The Fate of Podkin One-Ear

The Fate of Podkin One-Ear is the finale in a stunning nine-book series that I have adored for years. As an adult reading "children's" literature, this series has been like revisiting the books of my childhood that built my love of reading. The Podkin saga is an epic, sweeping story filled to the brim with a richly imagined fantastical world, built in layer upon layer of finely-woven details. It is the story of how a tiny rabbit, named Podkin, his sister Paz and baby brother took on the most maleficent, creeping evil iron form, Gormalech, and saved the lives and worlds of all around.

Opening the first page of The Fate of Podkin One Ear felt just like falling down a narrative rabbit hole, right back into a world that seemed so familiar. The cast of characters, each with their own background, history and emotions, and the narrative that swoops between past and present and central storylines, is so intricately written and enchanting.

In this final book, Podkin and his loyal, fierce followers have collected all the gifts that the Goddess has bestowed on Podkin, and now these powerful, magic-infused objects melt and merge into a unique, shining silver suit of armour; armour that will take Podkin into the heart of the hardest,darkest battle of his life to defeat the Gorm armies, release their hold on many poor, tortured captured creatures and finally slay Gormalech, the heartless, formless creature at the heart of the evil.

The story is fast-paced and full of gentle humour through the loving, loyal bonds of the assembled armies of the world of the Five Realms. There is furious fighting, secrets untold and resilience tested.

This is an astonishing, atmospheric fantasy with small but heroic young warrior rabbits who will have a big impact on readers' hearts.

416 pages / Reviewed by Jenny Caddick, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+