Pewaris Takhta Will Wolfkin

by Steven Knight, Debbie J. Christ (Translator)

Toby Walsgrove dilahirkan dalam kondisi tak bisa bergerak, tak bisa bicara, tak punya keluarga, dan seumur hidup tinggal di biara Karmelit di London. Namun keberuntungannya berubah ketika Shipley, kucingnya, mulai berbicara padanya. Shipley mengatakan bahwa mereka harus pergi ke Langjoskull, kota pengasingan yang tersembunyi jauh di bawah permukaan Islandia karena Toby bukan anak laki-laki biasa, melainkan keturunan Raja Agung Will Wolfkin, dan kerajaannya membutuhkan Toby.

Toby belum pernah menggunakan pedang yang bisa menghentikan waktu. Ia belum pernah berubah wujud menjadi makhluk lain. Ia bahkan belum pernah berjalan dengan kedua kakinya sendiri. Tetapi, siap atau tidak, ia memiliki takdir, tanggung jawab, bahkan keluarga yang baru ditemukannya, meskipun tak semua dari mereka senang bertemu dengannya...

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Magic, Fiction

343 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Janeen-san · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Words of Will Wolfkin by Steven Knight is a totally original and very exciting book. He has great adventure scenes, character development and fantastic descriptions of people and places! I really liked the concept of the story; it was about a 14 year old boy, who's been paralyzed his entire life...that is, until his cat turns into a human and begins talking to him, speaking of glory and battles and freedom. With a bit of "Fel" work, (magic) Toby is suddenly up from his dreaded chair, and out on the adventure of a lifetime! He gets chased by evil men who can shape-shift into gulls, drives with a maniac, and journeys into a magnificent city beneath Iceland!
He finds out that he, along with his "sister" are the last living decedents of the great King Will Wolfkin. Now, they must try to take their rightful place as King and Queen of the hidden land.

I loved this book so much, it was funny with brilliant descriptions and awesome characters. My favorite characters were Toby, Emma, and Egil. I read this book in only two days because I liked it so much! The pages flew by and I was wrapped up in the story.
However, there was one thing I HATED. The silly ending! Endings of books like these, books filled with adventure and magic, usually have cool endings that wrap up unanswered questions. And this book defiantly deserved a fabulous ending! But I was SO disappointed. The epilouge was only 2 pages and didn't cover anything at all. You are left wondering if the entire thing was a dream, if Toby wakes up and finds himself where the story started....but with his dagger? The ending, which SHOULD have been great...well, it failed. I felt like the author just got bored and gave up. But WHY would he possibly want to do that?! The rest of the book is fantastic! I could come up with a better ending than the one that was written! His editor, not to mention his common sense, must have gone blind for a sec! The ending was very, very disappointing, but the rest of the book was GREAT! I guess I'll just have to imagine the ending...but this book is so awesome and complex it NEEDS telling! Oh, you silly blind editor allowed Steven Knight to be okay with a horrible mistake. I almost rated this book 5 stars, but the stupid ending made me feel so bad! Grrrrrrr!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely a book for kids. Of that, I am sure.

To be totally honest, the ending knocked off a whole star for me. Yes, that is correct. I won't ruin it and say why, I'm just going to say that I was so excited about everything that had happened by the end of the book, and then you get to the last page and it is literally like nothing happened. Like....what??? Did I really just read 384 pages of disjointed, spewed, boring...nothingness to get here? You cannot be serious.

This book had immense promise, and I hate saying that because I feel like it's so cliche. All books have promise, that's why you're picking them up to read them...right? However, this was an original take on a cinderella-type story, and I had high hopes. But it just....sagged. Most of the last half of the book, I wasn't sure that the author even knew where the book was headed. That doesn't inspire much confidence. There were areas where it picked up, strokes of genius where I thought, and hoped, that the story itself was finding itself and finally getting on track, however shaky. It was shortlived.

