The Six Crowns: Fire over Swallowhaven

by Allan Jones, Gary Chalk (Illustrator)

Overview

Two of the six legendary crowns may have been found, but Trundle's quest is far from over. With bloodthirsty pirates right on their heels, the mild-mannered lamplighter and his friends—courageous Princess Esmeralda and Jack the bard—journey onward to the island of Swallowhaven. The citizens of Swallowhaven live in the lap of luxury, with many riches but little experience battling pirates. And before he can say "cabbages," Trundle and his crew are enlisted to join the fight to defend the island.

Will the reluctant heroes make it out alive? And can they find the Crown of Fire before it falls into the wrong hands?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062098412
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/10/2012
Series:	Six Crowns , #3
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
Lexile:	910L (what's this?)
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Allan Jones is the author of numerous fantasy books for both children and teens. He lives in London, England.

Gary Chalk is an illustrator and model maker. He lives in France.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Six Crowns: Trundle’s Quest: “Filled with diverse animal villains and allies and plenty of clashing action, this series launcher evokes elements of both Redwall and Lord of the Rings. In fact, creature-comfort-loving Trundle is appealingly similar to Bilbo Baggins.” — ALA Booklist

“Readers who revel in collections and patterns will enjoy finding the crystal crown here and will look forward to the next five books that promise the next five crowns.” — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Six Crowns: Fair Wind to Widdershins: “Quest adventure, animal fantasy and baby steampunk all figure into this second madcap romp around the universe with hedgehogs Esmeralda and Trundle.” — Kirkus Reviews

“This series is sure to capture the imagination of children who will grow to enjoy The Hobbit and Erin Hunter’s animal adventures. Chalk’s intricately detailed black-and-white illustrations bring the magical animals to life.” — School Library Journal

Praise for The Six Crowns: Fire Over Swallowhaven: “Lively animal characters, classic storytelling flair, suspense, and humor.” — ALA Booklist

“Fast-moving quest fantasy with cool vocabulary.” — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for The Six Crowns: Trundle’s Quest: “Filled with diverse animal villains and allies and plenty of clashing action, this series launcher evokes elements of both Redwall and Lord of the Rings. In fact, creature-comfort-loving Trundle is appealingly similar to Bilbo Baggins.

ALA Booklist

Fighting pirates and waking a phoenix in a volcano are the two primary events in this third installment of a six-part outer-space animal-steampunk adventure. Hedgehogs Trundle and Esmeralda, with their pal Jack the troubadour squirrel, are bashing around outer space, hunting down six crowns of power. The pirates finally catch up with them, and there's a swashbuckling battle with various weaponry and explosions. As ever, Jones breezily whips up his own steampunk-flavored natural laws and workings (skyboats are wind-powered, and when wind is low, treadles and propellers do the trick; outer space has dawn, dusk and the objective directions "upward" and "downward"). These are leavened with a touch of classic fantasy science (a "powerstone" keeps each vessel afloat). A long farting scene and a sulfur, treacle and brimstone potion will delight fans of all things stinky. Action moves swiftly, and language is blusterously playful ("Kill 'em to death, y' swabs!"). Readers who enjoy predictable plots and procedure--one crown per book--will be well satisfied. Others will chafe at the slapdash rhymes that resist scansion ("This clue you have found in the phoenix bird's fire. / You must seek for the Crown of Ice in the land of Spyre!"). Old age, scars, mental illness and ethnicity (Esmeralda is "Roamany") get cheap stereotyping. Fast-moving quest fantasy with cool vocabulary and a quickly written vibe. (Animal steampunk. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews