enthralled. Here was a fantasy world I could believe in! One that on the surface looked like it was made up of the usual black and white tropes, and then later turned into an increasingly variegated series of grays. Moral ambiguity city, baby! I devoured Foundling with relish and when its sequel Lamplighter arrived I tossed that back as well. Maybe that’s why I took my time with Factotum, the third and (sadly) last book in the Monster Blood Tattoo series. Reading this book meant having to say goodbye to a lot of old friends. It meant bidding adieu to a world I’d grown to love. I never meant to read a young adult novel. Now I’ve read three and they’re books I honestly love with all my heart. Here’s hoping Mr. Cornish has something more up his sleeve.
When last we left our intrepid heroes, Rossamund the Lamplighter had been accused of being a . . . well . . . a rossamund. Which is to say, he’s accused of being a monster in man’s form. Rescued from his accusers by the always impressive Europe, the Branden Rose, Rossamund has become her factotum to escape the public eye. Rumors of what he is plague and follow the two, however, and both Rossamund and Europe discover that there are forces aligned against them that will stop at nothing to get what they want. What these villains do not count on, however, is that an angry Europe is far more deadly than a pack of slavering monsters.
In comparing the book to its predecessors, I must say that this is probably the longest of the three. Foundling was mere slip of 434 pages, and only 312 were story (the rest was backmatter). Lamplighter was 717 pages, 602 story. Finally, Factotum is 688 pages, with 610 pages of story (the longest yet, storywise). Much of the book feels like a bit of a road novel too. After a brief stay in Europe’s home she and Rossamund go out nicker hunting in the countryside where things do not always go according to plan. It really isn’t until they return to town that the plot starts to run towards the ultimate finish. Not that I was complaining, but I know that some people aren’t particularly fond of Cornish’s meandering style. I sympathize, disliking that aspect to other authors’ writings, but with Cornish I enjoy how well he enfolds me into his universe. There is a meticulousness to his world building. If you found yourself transported there right now, you’d probably get eaten within three seconds, but at least you’d have a general sense of where to go and what to do.
There are some series out there where you can just enter two or three books in (Harry Potter, for example) and be none the worse for wear. Factotum is not that kind of book. You will only be able to survive it if you have read its previous two novels, preferably recently. Cornish will acquiesce to a tiny bit of recapping, but you get the distinct impression that it makes him impatient. Indeed there was more than one moment when I felt like he was saying to me, “Right! Got all that? No? Well, you’ll catch up soon enough because we have 610 pages of plot to get through! Hi-ho!” Newbies to the book might also remain unaware that when you encounter a strange term (like obsequine or threwd) you can just look it up in the massive Glossary at the end of the book. Of course, to make room for new information (and little poems n’ such) Cornish has excised much of the information that appeared in the previous novels. So terms like “wit” are best found in the previous books' glossaries.
A colleague read this book before I did and made an interesting point that I have been turning over in my mind ever since. Said he, “You know, I don’t think Rossamund is actually the hero of this series. I think the hero is Europe.” I was about halfway through this last book when he said this to me and the more I thought about it the more sense it made. Certainly Rossamund is the character we the readers follow the closest. He also has his own inner struggle to overcome i.e. Does he belong to the world of monsters or men? But Europe’s mind is even more fascinating. She hates monsters. Indeed her entire job is to wipe the country clean of them, and she’s even had her body surgically changed so that she’d be better at that job. Then along comes this young runt of a kid and she becomes emotionally attached to him, only to find that he is the thing she’s always despised. She’s still attached to him, but the reader can only wonder (as Rossamund himself wonders) how she can justify his existence. How does she reconcile his two natures? At first it seems like her solution is to ignore his monstrous half and to grow angry if he indulges in sedorner (monster lover) sympathies. Yet as time goes on she cannot ignore what he is, and so she must change her own mind, and maybe even occupation too. This story is every bit as much Europe’s as it is Rossamund’s. The only difference is that we get a peek into the inner workings of his mind, while Europe remains a strange closed book.
I spent much of my reading waiting for Rossamund to meet some important monsters. Ever since Lamplighter hinted at the existence of The Sparrow King I’ve been waiting impatiently for the moment when Rossamund meets him face to face. I won’t give away whether or not that happens in this book, but I will say that Cornish does a fairly good job at showing us some impressive magisterial monsters while also allowing us a glimpse (just a glimpse, mind) into their culture. There are some questions that remain unanswered at the end. These include (avert thine eyes if you do not wish to know) how monsters are born, how Rossamund specifically was born (there’s an allusion to the process, but I wanted details), what monster culture is like, etc. etc. Basically, I wanted more monsters. But Cornish is young and healthy. He has a number of good years ahead of him. Perhaps more monsters are in the offering. We’ll simply have to wait patiently and see.
So now it’s done. It’s done and it’s gone and I’ll never have the experience of discovering the books for the first time again. This makes me inordinately sad. So sad, in fact, that I think I’ll try to force the next child I run across to read Foundling ... even if they’re five years old. I’m patient. I can wait until they’re old enough to read it ... then read Lamplighter ... then finally read Factotum. Oh, it may take years but eventually I’d get to see them experience the joy of the series for themselves. And then maybe by that point D.M. Cornish will have other books out as well. A gal can dream, after all.
For ages 11 and up.
When last we left our intrepid heroes, Rossamund the Lamplighter had been accused of being a . . . well . . . a rossamund. Which is to say, he’s accused of being a monster in man’s form. Rescued from his accusers by the always impressive Europe, the Branden Rose, Rossamund has become her factotum to escape the public eye. Rumors of what he is plague and follow the two, however, and both Rossamund and Europe discover that there are forces aligned against them that will stop at nothing to get what they want. What these villains do not count on, however, is that an angry Europe is far more deadly than a pack of slavering monsters.
In comparing the book to its predecessors, I must say that this is probably the longest of the three. Foundling was mere slip of 434 pages, and only 312 were story (the rest was backmatter). Lamplighter was 717 pages, 602 story. Finally, Factotum is 688 pages, with 610 pages of story (the longest yet, storywise). Much of the book feels like a bit of a road novel too. After a brief stay in Europe’s home she and Rossamund go out nicker hunting in the countryside where things do not always go according to plan. It really isn’t until they return to town that the plot starts to run towards the ultimate finish. Not that I was complaining, but I know that some people aren’t particularly fond of Cornish’s meandering style. I sympathize, disliking that aspect to other authors’ writings, but with Cornish I enjoy how well he enfolds me into his universe. There is a meticulousness to his world building. If you found yourself transported there right now, you’d probably get eaten within three seconds, but at least you’d have a general sense of where to go and what to do.
