Book Review – Awakening

by William Horwood (Pan Macmillan) ISBN: 9780230712614

This is the first book I have read by the fantasy writer, Horwood, famous for the Duncton Chronicles. Awakening is the second book in his Hyddenworld series. Maybe I should have read the first, to appreciate this one more.

The story flows, it is an easy read. The chapters are short and Horwood uses medievalist English speech for the Hyddenworld people. That adds to the charm of the book, but still I found it hard to relate to any of the characters.

In this allegorical narrative there are two worlds, ours (with Television and other modern luxuries) and the Hyddenworld’s. The Hyddenworld emperor uses a Summer gem to rejuvenate himself, but the power of the gem is diminishing and he orders the theft of the Spring gem. Now the Earth is in pain and both worlds are under threat. The only way to restore the turmoil (mainly natural disasters) is when the four gems that represent the Seasons are reunited. The hydden Jack, living in our world, needs to return to the Hyddenworld to help find the gem.

I like legends and I like mythology, used in the Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan, but I couldn’t get into the hearts of these people.

Pauline Vijverberg
3/5