Edge Chronicles 1: Beyond the Deepwoods

As an adult, I love this series, but I would caution parents to be sure their kids are old enough to be exposed to the dark content which is interspersed throughout each volume. For example, in one of the earlier books in this series, a villian ruthlessly murders anyone who ventures by, chopping off their toes and collecting a huge pile of mutilated remains. The scene in which the young hero finds this pile of severed body parts is truly horrifying in its detail, very frightening, and surprising -- definately not suitable for a young child. I would reserve these books for young adolescents, definately not for kids under 9-10, and probably best for older kids. (It's probably best for parents to read one of these books themselves, then decide if their kids are old enough for them) *** The illustrations are very special-- really a wonderful achievement. The book design itself lends great appeal, too.

I'm not in the target audience, being 58 years old, but I LOVED this book! Re-discover your lost childhood with this scrumptious story. A roller-coaster (hate that phrase!) ride that just gets better and better with each chapter - reminded me a bit of Terry Pratchett's books but without the inane humour. The chapters are just long/short enough to hold a child's attention (and mine!) at bedtime, without risking sleep/boredom. My grandchildren (girls aged 9 & 6) can't get enough of Twig's adventures. The illustrations gel the picture in your mind's eye into what the authors would like you to imagine - and such illustrations! Deliciously dark and detailed pen & ink drawings... in the same vein as Aubrey Beardsley and Arthur Rackham, Chris Riddell deserves to have a book of larger illustrations to himself. I can't wait for the next edition of Twig's adventures.

I am twelve years old and a true bookworm. I love books and am always at a loose end for fun and exciting books to read. Having lived in england for two and a half years, I was always looking for stories that had to do with fantasy or completely made up worlds and to my sheer delight, The edge Chronicles came into my life. The first time i saw beyond the deepwoods in the local bookshop, i knew it would be great. And so I checked it out of the school library and finished it a day. it completely captivated me. I was drawn into a mythical world where there are red-bodied people, bulbous nosed goblins whose only food is pink honey from see-through cows. A world where trees were bloodthirsty and a horribly scarred creature lured the lost and lonely to their death. I loved the book, to me it was like nothing i had ever read and the pictures! I can not say how magnificent they were. Drawn with a fine ink pen, they truely captured the authors detailed description. After relishing the first book i went on to read all the rest and found them just as fantastic, with the same thrilling, heart-stopping intensity. Soon my time in England was over and i moved back to austin, texas, my home. Immeadiatly i rushed to the nearest bookstore to see if there were any new installments to the great series and was exceedingly disapointed to find that the books had not yet come out in the u.s. then more than half a year later i was at the bookstore again browsing for a story when I saw the first three edge chronicles, Beyond the deepwoods, Stormchaser and midnight over sanctaphrax, lined up on a shelf. I was so happy to see them that i took my babysitting money and bought them all( i only borrowed them from the school library remember). I highly reccomend these books to anyone who is a lover of the famous harry potter or just a bookworm. these books may also spark interest in those who do not like reading so much. in a way the edge chronicles are better than harry potter because harry always gets himself out of trouble using magic whereas in these books the unexpected always happens. And for those who are already hooked on the edge chronicles, i can say that i own all of them and that the latest one coming out in the u.s.(the curse of the gloamglozer) is by far the best one with quint and maris,twigs mother and father as children, and a bunch of new characters. I hope my review helped you to make the right choice, thank you.

I can't believe anyone else hasn't reviewed these books. I picked up Beyond the Deepwoods as a birthday present for my 12 year old brother, but then flicked through it, decided I wanted it, and read it in one night. The writing is wonderful - elegantly creepy and terribly evocative. Chris Riddell's illustrations are amongst the best I've seen, whether in black and white or in colour. I cannot rave enough about this book or the next two that I've read in the Edge Chronicles. Am on the edge of my seat waiting for The Curse of the Gloamglozer to come out. I tend to enjoy childrens' books almost as much (often more) as adults', and these books have pride of place on my favorite bookshelf. Go read them now!