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The Secrets of the Wild Wood
(De brief voor de koning #2)
by
'There's no place you can lose your way as quickly as in the Wild Wood...'
One of the King's knights has gone missing. Sent to explore the mysterious Wild Wood, which no-one dares visit and some say are enchanted, he has vanished in the snow. Tiuri - now Sir Tiuri after carrying out his last perilous mission - has to find him. With his best friend and squire, Piak, he must ...more
One of the King's knights has gone missing. Sent to explore the mysterious Wild Wood, which no-one dares visit and some say are enchanted, he has vanished in the snow. Tiuri - now Sir Tiuri after carrying out his last perilous mission - has to find him. With his best friend and squire, Piak, he must ...more
Hardcover, 476 pages
Published
September 10th 2015
by Pushkin Children's
(first published 1965)
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Patrik
I had not read the first book before reading this one. You might miss the connections between characters but the book is still really enjoyable.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
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Another great book of Tonke Dragt! Have to read again soon!
4.5/5. Gooooood. I did think the first book was better.
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
One of my all-time favourite Dutch children's books is De brief aan de koning by Tonke Dragt, and I was thrilled when decades after the original release this much-treasured classic finally received its much-deserved English language debut with The Letter for the King in 2014, thanks to Pushkin Press in the UK and a beautiful translation by Laura Watkinson. So you can imagine my excitement when the sequel, Secrets of the Wild Wood (originally Geheimen van h ...more
One of my all-time favourite Dutch children's books is De brief aan de koning by Tonke Dragt, and I was thrilled when decades after the original release this much-treasured classic finally received its much-deserved English language debut with The Letter for the King in 2014, thanks to Pushkin Press in the UK and a beautiful translation by Laura Watkinson. So you can imagine my excitement when the sequel, Secrets of the Wild Wood (originally Geheimen van h ...more
Since when is the sequel twice as good as the original book? Maybe my tastes have changed, but I did not enjoy the writing style of the first book in this series, The Letter for the King and the plot seemed so bland. But I enjoyed the unique writing style of this book, the plot kept my attention, and the characters are believable. I definitely want to read more of Tonke Dragt's books if I can find any others that have been translated. Or maybe I should use this as a good excuse to learn Dutch.🤔
...more
After reading the first book, I decided to read the second right after and I am not disappointed.
Finally Tiuri is officially a knight. He is invited to come to knight Ristridin's castle in spring. However, when he arrives, he is informed that knight Ristridin has not returned yet from the Wild Wood. Concerns grow and Tiuri and his friends are determined to solve the mystery and find their lost friend.
When I opened the book I was pleasantly surprised to once again see a map. This was a close up ...more
Finally Tiuri is officially a knight. He is invited to come to knight Ristridin's castle in spring. However, when he arrives, he is informed that knight Ristridin has not returned yet from the Wild Wood. Concerns grow and Tiuri and his friends are determined to solve the mystery and find their lost friend.
When I opened the book I was pleasantly surprised to once again see a map. This was a close up ...more
This book and its prior book, The Letter for the King, will be lovely for the right reader, but they aren't my jam. Both were originally written in Dutch in the 1960s and just now translated to English. They are classic Arthurian stories of knights and quests, centered around kind, honorable Tiuri, who is a squire in the first book and a young, but already well-liked, knight in the second. Tiuri embodies all of the classic knightly qualities of chivalry, honor, bravery, and humility; even better
...more
3.5* An old-fashioned fantasy that manages to be different from the usual. I'm excited about this author, because she's Dutch, and I find translations interesting. There's a whole world of kid's and Y/A books that I am not privy to because I only read English. I mean, what are the French fantasy classics? What about Yugoslavia? The Russians had a beautiful golden age of children's illustration - it may not have ended, who knows? Not me. Because I only read English. So thanks to all the translato
...more
Apr 04, 2018
Karis
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adventure,
kingdom-adventure,
fantasy,
friendships,
owned,
medieval,
sicbc-challenges,
translated
Three years ago now, I picked up a copy of this book’s sequel The Letter for the King, which had only just recently been translated into English. I loved it and shortly after bought its sequel, only to have had it sit on my bookshelf all this time with my excuse being that I wanted to re-read the first before starting this one. Well, that never happened, and finally the other day I picked it and plunged myself again into the kingdoms of Unauwen and Dagonaut, craftfully created through the pen of
...more
This book is outstanding. It's more complex, and more mysterious, than the first book, and I enjoyed parts of this book more. It was such an exciting read--I never knew how the book would end and couldn't put it down. It was honestly heartbreaking to finish! I'll be reading both books again many times, I sure!
...more
This was such a wonderful book.
First things first, this is such a beautiful book. When I first opened it there was a map on the inside and when you took of the dust cover there was a beautiful imprint on the book, just wow at the design on the whole book.
I am a big fan of fantasy books and this one is at the top for me. From the first page I was pulled into this fantasy world surrounded by all the wonderful characters.
