Rating: 
Summary: Adventure and intrigue at its finest
Review: A perfect blend of style and content, delivering adventure, intrigue, action, humor, and true love on the one hand, and a debate on revolution, democracy, and the use of violence on the other. Alexander takes familiar genre elements and gives them a very close look to deliver a story that's simultaneously fun and genuinely thought-provoking. Mickle and Theo are very likable heroes, and we cheer as they succeed against all odds. But in this novel, unlike most others of the genre, removing a tyrant may not be sufficient for a happy ending if the entire structure of government is inherently unjust. But is justice worth a price in blood? These are real questions that we have to deal with today, in a modern context. What's remarkable about "Westmark" is how well Alexander integrates his very serious theme into a tale of adventure, lost princesses, and lovable con men.
Rating: 
Summary: A Long Journey to Adulthood Begins...
Review: As with his wonderful "Prydain" books, in this trilogy (the present book, followed by "The Kestrel" and "The Beggar Queen") Alexander sets out to entertain us, and if he can enlighten us or provoke us to ponder important questions of responsibility and maturity along the ride, so much the better. But the entertainment, as always with Alexander, comes first. Theo, a "printer's devil", naively fails to consider how new regulations set forth by the Chief Minister of Westmark will affect him when, his master being out, he accepts a commission to print handbills for Count Las Bombas (a charming scalawag in the tradition of Fflewdur Fflam, but even more broadly drawn and a rogue to boot). As quickly as the reader can guess that this might be a Bad Idea, troops have smashed up the shop, and Theo is on the run, along with Las Bombas and Musket the Demon Coachman (am alarmingly competent dwarf who spends most of his life getting Las Bombas out of trouble). Things are Not Good in Westmark -- the King is terribly ill, the Crown Princess has vanished, and Chief Minister Cabbarus is gaining more and more control and becoming more and more authoritarian. In the course of his adventures in this book, Theo will meet Florian, a personally gentle and sardonic but politically ruthless intellectual who seeks to put his theories into practise as he leads his "children" to establish an egalitarian Republic. Also along for the trip is the beggar girl Mickle, who joins Theo, Las Bombas and Musket as they travel the countryside as a medicine show, and with whom Theo discovers he is falling in love before he even realises that love is what he is falling into. As always, Alexander puts his young hero on the spot; he must decide what is "right" and do it, even though there appear to be more than one possible courses that appear "right". Prop up the Monarchy? Join Florian's Republicans? Just hide his head and hope It All Goes Away? By the end of the book, it appears that all is set right, the evil Chief Minister banished and Theo and Mickle headed for Happy Ever After. Of course, this is the first book of a trilogy...
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, yet Confusing
Review: At the beginning of Westmark, you follow the story of Theo and how he gets in trouble. Then he goes on small adventures with new people who have very interesting backrounds. Suddenly, you are following another plot and then you are back to Theo and his friends. At the end, it all merges together into one big storyline. Although it can get very confusing, Lloyd Alexander has written it well, and you get very involved with the story. I would suggest this book to anyone who wants a page-turner.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful book
Review: From the opening quote to the last sentence, I loved this book. I read it on a plane ride from LA to Minneapolis. Magic Johnson was sitting across the aisle from me, and instead of staring at him, I took out this book. I was so immersed in it, I soon forgot Magic, and the flight itself. Lloyd Alexander draws his characters poignantly, using basic human emotions. Theo is a good boy, but even when is consciense is clear, he feels horrible. There are no Super men who accomplish everything without a drop of sweat, or beautiful damsels. There are resourceful beggar girls, conscience-stricken boys, and scheming scapegoats.
The plot is simple, yet interesting. Yet again, Alexander likens Cabbarus's spies to a garden. There are quirky twists, and the ending can surprise everyone. If you're looking for a quick read that leaves some serious thinking for you, please read this book!
Rating:
Summary: this book is great for young readers
Review: i first read this book when i was in 3rd grade... it was the first book that ever really got me emotionly involved. im 15 now, and i just re-read the series (i have a part time job as a librarian, ok?!) and while i could see how simplisticaly it was written, it was still a good story. if u read this book while u r young, it will change your life. one qualm--the name mickle. it sounds like pickle.
Rating:
Summary: Stays in your thoughts for weeks!
Review: I loved this book, including the rest of the series. The best advice I could ever give you is to read this book! It is very different from Alexander's other works not just funny and well written but thought-provoking and deep. It has one of the greatest endings I have ever read in a trilogy and overall just an extremely fine piece of literature!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book!
Review: I started reading this series through the "back door" (I started with The Beggar Queen, then read The Kestrel, and then finally Westmark), and I found Westmark to be the best of the trilogy. We have Theo, a young printer's devil (apprentice) who only wants a peaceful life but, unfortunately for his goal, has ideals. When his ideals on freedom of the press lead him to accidental homicide, he, rather accidentally, joins forces with a charlatan and a midget. Then a street urchin is added to the mix. If that isn't enough, after leaving Count Las Bombas, the midget, and Mickle, he meets revolutionaries who want to overthrow the monarchy and institue elections. If this isn't enough (and if it was anyone but Alexander it would be), Carrabas, the king's right hand, is trying to get himself named successor so that he can overthrow the king himself. There are, of course, various surprises along the way, and in the end Theo learns that life will never be peaceful again.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book!
Review: I started reading this series through the "back door" (I started with The Beggar Queen, then read The Kestrel, and then finally Westmark), and I found Westmark to be the best of the trilogy. We have Theo, a young printer's devil (apprentice) who only wants a peaceful life but, unfortunately for his goal, has ideals. When his ideals on freedom of the press lead him to accidental homicide, he, rather accidentally, joins forces with a charlatan and a midget. Then a street urchin is added to the mix. If that isn't enough, after leaving Count Las Bombas, the midget, and Mickle, he meets revolutionaries who want to overthrow the monarchy and institue elections. If this isn't enough (and if it was anyone but Alexander it would be), Carrabas, the king's right hand, is trying to get himself named successor so that he can overthrow the king himself. There are, of course, various surprises along the way, and in the end Theo learns that life will never be peaceful again.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had a gripping plot, and I did not find it hard to follow the storyline at all. The characters were memorable, making it easy to transition between what was happening in different parts of the country. This is one of those books that makes you terribly disappointed when it is over. I'm looking forward to the rest of the trilogy. The only criticism that I have is that the ending was fairly predictable, although I was curious to see how they would get to it.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had a gripping plot, and I did not find it hard to follow the storyline at all. The characters were memorable, making it easy to transition between what was happening in different parts of the country. This is one of those books that makes you terribly disappointed when it is over. I'm looking forward to the rest of the trilogy. The only criticism that I have is that the ending was fairly predictable, although I was curious to see how they would get to it.
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