Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Why all the Bad reviews?, 13 May 2006
In defence of Wormwood, i would say it has been slated here on amazon, purely becuase readers were expecting the simplicity associated with childrens literature. Woomwood is complex, both in style, plot and character. True, sometimes confusing if your not paying absolute attention, but is that a bad thing? Most of the brilliant literature in this world doesnt wash over you. Wormwood gives insight into complex Christian issues, fantasy, and is dark, its historical context fits like a glove, and if you have to think about it abit to enjoy it then i say do it! Just becuase the book has complexities that clash with typical teen books doesnt mean its drivil. For a start off how condecending is that for teen readers? Woomwood tries to mirror the classic literature that everyone remembers, it has all the darkness of the classics, and is refreshing in comparison to the modern best sellers on the market - becuase it does challenge a reader - and isnt pulp fiction. All GP Taylors books do this. I should encourage children to read this, it sets the bar for what well respected childrens literature is. It is a completely different type of book to Harry Potter and Phillip Pullman, and shouldnt be compared so generally. They all have different aims, so why compare them?
Characters were developed well, and structurally it was sound, the plot was engaging and it presents children with a challenge, it brushes on some complex theology, and would be highly interesting for a young audience, its full of adventure and mystery. The kind of things i looked for in books when i was younger, and still do. Wormwood is a winner, as are Tersias and Shadowmancer, i would recommend them to you or your kids. Its fresh perspective, and content are completely enthralling.
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18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A real mess of a book, 14 Aug 2004
After his stunning debut novel Shadowmancer, G. P. Taylor has served up a real disaster. I am nearly three quarters of the way through it and I am overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ideas, plots and creatures without any idea who are the good guys or the bad guys or what on earth the plotline is, except for a string of set piece events. Any of which shows a brilliant imagination at work, but the whole effect is diluted by piling one scene after another. I am now jump-reading the pages, scanning each one for some hint of a resolution. A bad sign which usually culminates in me throwing books aside without finishing them. This is a real shame as I will now hesitate before buying future books from Mr Taylor. 5 stars to Shadowmancer, one for this. A major dissapointment. Still its good news for Amazon as I now need to buy more (hopefully) good books to get the bad taste of this one out of my system.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
gripping, 28 Sep 2004
By A Customer
I never finished Shadowmancer, and couldn't see what the hype was about. But this one I couldn't put down once we met Tegatus the semi-fallen angel, kept in chains and having his feathers plucked by villains. He is an extremely appealling character. Yes it isn't clear with any characters , at first, who are the goodies or baddies. It isn't that simplistic. I think he is trying to be true to how good and evil actually apear to us. I could have done with a bit less of the emphasis on lice and bedbugs though. All part of the fetid atmosphere i suppose. In reply to a previous review, Agetta's constant change of feelings about liking or hating people is supposed to be due to the evil influence of the Nemorensis book. All this is revealed later in the book. You do have to concentrate quite a bit to pick up on what is happening and I suppose it could have been better expressed. But its a good creepy read, so who cares.
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