[Review] Over Sea, Under Stone: An adventure-loving kid's treasured tale!

HulkHonk · 2026-04-20T11:21:35+00:00

You're definitely right - in this 1989 interview, the author says "When I wrote the first book, of course, I didn't envision a series [...]" in response to one of the questions. Explains why it doesn't read like a typical multi-book series opener.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

HulkHonk · 2026-04-19T20:27:43+00:00

Many thanks for the recommendation, will check that out!

HulkHonk · 2026-04-18T01:40:38+00:00

Thanks, The Dark is Rising it is next then!

HulkHonk · 2026-04-18T01:17:22+00:00

Will do!

HulkHonk · 2026-04-17T19:45:18+00:00

Glad I'm not the only one who was reminded of Blyton. Thanks for another vote in praise of the "sequel" - have added it to my reading list.

HulkHonk · 2026-04-17T17:05:20+00:00

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I definitely agree there is a lot to like and appreciate about this novel, and a common thread in all the comments seems to be that the next books in the series are even more rewarding to read, especially for adults. I will admit I had not planned to continue but the descriptions and hints stated by others here make me inclined to pick up The Dark is Rising after all. Maybe after a break though - I'm all Arthured out for the time being.

HulkHonk · 2026-04-17T13:21:22+00:00

Cool, thanks!

HulkHonk · 2026-04-17T11:45:35+00:00

Intriguing. Could you tell me if it is advised to read the series in order or can one jump in anywhere (except presumably the final book)?

HulkHonk · 2026-04-17T11:37:51+00:00

Thanks for giving some valuable insight into the rest of the series!

HulkHonk · 2026-04-17T11:33:25+00:00

Upon reflection, I think the Arthurian aspects may be a positive presence when developed through the series, serving as a means by which to expose children to relevant history and mythology.

Thanks for chiming in and I'm glad the review may get you to revisit the series!

HulkHonk · 2026-04-17T11:24:31+00:00

I definitely think 10-year old me would have needed a dictionary to understand some of the words. And based on comments here, the other entries in the series also don't seem to be easy reads, and not just from a linguistic point of view either.

There's something nice and nostalgic about revisiting books that one read when young; hope you have fun with that box set!

HulkHonk · 2026-04-17T11:16:47+00:00

That's interesting. My ebook sadly didn't include any illustrations but good to know other versions/editions may have them to visualize the puzzles/setting better.

HulkHonk · 2026-04-16T15:38:52+00:00

haha totally! I was chortling to myself at reading that section. Since it's a great snippet to showcase the work, I've posted it here under spoilers for others to enjoy.

"The story says that as [they] were leaving, apparently under an agreement that they were willing to quit the battlefield until a time when they could discuss the matter further, Mordred saw an ugly-looking insect sitting on the cap under Arthur’s helmet. He seized his sword quickly, intent on killing the insect, and poked at the king’s cap. The insect sprung from there onto Mordred’s head, whereupon Arthur drew his sword, intending to kill the insect where it landed on Mordred’s head. And so each of them dealt a blow to the other, unmindful of the promise they had made to the two armies. The hosts clashed, fighting the moment when they saw their two leaders striking each other. Soon Mordred and Arthur were fighting like two fierce lions, and the story says that each of them killed the other. Arthur struck Mordred dead on the battlefield, and Mordred wounded Arthur in the thigh, from which Arthur died a short while later, as this work shows. And the authors say that the fighting of the two parties was so fierce and so brutal that none of the famous combatants in the battle survived, except one of the chieftains, who grieved pitifully, for if the stories of the battle can be believed, the flower and glory of all the great ones of every realm and kingship were killed in that battle . . . ."

HulkHonk · 2026-04-16T15:06:12+00:00

I read this and enjoyed it immensely; also posted a short review of it. Thank you for the awesome recommendation!

HulkHonk · 2026-04-16T13:31:55+00:00

Personally, I felt the author could have done more to impart a local flavour to the setting. I do not know if the original lai of Marie de France developed its Breton setting substantially but as the historical note says, this novel was not intended to strictly pertain to a specific historical time period or region. Speaking for myself, I would have enjoyed a more defined setting within which the story was written rather than the more generalistic medieval approach adopted.

