“So, it’s – what – like magic?”
No, according to Pen’s uncle, the Rite is not magic at all. But, if it’s not magic, then how could Pen push the school bully into a pond while he was really studying alone in the library?
When Pen’s family realise he has the Rite, he is sent to live with his Uncle Napier, who can help him control his ability.
But Napier has other duties. He is the Rendelf, in charge of the Rite in the UK, and he has gathered many enemies over the years…
…enemies who would be delighted to use Pen against him.
Pendragon (Pen) Devon didn’t know how he had managed to push the school bully into a pond when he had been in the library at the time of the event, but there were people who say they saw him, and no one believed there was no possible way he had. Until his parents send him to live with his uncle in Scotland, and he learns that, actually, there is a very definite way he had managed it.
The Rite is a form of power, one that both Pen’s uncle, Napier, and Pen possess. There are rules to the Rite, things Pen must learn, and most importantly, Pen must learn to control it. What makes matters worse, though, is that Napier is the Rendelf, in charge of watching over the Rite in their country, so he doesn’t have the time to devote much to Pen to teach him. Plus, Napier and Pen don’t exactly get on well, so what little time they do spend together is generally spent arguing. However, there are people who despise Napier, people who have become his enemies, and they have realised that Pen is a weakness of Napier, and are not opposed to using or hurting Pen to get to Napier.
Pen faces a lot of issues as he learns to control the Rite. He has problems with anger, especially directed at his infuriating uncle, and they explode from him in the form of the Rite. Between this, and people trying to kill him, he has quite a rough time of it! Thankfully, Pen makes a friend, Marley, who also has the Rite, and they learn and work together to try and master the Rite while trying to stay safe.
Pen is a very likeable character. He puts up with a lot from Napier, who doesn’t seem altogether prepared to teach two teenage boys how to control the Rite. He is strict, although this is sometimes for Pen and Marley's own good, and uses somewhat ill-thought-out methods to get Pen to further his control. I couldn’t bring myself to like Napier at all, even though at times his actions can be warranted, although still not particularly nice. He does do his best to keep Pen and Marley out of trouble, but there isn’t much of a relationship between Napier and either boy.
The ‘magic’ world within this book is fabulous. It is almost a mix between the world of Harry Potter, and Star Wars, in the sense of Hogwarts, but with the Force. The Rite is very similar to the Force, with the option to use it for good, or bad, and the way Pen and Marley are taught to control it, in what is practically a castle in Scotland, is alike to Hogwarts. While this sounds like a strange combination, it works very well, while also being original from the two other series. If you are a fan of young adult novels, and a fan of both Harry Potter and Star Wars, this is certain to be a book you will enjoy.
This is not a book without good and bad guys, but where Pen and Marley find themselves, relatively safe at Honours Rest, they are detached from the danger. There is a woman, Isolde, who wants vengeance on Napier, and Pen becomes her way in, someone she can target to draw Napier to her as he attempts to protect Pen. The difference between the good and bad in this book is not necessarily a clear line, though. Those who are thaumaturge, or have access to the Rite, must choose a path, to become either a Knave’s Thaumaturge, or a Just Thaumaturge. Choosing the good side cuts off access to the bad side, and choosing the bad cuts off access to some of the good. But this is not a clear divide, as not all the Knave Thaumaturges are bad, and not all the Just Thaumaturges are necessarily good. This book does have a very clear message of everyone having a choice of how they want their life to go, and that even though it seems to be going one way, there is always the option to turn things around.
This is a wonderful young adult book. It has been written to perfectly target younger teens, who will be able to relate to, and grow with, Pen and Marley. It does perhaps come across as a little young in the reading for some people to enjoy, it is not necessarily a book for everyone, but it is certainly one I loved reading.
“Good, good,” Mr Carling said. “It was a shame about what happened, Pen. You were an excellent student and you’re missed by all the teachers. And most of the pupils as well.”
“That’s kind of you to say,” Pen said with a smile, bowing his head again and this time enjoying the puzzlement on the headteacher’s face and the sheer confusion in his mind. “But there’s one thing in particular that I came here to say.”
“And what’s that?”
“I should apologise for what happened. It was me who pushed Justin.”
“Don’t be silly, Pen,” Mr Carling said, with a nervous laugh.
“Haven’t your parents told you? A couple of girls were taking pictures outside the library that day, and you were in the background. You couldn’t possibly have done it.”
“All the same,” Pen said, trying to hide his annoyance at his mother for not telling him the truth, “I was responsible.”
It was a great pleasure to know that the tables had been turned so, at the end of the conversation, it was Mr Carling who was nearly reduced to nervous tears, which wasn’t made any better when Pen accidentally answered a question which had not yet been spoken. It was only when he left the school with a smug sense of achievement and satisfaction that it occurred to him why Napier may have made the demand, and it had more to do with affection than punishment.
Judith was born in Orkney, grew up in Lincolnshire and now lives in the far north of Scotland. Her work draws inspiration from folklore, experience and the natural world.
The Backwater, Judith’s debut book, was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2019, and her most recent novel, Honour’s Rest, was a finalist in the Eyelands Book Award.
When she isn’t writing, Judith is a teacher at a primary school in Caithness. She sometimes finds that writing gets usurped by crafting, music, and being a generally doting spaniel owner.
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ReplyDeleteThanks so much for reviewing Honour's Rest - I'm really pleased you enjoyed it :) I actually loved Napier, but I really enjoyed reading why you didn't - it made me feel like my characters managed to be 3d!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds very intriguing. Great cover!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
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