An original concept, but unfortunately too confusing and underdeveloped. ( )

There are the seeds of a good idea here, but it's woefully undeveloped, and it's really nothing that the author hasn't done before, and done better. Still an entertaining enough read; if it hadn't been DWJ I would have rated it more highly, but I expect more from her. ( )

Interesting concepts. The story is very confusing - more even than a fairy-tale type story, people do random things which are finally kind of explained but only kind of. And while I know all the names involved, I didn't know their stories and I didn't recognize anyone but Sisyphus until they were identified by name. My grounding in Greek myth is relatively shallow, I guess. I do like Hayley, though, and I'm (pleasantly) puzzled by Flute and Fiddle. Baba Yaga was neat. Weird but highly enjoyable story, if you don't mind things not making much sense - that's what it feels like, like a dream. Everything makes sense in the story's terms, it's only if you try to apply normal logic that it goes completely wonky. ( )

http://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2009/08... ( )

Hayley has lived with her grandparents in London ever since she was little and her parents disappeared. She is homeschooled by her strict grandmother. She is not allowed to be frivilous in anyway. Her not so strict grandfather allows her to occassionally visit him in his study where he tachers her about the mythosphere and constellations and things her grandmother wants her to know nothing about. On one of her outings to the market with the Martya the newest maid Hayley meets two musicians who will change her life.

It is upon speaking to her granmother about her trip to the mythosphere that Hayley his sent off to stay with her aunt in Ireland. Until her arrival at her aunts, she had never realized how lonely she was. She has met more relatives in a short time than she had in her own life. They invite her to play hide-n-seek. She sits and watches as she has never played the game before. She had never been allowed to play at all. Her aunts and cousins take the next few days to play "The Game". It must remain a secret. However, when Tollie her youngest cousin doesn't win the game he tells his uncle. Now they must run for their lives from their dreaded Uncle Jolyon. During their fantastic and magical escape Hayley finds out what really happened to her parents and with the help of others she sets out to make things right.

This was another book that held my attention the who way through. My only problem was with the language. As an English teacher I had a difficult time with the terminology that comes from living in Great Britain. I had to re-read parts. I feel that eventhough this is a great story, some of my students might have trouble with the language. I had no idea what treacle pudding was so I know my students will struggle with that. The plot is well written and the characters are fairly well developed that it can stand on its own. I know I will be looking for more of her books. ( )