The Sunbird [Paperback]

In yet another fine book dealing with the family of Artos of Britain, Elizabeth E. Wein returns to the world of Aksum. This book focuses on the adventures of Telemakos, son of Medraut and nephew of Goewin. He is sent by his aunt into the desert to discover who is behind a deadly streak of smuggling that could endanger the entire country. Telemakos suffers from abuse and loneliness on his mission, and we the readers watch in breathless anticipation, wanting him to succeed yet not quite knowing how he will.

Throughout the story, Telemakos is haunted by his silent father. The young boy is jealous of an uncle he has never known, Lleu the prince of Britan, the reason--as far as we know--for Medraut's utter silence. Slowly the relationship between father and son begins to develop, and it is a pleasure to watch.

Goewin has long been my favorite character in this series, and she holds her own well in this book. Telemakos has a good relationship with his aunt, and she is in the complex position of being his greates helper while placing him in the greatest danger. But she is still magnificent, the bold Goewin we recognize from A Coalition of Lions, yet a little more grown-up too.

This is a moving, intriguing story that gives one a new respect for the determination and resiliency of children, and testifies to the power both of individual strength and family relationships. Best of all, it leaves plenty of room for more--and I, for one, will be first in line for the next installment!

An amazing and harrowing tale of a young man who takes it upon himself to save the kingdom from certain death. I found the story fast-paced and never lacking in detail. Even though it is the third in a series (and I certainly want to read the first two!), it can be read alone. A richly woven story full of sights, smells and characters that won't soon be forgotten, this is one historical novel that should delight both girls and boys alike. Telemakos is a hero that we can all feel for.

Third book in the series and could not put it down. Would not have thought the tale of an eleven year old boy would draw me in like this one did. But of course it is the continuation of a fascinating story, and I am already drawn into the lives around him. These books are very roughly based on the Arthur legend, particularly Mordred although he has a different name in these and is called Medraut. He also has a far different role in the story that began in The Winter Prince where the tense and anguished relationship of love/hate between him and his half brother has stayed with me since reading it. (of course in the Arthur legend he did not have a brother) Elizabeth Wein has a different style of writing and it certainly has worked for me. The first book in the series was written in the first person as Medraut writes to his mother, the witch Morgana. The other books are written in the third person and both worked well.

Telemakos is the son of Medraut conceived when he served in Ethiopia prior to the events in the first book. He is the grandson of two nobles of different lands and has a certain freedom in the African Kingdom of Aksum. He is wise beyond his years and has the ability to become invisible (not really invisible) and hear and see things he reports back to his aunt, Goewin, who is Britain's ambassador to Aksum. She is his father Medraut's half sister. Goewin loves him but the Kingdom has been quarantined because of plague and they must find out who is breaking the quarantine and put a stop to it or all could die. Thus she and others must place a spy in a very distant land across the desert.

In this book Telemakos volunteers to go on that very dangerous journey and every step of it was brilliantly written as this young boy faces terrible hardships. Good books are all about good writing and this one passed the test. I won't go into the details and do spoilers, but this series is rapidly becoming one I will re-read in the future and not forget. These books are kind of hard to find but worth the effort.