I really love the world building in this book. I love how Tanke has built her ...more
First things first, this is such a beautiful book. When I first opened it there was a map on the inside and when you took of the dust cover there was a beautiful imprint on the book, just wow at the design on the whole book.
I am a big fan of fantasy books and this one is at the top for me. From the first page I was pulled into this fantasy world surrounded by all the wonderful characters.
I really love the world building in this book. I love how Tanke has built her ...more
I wanted to love this book, I really did! As much as 'The Letter...', the previous instalment of Tiuri's adventures - but I just didn't. I found the pace slower, the characterisation a little thinner (although I did love the deepened friendship with Piak), the structure more episodic and the tension less convincing. Saying all this, it's far, far from a bad book. It draws the reader into the world of Dagonaut and its medieval-style society, with fantasy elements that are subtler than dragons and
...more
Once again, Laura Watkinson has done a brilliant job translating Tonke Dragt's novel. Having now read it in the original language (multiple times) and this translation, I can say the translation stays very true to the original and the spirit of the book has remained the same.
On another note: I am so in love with the colouring of the maps that Neil Gower did! They're still a lot like the original, but more details have been added and the colours are stunning! ...more
On another note: I am so in love with the colouring of the maps that Neil Gower did! They're still a lot like the original, but more details have been added and the colours are stunning! ...more
Letter for the King was incredible. The second adventure is on a par. I feel there is a little snobbery. If this was a British or American author then these would be enormous with Hollywood movies being released and hundreds of boys being called Tuiri. Just go read it, young and old alike will love these adventures.
I just love the series so much, it was beautiful, suspenseful, thrilling and endearing. Just love Tiuri and Piak and the whole world Dragt created, life lessons I've learned and all the sites I visited in this world. Such a great series.
...more
Jan 10, 2016
Anneke
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-books,
dutch-books
One of my favourite children's book that I read over and over when I was younger. It's filled with adventure and friendship and is different enough to stay with you.
...more
Rambling Review
(Probably spoilers, but I personally think the book gets better on rereads anyway.)
- First of all Secrets of the Wild Wood is such a good book that pushes all buttons I don’t even realize I have.
- At the start, when they state that Piak still loves to go to high places <3
- The domestic scenes are the best!
- Ewijn has so little personality, but what he has is precious
- Btw the scene between Iridian and Kraton is great
- I. Love. Isadoro!!!
- She is a complex classical female characte ...more
(Probably spoilers, but I personally think the book gets better on rereads anyway.)
- First of all Secrets of the Wild Wood is such a good book that pushes all buttons I don’t even realize I have.
- At the start, when they state that Piak still loves to go to high places <3
- The domestic scenes are the best!
- Ewijn has so little personality, but what he has is precious
- Btw the scene between Iridian and Kraton is great
- I. Love. Isadoro!!!
- She is a complex classical female characte ...more
I love this book... it can be read by all different ages!! It’s amazing.. quite a bit off drama!!
This is the sequel to the first book ‘The Letter for the King’ to which high hopes were made and were still held for the second book. They were defiantly preserved; the book carried on the legacy of the first book while giving a whole new spark to Tiuri’s adventures.
Tonke Dragt's only sequel to The Letter for the King details the further adventures of Tiuri and his faithful squire Piak. Illustrated by the author in moody charcoal, The Secrets of the Wild Wood is a chivalric romance full of duels, arduous quests, haunted forests and courtly love.
Tiuri, newly knighted after his experiences in the first book, once again spurns social convention for the sake of personal honour when he forsakes the chance to march to war in order to fulfill a promise to Marius, ...more
Tiuri, newly knighted after his experiences in the first book, once again spurns social convention for the sake of personal honour when he forsakes the chance to march to war in order to fulfill a promise to Marius, ...more
Very enjoyable but a bit long and convoluted compared to the focus and drive of its predecessor.
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
The Secrets of The Wild Wood is the long awaited sequel to The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt and I was so pleased to see the return of Tiuri, Piak and lots of other familiar faces. This story continues as to what happened in the aftermath of Tirui delivering the important letter to the King. One of his knights has gone missing after being sent on a mission to The Wild Wood, which is thought to be enchanted and very few people ve ...more
The Secrets of The Wild Wood is the long awaited sequel to The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt and I was so pleased to see the return of Tiuri, Piak and lots of other familiar faces. This story continues as to what happened in the aftermath of Tirui delivering the important letter to the King. One of his knights has gone missing after being sent on a mission to The Wild Wood, which is thought to be enchanted and very few people ve ...more
Decent end to the series but I definitely thought this book wandered a bit.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
The bit with the Fool getting re-introduced was kinda random, and the only purpose he served was to act as a guide for Tiuri and Piak in the woods. His story is never quite resolved either, and we don't find out whether he was able to make it back home. It felt like the author needed a way for Tiuri and Piak to not get lost, and the Fool was her choice, but it didn't really make much sense. It' ...more
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
The bit with the Fool getting re-introduced was kinda random, and the only purpose he served was to act as a guide for Tiuri and Piak in the woods. His story is never quite resolved either, and we don't find out whether he was able to make it back home. It felt like the author needed a way for Tiuri and Piak to not get lost, and the Fool was her choice, but it didn't really make much sense. It' ...more
I know this might sound a little weird, but I enjoyed this book so much, I actually slept with it. Yeah. I know what your thinking, however I liked this book so much, I couldn’t put it back on my bookshelf.
