The Silver Horn (Eaglesmount Trilogy) [Hardcover]

Cherith Baldry (Author), David Wyatt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Eaglesmount Trilogy

Vair, a brave young pine marten, had hoped to show off his skill with a sword at the Watersmeet summer fair, but after his father is killed by a gang of thieves, Vair learns that his destiny will take him to Watersmeet for a more important reason.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cherith Baldry lives in Reigate. She used to be a teacher, but gave up teaching three years ago to write full time - and since then has written for many of the best-known series around. Fantasy is her favourite sort of fiction - and the Eaglesmount trilogy is her first work for Macmillan. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 141 pages
• Publisher: Mondo Publishing (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590344758
• ISBN-13: 978-1590344750
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,218,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the most awesome book!!!, August 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Silver Horn (Eaglesmount Trilogy) (Hardcover)

I am a [person]who loves to read. This book has lots of adventure and detail. It has sword fighting with animals who seem very real. The book ends on a cliffhanger and it's impossible to resist buying the second one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Baldry Creates a New, Anthropomorphic Fantasy, January 29, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Silver Horn (Eaglesmount Trilogy) (Hardcover)

The Silver Horn is the first installment in the new, semi-promising Eaglesmount Triogy. The book tells the story of Vair, a young pine martin. He and his father decide to travel to the annual Watersmeet Fair, in a nearby village. However, the night before they leave, dangerous vermin kill his father, and take the rodent captive. After visiting the mysterious Lord Owl, who gives the band an assignment, they travel to Watersmeet. While there, the vermin begin their search for a mysterious silver horn, which the Lord Owl wishes to have. When Vair discovers who has the horn, he must protect them-and save the whole village of Watersmeet from the destruction of his captives.
While well-written overall, this book has its flaws. For instance, many of the characters run together, as their names are all similar. Also, the plot, while well-concieved, is extremely reminiscent of the Redwall books by Brian Jacques. Nevertheless, The Silver Horn will captivate younger Redwall fans, as well as those who relish animal fantasy, with its action and adventure!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Unoriginal with shallow characters, July 24, 2011

By 

Kat at Fantasy Literature - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Silver Horn (Eaglesmount Trilogy) (Hardcover)

Vair, a young pine marten, talks his mom and dad into taking the family to the fair in Watersmeet, but on the way, a group of bandits led by Ragnar, a silver fox, attack them and press Vair into their service. Vair soon discovers that these bandits are working for the evil Lord Owl who plans to take over the whole country. The Lord Owl wants Ragnar's bandits to find the legendary and powerful Silver Horn in Watersmeet. Can Vair find his family and stop the evil Owl's plans?

Cherith Baldry's The Silver Horn is the first book in her Eaglesmount trilogy, an anthropomorphic fantasy for children. I'm not a huge fan of anthropomorphic tales because I can't suspend disbelief well enough to feel comfortable with animals with paws holding swords and beer mugs or animals without the proper vocal apparatus speaking, singing songs, and playing flutes. And, really, why would they want to wear clothes and shoes? And why don't the foxes eat the chickens?

But anyway, I knew what I was getting into here, and I had it in mind for my daughter (who has no issues with talking animals) to read, so I won't complain about those things. Instead, I'll report that I found The Silver Horn to be a quick and not unpleasant read, but not particularly inspiring or enjoyable either, mainly for two reasons.

First, the story is unoriginal -- there is nothing here that you haven't read before and the plot is predictable from beginning to end. Even the character names are predictable, with the good guys sounding like nice perky Scandinavian animals (Vair, Riska, Mirra, Flick, Kyria) and the bad guys sounding like they eat sauerkraut and borscht and don't know how to smile (Gorm, Ragnar, Ketch, Konrad, Snarg).

But, most disappointing is that the characters, especially the bad guys, are incredibly shallow. Every one of Ragnar's bandits acts like a middle-school bully, shoving the nice animals when they pass by and snatching their belongings, constantly calling everyone "scum," picking fights, threatening, taunting, cackling, and saying "Make me!" and "What are you going to do about it?" when someone asks them to stop. It was this one-dimensional behavior that ruined the plot for me, making it simplistic and predictable.

Overall, The Silver Horn may be okay for a young boy who wants to read stories about brave animals and doesn't care much about characterization, but parents looking for excellent fantasy for their children can do a lot better. Try Brian Jacques' Redwall series if you're looking for anthropomorphic stories.