The Secret Country

16 August 2010 | Filed Under Book Reviews 

A Review of The Secret Country, by Pamela Dean


“‘A speaketh as one in thy books, eh, lad?’
Ted grinned. That much was true.”

Cousins Ted, Laura, Ruth, Ellen, and Patrick spend their summers playing the “Secret,” an invented game of kings and sorcery. Then they stumble into the real Secret Country, and are mistaken for the royal children. Now they must decide whether to play the game as written, or try to prevent regicide and war.

This is a fantastic start to the Secret Country trilogy, but I’m a sucker for hidden identities, political intrigue, and strange magic. It’s very easy to become attached to the characters, both the children and the inhabitants of the Secret Country.

The world is well-built, with layers of history and magic, far beyond the expectations of the main characters’ imaginings. You really get a sense that this world does exist, not just within the children’s fantasies. Strangely enough, perhaps because the children liked the plays and poems, the Secret Country inhabitants like to quote Shakespeare and poets, even though the literature doesn’t exist in their world.

The writing is well layered; each reading reveals something new. And there is a good blend of action and intrigue. One slight hiccup is that the main characters’ lengthy discussions on whether or not to stay can be a bit trying on re-reads.

If you enjoy unusual fantasies, check this out!

My Rating (out of five stars)
★★★★

Comments

One Response to “The Secret Country”

  1. The Other Riddle House | A Single Bell on August 20th, 2010 11:14 am

    [...] The Secret Country [...]

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