Book 3 in the Andy Smithson series sees our hero return to foggy Oomaldee after having been sent home to this world at the end of book 2. Disgrace of the Unicorn's Honor by L. R. W. Lee is another offering in fairy creatures and wild places that need exploring in a quest. It is no let-down compared to the previous two books.
The story continues with another quest to locate the elusive ingredients for the counter-spell needed to free Oomaldee from the curse lying upon it. And in the course of the travels, Andy can prove that school learning is not completely wasted, even if it is not the kind of learning you would expect to pay out.
If Andy's attitude towards his inneru was stubborn in the first book and obstinate in the second, he now is behaving downright pigheaded. Hormones probably shut down all brain functions of teenagers with exception of emotions that are blown out of all proportion. A learning process should usually lead the other way.
The quests have become progressively more demanding as the opposite side starts to take the measure of our hero. And the appearance of dark magic to oppose them lifts the adventure from being a lark to becoming deadly serious at last.
It also becomes quite clear that the obstacles would be easier to overcome if our hero would use his brain at least occasionally. If there is anything to criticize with the series, it is this abysmal lack of logic and thought in Andy Smithson that can get to fray the readers' patience.
While at times you really what to hit him over the head, this doesn't diminish the fun the book provides with all its twists, turns and surprises coming from the creatures and their special properties as they get involved with the questers.
Further reading
Here Be Dragons
Serpent Quest
Teenage Warrior Club
The story continues with another quest to locate the elusive ingredients for the counter-spell needed to free Oomaldee from the curse lying upon it. And in the course of the travels, Andy can prove that school learning is not completely wasted, even if it is not the kind of learning you would expect to pay out.
If Andy's attitude towards his inneru was stubborn in the first book and obstinate in the second, he now is behaving downright pigheaded. Hormones probably shut down all brain functions of teenagers with exception of emotions that are blown out of all proportion. A learning process should usually lead the other way.
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| Colin Morgan |
The quests have become progressively more demanding as the opposite side starts to take the measure of our hero. And the appearance of dark magic to oppose them lifts the adventure from being a lark to becoming deadly serious at last.
It also becomes quite clear that the obstacles would be easier to overcome if our hero would use his brain at least occasionally. If there is anything to criticize with the series, it is this abysmal lack of logic and thought in Andy Smithson that can get to fray the readers' patience.
While at times you really what to hit him over the head, this doesn't diminish the fun the book provides with all its twists, turns and surprises coming from the creatures and their special properties as they get involved with the questers.
Further reading
Here Be Dragons
Serpent Quest
Teenage Warrior Club
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