There are some series out there where you can just enter two or three books in (Harry Potter, for example) and be none the worse for wear. Factotum is not that kind of book. You will only be able to survive it if you have read its previous two novels, preferably recently. Cornish will acquiesce to a tiny bit of recapping, but you get the distinct impression that it makes him impatient. Indeed there was more than one moment when I felt like he was saying to me, “Right! Got all that? No? Well, you’ll catch up soon enough because we have 610 pages of plot to get through! Hi-ho!” Newbies to the book might also remain unaware that when you encounter a strange term (like obsequine or threwd) you can just look it up in the massive Glossary at the end of the book. Of course, to make room for new information (and little poems n’ such) Cornish has excised much of the information that appeared in the previous novels. So terms like “wit” are best found in the previous books' glossaries.
A colleague read this book before I did and made an interesting point that I have been turning over in my mind ever since. Said he, “You know, I don’t think Rossamund is actually the hero of this series. I think the hero is Europe.” I was about halfway through this last book when he said this to me and the more I thought about it the more sense it made. Certainly Rossamund is the character we the readers follow the closest. He also has his own inner struggle to overcome i.e. Does he belong to the world of monsters or men? But Europe’s mind is even more fascinating. She hates monsters. Indeed her entire job is to wipe the country clean of them, and she’s even had her body surgically changed so that she’d be better at that job. Then along comes this young runt of a kid and she becomes emotionally attached to him, only to find that he is the thing she’s always despised. She’s still attached to him, but the reader can only wonder (as Rossamund himself wonders) how she can justify his existence. How does she reconcile his two natures? At first it seems like her solution is to ignore his monstrous half and to grow angry if he indulges in sedorner (monster lover) sympathies. Yet as time goes on she cannot ignore what he is, and so she must change her own mind, and maybe even occupation too. This story is every bit as much Europe’s as it is Rossamund’s. The only difference is that we get a peek into the inner workings of his mind, while Europe remains a strange closed book.
I spent much of my reading waiting for Rossamund to meet some important monsters. Ever since Lamplighter hinted at the existence of The Sparrow King I’ve been waiting impatiently for the moment when Rossamund meets him face to face. I won’t give away whether or not that happens in this book, but I will say that Cornish does a fairly good job at showing us some impressive magisterial monsters while also allowing us a glimpse (just a glimpse, mind) into their culture. There are some questions that remain unanswered at the end. These include (avert thine eyes if you do not wish to know) how monsters are born, how Rossamund specifically was born (there’s an allusion to the process, but I wanted details), what monster culture is like, etc. etc. Basically, I wanted more monsters. But Cornish is young and healthy. He has a number of good years ahead of him. Perhaps more monsters are in the offering. We’ll simply have to wait patiently and see.
So now it’s done. It’s done and it’s gone and I’ll never have the experience of discovering the books for the first time again. This makes me inordinately sad. So sad, in fact, that I think I’ll try to force the next child I run across to read Foundling ... even if they’re five years old. I’m patient. I can wait until they’re old enough to read it ... then read Lamplighter ... then finally read Factotum. Oh, it may take years but eventually I’d get to see them experience the joy of the series for themselves. And then maybe by that point D.M. Cornish will have other books out as well. A gal can dream, after all.
For ages 11 and up.
September 26, 2011
This was a disappointing finish to what was a very promising series. Cornish continues to deliver a rich tapestry of characters in a unique world with lavish environments and unique settings. What he does not deliver on is plot. There is a huge section in the middle of this book where Europe and Rosamund travel from town to town. Each town is described in excruciating detail, but to no purpose. The main characters stay the night and leave the next day and that town never appears again. Its kind of like that part in the second Lord of the Rings movie where the heroes are running across New Zealand. Sure, the countryside is pretty, but it isn't important to the plot in an already long movie, so can we cut it and get to the point. That is pretty much all of Factotum. Get to the point already and use some of that lavish detail to enrich the story.
March 28, 2011
Some books are all plot. Others are all character. This isn't either one. It has a fantastically exciting and moving plot, and the characters are complex-both wonderful and terrible at the same time, but this book is different: it's a tiny slice of story from a world that has thousands of years of history and millions of people or monsters who would be fascinating to read about. I don't often read books with terribly complex worlds anymore. I've rather lost my patience with them as I've gotten older. But in spite of the fact that I had to work a little harder, reading this trilogy never felt like a chore. Finishing this trilogy was sad. Surely this can't be the last I'll ever read of Rossamund or Miss Europe! And what about Mister Sebastipole, who is somewhat inexplicably my favorite character? He's not even in this book! Will I ever get to return to the fascinating and detailed world of the Half Continent? I hope so. But this slice of story is over, so I suppose I'll have to content myself with rereading what there is. I'm sure that I'll discover more to love each time.
May 12, 2024
This setting is unlike any other I've come across in fiction. It has a threwd of its own. The reader is taken over rivers and fields, through forests and cities and villages, into isolated fortresses, and to the edge of monster infested bogs, and every location is brought to life, not by the over-long descriptions you might find in other fantasy novels, but by the inhabitants of the various regions, the idiosyncrasies of the land and rivers, and the events that take place therein.
One thing that especially impressed me was the fluidity of the character-driven plot, and the author's power of covering many events, conversations, and decisions in the span of only a few pages, without rushing or making the reader feel rushed. To give just one example, near the end of the final book in the series our protagonist was taken from a fancy gala in a comfortable mansion, into a blistering city-wide brawl that ended in the most bittersweet finale in fantasy.
I thought a few times over the course of the trilogy that the character of Rossamund Bookchild, our protagonist, was in danger of stunted development, like so many protagonists whose primary trait is innocence; but again, my expectations were subverted. Rossamund grows throughout each book in believable and logical ways, and by the end of the series is as likeable and memorable as any other member of this colourful cast.
I won't spend much time writing about Europa, duchess-in-waiting of Naimes. All I'll say about her is: if you have any taste, you'll love her.
I know very well that the difference between good art and great art is knowing when to stop. Thus, if Rossamund Bookchild's story is not to be continued in any kind of sequel (which it probably shouldn't be), still I hope the author will release more stories from this rich world he has created, hopefully featuring some of the characters I've come to love.
