#Bookreview – Thomas the Rhymer by Paul Andruss

Thomas the Rhymer (Jack Hughes Trilogy Book 1) by [Andruss, Paul]

What Amazon says

When Fairy Queen Sylvie snatches his brother, schoolboy Jack is plunged into a sinister fantasy world of illusion and deception – the realm of telepathic fairies ruled by spoilt, arrogant fairy queens.

Haunted by nightmares about his brother and pursued by a mysterious tramp (only seen by Jack and his friends) Jack fears he too will be stolen away.

The tramp is Thomas the Rhymer, who only speaks in rhyme. Lost and frightened Thomas needs Jack’s help to find his way home.

The race is on for Jack and his friends to save Thomas from the wicked Agnes Day (who wants to treat Thomas like a lab rat). And save Jack’s brother from Sylvie.
To do this they need the help of Bess – the most ancient powerful fairy queen in the land.
But there is a problem…
No one knows where Bess is… or even if she is still lives.
And even if they find her… will she let them go?

My review

Just about the worst thing that can happen to any family is the disappearance of a child. This is exactly what happens in Jack’s family and, worse still, Jack is a witness to his older brother’s sudden and troubling disappearance.

The facts of the disappearance are very peculiar and, subsequent to his disappearance, Jack receives strange telephone calls from his brother, Dan, on his cell phone. When he answers, Dan says nothing and the line goes dead. Jack finds himself unable to tell anyone about what his saw that day, as soon as he tries he starts to choke and can’t utter a word. Then a strange tramp appears who speaks only in rhymes. The tramp, whom only Jack can see, seems to be able to pass through walls and disappear at will. All of this is against a background of stress at home due to Jack’s mother suffering from a chronic illness.

Jack finds himself embroiled in the magical kingdom of the fairies and soon discovers that their failing world is tinged with evil. Jack and his friends experience an array of mystical and strange happenings including travelling by fairy ley lines and disappearing into a living tapestry.

Author Paul Andruss has an expert knowledge of mythical creatures and the world of the fairies which he shares with the reader using the most beautiful and expressive language. He pulls you into this fairy world, which exists in parallel to our own and which is fraught with difficulties due to human technology and progress. This book also shares valuable lessons about everything not being as it appears to be and the value of strong friendships.

Who is the strange tramp and what does he want from Jack? Can he help Jack to find his brother and bring him back before it is too late?

A few beautiful quotes from this book are as follows:

“Beautiful,” she signed, mesmerized by the shifting hues washing over the weave like skeins of mist.”

“Drifts of heady perfume left Jack heavy-eyed, yet giddy with recklessness.”

“The tramp was back on Mr Gibson’s wall. All he could think about was the poem. Yesterday upon the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there… He wasn’t there again today… I wish that man would GO AWAY!”

This book is suitable for readers aged from 11 years and older. Adult readers will also appreciate the delightful prose, beautiful imagery and clever story line.

Another recent review

Sally Cronin rated this book five out of five stars and said:

“I received a copy of Thomas the Rhymer from the author in exchange for an honest review.

After 60 odd years of reading it is easy to get into bad habits. By this I mean sticking to the tried and tested with regard to genres and authors. This is not healthy when you are a writer yourself, as I have discovered when reading Thomas the Rhymer by Paul Andruss.

I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K Rowling when it was released. Whilst I enjoyed it as a children’s story, I really did not find myself engaged or inspired to read the other seven books or watch the movies. I felt excluded from the millions who did and usually keep my silence in the face of fans.

However, Thomas the Rhymer had me hooked from page one and continued to keep me engaged the entire 319 pages.

This is an ensemble piece with a cast of characters that would be happy in starring roles in Alice in Wonderland or any Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. Jack Hughes, Ken, Catherine and the delightful Rosie, along with Thomas with his foot in this world and that of the Fairies; draw you into their inner circle and hold you fast.”

Purchase Thomas the Rhymer

You can purchase Thomas the Rhymer through Paul Andruss’ site here: http://www.jackhughesbooks.com/amazon-links.php

Or on Amazon here:

Follow Paul Andruss on social media here:

Blog: http://www.paul-andruss.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/paul.andruss.9
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Paul_JHBooks
Google+  https://plus.google.com/s/+jackhughesbooks

***

Purchase the Sir Chocolate books and Silly Willy Goes to Cape Town from:
https://www.amazon.com/author/robbiecheadle
OR
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Published by robbiesinspiration

Robbie and Michael Cheadle are co-authors of the Sir Chocolate series of books. We both like to write and bake.

63 thoughts on “#Bookreview – Thomas the Rhymer by Paul Andruss”

      1. Brigid and Robbie. I am absolutely delighted by both your reviews. A year ago I never thought people would read it, never mind like it so much as to want to review it. It is humbling.