I love the theme, although it’s not really the genre I would usually read. It has quite a few pages (around 500-600 I think), yet the author knows how to make every page count! The was a part, and excuse the SLIGHT SPOILERS, in which Piak got separated from Tuiri, and after a few chapters, I ...more
I love the theme, although it’s not really the genre I would usually read. It has quite a few pages (around 500-600 I think), yet the author knows how to make every page count! The was a part, and excuse the SLIGHT SPOILERS, in which Piak got separated from Tuiri, and after a few chapters, I ...more
Another solid and enjoyable read from Tonke Dragt, following on from the story of Tiuri in her other great book 'The Letter for the King'. This time we see Tiuri enter the mysterious and dangerous Wild Wood in search of a friend and there are more shenanigans going on from the country to the south, ruled by a power hungry King. This author is an excellent writer and despite the size of these stories, each one only took me a few days to read - utterly unputdownable. It did leave me thinking there
...more
Read this with my boys, aged 8 and 6, straight after finishing The Letter For The King earlier in the year. We absolutely loved both of these books. This definitely feels like a progression from the first novel in many ways—the main character seems to have matured and has a little bit of a love interest, and there are genuinely complex and profound issues tackled such as death, taking another person's life and Pyrrhic victories. If you're a family that reads together and enjoys a bit of fantasy
...more
Well, this turned out to be... underwhelming :/ DARN. After the first one I had such high expectations for this, but basically I was pretty bored the whole time. I think it mainly suffered from WAY TOO MANY CHARACTERS - there must have been 50 important named characters, who I couldn't keep track of. Additionally, the geography basically was integral to the story and I kept forgetting what the map looked like, so that also made it v v difficult.
ALSO, MOST UNDERUTILIZED CROSSDRESSING EVER. BOO.
S ...more
ALSO, MOST UNDERUTILIZED CROSSDRESSING EVER. BOO.
S ...more
Der Wilde Wald is the german translation of the "The Secrets of the Wild Wood". In the book we follow the young knight Tiuri and his squire Piak.
(view spoiler) ...more
(view spoiler) ...more
Having read the first book, Letter for the King, I was really looking forward to this sequel. It did not disappoint.
Tonke Dragt has a beautiful way of spinning a story. I was captivated from the first chapter and found it difficult to put the book down. I always know a book is good when I can play a movie of it in my head as I read. I had almost all the characters cast by the third chapter! David Heyman should get his hands on these two books. Or maybe Peter Jackson. If it's epic adventure wi ...more
Tonke Dragt has a beautiful way of spinning a story. I was captivated from the first chapter and found it difficult to put the book down. I always know a book is good when I can play a movie of it in my head as I read. I had almost all the characters cast by the third chapter! David Heyman should get his hands on these two books. Or maybe Peter Jackson. If it's epic adventure wi ...more
"The Secrets of the Wild Wood" comes after the book "The Letter for the King". "The Letter for the King" was one of the best books I had read in my life. It was full of mystery, adventure and there was a constant tension. "The Secrets of the Wild Woods" is exactly the same as the first book. It is about a knight, Tiuri who goes on an adventure through the mysterious "Wild Woods". Again, a lot of mystery and tension throughout the booked and this book kept me hooked until the last page. I definit
...more
Jan 16, 2009
Daisy
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
dutch-literature,
children-s-literature
Just like 'Letter for the King' is this another great and exciting story of Tiuri and Piak. This time they travel to the Wild Woods, where evil things are hidden...
Unfortunately I didn't read this book when I was a child, because now the store seems quite simple and predictable. But nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it and I wouldn't want to miss it! ...more
Unfortunately I didn't read this book when I was a child, because now the store seems quite simple and predictable. But nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it and I wouldn't want to miss it! ...more
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Tonke Dragt werd in 1930 geboren in Nederlands-Indië, en heeft daar het grootste deel van haar jeugd doorgebracht. In 1942 kwam ze met haar moeder en twee zusjes terecht in een Jappenkamp, en daar heeft ze ontdekt dat ze ze kon ‘ontsnappen’ door verhalen te verzinnen. Ze schreef en tekende in eerder gebruikte uitgegumde schriftjes en zelfs op wc-papier, want er was bijna niets. Samen met een vrien
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De brief voor de koning
(2 books)
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