Reviewed for the VPRC. Macleod is trying to emulate Lewis Carroll but it doesn’t quite work – it’s an ok story but I didn’t particularly like it, as the start was a bit too strange and laboured. If you like bizarre worlds that eventually make sense then you may like this – complex language – would be interested to see what kids made of it – some parts are a little horrifying (the exploding artist & the toadstool children in the cave!) This is the story of Morton, who lives at the edge of a magical forest with 4 clockwork animals. Into his life strolls Hannah who seems smitten with him but stomps out in a huff when they first meet, leaving behind her shawl. As M races after H to give back her shawl, an angry wind springs up and suddenly M has lost his hut and his 4 most precious possessions. He travels into the forest looking for them and meets all sorts of evil creatures inclusing some strange Koi men and Mara ( an evil spider sorceroress) and Loki ( an hypnotic undead demigod in a rowing boat). It is all a bit "Alice in Wonderland" right down to the songs and the absurdity of it all. Junior students.