The Lion Hunter (Mark of Solomon) [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Wein (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mark of Solomon | Publication Date: June 14, 2007

It is the sixth century in Aksum, Africa. Young Telemakos—King Arthur’s half-Ethiopian grandson—is still recovering from his ordeal as a government spy in the far desert, trying to learn who was breaking the Emperor’s plague quarantine. Before he is fully himself again, tragedy and menace strike, and he finds himself sent, with his baby sister, Athena, to live with Abreha, the ruler of Himyar—a longtime enemy of the Aksumites, now perhaps a friend. His aunt Goewin, Arthur’s daughter, warns him that Abreha is a man to be wary of, someone to watch carefully. Telemakos promises he will be mindful—but he does not realize that Goewin’s warnings are not enough to protect him.

The Sunbird (“Intense, absorbing, and luminously written,” Kirkus Reviews, starred review) was the first book about Telemakos. The Lion Hunter continues his story, to be quickly followed by The Empty Kingdom—a two-book sequence called The Mark of Solomon.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 7 Up—This lyrical and complex tale of adventure and betrayal set in sixth-century Africa continues the story of 12-year-old Telemakos, who is recovering from the mental and physical abuse he suffered as a government spy in The Sunbird (Viking, 2004). His troubles are nowhere near done—he's attacked by one of the emperor's pet lions and loses an arm. His cover may have been blown as well. He and his baby sister are sent to live with Abreha, ruler of Himyar—once the enemy of the Aksumites, now possibly an ally, but definitely not to be completely trusted, as the young prince soon learns. Much of this story is based on events in The Sunbird and earlier stories in the saga, and names, places, and relationships are sometimes difficult to understand. That said, the writing is powerful and the characters are strong and memorable. Telemakos is a fascinating character: intelligent, loving, deeply scarred, and yet almost extraordinarily brave. There's a fairly graphic description of a crucifixion midway through. This is a challenging story complete with a cliff-hanger ending. Readers who make the effort (and start with the earlier book) will be richly rewarded.—Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library
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From Booklist

This first title in a proposed series, the Mark of Solomon, draws on Wein's Arthurian-Aksamite cycle, which concluded with The Sunbird (2004). In the kingdom of Aksum (ancient Ethiopia), young Telemakos is severely wounded while playing with the emperor's pet lions, just as his mother gives birth to a girl, Athena. In the grief that follows, Telemakos' parents neglect the infant, and it's Telemakos who comforts Athena as his body heals. After threats against his aristocratic family escalate, Telemakos is sent to a neighboring kingdom for safekeeping, and his parents, understanding their children's unbreakable bond, send Athena, too. Telemakos feels blissfully accepted in his new community, but he gradually realizes that this sense of belonging is shockingly unfounded. Readers, even those familiar with the Arthurian-Aksamite cycle, may struggle to connect the large cast and the complex political intrigues, revealed in oblique references. The richly imagined details create a fascinating ancient world, though, and readers will respond to sharp-minded Telemakos as he searches for love, loyalty, and truth in a treacherous world of false appearances. A substantial author's note concludes. Engberg, Gillian

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (June 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670061638
• ISBN-13: 978-0670061631
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,378,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in New York City in 1964, and moved to England when I was 3. I started school there. We lived practically in the shadow of Alderley Edge, the setting for several of Alan Garner's books and for my own first book The Winter Prince; that landscape, and Garner's books, have been a lifelong influence on me.

My father, who worked for the New York City Board of Education for most of his life, was sent to England to do teacher training at what is now Manchester Metropolitan University. He helped organize the Headstart program there. When I was six he was sent to the University of the West Indies in Jamaica for three years to do the same thing in Kingston. I loved Jamaica and became fluent in Jamaican patois (I can't really speak it any more, but I can still understand it); but in 1973 my parents separated, and we ended up back in the USA living with my mother in Harrisburg, PA, where her parents were. When she died in a car accident in 1978, her wonderful parents took us in and raised us.

I went to Yale University, spent a work-study year back in England, and then spent seven years getting a PhD in Folklore at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. While I was there I learned to ring church bells in the English style known as "change ringing", and in 1991 I met my future husband there at a bell ringers' dinner-dance. He is English, and in 1995 I moved to England with him, and then to Scotland in 2000.

We share another unusual interest--flying in small planes. My husband got his private pilot's license in 1993 and I got mine ten years later. Together we have flown in the States from Kalamazoo to New Hampshire; in Kenya we've flown from Nairobi to Malindi, on the coast, and also all over southern England. Alone, most of my flying has been in eastern Scotland.

We have two children in elementary school. Both of them are avid readers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book, July 18, 2007

By 

SarahP (Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lion Hunter (Mark of Solomon) (Hardcover)

I am a tough reader. My critical antennae are so twitchy that it's hard for me to be completely immersed in a book--I'm easily distracted by clunky writing, or obvious plot machinations, or by characters that seem unreal.

This book, though--wow. I read it straight through and loved every word. The bond between Telemakos and his baby sister Athena is so beautifully developed. I loved that, even as a baby, Athena is a force to be reckoned with. I loved Telemakos's courage and gentleness and intelligence. The recovery of Telemakos from injury and terrible memories is well handled as the story moves into new adventures and intrigues without forgetting about those old pains. The writing itself is fluid and clear, great storytelling.

This book makes me want to go read everything Elizabeith Wein has written. It's one of my favorite books of the year so far.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A series well worth any young reader's time, September 11, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lion Hunter (Mark of Solomon) (Hardcover)

The second book in the historical fantasy series is called The Empty Kingdom. Wein's other books, The Sunbird, The Winter Palace and A Coalition of Lions all feature the same characters from ancient Arthurian Britain and Ethiopia (Aksum) and Yemen (Himyar).

This is the first in a series about twelve-year-old Telemakos, a noble of ancient Ethiopia. His father is Medraut, a physician and wise man. Telemakos has recovered from his recent exploit (The Sunbird), and is overjoyed to hear of the birth of his sister. His father comes to tell him while Telemakos is playing with the pet lions of Emperor Gebre Meskal, and when he runs to his father the lions sense "prey" and attack him. It is a terrible mistake, and it leaves him changed for life. His injury and recuperation are so horrible that his parents despair of losing him, and they neglect the new baby--but Telemakos becomes close to little Athena, as he names her. They become inseparable. But dark times lay ahead--his aunt Goewin, the ambassador from Britain, and advisor to the Emperor, has been receiving death threats, as has the whole household. His parents discuss sending him away, and his life changes completely.

The settings, characters, and adventure are all dazzling. This is a series to pursue.

Note: Publisher said for middle reader, age 10 & up, however some of the violence would lead me to recommend this to an older child.

Armchair Interviews says: Read her other book, A Coalition of Lions--a young adult read.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Lion Hunter, October 23, 2007

By 

Karen E. Durham "durhamquartet" (Kokomo, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lion Hunter (Mark of Solomon) (Hardcover)

The writing was good and the main character likable but... One trouble I had was the improbability of the story. Tragedy after tragedy on top of intrigue and betrayal as well as being responsible for a baby at the age of 13. Just too much. My other problem was that the adults were always bad, either intentionally or unintentionally through their trust in Telemakos. No parent, grandparent or adult cared unconditionally for this boy and his sister(they did love them, just not enough to prevent putting them at enormous risk). Precious little of the Arthurian legend shows up in this tale either, so it's hard to see why there is a connection (not having read other books by this author perhaps I am missing the connection).