the orphan king reveiw

"The Orphan King" by Sigmund Brouwer is a young adult novel that starts the Merlin's Immortals series.  In "The Orphan King" Thomas begins a journey to take over Magnus, a village of sorts in England during the 12th century.  As he travels there with William the Knight; Isabelle, the girl; and Tiny John, the pickpocket; he is somehow involved with the centuries old battle of the Immortals vs the Druids.  This whole part of the story is left cloaked in mystery and it is never clear what they are fighting over or who is on which side.  Normally, this would annoy me to no end, but it is told in such a way that I am left wanting more.  I am intrigued and am left thinking about the book trying to figure it out.  The group fights bandits, dabbles in science (otherwise known as witchcraft), he escapes the abbey, and William teaches Thomas to be a man, a wise one, along the way.  It is a short book, read in a day.  I would say the age level would be 8th grade or higher.  It might appeal more to boys, but not necessarily.  I liked it. I received this book for free from www.bloggingforbooks.com.