Maybe it's because I feel like I've read a lot better lately, maybe it's my age, or maybe it really was the book that needed a major second look by the author, but it just didn't come together for me. I hate to say it, but to be honest, at the end of the day, the most exciting part of this book for me was finishing it and getting to go on to the next.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby Walsgrove was born paralyzed and lives in a convent, being cared for by nuns. He is smart and has an active imagination, even though his body is completely still. In his dreams, he goes on adventures with his cat, Shipley, where he is a hero. One night his cat turns into a boy and gives Toby the ability to move and feel, and tells Toby about his true identity - he is the heir to a magical kingdom found under the ice of Iceland. Toby's world changes as he leaves the convent and goes on the adventure of a lifetime - traveling to Iceland, under the ice, and meeting new people, teachers, friends, family and enemies. Toby must use magical weapons and clothing, his new shape-shifting abilities and his intuition to fight the evil Hellva Gulkin and try to take back the kingdom that is rightfully his.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an inventive world Knight created with likable characters and strong morals. I wish he would have taken more time to develop the characters and perhaps spread this story out over more than one book. The end was abrupt, with the epilogue a little disjointed, but overall I really enjoyed the book. It's a great recommendation for young fantasy fans - there's no sex and the violence is not gratuitous. Although the plot gets complaints from some reviewers for being disjointed, I found it to be an enjoyable page-turner.

[Tina Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts:
I loved this book! You've got the Fell (who are similar to elves), shape shifters, wizards, and adventure - what more can you ask for? It's LOTR's for kids about 9/10 and up (and MUCH easier to read!). Toby is a boy living in a convent in East Finchley, London. Completely paralyzed since birth, abandoned by his mother, raised by Sister Mary who is a nun who loves him and makes the effort to read to him, talk to him, feed him and be someone who is visible in his life.

The beginning starts a little slowly as the book opens with Toby in his chair, paralyzed, Sister Mary reading to him and watching for the little birds, "Look and Leave", that migrate and live outside his window. That is Toby's life with only the occasional trip outside for long walks in his chair. He has NO friends, except for Shipley, the cat.

One night Toby is awakened by a boy who gives him a gift of speech and movement and tells him that the time has come. He is needed to save his (many, many greats) grandfather's kingdom and that he must come with him. (Keep in mind Toby has NEVER moved, walked, sat up or even held up his own head.) Follow Toby and his new friend to Iceland and below the surface into another world - one of shapeshifters, wizards, Thrulls, Fells, fellish power (magic) and a war for the Kingdom of Langjoskull all based on the final words of Will Wolfkin 100 years before. There are battles, swords, lava, geysers all leading up to the final battle, a battle to the death and the ultimate prize - either freedom or slavery for Langjoskull.

It's an outstanding book - and I'm seriously hoping a sequel is in the future. I'd love to read more of the adventures of Toby and Emma (his long lost sort of sister) the last surviving descendants of the great King Will Wolfkin. Each kid has a purpose and the ability to save the kingdom - but only by working together.

This would be a GREAT gift for boys/girls that enjoy fantasy, sci-fi or just loved to read adventurous books.

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Do yourself a favor and skip the epilogue. Not only did it ruin the book for me (enough to take off a full star), but it just came off as a cheap trick to tie the story in a nice little bow at the end of our regularly scheduled program and keep the audience waiting for next week. Increasingly, I'm finding that having a background in screenwriting isn't really working for YA writers.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a fan of the ending of this book! Overall, the book was okay, but I really started losing interest in the last quarter of it. It was awkward and the flow was way off. It was almost as if the author didn't know where he wanted the story to go.

[Emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is an underrated book because it's not as popular as other books, and i find it hard to understand WHY. I simply LOVED this book, i read it in 2 days because i was too busy to read it in just few hours. I got very caught up in the whole story the moment i jumped into the first page, it was such an entertaining read. But what i liked the most about this story, was that it is very wise. I feel as if it's sort of a dual-story smart packed book, with one story-line for children, and another one mirroring out for adults who can "read between the lines".
The characters feel so authentic and absolutely adorable, the magic is original and atypical. I couldn't get enough of it.
There's a certain nostalgia and warmth about Toby & Emma's story. They are not the typical heroes, and i loved this about them. I felt as if the author picked the most disadvantaged kids in the world just so he could give them the chance of a lifetime adventure. He made possible for their thoughts & feelings to be known, in a way in which the normal life probably wouldn't allow. Toby And Emma represents two different cultures, two different mentalities who just happened to find themselves walking the same path. At times their skepticism can feel a bit annoying, but then you realize that it couldn't have been otherwise. Toby & Emma's spirits were toughen by the lives they lived, and it actually comes natural to admit that too often children have more bravery and wisdom than adults have.
Langjokull is the land where imagination and intuition are the (un)written laws; it is a world hidden from the plain sight, yet still so real. It is the place where important decisions are made and destinies are being written. Here is the place where the fight between good and bad originate their fights, where inner strength takes visible forms and shapes, and where impossible is just a silly word. Here it doesn't matter who you are or how you look like, what really matters is what you think and feel.
I think that the author sort of anchored this fantastic story into reality, so that he could let a little door opened to all the dreamers who believe in it. He seems to put emphasis on subjectivity and on the power of the individual to define the world s/he lives in. And maybe that's why the end of the book shall be different for each reader. For some readers, the ending shall be a disappointing one, while for others it shall be a very desirable one. It all depends on what you choose to believe in!
I recommend this book, it's a story packed with adventure, humor and wisdom, and each page flows with cuteness and warmth. There are also lots of quotes worthy to be highlighted.

[P.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby Walsgrove was born paralyzed and has been confined to "the chair" for his entire lifetime of 14 1/2 years, his only companion a small, black cat named Shipley. When his caretaker Sister Mary reveals a letter from a Doctor Felman in Iceland promising a cure, Toby is ecstatic. Unfortunately, Mother Superior investigates and deems the letter a hoax. It is then up to Egil, A.K.A. Shipley the cat, to use his Fellish magic to help Toby escape frrom the convent and get to Iceland. Once there, Toby is introduced to his African sister, a survivor of the civil war in Sudan. Together, Toby and Emma, the last descendants of the late King Will Wolfkin, must battle the evil pretender Helva Gullkin and claim the throne to assure the freedom of all who live near the Blue Volcano. Egil, the ex-cat, who is in recovery is a delightful character. The book would have gotten five stars except for what happens to Toby at the end.

[Cha Iskandar · Rating 3 out of 5]

ceritanya cukup seru...walaupun sepanjang membaca jadi bertanya-tanya : ini beneran terjadi atau cuma mimpi ?

[Hadissa Primanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

it should be more interesting, but the adventure is too short and too fast.

[carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

the characters are hard to love, except egil, my love ❤️

[carina🍃 · Rating 2 out of 5]

plot ul cărții nu a fost pe măsura așteptărilor mele , maybe if i was younger i would have loved it , but now at 16 , it just wasn’t it

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book. It is rated as a kid's book but I am in my fifth decade and I really enjoyed this book. A nice little fantasy with interesting characters in an alternate existence.

[Yodha · Rating 4 out of 5]

its good

[LiLa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku ini mengisahkan tentang petualangan Toby Walsgrove, seorang anak yang didiagnosa menderita encephalopathy statis atau kelumpuhan total pada tubuhnya. Satu-satunya hal yang dapat dilakukan Toby hanyalah mengedipkan mata dan tentunya berimajinasi.

Bagaimana caranya anak yang lumpuh total dapat berpetualang? Semuanya dimulai ketika kucing milik Toby yang bernama Shipley berbicara bahkan berubah wujud menjadi manusia. Dengan cara yang ajaib, Shipley dapat membuat Toby bukan hanya bicara tapi juga berjalan, berenang dan melakukan banyak hal yang terasa menyenangkan bagi Toby. Keduanya kemudian berpergian menuju sebuah tempat di bawah lapisan es Islandia yang bernama Langjoskull. Di tempat ini sudah menunggu Emma yang menurut anggota Vulkano Biru adalah adik perempuan Toby. Toby dan Emma telah dibawa dari dunia manusia ke Langjoskull untuk sebuah tugas yang tidak mudah. Mereka harus mengembalikan keadilan di Langjoskull sekaligus mengklaim tahta karena ternyata mereka adalah keturunan dari Raja terdahulu, Will Wolfkin!

