Tuesday 23 November 2021

The Green Ember - S.D. Smith - Green Ember Book 1

The Green Ember
Green Ember Book 1
Zach Franzen (Illustrator)
ISBN 9780986223501
ASIN B00QZ6BYNA 


This book and series was recommended to us by another family. They said it is their favourite series. And my youngest was looking for a new series to start. I will be honest, she gave up, she read less than a third of the book, keeping to her reading 20 minutes a day. And yes the book starts slow. I however finished the book and did enjoy it greatly. I have recommended she give it another try. But only time will tell. I had never heard about these books before giving this one a try. It just never came across my radar. I believe the first edition of this story came out in 2014, well after my time working in a book store while in university. There are currently 8 editions between print, audio and eBooks. The Description of the book is:

“Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives until calamitous events overtake them, spilling them into a cauldron of misadventures. They discover that their own story is bound up in the tumult threatening to overwhelm the wider world.

Kings fall and kingdoms totter. Tyrants ascend and terrors threaten. Betrayal beckons, and loyalty is a broken road with peril around every bend.

Where will Heather and Picket land? How will they make their stand?”

It is easy from this first volume to see how some families could say these are their favourite books. And that they love the book and series. There is action, adventure, family. Rumours. conflict, and betrayal. But at the centre of it all are two young rabbits trying to find their way and place after an attack by wolves and birds. The story does start slow, but once the action starts it is almost a race to the end. We will see both Picket and Heather face trials, conflict, and need to learn to rise above and to strive to be the best they can be. Even if readers do not form a connection to Heather or Picket I am certain they will for an attachment to either Smalls, Wilfred, or even Helmer. 
 
There are great characters. It has an interesting story line. Finding out the past in small instalments and having to piece parts of the story together was fun. A good read it what looks like a very good series.

From the very beginning I could not help but think about the Watership Down books by Richard Adams, and also the Duncton books by William Horwood. And both of those came to mind a few times, but through the first part of the book when my daughter was reading to me, and as I finished the book myself. I more than enjoyed this well enough to give reading other books in the series. it did start a little slow but was pure action by the end. And really sets up the sequel leaving the reader with great anticipation. Rabbits with swords and shields, and wolves with shields and spears oh my!

Books by S.D. Smith:
Green Ember Series:
Ember Falls 
Ember Rising
Ember’s End

Green Ember Archer Series:
The Last Archer 
The First Fowler 
The Archer’s Cup

Tales of Old Natalia:
The Black Star of Kingston (Tales of Old Natalia 1)
The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner (Tales of Old Natalia 2)

Suggested Reading Order:
The Black Star of Kingston (Tales of Old Natalia 1)
Ember Falls: The Green Ember Book II
The Last Archer: A Green Ember Story
Ember Rising: The Green Ember Book III
The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner (Tales of Old Natalia 2)
The First Fowler: A Green Ember Story
Ember’s End: The Green Ember Book IV












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