Noggle Stones

Rating:
Summary: A unique and charming tale
Review: Bugbear and Tudmire, goblins of the world of Annwfn in the Year of the Dappled Beetle, are caught up in an inexplicable cosmic explosion.. Shortly afterward they stumble upon a live human, being pummeled by ogres. Like all educated goblins, they know that human beings are creatures in fairy tales, so they are astounded even as they rescue him, and even more astonished to learn that their world has been magically united with that of human beings. That is only the beginning of the strange adventure of Noggle Stones, which leads through the forests of Annwfn/Earth to the town of Willow Prairie, to the lost goblin monastery of Eglwys Cacynen, to the heights of Tamarack Mountain where a great battle is fought.
Bugbear is a master of the discipline of Non-Logical Thought, which allows him to change -- or rather, redefine -- reality to his specifications. But he is under attack, suffers from terrible nightmare visions, and before the end, must discover where his true loyalties lie. Manchester, his human apprentice, must discover whether he can rise to the challenge of his unwanted kingship. And Tudmire must find out whether he can out-gamble every creature he comes across.
Wil Radcliffe has written a charming and enthralling tale, unlike any other fantasy novel I have read. His unique, lyrical style, reminiscent of James Thurber¡¯s The Thirteen Clocks but more roughhewn, is the perfect expression of this world, teeming with strange creatures, prophecies, and events.
Will the bee, once released from its jar, return once more? Will the kidnapped inhabitants of Willow Prairie be recovered? And will the Noggle Lord join the battle between good and evil?
When these questions torment you, you know you have fallen under the spell of Noggle Stones, heartily recommended to fantasy lovers.
Victoria Randall, author of The Ring of the Dark Elves

Rating:
Summary: Great for kids and adults
Review: I don't usually read young adult novels. But this one grabbed my attention from the first two sentences:
"The bee danced within its glass jar prison, and the embers in the fire died to dull orange and gray. Bugbear, the keeper of goblin wisdom and culture, pulled his blanket about him and drew in his arms and legs, huddling into a ball on the forest floor."
Right from the start we are given an intriguing image as well as an introduction to the main character. The title of "keeper of goblin wisdom and culture" is also a nice touch, adding a sense of history and depth to the character. The rest of the book lives up to the open, introducing the reader to a wonderfully crafted world full of real, living, breathing characters. I don't usually find myself caring much for characters in fantasy books. Many seem like cookie-cutter archetypes. There are archetypes in Noggle Stones as well like the arogant scholar, the bumbling apprentice, the noble warrior woman, and scheming gambler, but Radcliffe gives each of them a soul and unique voice that makes them much more than typical fantasy characters. I cared for these characters and wanted to see them succeed. Noggle Stones is a great tale, epic in its scope and yet personal in its delivery. You'll laugh outloud in quite a few places, and you may even find yourself tearing up near the end.

Rating:
Summary: Great for kids and adults
Review: I don't usually read young adult novels. But this one grabbed my attention from the first two sentences:
"The bee danced within its glass jar prison, and the embers in the fire died to dull orange and gray. Bugbear, the keeper of goblin wisdom and culture, pulled his blanket about him and drew in his arms and legs, huddling into a ball on the forest floor."
Right from the start we are given an intriguing image as well as an introduction to the main character. The title of "keeper of goblin wisdom and culture" is also a nice touch, adding a sense of history and depth to the character. The rest of the book lives up to the open, introducing the reader to a wonderfully crafted world full of real, living, breathing characters. I don't usually find myself caring much for characters in fantasy books. Many seem like cookie-cutter archetypes. There are archetypes in Noggle Stones as well like the arogant scholar, the bumbling apprentice, the noble warrior woman, and scheming gambler, but Radcliffe gives each of them a soul and unique voice that makes them much more than typical fantasy characters. I cared for these characters and wanted to see them succeed. Noggle Stones is a great tale, epic in its scope and yet personal in its delivery. You'll laugh outloud in quite a few places, and you may even find yourself tearing up near the end.

Rating:
Summary: It's Noggletastic!
Review: Noggle Stones is the first full length novel by Wil Radcliffe. This stunningly original tale marks a great debut for the Indiana author and is a delightful read for children of all ages.

The story is set around the turn of the century in our world, but Earth and the magical realm of Annwfn soon collide as the irascible yet likable goblin scholar Bugbear and his gambling-addicted cousin Tudmire acquire a mysterious scroll in a game of Noggle Stones. While fleeing the enraged but dim-witted ogres, they happen upon Manchester, who is a human, of all things. Bugbear takes Manchester as his apprentice to teach him the empowering ways of non-logical thought.

The party comes upon the small town of Willow Prairie, and soon must set to work gaining the trust of the citizens and helping them to prepare for war, for the two worlds were originally split to entrap a shadowy terror who fights with armies of the undead. And lately, there have been so many disappearances of both people and animals...

Radcliffe crafts a believable world that is a joy to discover. His two biggest strengths in the work are in his characters and dialog. The characters practically leap off every page, and one can imagine Bugbear at Radcliffe's elbow, nagging him during the writing to make sure every detail is correct. The reader ends up caring a great deal for the characters by the end of the book, hoping that Tudmire redeems himself, longing for Bugbear to be healed of his mental prison, and sharing in the tender love between Manchester and the fiery dragon-bride Maga.

The snappy dialog is a joy to read and adds to each character's unique quirks. When Tudmire complains "Oh, my aching back," Bugbear retorts "There's nothing wrong with your back that a spine wouldn't cure!" The names of the obstructionist town authorities also undergo considerable humorous permutations when lambasted by Bugbear.

This novel is suitable for all ages, although it may be enjoyed most by elementary and middle school readers. This is a beautifully crafted work that leaves plenty of room at the end for a sequel. I, for one, am eagerly anticipating it.

-Bill Pottle, Author of DreamQuest

Rating:
Summary: A fun read!
Review: This was a really fun book. The characters are really believable (which is quite a feat for a fantasy book!) The plot moves along at a brisk pace. Everything ties together in the end too. There were some plot points that I thought were just background information on the characters, but they were actually used later in the book long after they'd been introduced. I really enjoyed Noggle Stones. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy. There's nothing else like it out there!