From Publishers Weekly
Tymmon is left to fend for himself when his father, an influential court jester, is kidnapped in a night raid. Fearing for his father's safety as well as for his own life, Tymmon escapes from Austerneve Castle and hides in the forest depths. There he meets Troff--a "gargoyle," a huge, dog-like beast. Together Tymmon and Troff wander the land, supporting themselves by the jongleur's arts. In a somewhat contrived conclusion, Tymmon and Troff return to Austerneve in a blaze of glory, having rescued both Tymmon's father and the castle's long lost prince from a villain's dungeon. This fuzzy, somewhat meandering medieval adventure lacks the uniquely authentic protagonists and the crisp, clear writing characteristic of Snyder's earlier work ( The Egypt Game ; The Headless Cupid ; The Changeling ). Nevertheless, there is much to enjoy in this adventure of a boy and his gargoyle. Reminiscent of Adam of the Road , the tale should please animal lovers and fans of the picaresque . Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-9-- An imagined, idealized medieval backdrop is the major fantasy element of this well-paced adventure story. Eluding the visored knights who kidnap his jester father, Tymmon, 13, flees the kingdom of Austerneve, taking refuge in the vast Sombrous Forest. Frightened and bitterly longing for the knighthood his lowly station prevents him from attaining, the boy is befriended by a creature he believes to be a stone gargoyle come to life, although it passes as a large ugly dog. The animal identifies itself as Troff and accompanies Tymmon on his travels. In the walled city of Montreff, Troff displays an unexpected talent for singing while Tymmon plays the flute, enabling them to make a decent living as street musicians. Hints dropped throughout the story concerning the identity of Tymmon's parents are fleshed out by a mysterious old man, whose tale sends Tymmon back toward Austerneve, bound to rescue or avenge his father. An appealing hero, as impulsive and warmhearted as Taran in Lloyd Alexander's The Book of Three (Holt, 1964); a setting reminiscent of a medieval tapestry; and a satisfying plot make Snyder's latest novel a solid addition to fantasy collections. --Margaret A. Chang, Buxton School, Williamstown, MA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