Lastly, if the true nature of the protagonist, which is a revelation on which the entire story pivots, was reasonably predictable, nothing else in this series is. There are surprises on pretty much every page.
One thing that especially impressed me was the fluidity of the character-driven plot, and the author's power of covering many events, conversations, and decisions in the span of only a few pages, without rushing or making the reader feel rushed. To give just one example, near the end of the final book in the series our protagonist was taken from a fancy gala in a comfortable mansion, into a blistering city-wide brawl that ended in the most bittersweet finale in fantasy.
I thought a few times over the course of the trilogy that the character of Rossamund Bookchild, our protagonist, was in danger of stunted development, like so many protagonists whose primary trait is innocence; but again, my expectations were subverted. Rossamund grows throughout each book in believable and logical ways, and by the end of the series is as likeable and memorable as any other member of this colourful cast.
I won't spend much time writing about Europa, duchess-in-waiting of Naimes. All I'll say about her is: if you have any taste, you'll love her.
I know very well that the difference between good art and great art is knowing when to stop. Thus, if Rossamund Bookchild's story is not to be continued in any kind of sequel (which it probably shouldn't be), still I hope the author will release more stories from this rich world he has created, hopefully featuring some of the characters I've come to love.
Lastly, if the true nature of the protagonist, which is a revelation on which the entire story pivots, was reasonably predictable, nothing else in this series is. There are surprises on pretty much every page.
August 15, 2017
Немалко време инвестира човек, когато се захване с епична фентъзи трилогия като „Татуировка с чудовищна кръв” на Дейвид М. Корниш (изд. „MBG Books”). Много е разочароващо, когато инвестицията не се оправдае, когато си останеш с ��еоправданите очаквания, излъган от силно начало и грабваща, но недоразвита концепция. С „Фактотум” обаче няма от какво да се боите, защото последното приключение на сирачето Розамунд и лейди Евро��а е достойния финал, на който се надявах! Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
December 14, 2018
Too much worldbuilding, not enough plot. So much of worldbuilding was just excessive and pointless, and the writing was also convoluted and unclear. The ebook was also not formatted well.
September 18, 2019
Where do I begin with this review?!
The story and the character's were good which made me want to rate it 5 stars BUT I knocked a star off cause the Plot just didn't seem to pick up with made me rate it 4 stars instead of 5.
I get that the author was TRYING to do with the story but it ended up being flat the whole way.
I wanted to love this book which I did in the beginning BUT it just didn't grab me like I thought it would.
The book was good but the plot just didn't stick for me.
The story and the character's were good which made me want to rate it 5 stars BUT I knocked a star off cause the Plot just didn't seem to pick up with made me rate it 4 stars instead of 5.
I get that the author was TRYING to do with the story but it ended up being flat the whole way.
I wanted to love this book which I did in the beginning BUT it just didn't grab me like I thought it would.
The book was good but the plot just didn't stick for me.
May 4, 2024
Край на една изненадващо приятна поредица. Въобще, в портфолиото на покойното MBG Books, с голямо закъснения, открих няколко диаманта и поредицата "Татуировка с чудовищна кръв" е един от тях.
Интересен и малко необичаен завършек на трилогията, с приятно отворен край.
Въобще, Корниш много приятно изненада. Оригинален сюжет, любопитен свят и интересни герои, това е "Факторум".
Определено препоръчвам.
Интересен и малко необичаен завършек на трилогията, с приятно отворен край.
Въобще, Корниш много приятно изненада. Оригинален сюжет, любопитен свят и интересни герои, това е "Факторум".
Определено препоръчвам.
July 1, 2017
A somewhat disappointing end to the series. For the full three books this series has really been about showcasing the incredibly deep world that Cornish has built complete with beautiful drawings of characters and monsters, languages, maps and encyclopaedia. It feels full, rich and long-lived once you’re in it. Wild and steeped in history and rituals. We’ve also slowly been unlocking the mystery of who and what Rosamund is – finally revealed at the end of last book!
Unfortunately, I found the narrative in this last instalment lacklustre. I was hoping Rosamund being Europe’s factotum would bring us all manner of monster hunting adventures, take us to interesting places, and bring the revelation from the end of book two to a solid conclusion. In some ways it did. There was one multi-day monster hunting outing that allowed Rosamund to face his conflicted feelings about monster-hunting generally from a different angle and introduced some interesting elements of the world (and maybe even some sneaky winks to Lovecraftian elder gods!). This was balanced out though, with a lot of running around in the city, politicking, spending time with characters never seen again, and wandering from small town to small town.
The moral ambiguity is there to explore in this book, but I feel like this book spent a lot of time with Rosamund introspectively considering who he is and what his place in the world is and wandering from place to place than it did on bringing the trilogy to a climactic and satisfying close.
I guess I just want more from a third book. I want less time spent establishing the world and conflicts and much more working escalating and resolving those things which have been opened up and developed in the first two books.
The ending felt rushed and, despite agonising over it all book, Rosamund’s decision was almost made for him by Europe’s situation at the end. The action sequences were good and the world is still excellent, but I’m not sure if I could recommend the series to others now, knowing that it doesn’t bring the narrative strongly right through to the end.
This series is all about spending time in the fantastic world, but I would have liked more story to go with it.
Unfortunately, I found the narrative in this last instalment lacklustre. I was hoping Rosamund being Europe’s factotum would bring us all manner of monster hunting adventures, take us to interesting places, and bring the revelation from the end of book two to a solid conclusion. In some ways it did. There was one multi-day monster hunting outing that allowed Rosamund to face his conflicted feelings about monster-hunting generally from a different angle and introduced some interesting elements of the world (and maybe even some sneaky winks to Lovecraftian elder gods!). This was balanced out though, with a lot of running around in the city, politicking, spending time with characters never seen again, and wandering from small town to small town.
The moral ambiguity is there to explore in this book, but I feel like this book spent a lot of time with Rosamund introspectively considering who he is and what his place in the world is and wandering from place to place than it did on bringing the trilogy to a climactic and satisfying close.
I guess I just want more from a third book. I want less time spent establishing the world and conflicts and much more working escalating and resolving those things which have been opened up and developed in the first two books.
The ending felt rushed and, despite agonising over it all book, Rosamund’s decision was almost made for him by Europe’s situation at the end. The action sequences were good and the world is still excellent, but I’m not sure if I could recommend the series to others now, knowing that it doesn’t bring the narrative strongly right through to the end.
