The Adventures of King Midas

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: "The Adventures of King Midas" promised to be a great book. After all, with a classic story like that and the author of the wonderful "Indian in the Cupboard" series, how could you go wrong? Apparently, you could. Reid's book tried to be a page-turning fantasy, but you just can't get very excited about what will happen next. True, it wasn't horrible to read, but it just didn't live up to it's potential. One problem was that Reid did not really develop her character's as much as she does in her other books. She fails to bring out the magic that is just dying to get out. Although it was not the worst book I've read, it sure could've been a whole lot better.

Rating:
Summary: A clever and fun retelling of a Greek myth
Review: Lynne Reid Banks shows herself to be a completely versatile and always diverting story teller-- from The Indian in the Cupboard to The Farthest-Away Mountain to The Adventures of King Midas.

In this work, the old Greek myth is dusted off, given a thorough polishing and made into a lively and entertaining children's story. While Banks takes extreme liberties with the myth, the result is something so fresh and fun it doesn't matter. King Midas is transformed from a greedy miser to someone who simply has an obsession with gold (among other things, like growing roses). His quest to save his daughter, whom he turned into gold quite by accident, becomes an exciting adventure in which Midas is tested and changed. Along the way, he meets a mumbo (think baby dragon), defeats an evil witch, clears the throat of Old Gollop, saves a magician and learns the importance of a flandy-bake.

A very fun, fleshed out fairy tale filled with Banks' usual wit. If you like this one, also try her other fantasies.