Over all, buku ini biasa saja bahkan di bagian akhirnya agak sedikit membuat saya mikir, "Hah? Udahan? Begini doang nich?"
Dari sisi petualangan, saya merasakan kejutan-kejutan saat Toby dan Emma dilatih selama di Langjoskull. Dari sisi cerita, di bagian awal terasa sangat tidak masuk akal. Walaupun saya penganut "tidak ada yang tidak masuk akal dalam fantasi" tapi kali ini saya benar-benar merasa bagian awal terlalu dipaksa. Di bagian ketika Toby dapat berjalan, kesulitan yang digambarkan Toby sama sekali tidak terasa. Dari seorang yang lumpuh total, Toby bisa dengan begitu cepatnya beradaptasi dan dapat berjalan bahkan berlari dan berenang. Padahal Camden saja masih sering digambarkan terantuk kakinya sendiri dan jatuh!
Kalau dibandingkan dengan Emma, tokoh Toby itu terasa lemah. Padahal kondisi "asli" mereka di dunia nyata sama-sama menyedihkan tapi Emma digambarkan kuat (walau tidak sampai "mengubur" karakter Toby). Adegan kejar-kejarannya terasa kurang greget (dibanding buku fantasi lain yang saya baca). Bahkan pertandingan saat Deklarasi Sumpah yang merupakan puncak segalanya, terasa kurang gimana gitu.

Dan pas baca epilog-nya itu... ... ... rasanya... rasanya... setelah disajikan berbagai keajaiban, ilmu sihir, pertarungan yang nyaris merenggut nyawa Emma dan semuanya ternyata... ternyata...
Apalagi mengingat pernyataan Earl Hawkin tentang sihir Fel rasanya itu... baca sendiri aja dech

[Shandy Yeo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judul: The Last Words of Will Wolfkin
Penulis: Steven Knight
Publikasi: United States, 25 Mei 2010

Pada saat membaca halaman pertama, kesan yang diberikan buku ini cukup menarik. Tokoh utamanya ternyata lumpuh total, tapi ketika tiba di halaman kedua, nama ilmiah penyakitnya malah membuat saya kehilangan ketertarikan dengan kisah selanjutnya. Bukan karena saya benci dengan ilmu pengetahuan, tapi justru ketertarikan dan pengetahuan saya tentang ilmu itu.

Salah satu ilmu favorit saya adalah biologi dan saya cukup mengenal materi dalam biologi itu sendiri. Encephalopathy adalah sebuah kelainan, penyakit, kerusakan, atau peradangan otak yang umumnya diakibatkan virus. Lebih tepatnya dikatakan sebagai malfungsi otak. Penderitanya mengalami kehilangan ingatan bahkan perubahan kepribadian. Memang terkadang kelainan ini diikuti manifestasi fisik, seperti koordinasi anggota gerak tubuh yang buruk, tapi itu bukan berarti kelumpuhan total. Encephalopathy lebih mengacu pada kelumpuhan otak. Jadi, tidaklah masuk akal kalau tokoh utama mampu berpikir dan berimajinasi tingkat tinggi padahal menderita encephalopathy. Penyakit yang lebih tepat untuk tokoh utama adalah muscular dystrophy. Selain mengacu pada kelumpuhan total, penyakit ini umumnya juga diderita oleh anak-anak, dan hal ini sesuai usia tokoh utama.

Selain itu, beberapa deskripsi dalam novel ini juga kurang masuk akal dan sulit dibayangkan. Kemungkinan besar ini adalah kesalahan Penerjemah. Lain daripada itu, ceritanya cukup menarik.

