Human-raised brothers Tinn and Cole join forces with Fable, daughter of the Queen of the Deep Dark, to stop the fighting between the people of Endsborough and the creatures of the Wild Wood before violence turns into all-out war. Human and goblin brothers Cole and Tinn are finding their way back to normal after their journey to the heart of the Oddmire. Normal, unfortunately, wants nothing to … wants nothing to do with them. Fable, the daughter of the Queen of the Deep Dark, has her first true friends in the brothers. The Queen allows Fable to visit Tinn and Cole as long as she promises to stay quiet and out of sight–concealing herself and her magic from the townspeople of Endsborough.
But when the trio discovers that humans are destroying the Wild Wood and the lives of its creatures for their own dark purposes, Fable cannot stay quiet. As the unspoken truce between the people of Endsborough and the inhabitants of the Wild Wood crumbles, violence escalates, threatening war and bringing Fable’s mother closer to the fulfillment of a deadly prophecy that could leave Fable a most Unready Queen.
In this second book in the Oddmire series, the New York Times bestselling author of Jackaby takes readers on an adventure full of monsters, mayhem, and magic.
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“You need to feel the roots beneath you and come to know where you stand.”
“I know where I’m standing. I’m standing in the middle of your vine circle for the millionth time practicing the same spells as always, even though they never work.”
William Ritter’s second installment in The Oddmire series, The Unready Queen, brings readers back into the Wild Wood. Book one, Changeling, was centered around twin brothers Cole and Tinn Burton (one of whom is a goblin changeling who was left behind alongside the human child in a bungled goblin/fairy attempt at a baby switch), and Fable, a secondary character they met in the Wood. This time it’s Fable’s turn to take center stage, and the part–human, part-fairy child is having trouble learning and controlling her magic. Fun-loving Fable is being schooled by her mother, the Queen of the Deep Dark, but Fable’s more interested in having adventures with her friends than being disciplined about practicing her magic.
Outside of the Wild Wood, Tinn and Cole, who formerly believed themselves identical twins, are having growing pains as each navigates his individual identity. The goblin brother is learning about his goblin heritage and having difficulty controlling his magic. His human counterpart deals with a feeling of envy at his brother’s having a goblin father-figure in his life — the twins’ father left their mother soon after the second baby was discovered.
After a funny experience when Fable visits the brothers at school, things become serious as the three get embroiled in an escalating conflict between humans and the creatures of the Wild Wood.
Fable’s story can be enjoyed without first having read book one, but because this is a return to a world and characters previously experienced in that book, I would recommend starting with Changeling. Fable is a lovable character — plucky, funny, and unpredictable. Indeed, all of the characters who live within these pages are endearing. You’ll love spending time with them and sharing their adventures.
William Ritter uses his knowledge of folklore to shape and inform his own modern fantasy, which boasts a strong narrative voice (these books would be great read out loud), quick pacing, and the right balance of spooky/scary/creepy and light-hearted/charming/comedic. Thematically, The Oddmire series explores love and the bonds of family (both inherited and found or chosen), friendship, identity, and coming-of-age. There is also an exploration of the nature of humans and creatures of the wild as being more complex and multifaceted than a simplistic humans-are-good-goblins-and-magical-creatures-are-bad dichotomy. Individual uniqueness, even “otherness” is celebrated, and the dangers inherent in prejudice and racism are addressed. Strong family units with capable, loving, determined single mothers are compassionately portrayed.
Like any good fairy tale, William Ritter’s stories will transport readers to a world that, though it looks very similar to their own, is teeming with magic and mystery. These tales are sure to captivate young readers who appreciate suspense and don’t mind being a bit scared, but who more than anything want to get lost in a story and a world filled with enchantment and wonder. And the next time they take a hike through the woods, they will likely wonder what kind of creatures might be lurking!
While it’s just as whimsical and original as Changeling, The Unready Queen is even more exciting.
I read somewhere that both of these books can be read as standalones, but I’m going to go ahead and recommend you don’t do that. These stories are completely tied together. They feature the same characters and locales.
Ritter makes it very easy to completely lose yourself while reading his books. They’re quick-witted and oddly charming.
What I hadn’t realized when reading Changeling (even though I had noticed a blink-and-you-miss-it mention of an expert in New Fiddleham), is that this series is kind of a spin-off of the Jackaby series. We met Chief Nudd in that series and now we get to see a bit more of him. Being a massive fan of the Jackaby series, this made me endlessly happy.
And who knew you could create an epic cliffhanger in two sentences?