Ewan Pendle and the White Wraith (by Shaun Hume)

Title: Ewan Pendle and the White Wraith

Author: Shaun Hume

• Date read: October 6, 2017
• Rating: 5 stars
• Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
• Age: Juvenile Fiction/YA
• Year pub: 2012
• Pages: 498 (Kindle)
• Series: Ewan Pendle, book 1 (sequel to release next year, I hear tell)
• Fave character: I can’t decide!
• Source: From the author
• Notes: The author sent me a free e-copy of this book to review (thank you!) and these opinions are my own.
• Links: Goodreads • Amazon US • Amazon UK • Author’s Blog

This was a fun, enjoyable, unique sort of fantasy tale. It’s a little different than what I usually read, but I had a blast with it!

Meet eleven year old Ewan Pendle, an orphan boy who has the gift of seeing the fantasy creatures around us in this world in modern times, and discovers he’s not alone. This story is about how he ends up at a school for people like him (called Lenitnes—notice what that is backward; love it!) to learn skills to help protect the unknowing world from the creatures (and, if need be, protect some of the creatures from some humans). But it’s not just that—the Lenitnes are a whole way of life, a whole culture and world of people with the abilities to see, and therefore fight or deal with the various fantasy creatures, and it was fascinating to be immersed in that!

This is an academy story—I don’t know if that’s really a genre, but it should be. XD (Think Knightly Academy, or maybe Harry Potter.) I so enjoyed watching Ewan at Firedrake Lyceum (the name of the school) get to learn about the creatures, learn to sword fight, learn about the history of his people, etc. But I especially enjoyed getting to watch him hang out with the various friends (and enemies) he makes, as he and his friends sort through some mysteries, secrets, and perils threatening everyone. But who can he trust…?

There were some mysteries of who was good or not, and who was up to what—it was delightful to follow those twists! It kept me VERY involved, like “Noooo, don’t be a villain!” or “I knew it!” or “Wait, who’s behind it, then?” On that note, I absolutely love the characters, who were all well-written and unique, even the side characters. I got to know them all so well and they just… I don’t know, they feel like my friends somehow. ❤

Ewan is a great hero—I really felt for him and rooted for him. Then there’s quirky Mathilde, who is usually barefoot and says “dude” a lot and makes me laugh. And Pirate girl Enid—well, she was seriously EPIC. 😀 Enola Whitewood (I ADORE her name; actually all the names in this book are brilliant—I love them all!) was an extremely enigmatic, mysterious character, who I simply loved reading about. And so many other characters I’d like to know more about, like Brigid, and Betony (more enigmaticness!), and what about Jack Mangrove and aaall the other characters? I want to go back and be with them some more! Plus, of course, I want answers to some of the mysteries still lurking… The book doesn’t cliffhanger or anything, but I just really enjoyed being with these characters, and in this world, so much that I want a sequel. 🙂

The world was so neat! It’s like modern London, but with hidden pockets of surprise fantasy elements and an old-fashioned feeling which was perfect. I absolutely LOVED the feel! The writing has a sort of charm to it too, which I can’t really explain. But I love the detail and the original twist to describing things. (Plus, the author’s lived in England, I believe, so the book just FELT authentic as I read it; how cool is that? :))

Even though it’s about an eleven year old, I think any age could enjoy this—I know I did. 🙂 It’s a little long, and there are a few slightly scary parts about the titular White Wraith, but it’s otherwise perfect for younger readers and teens and anyone else, really. There’s a sort of layered feeling of depth and detail that I loved, and like I said, all those mysteries and hints would captivate any reader!

(I did occasionally feel like I’d like to know more about some of the grown up characters, but that’s something I’ve started noticing in a few books about younger characters lately, so that’s just me getting slightly boring as I grow older. XD And I did love reading about everything from the young characters’ points of view. I just want to know MORE! Because I’m so curious. :D)

It felt a little long, which is a slight drawback to me (I like shorter books. XD) BUT once I got immersed in it I didn’t mind so much, and ended up enjoying living in the world. There were a few rough spots, some typos/strange wording, and the ending was a little quick so I might have wanted a few more things explained there (there IS supposed to be a sequel, though), but I’m still giving the book five stars simply because I enjoyed it so much and keep thinking about the world and characters. When a book sticks with me like that, I know it’s a keeper. 🙂

I’m looking forward to more adventures with Ewan Pendle, hopefully, in the future; and if the story intrigues you at all, do give it a try! It was fresh and classic all at once, and I had so much fun experiencing this world with these characters. 🙂

 

Favorite Quotes

‘What’s brainic power?’

‘It’s the power taken from people’s brains when they dream. Freaky, huh?’ added Mathilde, seeing the totally bemused look slapped all over Ewan’s face. ‘There are people, right, who get paid to just sleep.’

***

‘Why, what time is it?’ said Ewan, looking around him as if he expected Time itself to jump out from behind a large painting and tell him.

***

This, Ewan thought, must be what it feels like to have friends.

***

‘If you do not believe in yourself, Ewan, then you will surely not succeed. Pity in ones own downfalls without the sight to rejoice in your strengths is truly the road to ruin. But if you do decide to pat your own back a little more often, then you will find that you are not the only one who believes it a worthwhile exercise. And there will always be those there to do it for you in times when you may not quite be able to reach.’

***

‘What’s their problem?’ said Ewan to Mathilde, as she too was now watching on intently.

‘They don’t really need one, dude – look at them,’ replied Mathilde. And indeed it was hard not to notice that the group of four boys looked like trouble didn’t just follow them around, but that they were most likely on first name terms with it.

***

Sneath took a half step backwards, looking up at the vast Max, before throwing Rusty a venomous look and setting his eyes back onto Ewan. Sneath then held up a straight index finger and drew it slowly across his neck, before turning on his heel and leaving the dormitory.

‘Sign language too,’ Rusty called after him, ‘jiminy cricket, I /am/ impressed.’

‘Thanks,’ said Ewan a moment later, looking at Rusty, his heart still hammering and the rest of him not feeling at all as relaxed as Rusty looked.

‘Eh,’ said Rusty, shrugging his shoulders indifferently, ‘you’d be surprised what having a six foot tall eleven year old standing next to you does for your self confidence.’

~ ~ ~

What think ye, readers? Sound intriguing? Do you enjoy academy-type stories?

Thanks for reading! 🙂

Dream away in those pages . . .

~ The Page Dreamer

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