This series is all about spending time in the fantastic world, but I would have liked more story to go with it.
August 27, 2011
WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT, especially for a finale. Honestly, I skimmed probably half of the book because it was filled with descriptive fluff. I was so excited by the ending of the last book when Europe takes on Rossamund as her factotum and the thought of an entire book about that had me impatiently waiting for it to be published. Instead, and here is what I believe to be the real crux of the matter, I just found myself really disliking Rossamund. And then I realized, I’ve never really liked him. He’s just too dumb and naïve for me. So a whole book about his ditherings on whether he is an actual monster or not, without any real definitive heart-wrenching conclusion was a complete let-down. (Did I miss some deeper political message? And if so, good, I hate those.) To tell you the truth, I only kept reading because when I was hastily flipping through the book-long addendum at the back I thought I saw something that indicated that Europe herself was a monster and I was awaiting that big announcement. Nope. But oh how badly this book needed something like that. I guess I can be glad that this was a trilogy, so I don’t need to keep spending time reading a series that has been stringing me along for far too long. If, and only if, you absolutely are in love with this series, do I recommend this for you. If you’re only interested in it enough to finish the trilogy, then: Rossamund is a monster. He has supernatural monster strength. He makes the best treacle Europe has ever had. He gets fatally injured several times without dying or even realizing it because of his amazing monster body. Europe is jealous. He decides he will be safer if he leaves Europe’s side and ventures off into the great monster unknown. The End. There, now you don’t have to read it. You know everything there is to know about this book. No need to thank me for the agonizing hours I just saved you. I consider it my calling.
Find out how it all began here: Foundling
Find out how it all began here: Foundling
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2010
D.M. Cornish has created something truly special in the Half-Continent and its characters. In the current blitz of largely indistinguishable YA Fantasy, the Monster Blood Tattoo books truly stand apart. At times the the three volume series reads like a relic of a bygone era, with Cornish's lush prose full to bursting with obscure and archaic words and his pacing decidedly old-fashioned. Hardly handicaps, Cornish's language and attention to detail make the pages come alive. A simple day at the seashore becomes magical in his hands. When action and violence do come to the forefront, it fresh and, paradoxically, seasoned and "real," just as Star Wars must have seemed when it debuted. Swords and potions, pistols and powers granted (at great bodily cost) through black-market surgery -- it's Masterpiece Theater with monsters. And oh, those words -- his sentences sing!
This third and final volume of the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy (renamed in NA to "The Foundling's Tale" as of this volume) picks up immediately after the events of Lamplighter, with Rossamund becoming Factotum to the "teratologist" (monster hunter) Europe. Secrets abound, many new monsters (urchins and wretchins both) appear, and the monstrous machinations of men come to the fore. No point in spoiling any details. If you've started the journey, you know whether or not you want to see it through. If you're on the fence, the journey is absolutely worth it.
The aristocrat-turned-monster-hunter Europe has been a favorite character for me and many other readers since her appearance in Foundling. With the Branden Rose taking the spotlight in this volume like never before, Europe cements her legacy as one of fantasy literature's greatest treasures. Not since the wizard Howl have I been so captivated by a larger-than-life fantasy figure.
It was with some sadness that I closed the final volume of Rossamund's tale, but I'm heartened to know that Cornish will be writing more novels in this world. I can't wait to see where in the Half-Continent he'll take us next!
This third and final volume of the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy (renamed in NA to "The Foundling's Tale" as of this volume) picks up immediately after the events of Lamplighter, with Rossamund becoming Factotum to the "teratologist" (monster hunter) Europe. Secrets abound, many new monsters (urchins and wretchins both) appear, and the monstrous machinations of men come to the fore. No point in spoiling any details. If you've started the journey, you know whether or not you want to see it through. If you're on the fence, the journey is absolutely worth it.
The aristocrat-turned-monster-hunter Europe has been a favorite character for me and many other readers since her appearance in Foundling. With the Branden Rose taking the spotlight in this volume like never before, Europe cements her legacy as one of fantasy literature's greatest treasures. Not since the wizard Howl have I been so captivated by a larger-than-life fantasy figure.
It was with some sadness that I closed the final volume of Rossamund's tale, but I'm heartened to know that Cornish will be writing more novels in this world. I can't wait to see where in the Half-Continent he'll take us next!
June 9, 2012
I really fully enjoyed the entire Foundling's Tale trilogy immensely. Kicking off with Monster Blood Tattoo and Lamplighter which were all four star books the series ends with a book better than the other two in my opinion. The positive aspects of the earlier books were still present and were in my opinion enhanced by even finer storytelling. The writing was superb for YA fiction certainly - it had depth and was also emotionally endearing. You could feel for and understand the characters. This is definitely the way a trilogy should conclude: leaving its readers wanting more of its world.
Rossamünd Bookchild is a highly sympathetic protagonist. I really could associate with the idea of him being a child in the world of monsters and men created by D. M. Cornish. This is a world that is half-familiar, like reading a dream about our present reality. A dream set in a world reminiscent of Victorian London yet a Victorian London with monsters and a sea of acid covering most of the world.
Each book had wonderful images, each book had wonderful characters. Europe is perhaps my favourite apart from Rossamünd. I will say nothing about her other than that she has unique abilities and knows how to fight the nickers and boggles she faces.
I won't tell you what happens to Rossamünd but I will say that some interesting revelations are made about him in this book which tie everything together. I would love to read more novels from D.M Cornish but it seems I will have to wait in the meantime and content myself with other authors. This was a fascinating series that had an enthralling world and I shall miss it for the meantime. Hopefully one day we can all return to its intriguing depths.
Rossamünd Bookchild is a highly sympathetic protagonist. I really could associate with the idea of him being a child in the world of monsters and men created by D. M. Cornish. This is a world that is half-familiar, like reading a dream about our present reality. A dream set in a world reminiscent of Victorian London yet a Victorian London with monsters and a sea of acid covering most of the world.
Each book had wonderful images, each book had wonderful characters. Europe is perhaps my favourite apart from Rossamünd. I will say nothing about her other than that she has unique abilities and knows how to fight the nickers and boggles she faces.
I won't tell you what happens to Rossamünd but I will say that some interesting revelations are made about him in this book which tie everything together. I would love to read more novels from D.M Cornish but it seems I will have to wait in the meantime and content myself with other authors. This was a fascinating series that had an enthralling world and I shall miss it for the meantime. Hopefully one day we can all return to its intriguing depths.
