Endymion Spring

Endymion Spring

by Matthew Skelton

Publisher: Puffin Books, 2006, 445 pages, Soft cover, Black & white, Price:Rs.232 or Rs.2/- (Library rental, Purchased/obtained from : Literati Bookshop/ Bookworm Library, Kind of book: Fantasy

Reviewed by Megha Kalokhe

Endymion Spring is the story of two boys living in two different times. The story revolves around their lives during the time in which they are in possession of a book, a book with seemingly no words, a book with words that only very certain people can see. The book contains something very powerful and dangerous. The boys are chased by a man, a man with a very evil heart. A man, who at all costs, wants that book.

The book is set in two different places in two different times. The first being in 15th century Mainz, Germany and the second being modern day Oxford.

My favourite character is Blake, he is flawed, not perfect at all, but that is what helps me, connect to him because of his flaws. He is the main protagonist of the story. His sister, referred to as Duck, is also quite funny in my opinion - her know-it-all-ness and the way she tries to have one up on her brother.

The cover is one with the picture of a dragon and writing in light and almost unreadable italics. Under the name of the novel, the words ‘The Past Is a Dangerous Beast’ are written.

Matthew Skelton was born in the UK but spent most of his childhood in Canada. He started writing while working as a teaching assistant at the University of Mainz and continued when he came back to Oxford to work as a research assistant. In 2002 he won Richard and Judy's short story competition. Endymion Spring is his first novel.

I thought that the book was very different. Not the kind you usually read. I liked the fact that you travelled back and forth in time. It was like I was actually there. Like I was in a time machine. But that usually happens with a very active imagination and if you are very absorbed in the book. Which I most definitely was.

My most favourite part was about the book, with words that only certain people can see. I wish there was a book like that and that I was one of those people. The book was very good, sometimes, it got a little bit hazy and I found it just a tad bit difficult to understand, but overall, it was quite brilliant.

Some excerpts:

"...Blake turned over one page, and then another and another, looking for a way into the story, but he couldn’t find one. There were no words to guide him – only a series of blank pages that led like a spiral staircase into the unknown..."

"...Unclasping the butterfly pin from her cloak, she carefully plucked the paper wings from its body and lined them up with the book. They were a perfect fit. The delicate black paper fluttered with life..."

"...Then, in the privacy of his own room, face to face with the book, he sat down on his bed and considered the Last Book more carefully. Endymion Spring. The name seemed so familiar to him no, like a friend. Very slowly, he opened the cover…"


RATING: 8 out of 10

Megha Kalokhe

Std 10, Sharada Mandir School, Panjim, Goa