by Dewey Conway & Bill Adams
Summary:
Galdifort Quillpen has grand dreams of writing epic tales of heroic deeds, just like his famous aunt. Unfortunately, he’s been assigned to Tanna the Tendersword, an excruciatingly carefree would-be-champion who can’t seem to find a qualifying entry-level quest.
When things are at their most miserable, the young Questers meet an enigmatic old woman who offers Tanna a quest: follow a peg-legged, sword-wielding rooster to help save a crying mushroom lost within a haunted forest. Tanna heroically accepts, regardless of how incredibly unsafe the odd quest seems.
But Galdifort’s fears become reality when a sorceress sends her fog monster and lizard henchmen after them. Only a true Champion should confront a sorceress, and, in his eyes, Tanna is not up to the task. But if he wants to write his chronicle, Galdifort must learn to do something he certainly isn’t comfortable doing — trust in honest friendship with Tanna the Tendersword.
He’s just a chronicler, after all, not a hero!
Review:
This diverting middle-grade novel gives little nods to The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland, and Narnia, while turning into something altogether unique. The Tenacious Tale of Tanna Tendersword is a great way to introduce children to some of those classics. It follows a young chronicler and a would-be champion from the Edric Academy, who need to complete their first entry-level quest together.
Initially, I expected Tenacious to be a fairly accessible fantasy with a touch of comedy and a quest more like Tanna’s adversary’s: locating and recovering a prized carrot. But I was excited when the story set its sights on something grander, tackling themes far above a first-level quest. Much like our young protagonists, the plot sometimes feels like it has signed up for something beyond what it had set out to do. It really hits its stride after Tanna meets the person behind her quest request, Wink the Wildcrafter. The lore, which is epic in scope, takes a while to build in the beginning, so just hold on and enjoy the ride. We have encounters with memorable characters like Peggs, a one-legged rooster skilled in swordplay; Auric and Umber, magical owl doorhandles; and Mistress Lumi Beetle and her helpful children.
Following characters as opposite as Tanna and her chronicler is often entertaining. Different personalities bring different perspectives and strengths to the table. Only, these two protagonists don’t so much clash as enter a three-legged race, with Tanna dragging Galdifort behind her.
There are many things I like about our heroine: her quirky grasp of High Handover and her use of homophones (Orelan=Oregon). But her optimism also feels a bit empty at times. On the few occasions she confesses to being afraid while barging into danger, it can be hard to believe that she’s really feeling it to the degree her chronicler is. Most of the time, my sympathies lay with Galdifort.
Sometimes it feels like the main characters are from two tonally different books; Tanna, from a straightforward fantasy adventure, and Galdifort, a more nuanced story. It could just be that we understand him better as he is our POV character. An orphan raised by monks, Galdifort is grieving his Aunt Elda, a respected chronicler who disappeared while on a dangerous mission. The fopdoodle champion, Cobbs, failed to rescue her and disappeared too. Galdifort carries the weight of his disappointments and has developed a sensitivity to threats. He desperately wants to live up to Aunt Elda’s legacy, but is stricken with doubt at every turn, and circumstances seem to be conspiring against him. Sickleficks indeed.
Selba, a guardian, sums up the difference between Tanna and Galdifort:
“Many are happy with their choice in life and fit neatly into the puzzles of their lives. Tanna is like this. Are you not happy with your puzzle?”
This book isn’t titled “Tenacious” for nothing: it is largely about keeping your faith and hoping for a good outcome when things seem dark. Some very effective villains instill a sense of foreboding throughout, from the thuggish Throgs (lizard-men) to the dreadful sorceress, Thistle Willow. As the main villain, the Dwimmer wraith oscillates between saccharine tenderness and monstrous cruelty… a bit like the Beldam from Coraline. If Willow Wraith Press was named after her, I’m slightly concerned about what I’ve signed up for. If anyone notices the purple fog eyes coming upon me, please pull me out of here before it’s too late…
Readers who pay attention to clues both subtle and overt will be able to figure out some of the mysteries in this book before they’re revealed… but not all of our suspicions are confirmed by the end. This is the first book in a series afterall, and there are more adventures to be had. The finale is spectacular, with high stakes, an epic setting and an impressive mythical creature. It’s the stuff of classic fantasies.
In closing, I must also add that Dewey Conway’s illustrations throughout were delightful. His stylised character designs are full of expression, and I found myself laughing out loud at a few of them. Hopefully more entries in this series will come sooner rather than later. We’ve seen the edges of new places to explore, and there are loose threads for our characters to address. It’s just as well Galdifort has a greater measure of courage to draw on for the next adventure. He’s going to need it.
Find out more about The Tenacious Tale of Tanna the Tendersword!
C.B. (Coe) Lansdell
C.B. (Coe) Lansdell is a longtime storyteller who drew picture books and enacted scenarios years before she could write. She’s worked as an illustrator since 2010, focusing mainly on school readers. Though born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, she is as pale as can be expected for someone of English and Welsh stock.
Hours of staring into rockpools left her wondering what sort of beings could develop from the colourful creatures found there. Her dogs consider her writing an annoying distraction, only good for keeping Mum at home.
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