April 19, 2022
Vote: 3,75
Class: L-A3
(third and final book of the Monster Blood Tattoo Trilogy)
I've enjoyed this others two books and I had great expectations for this last: I was not disappointed but I was expecting more in terms of the plot (the ending is not really a resolution of the story) and of characters growth (Rossamund and Europa certainly come to terms with their own interior struggle but they leave us too soon and too fast after that).
The magical world (3,75) is very well built and the author has spent great effort in building it and giving it life: a medieval magic world in which men and monsters live and struggle to survive. Sometimes the author seems too complacent with his creation, like when he keeps describing cities and landscapes you only encounter once and for little time.
The characters (4,00) are great: they grow more complete and complex as you know them and as they know themselves and the world around them. Only thing is that I was expecting more action from them, more world changing deeds.
The story (3,50) begins too slow, then becomes more intriguing and there are parts when you can't stop reading. The ending was not totally to my satisfaction.
The writing style (4,00) is very good and easy but also rich and entertaining.
All in all I've enjoyed this series but I really hoped it could be the Harry Potter successor and it is not.
Class: L-A3
(third and final book of the Monster Blood Tattoo Trilogy)
I've enjoyed this others two books and I had great expectations for this last: I was not disappointed but I was expecting more in terms of the plot (the ending is not really a resolution of the story) and of characters growth (Rossamund and Europa certainly come to terms with their own interior struggle but they leave us too soon and too fast after that).
The magical world (3,75) is very well built and the author has spent great effort in building it and giving it life: a medieval magic world in which men and monsters live and struggle to survive. Sometimes the author seems too complacent with his creation, like when he keeps describing cities and landscapes you only encounter once and for little time.
The characters (4,00) are great: they grow more complete and complex as you know them and as they know themselves and the world around them. Only thing is that I was expecting more action from them, more world changing deeds.
The story (3,50) begins too slow, then becomes more intriguing and there are parts when you can't stop reading. The ending was not totally to my satisfaction.
The writing style (4,00) is very good and easy but also rich and entertaining.
All in all I've enjoyed this series but I really hoped it could be the Harry Potter successor and it is not.
June 28, 2019
It's been a long time since I read the first two books, but I didn't think this last entry was nearly as good. Rossamund's true nature is finally revealed, but despite all of the hints he never really does anything for his world with his unique abilities and perspective. Maybe that's understandable, but it doesn't make for a very good story. I still enjoyed the worldbuilding though.
December 27, 2016
Really great book. Seriously enjoyed this book. Started getting sad at the end to think it was ending, didn't want it to. It's one of those you want to continue. Never enough.
The ending left me a bit...unsatisfied? Is there another book coming? I feel there should be another. Who's with me? :-)
The ending left me a bit...unsatisfied? Is there another book coming? I feel there should be another. Who's with me? :-)
December 15, 2019
Ah, what an ending...
The third volume of the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy is a bit of a different animal to the two preceding ones. The story is much darker and it has a different sense of pacing. While the first two books had a clear end point, this one meanders a bit more and relies a little too heavily at times on characters telling Rossamünd what happened outside of his view. At times it did drag a little but the writing is always good. I definitely missed Threnody though.
There were several more clear elements of Christian-inspired themes in this one than the other books as well, but I still thought Cornish did a good job balancing moral and storytelling. I have been known to drop series before when I felt they got too Christian... Though interestingly there were some hints of eldritch horror themes that could totally have been played out. It was pretty cool to see them work in tandem to be perfectly honest.
The illustrations, of course, are to absolute perfection. They're amazing and gorgeous and I would frame them on my walls if he sold prints.
I'm just a huge fan of this series. It took me a long time to make it to the end but I'm so glad I did.
(Also Frans and Pin are otp, gay dads for the win. I know it's not officially canon, but come on it. It's right there.)
The third volume of the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy is a bit of a different animal to the two preceding ones. The story is much darker and it has a different sense of pacing. While the first two books had a clear end point, this one meanders a bit more and relies a little too heavily at times on characters telling Rossamünd what happened outside of his view. At times it did drag a little but the writing is always good. I definitely missed Threnody though.
There were several more clear elements of Christian-inspired themes in this one than the other books as well, but I still thought Cornish did a good job balancing moral and storytelling. I have been known to drop series before when I felt they got too Christian... Though interestingly there were some hints of eldritch horror themes that could totally have been played out. It was pretty cool to see them work in tandem to be perfectly honest.
The illustrations, of course, are to absolute perfection. They're amazing and gorgeous and I would frame them on my walls if he sold prints.
I'm just a huge fan of this series. It took me a long time to make it to the end but I'm so glad I did.
(Also Frans and Pin are otp, gay dads for the win. I know it's not officially canon, but come on it. It's right there.)
April 22, 2019
And finally, yet still too briefly, the conclusion. The world is getting more and more dangerous for Rossamünd - how is he going to make it? There are still things I would have liked to have seen happen in this book that didn't - there are characters from earlier books who I expected to return, who felt significant enough to bring back and provide a resolution to their story, and their absence feels like a loose end in the trilogy. And the climax of the story feels the teeniest, weeniest bit not climaxy enough. But all that aside, Cornish continues to build upon the excellent foundation of the earlier books, giving us complex characters in a unique and well-realized world, while using diction very creatively and inventing new words on almost every page. Despite my little disclaimers above, I think he managed to make each book better than the one before, which can be hard to achieve at any time and especially so when the first offering is as strong as Foundling was.
As YA fantasy written by this generation goes, I think this is top-shelf stuff. Why it isn't better known I can't understand.
As YA fantasy written by this generation goes, I think this is top-shelf stuff. Why it isn't better known I can't understand.
January 29, 2021
I find myself very disappointed to have already reached the end of this series. I was worried that this book wouldn't really wrap things up satisfactorily (and I'm still left with the feeling that there could have been many, MANY more books in the series), but the conclusion was a gratifying, albeit rather somber, one.
Cornish has a rare gift for world building and I'm sad to be leaving the half continent so soon.
Cornish has a rare gift for world building and I'm sad to be leaving the half continent so soon.
December 31, 2020
One of the biggest disappointments in the end of a trilogy, I sadly admit. This series, however so original, engaging, and fresh at the start, lost traction midway through book #2, and it was such a struggle to finish #3 I wound up skimming the pages as the quality was no longer there.