[Aelvana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toby Walsgrove has never known what it is to move. Born totally paralyzed and cared for by nuns, his life is a dull cycle of routine until the day his cat starts to talk to him. Then he's on an adventure beyond his wildest dreams, headed for Iceland and the land beneath the ice, to a kingdom of magic and shape shifters, to destiny.

The great strength of this story is in its surprising and vivid details. To Toby, who could never walk or talk or feed himself, suddenly gaining the power to do these makes each movement a marvel, each word a wonder, each taste a treasure. And his enthusiasm for life is contagious. He's thrown headlong into one adventure after the other, whether it's learning how to walk or trying to shift his shape.

In contrast to the inexplicable joy of new life is the grim reason it contains. Toby, as one of the last living descendants of Will Wolfkin, must succeed in his claim to the throne. If he doesn't, the city of Langjoskull will suffer under a tyrant who is introducing and enforcing slavery and racial separation, and reserving the knowledge that could enable resistance for his own warriors alone.

I have mixed feelings about the last few pages. It isn't very clear what actually happened, which is a stark contrast to the clarity of the rest of the book, and most of the possible answers I don't like. There is enough room for a sequel, and hopefully one will arrive sooner or later and clear a few things up. I rate this book Highly Recommended.

[P.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby Walsgrove was born paralyzed and has been confined to "the chair" for his entire lifetime of 14 1/2 years, his only companion a small, black cat named Shipley. When his caretaker Sister Mary reveals a letter from a Doctor Felman in Iceland promising a cure, Toby is ecstatic. Unfortunately, Mother Superior investigates and deems the letter a hoax. It is then up to Egil, A.K.A. Shipley the cat, to use his Fellish magic to help Toby escape frrom the convent and get to Iceland. Once there, Toby is introduced to his African sister, a survivor of the civil war in Sudan. Together, Toby and Emma, the last descendants of the late King Will Wolfkin, must battle the evil pretender Helva Gullkin and claim the throne to assure the freedom of all who live near the Blue Volcano. Egil, the ex-cat, who is in recovery is a delightful character. The book would have gotten five stars except for what happens to Toby at the end.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't exceptional. Toby and Emma are both likeable characters, and I loved Eigel, but the magic was just too much. Whenever magic can make food appear and injuries disappear, things end up being too easy, and I'm afraid this book had both of those things happening. And rocks warning of betrayal? Please. I also knew that one character was being a traitor chapters ahead of when the main characters finally worked it out (heck, they didn't work it out at all, the character revealed himself to be a traitor in full view of everyone.) One other problem that I expect others will find frustrating is the ending. If people can come up with crazy theories about how Harry Potter's adventures are made up Harry himself was crazy, then the ending of this book will certainly make people think that of Toby. Like I said, I didn't hate this book, and I did enjoy parts of it, but there were just too many flaws.

[srain · Rating 4 out of 5]

How interesting that so many hated the ending. I actually thought the ending was quite interesting and even though I read the book years ago I am still disturbed by the ending. In that way the author has done his job, yes? Who doesn't want to write something that sticks with someone years down the road? I also wonder if perhaps a sequel might have been a possibility but not enough sales to get one written/promoted?

Aside from the ending this is an intriguing fantasy and a great form of escapism for the reader as well as the main character.

I wonder if some of the anger towards the ending is that after becoming emotionally invested in the character and his triumphs it turns out the whole thing may have been in his head and so he does not escape his paralysis as the reader hopes

Seriously worth a try for anyone looking for a 6-8 grade fantasy read.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's hard to make myself finish this book. I'm finding out that even if your a fantastic screenwriter that does not necessarily a good young adult fantasy writer. The story idea was creative and I like the humor he adds to the story, but that only lasts as long as they were in London, after that it gets harder to follow and the dialogue goes downhill from there. The book could have been edited a bit better to help Steven Knight work out some of the 'kinks' in the story. Trying to finish reading the story just so I don't feel like buying it was a complete waste of money. I think Mr. knight should keep trying and get a new editor!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toby Walsgrove was abandoned at birth to a convent, he was born completely immobile. He is cared for by the nuns, most especially kind Sister Mary. His mind is as active as can be inside his uncooperative body. He is a quite likable main character.
Written in first person in short, crisp (sometimes crispy) sentences, this is the story of a grand adventure that Toby has freeing an Icelandic (or is it Norse?) tribe of Fells from a brutal dictator. Lots of shape shifting, friend making, learning to trust, and moving beyond one's perceived limitations.
The ending was a surprise....

[Clarabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai été totalement séduite par cette lecture au charme fantastique et à l'imaginaire foisonnant. L'histoire se lit sans difficulté, normal pour un roman destiné aux jeunes ados, et je trouve d'ailleurs que ce créneau offre une émulation créative rafraîchissante ! Avis à ceux qui rêvent de se plonger dans un univers qui sort un peu de l'ordinaire, voici une lecture palpitante, riche en aventures, avec des personnages très attachants, et une histoire entraînante et généreuse. Seule la fin peut laisser perplexe, entre rêve et réalité, il n'y a qu'un pas à franchir !

[Lyd's Archive (7/'15 to 6/'18)]

dnf at page 9!
I literally picked this up, read a few pages, and put it down. LilyCat and I decided to do a random book pick for this month, so we did some stuff with numbers and I ended up with this (she got Blue Bloods, if you're wondering). The beginning showed us, well, a Gary Stu who expounded on the smell of books (I am not joking) And I have plenty of other things to read.
So I put it down.

[Mia Prasetya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ah sepertinya blum ada terobosan kisah fantasi yang fenomenal lagi setelah Harry Potter dan Percy Jackson. Kisahnya standar, tentang remaja pria yang lumpuh sejak lahir, berteman dengan kucing yang ternyata bisa berubah bentuk dan sang remaja ternyata keturunan dari raja di negeri antah berantah gitu deh.

Pengkhianatan, peperangan sebagai klimaks dan pada akhirnya kebaikan selalu mengalahkan kejahatan.

[Nadira Syahidah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awalnya menarik banget, tapi cuma di awal-awal nya aja. Toby adalah anak lumpuh yang sehari-hari cuma bisa duduk di kursi nya. Tiba-tiba kucing nya, Shipley, bisa bicara sama dia. Terus mereka pergi ke Langjoskull. Cukup lama gw baca buku ini, padahal cuma 300 halaman. Cerita nya flat banget sejak Toby ketemu Emma di Langjoskull, dan ending nya ya begitu aja. Tapi ada yang menarik sih karena salah satu dari mereka ada yang berkhianat. Well, akhirnya berhasil selesai baca buku ini, lega.

[Maya Poedji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wuaah...ngga nyangka ternyata butuh waktu lamaa buat ngelarin baca buku ini. and suprizingly aq masih tertarik untuk baca! Bener kata mba Anisa kalo buku ini seru...ngga rugi nga-dopsi buku ini dari keranjang Book Fair hehehehe aq membayangkan kalo dibikin film pengalaman si Toby Walsgrove ini akan penuh efek. Dan perasaan berubah wujud yang pas juga mengena membuat aq berpikir kayanya asik banget ya jadi shape-shifter!

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shape shifters, adventure, betrayal and excitement run through the pages as Ellie and Toby conquer their human fears in order to lead the way into battle to conquer evil. An excellent read and a true page turner.

[Nenangs · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 bintang

lumayanlah ceritana, cuma akhirna rada membingungkan, apa semua cerita petualangan itu beneran kejadian apa cuma ilusi/delusi si toby?
fantasy atau surrealism?

==============================
pinjeman dari nenny.
danke!

[Ykyung0309 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book shows about the magic that can happen in the fantasy land. I really loved thus book and want to read this book again. Especially I loved the part where Emma and Toby changed to wolves and other creatures like birds. i really recommend this book!!!!!