Customer Reviews

Beyond the Hedge

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I decided to buy this book after being fortunate enough to meet the Author through the internet, I must say this is not the usual type of book that I read and I was a bit sceptical about its contents ! Well I shouldnt have been as it turned out to be a wonderful journey back to the innocence of childhood, where you truly believe there to be a mystical magical parallel universe at the bottom of your garden ? Witty and humerous, engaging and enthralling and beautifully written the characters are quirky and believable, even when one is a Lobster called Thermidor who dresses up in sequin swimwear !! From Fairy Queens to Giant Rats and a suitably scary Baddie it seamlessly follows the story of Sandy as she searches for her lost cat in this enchanted world of Sylvania, and all the amazing little characters she meets on her way. You cannot fail to enjoy this book and keep an eye out for the sequel, 'Between two Worlds' which is in production as I write this review, Happy Fairymass !!

At first sight, this book looks like a fairy story for kids. And indeed it is, but it's also much more. The sophistication of the language, the depth of the detailed descriptions of things commonplace and bizarre, and above all the humour - which runs throughout, even under the darker passages - combine to create a world you want to inhabit, whatever your age.

Many of the characters sound initially preposterous, but they're so well drawn as to be completely believable, and you are quickly involved in their lives. And you really care what happens to them.

The cliffhanger ending promises much more to follow. I look forward to the sequel!

I was 'introduced' to 'Beyond The Hedge' by a friend of mine who said "You HAVE to read this book!"
What a wonderful story that takes you back to childhood fantasies about alternate worlds. It's all about a little girl, Sandy, that travels to the parallel world of Sylvania in search of her missing cat. From good fairies to bad pirates to dragons, a giant rat, a lobster who is QUITE stylish, to a HILARIOUS talking dog you'll want to follow these characters on their journey thru a mystical place.
This book is original, witty, amusing & so enthralling you'll wish that you too could take an adventurous journey thru the magical Kingdom of Sylvania!
I can't WAIT for book two, "Between Two Worlds" to come out! :-)

I adore this book and sure hope it gets made into an animated film!! Wonderful, amusing, creative, visionary, beautiful imagery!! Thank you Mairi Craw!

This book cannot be categorised.
It's original, fresh, pacy, outrageous, funny and, in places, heart-breakingly sad.
There's one soon-to-be infamous chapter which should not to be read without your senses on full alert and a big scary guard dog, who has your best interests at heart, curled up at your feet. Meet characters whose lives you'll want to follow book after book.
Mairi Craw's Scottish fairyfolk will wrap you in the snuggest literary blanket. They have personality, attitude and a relentless sense of humour, even in the face of adversity, in a world you'll long to visit and, once there, never want to leave. Who'd have thought a talking kilt and sporran could take centre stage under any circumstances? Or that a dastardly buccaneer could really breathe fresh air into the stereotypical pirate chief? Let Mairi introduce you to self-styled 'Captain' Pestilence Grimshaw and his long-suffering cabin boy, Pigsblanket, whose background is shrouded in mystery.
In writing this review, I've convinced myself that it's time to dive straight back into 'Beyond the Hedge' and immerse myself in this magical, enchanted world.