Grimpow

Starred review from October 29, 2007
Spanish novelist Ábalos’s first book for young readers—a medieval fantasy that is equal parts historical fiction and metaphysical quest—takes place in 14th-century Europe, a setting marked by political and religious turbulence. After declaring the last of the Knights Templar heretics, Pope Clement V, King Philip IV of France and their inquisitor henchmen have succeeded in hunting down most of the knights, burning them at the stake and seizing their mysterious treasures. But when a boy named Grimpow finds a dead nobleman clutching a strange amulet near his home in a remote region of France, he unknowingly becomes the focal point of a centuries-old mission to spread the light of wisdom and enlighten humanity so that the “obscurity of superstition and ignorance will not prevail.” Ábalos blends the grand-scale storytelling prowess and epic quest element of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings with the cryptographic intrigue of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code,
and he proves himself adept at moving the multiple story lines of the labyrinthine plot at a fast pace. His elaborate novel should win over not only teenage fantasy fans but adults as well, particularly those who enjoy adventures with more cerebral, spiritual themes. Ages 12-up.

April 1, 2008
Gr 7 Up-Spanish author Rafael Ábalos's first book (Random, 2007) for young adults combines alchemy, a philosopher's stone, the Knights Templar, and a secret code to create a multilayered magical, medieval quest. Guided and spurred on by the stone he finds on a vanishing corpse, Grimpow is a boy who copes with diverse challenges such as his vagabond friend's death and conflicts involving the French king. Nothing stops him from searching across France for the Secret of the Wise. An Italian knight and a young woman help him with the cryptic clues. Marked for death by the Inquisitor, the three also survive pitched battles and booby trapped rooms to reach Chartres Cathedral where the philosopher's stone illuminates the labyrinth. Narrator Richard McGonagle does a fine job voicing the characters. Detailed dialogues on the logic needed to solve the often subtle signs are occasionally complicated, but they heighten the story's tension. With broad appeal that should attract adult as well as teen listeners, and a conclusion that demands a sequel, this is a solid choice for high-school and public libraries.Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 26, 2007
With his rich and melodious intonations, veteran voice actor McGonagle vivifies a wide variety of characters in this historical fantasy set in 14th-century Europe. The far labyrinthine plot encompasses Knights Templars (declared heretics by the pope), a strange stone with remarkable powers and a youth named Grimpow. From his home in a remote corner of France, Grimpow sets out to find the meaning of the stone and is faced with centuries-old mysteries and arcane riddles, with the fate of humanity possibly in the balance. Fans of epic fantasy sagas like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings will be mesmerized, especially given McGonagle's energetic and enthusiastic narration. Utilizing subtle variations of cadence and inflection, he creates a diversity of voices, including the naïve Grimpow; the fanatical inquisitor monk, Bulvar; and the old abbey librarian, Rinaldo. His deep tones will have listeners envisioning themselves sitting around a blazing campfire in the presence of a sagacious storyteller. Ages 12-up. Simultaneous release with the Delacorte hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 29).