The Moon's Revenge

Young Seppy longs to play the fiddle in this original fairy-tale from Joan Aiken, the celebrated children's author best-known for such works as The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Midnight Is a Place. The seventh son of a seventh son, Seppy was expected to become a coach maker like his father, and keep his music as a hobby. Sneaking out late one night to visit the ruined old house in his seaport town, a house rumored to be haunted, he asks the voices inside how he might become the best fiddler in the country, and is advised to throw his shoe at the moon, each night for seven nights. His actions, in doing so, leave ugly marks upon the moon, angering that celestial body. The moon takes its revenge by declaring that the boy will go barefoot show more for seven years, that his baby sister (the as-yet unborn Octavia) will be mute until he restores the shoes he has thrown to their original storage place (the family's grandfather clock), and that he and his family will face a grave danger in the future. Years later, when that danger emerges in the form of a terrible sea monster, it is Seppy's fiddling that defeats the intruder, saving the entire town in the process...

I recall reading and enjoying The Moon's Revenge years ago, when I was indulging in a Joan Aiken binge, and remember enjoying it immensely. This recent reread only cemented my pleasure in the fantastic tale, which utilizes so many classic fairy and folktale elements, from the idea of the seventh son of the seventh son having special abilities and a special fate, to the story-line in which a terrible monster in lulled by the beauty of music. The illustrations here, done by the marvelous Alan Lee. whose work illustrating Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings won him the honor of designing the sets for the Peter Jackson films based on those same books, are absolutely beautiful. There is a magical quality to Lee's work, making it particularly suitable for works of fantasy, and that certainly manages to come across here. I loved his moonlit scenes, and his country ones. His monster is fierce, and his ghostly king creepy. In short, his illustrations captures the charm and enchantment of Aiken's tale to perfection. This is one I would recommend to Aiken fans (in whose number I count myself), to fairy-tale lovers, and to anyone who enjoyed Alan Lee's gorgeous illustrations. show less

This story is both realistic and fantastic. The author conveys a dream-like realism, describing a medieval town on a rocky and stormy coast in England, visited by a ghost and a dragon. The beautiful illustrations definitely match this half real half fantasy tone. The book is a great testament to the power of music,and how a strong desire can motivate and give great courage on the way of achieving it.

This story is both realistic and fantastic. The author conveys a dream-like realism, describing a medieval town on a rocky and stormy coast in England, visited by a ghost and a dragon. The beautiful illustrations definitely match this half real half fantasy tone. The book is a great testament to the power of music,and how a strong desire can motivate and give great courage on the way of achieving it.

Seeking to become the best fiddler in the land, a boy angers the moon, who seeks revenge by making his sister mute, but when a monster threatens the land, it is only the boy's music that can subdue it and restore his sister's voice

See The Moon's Revenge at From Word to Word