The Dungeoneers
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Smart, funny fantasy strong on characters' bond.
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What's the Story?
Colm is anguished to see his cobbler father work so hard to try to support a family of 11 while others want for nothing. He has a natural talent for pickpocketing -- but his father insists he own up to his crimes. A smooth-talking rogue named Finn Argos offers another option: Colm could join Thwodin's Legion, a guild of dungeoneers who brave monsters and deadly traps to steal gold. Colm soon falls in with an aspiring barbarian, a gentle druid, and a stuttering spell-caster, all looking to prove themselves (and make a profit, of course). Colm quickly warms to the challenge of picking locks and disarming traps and grows fond of his new family. But a dangerous turn of events tests his loyalty to the guild -- and his nagging conscience.
Is It Any Good?
This smartly written tale of thieves, mages, swordmasters, and monsters is more about the relationship between a boy and his mentor than action-packed adventure. In THE DUNGEONEERS, John David Anderson brings the same grounded sensibility and wry humor that make his superhero-world novels such a joy to read.
Despite the thrilling fantasy backdrop and richly developed characters, Colm's tale isn't as absorbing as Anderson's earlier books. The most enjoyable scenes involve banter between Colm and clever, silver-tongued Finn and the childish, scene-stealing Thwodin. The action sequences are exciting but too few and far apart. Though fantasy fans may be slow to warm up, they'll find this book rewarding in the end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of stories about boarding school kids who have special talents. How does this compare with Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and similar series?
Anderson has written stories from the perspective of a superhero's sidekick and a villain's minion. Try turning the tables here: Would the messages about fairness and justice seem different if the story was told from Finn's point of view, or Thwodin's?
Try writing a chapter that picks up where the book leaves off.
Book Details
- Author: John David Anderson
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Fairy Tales
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Walden Pond Press
- Publication date: June 23, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 448
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, App
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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