When Dani was woken by the cock’s crow, she heaved herself out of bed, dipped her hands in the jug of water that stood on the wooden bedside table, stepped over to Bart’s bed and shook his shoulder.
‘Ma … nurrrr,’ grumbled Bart, rolling away.
‘Come on,’ said Dani. As usual, that didn’t work, so she cupped his cheeks in her cold, wet hands.
‘Or … gonks,’ cried Bart. His eyes flew open and he pushed her hands away.
‘Come on,’ repeated Dani.
Bart reluctantly swung his legs onto the floor. ‘You could have just shaken my shoulder.’Ma
Dani and Bart are twins. They are servants in Tintarfell Castle and have lived there for as long as they remember. Dani’s the thinker, Bart has an uncanny empathy with animals. Prince Edward is their age, not all that bright and less than excited about being prepared to defend his kingdom. When Bart is kidnapped, Dani’s is sure they intended to kidnap the prince. Once beyond the walls of the castle, each of the three young people discover that their world has included many half-truths about their history.
‘The Twins of Tintarfell’ is a fantastical story about secrets, ambition, magic and more. The baddies are bad, the goodies are in short supply and there’s plenty of action whether or not the characters are looking for it. It tests the bounds of familial ties, and stretches beyond them. As is appropriate in medieval adventures, much bravery is needed. Recommended for mid-primary readers
The Twins of Tintarfell, James O’Loghlin
Macmillan 2016
ISBN: 9781743548097
review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller