Robots and Vamps

Every night before bed Bean (our daughter) and I read a story. Sometimes I read to her and sometimes she reads to me. Together, we read a lot of books this way. Here at RaV for Kids we will review our favorite books. And you will get a chance to hear what a kid actually thinks about the story, straight from the Bean’s mouth. Please let us know if you have any recommendations for us.

Reviewed by Christel

Ulf is a young man who lives at Faraway Hall with Dr. Fielding (caretaker of Farraway Hall).  He also happens to be a werewolf.    Dr Fielding runs the RSPCB, also known as the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts.   Farraway Hall has been turned into a kind of preserve for mythical beasts who are without a home or who are injured and need a safe place to heal.   Dr Fielding is the resident beast-vet and caretaker of the facility.  Some of the mythical creatures help out on the grounds including, Ulf, Orson the Giant, Tiana the fairy and Druce the gargoyle (although he is more of a nuissance than any kind of help).

One evening while tracking the migratory patterns of dragons, Ulf and Dr Fielding observe a mother and baby dragon flying over the preserve.  Ulf is suprised the next morning when Orson and Dr. Fielding bring back a deceased baby dragon by helicopter.  The baby dragon was shot out of the air and killed.  The mother dragon is nowhere to be found.  Dr. Fielding calls for back up and Inspector Black shows up to investigate the situation.

There is an evil man wondering around in the forest, shooting down dragons and attempting to create a Ring of Horrors.  A Ring of Horrors is a terrible place where beasts are forced to fight each other for the entertainment of humans.  Rings of Horrors were outlawed long ago and only the cruelest of people would try to bring them back.  Ulf, Tiana, Dr Fielding and even Druce have to solve the mystery of who shot down the dragon and who is trying to revive the Ring of Horrors, before it is too late.

We absolutely loved reading this book.  I chose this book at the store and bean was pretty luke-warm about it.  But the more we read, the more she liked it.  She really got into the story, even figuring it all out well before the plot unfolded, but still interested enough to be attentive and invested in the tale.  She loved the occasional illustrations and the characters.  Druce the Gargoyle kept her giggling while Ulf helped solve the mystery.  The kid does have a soft spot for animals, whether they be real or mythical and I think the death of the baby dragon kind of got to her.  But she was that much happier to see the bad guy get his due in the end.  We look forward to reading  more books in this series and Bean has already begged me to go get the next book.

Straight from the Beans mouth: Please read this book.  I liked the pictures.  The ring of Horrors was not a nice place and Marackai was a bad guy.  Inspector Black was keeping a secret. Ulf was a brave werewolf.  Orson the giant liked to eat apples.  Marackai captured the Dragon.  Ulf and Dr Fielding saw the dragon being captured.  Druce, the gargoyle was funny and Tiana, the fairy hurt her wing.  The library at Farraway Hall had a ghost. Dr Fielding and Orson got into some trouble and Ulf saved the day.  I liked the book.  I want to read more.

Authors website: Beastly Business