The story wasn’t there anymore; the focus on the politics and friendships/enemies guaranteed by wealth (or lack thereof) & one’s birth essentially devoured the plot. No achievements were made, no characters made appearances again, the world remained static & ticking on without progression for good or evil.
I do strongly agree with everything other fans who felt let down by how this series ended. Initially, in the first book, what became one of the top 3 faults was the constant & very heavy, superfluous descriptions of clothing & random lore of the world that became filler. If removed, all 3 books would be very short; the bigger concern was the lack of plot, first recognised at the aforementioned same place. The pacing was slow, the story shallow. Be prepared to read what essentially mounted to be a tourist’s guidebook in spending coin & enjoying the sights of the city.
Nothing much happens. Most of the writing is dedicated to repetitive, annoying, and boring descriptions of the characters’ clothing, food, influencers’ presence, and how to travel from one end of the city to the other. How much items and taxi fares cost, how important it was to converse or not with your peers, careers, how starkly split the society was between rich & poor.
It became ludicrous, and led to the main reason to skipping pages. Each scene begins with long descriptions detailing each character (old and new)’s costume or uniform, with a lot of emphasis on their hats – going so far as hatless characters made out as absurdly scandalous villains by their fellows: the other cast interrupting conversations or disrupting moods or crisis’s with affronted tantrums and how insulting it is to not wear one’s hat in front of another human – it never amounted to anything helpful or important to the story or character development at all. It was dreary.
Established characters’, alive or now dead, from the first 2 books, are missing. Characters do keep gossiping and stirring up discussions on their importance to the world personally or as a general pillar of society - but at every turn of Rossamund’s enquiries or investigations (usually put forth as a lazy ‘Why?’ and a frown, then his quest dismissed as too hard to pursue further & his stubbornness to remain ignorant infuriating at its worst) - All that prose wasn’t explored or explained well; it gave the impression as another bulky filler to patch in the stagnancy between dialogue, inner monologue, and said descriptions. The few action segments were stale and quickly resolved with little impact on the plot.
There are indeed many characters brought in and then quickly written out. Dead, those weere the most interesting; alive, actually irritating and unlikeable. Especially Rossamund, Threnody, & Europe. The former good cast were handled at their fateful end as hollow props set up to be useful and as quickly discarded when they ran their course, never brought back later to press their own agendas or influence much of anything if they were surviving individuals.
Rossamund himself is honestly an annoying hero; very naïve, dumb, gullible, protected conveniently by plot armour & gratuitous suspension of disbelief, and despite his inability to die because of the too heavy-handed ‘he is just THAT strong, guys’ trope - he is always found the centre of attention and heralded as ‘the hero we needed **despite not really committing any special deeds or ‘fighting evil’ with success.
The ending was the final nail, It’s a perfect, literal example here, ‘the now outlawed-golden child & his equally criminal fugitives ride off into the sunset’. The story came to its conclusion in a paragraph. Europe went one way, to heal & hide for a while after the shortlived final battle; Rossamund walked off into the wilderness to presumably live as a hermit.
Recommended to stick to the first book; the second held some entertaining and engaging chapters like its predecessor, but towards the end of #2 the quality wasn’t subtle, and it’s downward spiral escalated from the beginning of this final achapter in Rossamund’s saga.
You’re left feeling cheated.
The story wasn’t there anymore; the focus on the politics and friendships/enemies guaranteed by wealth (or lack thereof) & one’s birth essentially devoured the plot. No achievements were made, no characters made appearances again, the world remained static & ticking on without progression for good or evil.
I do strongly agree with everything other fans who felt let down by how this series ended. Initially, in the first book, what became one of the top 3 faults was the constant & very heavy, superfluous descriptions of clothing & random lore of the world that became filler. If removed, all 3 books would be very short; the bigger concern was the lack of plot, first recognised at the aforementioned same place. The pacing was slow, the story shallow. Be prepared to read what essentially mounted to be a tourist’s guidebook in spending coin & enjoying the sights of the city.
Nothing much happens. Most of the writing is dedicated to repetitive, annoying, and boring descriptions of the characters’ clothing, food, influencers’ presence, and how to travel from one end of the city to the other. How much items and taxi fares cost, how important it was to converse or not with your peers, careers, how starkly split the society was between rich & poor.
It became ludicrous, and led to the main reason to skipping pages. Each scene begins with long descriptions detailing each character (old and new)’s costume or uniform, with a lot of emphasis on their hats – going so far as hatless characters made out as absurdly scandalous villains by their fellows: the other cast interrupting conversations or disrupting moods or crisis’s with affronted tantrums and how insulting it is to not wear one’s hat in front of another human – it never amounted to anything helpful or important to the story or character development at all. It was dreary.
Established characters’, alive or now dead, from the first 2 books, are missing. Characters do keep gossiping and stirring up discussions on their importance to the world personally or as a general pillar of society - but at every turn of Rossamund’s enquiries or investigations (usually put forth as a lazy ‘Why?’ and a frown, then his quest dismissed as too hard to pursue further & his stubbornness to remain ignorant infuriating at its worst) - All that prose wasn’t explored or explained well; it gave the impression as another bulky filler to patch in the stagnancy between dialogue, inner monologue, and said descriptions. The few action segments were stale and quickly resolved with little impact on the plot.
There are indeed many characters brought in and then quickly written out. Dead, those weere the most interesting; alive, actually irritating and unlikeable. Especially Rossamund, Threnody, & Europe. The former good cast were handled at their fateful end as hollow props set up to be useful and as quickly discarded when they ran their course, never brought back later to press their own agendas or influence much of anything if they were surviving individuals.
Rossamund himself is honestly an annoying hero; very naïve, dumb, gullible, protected conveniently by plot armour & gratuitous suspension of disbelief, and despite his inability to die because of the too heavy-handed ‘he is just THAT strong, guys’ trope - he is always found the centre of attention and heralded as ‘the hero we needed **despite not really committing any special deeds or ‘fighting evil’ with success.
The ending was the final nail, It’s a perfect, literal example here, ‘the now outlawed-golden child & his equally criminal fugitives ride off into the sunset’. The story came to its conclusion in a paragraph. Europe went one way, to heal & hide for a while after the shortlived final battle; Rossamund walked off into the wilderness to presumably live as a hermit.
Recommended to stick to the first book; the second held some entertaining and engaging chapters like its predecessor, but towards the end of #2 the quality wasn’t subtle, and it’s downward spiral escalated from the beginning of this final achapter in Rossamund’s saga.