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  2. Robbie, this is a wonderful review and one that captures the magic of the book, I feel! 😀I also had to smile at Sally’s revelation and one secrect I’ve also kept all these years – I could only finish J K Rowlings’ first book but not the others and imagined there was somehting​ wrong with!!😀😃 Paul’s book does intrigue me.

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      3. I have read all of the Harry Potter books. The first three were more for children, the fourth was excellent, I didn’t enjoy the fifth, loved the sixth and only read parts of the seventh. Paul’s writing is very different to JK Rowling so I wouldn’t actually compare these books at all. Paul’s writing is much more sophisticated. Reading this book was like listening to a great musical composition, it starts off slowly, builds to a wonderful crescendo and then gently sets you back down again.

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    3. I only got through two Annika! While it is nice to be compared to Rowling as it get the idea in new reader’s heads. I much prefere what both Robbie and Sally said about my work and stated away from the comparison. Although as every writer will admit it would certainly be nice to have even a fraction of JK’s popularity.

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      2. Thank you for that Robbie I did not know. All I knew about Rowling’s books was the official story: sent it to an agent or publisher who let their grandkids/kids read Chapter 1 & they loved it so much they decided to publish. But what you say makes perfect sense… whenever you look behind myths of famous people or success stories- they are generally made up for publicity. Normally you find the latest sensation has a powerful mum or dad in the business or is even married to the publisher!

        And I don’t want to pick you on this Robbie & Shey but ‘it does appeal to a more sophisticated audience’
        YOU LOT… Now come on!!!!!
        (to which the answer is… You cheeky *#*#*!*#!!)

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    2. Dear Shey and Robbie.Thank you for what you have said. I don’t want to come over all Uriah Heep, ever so mumble. but to be honest when I read this from writers I have got the deepest professional respect for… I truly don’t know what to say. I am not flattered because I know you are not saying this to flatter me and it is what you think and I feel like WOW… and believe me WOW is like the best it gets…. how can someone who writes be so appalling at expressing their emotions?

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  6. Dear Robbie, this was so unexpected. I cannot thank you enough for the beautifully sensitive review. You are right the book is about many things of which some times I think the magic is the least of them.
    I always felt it was about family; fear of loss and change; the courage to face the future and be more than you are, which I suppose is what growing up is all about. (And it’s not just for kids either. There are still times I wish it would all stand still and I didn’t have to look over the horizon.)
    You picked up on all of this as you always do with great insight and compassion combining your gifts as an artist and a mother with your sharp analytical mind and innate ability to use language in all its subtly.
    I know it really isn’t enough, but I can only thank you for this gift. Px

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      1. Dear Robbie, you conveyed what you saw in my work in a way that was more profound and beautiful than I ever dared to hope. I am so overwhelmed by the reaction of those who read it and that they took time out of their hectic schedules to put their feelings into such sensitive and thoughtfully constructed reviews. I am very lucky. I love your review so much. Thank you.

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    2. Thank you Tina: that is a great added dimension and one I never really thought of! Although I wanted it to be child appropriate: I never really considered the parent angle. But obviously they are the ones you should be wanting to win the approval of. If I was a parent I would certainly not want my kids reading stuff I did not find wholesome! Childhood is too precious and these days far too short!

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  9. Dear Robbie I have left a note on the contact page. Thank you for all the kind words everyone. Robbie has more than done me proud with her wonderful review and I feel I want I hide away for a little bit and blush until I am blushed out. I will drop everyone a line tomorrow- when the red has died down. All my best Paul.

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    2. Hello Baoop, although I certainly do have a vested interest, I thought it was an extraordinarily sensitive and astute review. And Couldn’t be happier! The Gal did me proud!

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Apologies Balroop- I am having problems with my keys sticking on the keyboard… and sometime I get a bit trigger happy before reading back the whole comment (not being much of a typist!)

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Wonderful review, Robbie. I also adored this book, but haven’t found the time to review it — yet.

    I especially agree with your reply to a comment further up, “Paul’s writing is very different to JK Rowling so I wouldn’t actually compare these books at all. Paul’s writing is much more sophisticated. Reading this book was like listening to a great musical composition, it starts off slowly, builds to a wonderful crescendo and then gently sets you back down again.”
    xx,
    mgh

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      1. I have only read the first Harry Potter book, and that was when if first came out. I know I enjoyed it but really can’t remember much about it. Fantasy is not my genre of choice, though I have enjoyed a few.

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    2. Thank you Norah, I am glad you liked the cover. And you are right Robbie it is Potteresque. As a teenager I bought my LPs based on the cover artwork and I was hoping if readers subconsciously identified it with HP then… I could buy the Scottish castle next door to ole JK! (Might as well be honest about my motives!)

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    2. Michael, Robbie’s review is beautiful and deserves promoting on its own merit. I am very grateful she chose to write so beautifully about my novel. Thank you for sharing. Paul

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