Review: The Charlatan's Boy

(I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.)

The first thing I thought of when I received this book with trembling fingers was this: the feechies are back.

The Wilderking Trilogy, Rogers' first trilogy set in Corenwald was delightful. And the feechies were pure genius--so naturally I wondered if the Charlatan's Boy would measure up.

The Charlatan's Boy is the tale of Grady. He's been paraded as a feechie, the world's ugliest boy, a phrenologist, and more. But in his heart, he wonders who he really is. Is he a charlatan like Floyd? A villager? Or is he just an ugly boy whose mother threw him away?

This book had an unmistakable southern twang to it, something I really liked. I'm a fan of Mark Twain, and I have to admit this book sounds a lot like a fantastical version of one of Twain's novel. It was a little more apparent in this novel than in Rogers' first novel, The Bark of the Bog Owl.

However, I felt like this story could have--perhaps should have--been longer. I liked Grady, but the adventure, wild side of the story--which was always so apparent in Rogers' other books--was more hidden, and didn't emerge completely until the end of the book.

Altogether, though, I really enjoyed this book. I almost wish I could put the ending on this review--it was a marvelous message, and the ending alone would bump a star up to four. I will definitely read the next book in this series.

Can you hear the bark of the bog owl through the pages of this book? I can. Bravo.

Rated 8.2 out of 10.

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