You’re left feeling cheated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2011
I was a little worried when I started this book - it didn't grab me right away like the previous two books of the trilogy - but I needn't of worried. I found this book - the finale - a fitting end. As always, it's wonderfully illustrated and has a fantastic glossary at the end of the book for those just in case moments where you just need to know. I would have like a more detailed map of the city ....but that's me being pouty as the other books had some great detailed maps where all the actions were taking place.
I have to admit that I thought this book was a little more 'preachy' than the others. I don't think it was on purpose and that may have been my personal take on it. It may never have been intended. I may just have been more sensitive to it than it warranted. And there were times I felt like he was really pushing his descriptions - too flowery or detailed or something. Too much or too fancy. But then again, that may have been me. I did like how it carried the story from the previous book and resolved it's theme in this one. (There's nothing worse than not feeling like anything is finished). It actually left me feeling that I'd like to read more of the characters and follow more of their exploits. Very satisfying.
I have to admit that I thought this book was a little more 'preachy' than the others. I don't think it was on purpose and that may have been my personal take on it. It may never have been intended. I may just have been more sensitive to it than it warranted. And there were times I felt like he was really pushing his descriptions - too flowery or detailed or something. Too much or too fancy. But then again, that may have been me. I did like how it carried the story from the previous book and resolved it's theme in this one. (There's nothing worse than not feeling like anything is finished). It actually left me feeling that I'd like to read more of the characters and follow more of their exploits. Very satisfying.
January 23, 2014
This is the third in the series and it ties the story up...in a way. I liked these. There is a continuing subtext in the series that I'm relatively sure most older readers will have been and be aware of.
It may be of course that younger readers won't pick up on it right away, but here it's brought to the fore and pretty heavily "outlined".
As for young readers, there are some parts that may not be appropriate for some...I give my usual recommendation. Read the book first yourself and decide if your "youth" is mature enough for the book.
We have followed our young hero throughout the series and we've slowly learned about him who he is . Now as the story winds up we get a fairly long and at times an even slow set up. When we do get to the climax things pickup and charge ahead.
I'm not sure how each reader will like the end of the book and the series. I'm not even sure if it was ended this way .
So, good book, good series...fair ending. Recommended.
It may be of course that younger readers won't pick up on it right away, but here it's brought to the fore and pretty heavily "outlined".
As for young readers, there are some parts that may not be appropriate for some...I give my usual recommendation. Read the book first yourself and decide if your "youth" is mature enough for the book.
We have followed our young hero throughout the series and we've slowly learned about him who he is . Now as the story winds up we get a fairly long and at times an even slow set up. When we do get to the climax things pickup and charge ahead.
I'm not sure how each reader will like the end of the book and the series. I'm not even sure if it was ended this way .
So, good book, good series...fair ending. Recommended.
January 28, 2011
Third book in the Foundling’s Tale/Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy. I’m constantly amazed at the breadth of vision in these books. I felt like I could reach out and touch the Half-Continent. I found myself thinking a lot about influences with this one. In some ways it felt very European–the whole baroqueness of it–and in others it’s not at all what I’d expect from a European based fantasy.* I suppose this could be related to the fact that Cornish is Australian. I did find myself a bit sad at the end, but it was the kind of sadness that felt right, and I can’t quite imagine another possible ending. I do hope we get more stories from the Half-Continent though.
* By this I’m referring more to setting than to nationality of author.
* By this I’m referring more to setting than to nationality of author.
July 28, 2015
While I have read each book of this trilogy individually, I rate the series in its entirety at 5 stars. Written for a more mature audience than Harry Potter, these fantasy novels by D.M. Cornish should become the gold standard by which any fantasy writer compares their world-building skills.
Best read together, Cornish makes no effort to remind you of what terminology or plot threads occurred in previous books, so it behooves the reader to take these in together in sequence. That said, I found the story and legends compelling, uniquely original yet oddly familiar.
Anyone who is a fan of legends, folklore, or monster tales would delight in the universe Cornish has created to tell the story of a strange foundling.
Best read together, Cornish makes no effort to remind you of what terminology or plot threads occurred in previous books, so it behooves the reader to take these in together in sequence. That said, I found the story and legends compelling, uniquely original yet oddly familiar.
Anyone who is a fan of legends, folklore, or monster tales would delight in the universe Cornish has created to tell the story of a strange foundling.
February 16, 2015
I just love this series and especially this book! Definitely the best of the three. I miss Rossumund all over again.
Time for the reread!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So sad it is over! I will really miss these characters. But good job D.M Cornish on an excellent trilogy! I hope you write more stories placed in this world: it's fascinating.
Time for the reread!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So sad it is over! I will really miss these characters. But good job D.M Cornish on an excellent trilogy! I hope you write more stories placed in this world: it's fascinating.
February 20, 2011
In book three of the this series, Rossumund is now working as a factotum for the famous monster slayer, Europe. They return to her home but danger follows. This book has Europe and Rossumund caught up in rumours, political intrigue, new friends and old and of course more monster hunting.
An exciting and satisfying ending to the series.
An exciting and satisfying ending to the series.
December 2, 2010
Lovely, lovely story. I hope Mr. Cornish decides to pick this story up again. But then, maybe that will mess up the vibe of these three books. More is not always more. Bravo to the Monster Blood Tattoo series!
October 14, 2021
That's it? Every single character from the series summarily abandoned. Every ending a non-ending. Why did you bother writing this in the first place if you had no intention of finishing it? After sticking it out for over 1500 pages, I'm sorry I started it.
December 3, 2021
I don't like unanswered questions. I feel like I was led to believe certain gaps would be closed by the way the author would revisit them periodically. Instead, however, I found several rabbit trails that led nowhere. I still do not know why Licurious was such a well-loved factotum despite being so evil. I felt like the author ran the risk of it making Europe look like a poor judge of character, which could play itself out by casting doubt on Rossamund. Yes, her perspective on monsters does change, so one could argue the point that her perspective on Licurious could also change, but Cornish does not close this gap. We are left to wonder. And what about the master of clerks?? Is he dead or not? "Probably dead" is not good enough in a story that has come to a close. And no more of Sebastipole?? I longed for this noble man to come to know Rossamund fully and still care for him as Dr. Crispus had, but we will never know. Then there was the storyline of Rossamund's foundlingery opponent... I thought for sure his theft of the documents when he set the fire would lead to him continuing to be a thorn in Rossamund's side, but no. Another rabbit trail.