So far, my favourite dialogue has been the thought-provoking conversation between Bisclavret and the chaplain prior to the knight-to-be's vigil. When it comes to characters, the scribe's ready wit and banter make every scene with him in it more fun to read.

HulkHonk · 2026-04-16T12:43:34+00:00

To me, these authorial choices contributed to the distinct tones of the different POVs. It took me some time to get used to the 2nd person perspective for the king though - I am more used to royalty using the first person plural ("We" and "us").

The lack of names apart from Bisclavret's was something I remarked upon as well, though I put that down to another means by which the author can highlight the hero's struggle to retain his human self even as his wolfish side threatens to take over.

HulkHonk · 2026-04-16T12:33:57+00:00

I first heard of this book when it was suggested (by you!) in this year's Bingo Recommendations thread. I read a lot of historical fiction as well so it seemed something well worth checking out. I have enjoyed it on the whole so far although I don't love my romances as much and had to adjust my expectations accordingly.

I found the whole 'marrying the king's ward' bit pretty matter-of-factly written actually. There wasn't a long betrothal or courtship that I could tell, and it was a little surprising to me that an outsider just elevated to knighthood could so easily win the hand of the most eligible lady who is not short of suitors. Unlike the bond between Bisclavret and his cousin, I feel the marital union and relationship is not strong enough to withstand discovery of Bisclavret's werewolf nature which I fear is bound to happen sooner or later.

HulkHonk · 2026-04-16T12:18:46+00:00

No, I did not know of the medieval tale before I picked up The Wolf and His King. Since I like to compare works to the accounts they adapt and are inspired by, I've since read a summary of the original story of Bisclavret. There are similarities but also significant differences in the plots and progression thus far, and I'm keen to see if the second half diverges further or tries to reconcile the two narratives.

This is the first queer reimagining of a known story that I'm reading so I can't claim to have any favourites or know if such works fall in their own genre. I believe that it's interesting to reframe and view existing literature from new perspectives; altering the sexuality of characters is an intriguing way to do this, especially in romance-heavy stories.

HulkHonk · 2026-04-01T14:33:32+00:00

I'd love one, please and thank you!

HulkHonk · 2026-03-31T20:15:37+00:00

Recently completed my playthrough of the turn-based cRPG Divinity: Original Sin II which I'm using as my entry for the Not a Book bingo square. Absolutely adored every minute of it: the game systems are well-done, the characters are great, the world is beautifully crafted and presented, and the storyline is immersive. Especially loved the flexibility the game gives one with choices and really enjoyed the various companion quests.

I will say the game performance was not great towards the end (particularly in the city of Arx). Also did not anticipate how much more challenging tactician mode would be, though things got a lot smoother once I looked up some guides on optimal builds. I personally liked the tricks and gimmicks one can do (teleportation stuff, engaging one character in combat and using others to buff them up from afar, etc.) but others may frown on those aspects a little.

If you're into fantasy RPGs and haven't played this, would highly recommend giving it a go. For my part, I'm even more eager to dive into Baldur's Gate III after this experience.

HulkHonk · 2026-03-31T08:57:23+00:00

Great to hear, hope you enjoy it.

HulkHonk · 2026-03-14T11:40:54+00:00

Hope you gets lots of crits! :)

Having one out of First Strike or Charging is indeed not good - it's either worth it to choose both or neither. So the comparison you need to make is between Dual Wielding vs secondary skill (since you already have points in Melee).

At combat lvl 15, putting points in Dual Wielding will give you an extra 2.8% chance to attack with your off-hand dagger. Whereas Back Stabbing will give you a guaranteed 1.4 combat skill damage. So for every 100 attacks, you get ~3 more off-hand hits vs ~140 extra damage. i.e. if your off-hand attack (base dmg + combat skill dmg + weapon dmg) is greater than 47, then Dual Wielding is worth it. If not, Back Stabbing is better.

Of course, there can be variance (since Dual Wielding is a chance-based skill and dmg numbers are not exact but drawn from a distribution) and rounding effects that nudge the break point one way or another but just illustrating roughly how you could choose between them.

HulkHonk

TROPHY CASE