The Least Envied (Songs Unsung #2)
Summary:
Cast back in time to a perilous wasteland, Andrew is tasked with recording the fate of an individual history has chosen to ignore. Threatened by knee-high creatures called Wogs, an enigmatic beast known as the Forest Monster, and the man orchestrating the slow annihilation of the world, Andrew discovers all hope for salvation and survival rests with a boy without a history. (Summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
This is not a book for everyone and certainly do not expect to have all the answers by the end of the book. DeLauder is a fantastic writer; he just chooses to write in a form that may not be appealing to everyone. It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I did it sucked me in and had me compulsively reading to see what was coming next. The adventure is set on a different world that is strange and familiar all at once. I would be interested to read the other books in the series simply to explore more about the world.
The book has a few different levels it can be interpreted at, which feels like it is becoming less and less common in modern writing (or at least books I have read recently!). Superficially, the story is about one boy’s struggle to become a hero. Dig a little deeper and you’ll start noticing philosophical commentary on how people tend to focus on what’s immediately in front of them and cultural commentary. Regardless of what age or depth you’re willing to read it at, the book is very well written and has extremely evocative imagery. I’d highly recommend it for someone looking for a quirky and funny read. Check out my interview with the author for more thoughts! Bonus: Enter to win a free copy of the book!
Warning: Will be quite confusing at the beginning, but give it a chance.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review courtesy of the author.
Rating: 4 stars!
Who should read it? Folks looking for a clever satirical book or an unusual adventure story.
Want to read the whole series?
A Villain (Songs Unsung #1)
A Hero (Songs Unsung #3)