Review:
Mimus by Lilli Thal.
Allen and Unwin, 2005
378 p.
ISBN 1 74114 702 6
12+ Shortlisted for the prestigious German Youth Literature Prize,
Mimus is an engrossing and original adventure story set in an alternate
Middle Ages. Prince Florin, lured into the court of King Theodo,
discovers that his father has been betrayed and is being held captive
in the castle’s dungeon. The king forces Florin to become the
apprentice of Mimus, the court jester. Compelled to live in a stable,
facing whippings and being starved, Florin learns how to entertain the
court while he plots his escape.
The language is rich and the descriptions of life in the castle and the
activities of the jester remain with the reader. The horror of torture
and war is kept at bay by the humour of the jokes and riddles that the
author skilfully inserts.
The characters are richly realised and never black or white. Mimus the
Jester is fascinating, cruel one minute, a hero the next. Florin grows
from a spoilt young prince to one who handles adversity with
self-control as he survives imprisonment. King Theodo is portrayed as a
loving father and a bloodthirsty ruler.
Mimus is an enthralling and complex tale of adventure and revenge.
Fantasy readers will find it very appealing. It will have strong appeal
for fantasy fans.
Pat Pledger
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Consulting, 2007