While I am on the subject of "cons", I found some aspects of this story too juvenile for a YA novel. It is a long, complicated come-of-age story of identity, belonging, loyalty, prejudice, character growth, and justice told with too much world-building and other description for middle-graders. However, we have monster lords who have unheard of power and reach of reign, yet they are in the form of regular, everyday harmless animals well known in our world. The MANY other monster species Cornish creates are all completely unknown creatures, yet the 2 monster lords we meet, or at least hear of, are an over grown rabbit and sparrow, respectively. I would not have gone in that direction, personally. That, along with boxes on faces, seemed a bit "young".
However, I did give it 3 stars, so I did like this book and series a lot, although it took me a while to get acclimated. Rossamund is an orphan, but is dearly loved by his care-givers and that love has a profound effect on his life. Despite some initial insecurities, missteps, and naivety upon first being sent out on his own, he is a caring, moral, self-controlled, and level-headed young man who has a mind of his own, just as Master Fransitart taught him. He is sent into the world (way too early!) not knowing his "disturbing" origin as dear Master Fransitart cannot decide what is better: for him to know and live terrified of discovery or not know, possibly be discovered, and then be shocked by it. I do think the author could have given more time to Rossamund's emotional response of finding out about his monster origin, but we do see his denial, fear, and, finally, acceptance of it. Rossamund is a likeable character any mother would connect with and want to take under wing. (At least this mother did!)
Europe, the quintessential monster fighter is the one who has the most character growth of the series. She goes from hating all monsters and assassinating them for pay, to not only accepting Rossamund for who he is, but going to great trouble to try and make the world a safer place for him. (My favorite scene in the series is Europe stepping in to halt the trial against him knowing his accusers to be self-serving and Rossamund to be worthy of her protection.) I came to appreciate Europe, but her lack of communication of her feelings for Rossamund kept me from loving her. I think she could have been portrayed a bit more softly at times by the author without losing her "edge". Truly, I often had to assume her feelings for Rossamund because of the feelings she expressed for Licurious when he was killed. (If she could feel that way about him, then surely she cared for Rossamund more than she let on.)
I loved that Rossamund had loving people to care for him as he grew up in the orphanage. It isn't the way these types of stories are usually written, but it was refreshing and so perfect for this story. Rossamund needed their support so much, and I was so pleased to see 2 of them welcomed back to the story.
I don't love how the book ends. I knew it was a possibility for him to leave and live under the sparrow lord's domain, but I really wish he could have stayed among the people who loved him. Europe went to a lot of trouble and took great risk for.... nothing? Rossamund has to leave anyway... leave her, Masters Fransitart and Craumpalin, Verline, and others who loved and supported him. It just seemed wrong to me. The sparrow lord had been looking out for him all his life, but it very much seemed Rossamund belonged among people. I get that another ending might have been unrealistic as there were too many people who would still hear the rumors and be against him. Not to mention the fact that he would have long outlived all of the people he cared for, so would probably have ended up with the sparrow lord anyway in the end. But, nevertheless, I was sad at the end, not happy, with how things turned out.
For all the things I did not love about this trilogy, I was certainly touched by it. Rossamund and Europe make a great story together.
While I am on the subject of "cons", I found some aspects of this story too juvenile for a YA novel. It is a long, complicated come-of-age story of identity, belonging, loyalty, prejudice, character growth, and justice told with too much world-building and other description for middle-graders. However, we have monster lords who have unheard of power and reach of reign, yet they are in the form of regular, everyday harmless animals well known in our world. The MANY other monster species Cornish creates are all completely unknown creatures, yet the 2 monster lords we meet, or at least hear of, are an over grown rabbit and sparrow, respectively. I would not have gone in that direction, personally. That, along with boxes on faces, seemed a bit "young".
However, I did give it 3 stars, so I did like this book and series a lot, although it took me a while to get acclimated. Rossamund is an orphan, but is dearly loved by his care-givers and that love has a profound effect on his life. Despite some initial insecurities, missteps, and naivety upon first being sent out on his own, he is a caring, moral, self-controlled, and level-headed young man who has a mind of his own, just as Master Fransitart taught him. He is sent into the world (way too early!) not knowing his "disturbing" origin as dear Master Fransitart cannot decide what is better: for him to know and live terrified of discovery or not know, possibly be discovered, and then be shocked by it. I do think the author could have given more time to Rossamund's emotional response of finding out about his monster origin, but we do see his denial, fear, and, finally, acceptance of it. Rossamund is a likeable character any mother would connect with and want to take under wing. (At least this mother did!)
Europe, the quintessential monster fighter is the one who has the most character growth of the series. She goes from hating all monsters and assassinating them for pay, to not only accepting Rossamund for who he is, but going to great trouble to try and make the world a safer place for him. (My favorite scene in the series is Europe stepping in to halt the trial against him knowing his accusers to be self-serving and Rossamund to be worthy of her protection.) I came to appreciate Europe, but her lack of communication of her feelings for Rossamund kept me from loving her. I think she could have been portrayed a bit more softly at times by the author without losing her "edge". Truly, I often had to assume her feelings for Rossamund because of the feelings she expressed for Licurious when he was killed. (If she could feel that way about him, then surely she cared for Rossamund more than she let on.)
I loved that Rossamund had loving people to care for him as he grew up in the orphanage. It isn't the way these types of stories are usually written, but it was refreshing and so perfect for this story. Rossamund needed their support so much, and I was so pleased to see 2 of them welcomed back to the story.
I don't love how the book ends. I knew it was a possibility for him to leave and live under the sparrow lord's domain, but I really wish he could have stayed among the people who loved him. Europe went to a lot of trouble and took great risk for.... nothing? Rossamund has to leave anyway... leave her, Masters Fransitart and Craumpalin, Verline, and others who loved and supported him. It just seemed wrong to me. The sparrow lord had been looking out for him all his life, but it very much seemed Rossamund belonged among people. I get that another ending might have been unrealistic as there were too many people who would still hear the rumors and be against him. Not to mention the fact that he would have long outlived all of the people he cared for, so would probably have ended up with the sparrow lord anyway in the end. But, nevertheless, I was sad at the end, not happy, with how things turned out.
For all the things I did not love about this trilogy, I was certainly touched by it. Rossamund and Europe make a great story together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2020
I loved this series! I've spent a lot of time trying to buy book 3 1/2 the tales from the Half-Continent. It's so rare I haven't been able to buy it even from major sellers in Australia.
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