Tonke Dragt (1930–2024)

On the eve of being knighted by his king, sixteen-year-old Tiuri, son of Tiuri the Valiant, is keeping vigil in a small chapel outside of the capital city of the kingdom of Dagonaut. Forbidden from speaking, or opening the chapel doors to anyone during his night-long fast, Tiuri does both when a mysterious old man comes begging for help. A knight in spirit, even if he is not one in fact, Tiuri is helpless to resist this supplicant in need, and soon finds himself caught up in an epic show more adventure involving a slain knight, a mysterious letter that must be delivered to the king of Unauwen - the land on the far side of the Great Mountains - and a dangerous month-long journey through dark forests, across high mountains and over treacherous rivers. Determined to keep his word and fulfill his mission, Tiuri encounters many enemies on his quest, but makes many friends as well...

Originally published in Dutch as De brief voor de koning, this intensely engrossing, utterly engaging children's fantasy is a delight to read. I devoured it, racing through its 500+ pages, and finishing it with an immediate desire to know more of Tiuri's adventures, by tracking down the sequel (thus far only available in English in the UK), The Secrets of the Wild Wood. I may have to order it from abroad... Tiuri is an appealing hero, goodhearted, rather innocent, and so determined to keep his word and to remain faithful to his principles as a knight. It is these very qualities which aid him on his journey, as his kindness and innocence win him allies, and his bravery in aiding others converts would-be enemies. This last, as exemplified through the story of Jaro, is particularly powerful. Although most online reviewers seem to love The Letter for the King, I have seen one or two who have criticized it for its simplicity. This, for me, is its strength and power. At its heart, this is the story about the letter of the law versus its spirit; about holding onto principles (knightly, in this case) even when it seems that the 'reward' we have expected for doing so disappears; about keeping faith and remaining true to our purpose, even in the face of danger. Simple? Yes, I suppose so - but what a rich simplicity such stories bring to us, their readers! Recommended to anyone who enjoys rollicking good adventure stories. show less

This was a family bedtime story. We picked it mostly because we enjoyed the TV show, but as it turns out, this volume has almost NOTHING to do with the show. I mean, there is still Tiuri, and he is still charged to deliver a letter by a dying knight, but beyond that? Gone is the diverse group of kids, Tiuri acquires only a single companion, Pink, around halfway through. More of his interactions are with adults -- some treacherous, but some are also very helpful, with some appearing one way show more and then ending up the other. And no magic at all. Still, we enjoyed it quite a bit. The storyline is compelling, and Tiuri is made of perseverance and integrity. We will surely pick up the next volume. show less

16-year-old Tiuri is sitting the traditional all-night vigil on the eve of his knighting ceremony when he hears someone outside the chapel calling for help. He knows that if he leaves his post or even speaks to anyone before he's summoned at dawn he will forfeit his right to become a paladin of the king, but he can't resist the call to aid. Thus starts his adventure across kingdoms, through forests, and over mountains, as he is tasked to take a secret and vital letter to the king of another show more land. Along the way he meets with people who show their kindness by helping him and with those who reveal their evil intentions by trying to stop his progress. And in turn, his task and the long journey to complete it reveals Tiuri to be a knight at heart if not in reality.

I loved this old school fantasy filled with knights errant, friendly townspeople, wise old hermits, and wicked spies. You never feel that Tiuri is in *too* much danger and each scrape he gets into is resolved quickly enough not to be frustrating while still being artfully-enough written to keep the reader's interest. The plot is fairly simple, but the characters are full and the pacing perfect. And Tiuru manages to be wholly honorable and brave without it being in any way obnoxious or saccharine. I could see this becoming a comfort read, easily. show less

door Lora:

Ik geef de Zevensprong een 4/5.
Dit boek zou ik aanraden aan een vriend (of iemand anders), omdat het een mysterieus en prettig verhaal is.
Je wordt helemaal meegenomen in het verhaal en vergeet de wereld rondom je.
Ik amuseerde me wanneer ik las, wat eigenlijk niet zo vanzelfsprekend is, omdat ik niet graag lees.

Het boek is eenvoudig geschreven en leest daarom vlot.
Het was opvallend dat personages meerdere gezichten hadden en dit maakte het verhaal echt spannend en onvoorspelbaar.

De show more Zevensprong is in eerste persoon geschreven in tegenwoordige tijd daarom lijkt het alsof ik het meemaak en is het makkelijker om me te identificeren met het hoofdpersonage.
Ik hou van de boodschappen en de moraal die er in verwerkt zijn: mensen hebben meerdere gezichten en zijn niet altijd te vertrouwen ook al lijkt dat niet zo. ‘De vijand’ of ‘de slechterik’ is niet altijd een volledig slecht persoon, het is nodig te nuanceren.
De Zevensprong is een ingewikkeld verhaal. Toch vind ik het de moeite om het te lezen. show less