Set in the world of the Half-Continent—a land of tri-corner hats and flintlock pistols—the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy is a world of predatory monsters, chemical potions and surgically altered people. Foundling begins the journey of Rossamund, a boy with a girl’s name, who is just about to begin a dangerous life in the service of the Emperor. What starts as a simple journey is threatened by encounters with monsters—and people, who may be worse. Learning who to trust and who to fear is neither easy nor without its perils, and Rossamund must choose his path carefully.
Complete with appendices, maps, illustrations, and a glossary, Monster Blood Tattoo grabs readers from the first sentence and immerses them in an entirely original fantasy world with its own language and lore.
BOOK REVIEWS
BookBrowse Foundling, the first in the planned Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy, sucked our then twelve-year-old son in on the first page and spat him back out a couple of days later only after he'd read the book cover to cover (including the glossary and the 100 page appendix which particularly fascinated him) and pored over the maps and illustrations In the intervening period we did see him from time to time - for meals and breathless plot updates - but in essence, although his body was with us, his mind was somewhere in the Half-Continent! With illustrations reminiscent of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy this is a book to kindle the imagination of any child who revels in fantastic worlds filled with fantastic creatures. Full Review (764 words).
Media Reviews
Kirkus Review
This epic fantasy, though solidly based in classic form ....., flounders under cluttered writing.
Booklist - Cindy Dobrez
Starred Review. .... enough secrets, promises, and mystery to create impatient demand for part two.
School Library Journal
Starred review. A delightful, refreshing standout in a sea of cookie-cutter fantasy worlds.
Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. From the pre-industrial English feel to the sprawling setting and backstory, this book feels every bit as substantial as its heft implies.
Tamora Pierce, author of the quartets Song of the Lioness and Circle of Magic
I felt constantly at the edge of a gasp.
Michael Cart, writer, professor, expert in children's and YA literature
Meticulously plotted, prodigiously imagined, and richly realized.
Lloyd Alexander, Newbery-winning author of The Chronicles of Prydain
..A remarkable new world, complete in every detail, totally convincing.
Recent Reader Reviews
Rated of 5
by Sam R Gasp I have been reading the Redwall series, and i love that series but this book took me out of it and was not going to let me go I read the book in a week and instantly wanted the next book to come out. This book is great for children and adults who... Read More
Rated of 5
by Forrestt Monster blood Tatoo This book was the best book i had read for quite a while!I have read many good books and i would put this book as one of my top 5 books!
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Kirkus Review
Tamora Pierce, author of the quartets Song of the Lioness and Circle of Magic
of 5
by Sam R
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