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Floramonde #3
Victor's Quest
This is a light-hearted, humorous fantasy for newly independent readers. The queen sends her son Prince Victor (who is not very smart) and his horse Quince (who is) on a quest to find a beautiful princess for Victor to marry. Bravely they venture into the Dark Forest of Nevermore, populated by Very Large and Ferocious Orange Bats, a flock of Eagles and a witch casting sinister spells. But though Victor sails through his many trials and tribulations with flying colours, the girl he meets is not a princess at all! 'But she will be after she marries me,' says Victor, sending his mother into a flap!
76 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Pamela Freeman
47 books146 followersPamela Freeman is an Australian author of books for both adults and children. Most of her work is fantasy but she has also written mystery stories, science fiction, family dramas and non-fiction. Her first adult series, the Castings Trilogy (Blood Ties, Deep Water and Full Circle) is published globally by Orbit books. She is best known in Australia for the junior novel Victor’s Quest and an associated series, the Floramonde books, and for The Black Dress: Mary MacKillop’s Early Years, which won the NSW Premier’s History Prize in 2006.
As of 2015, she will also be publishing historical novels under the name Pamela Hart.
As of 2015, she will also be publishing historical novels under the name Pamela Hart.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 7, 2017
A simple, sweet, humorous story for young readers who are just starting to get to the novel stage. It is a great play on stereotypes, light-hearted and quirky. Because he’s a Prince, Victor must go on a quest because his mother says that’s simply what you do when you’re a Prince. He must endure perilous adventures, find a princess, rescue her and bring her home to wed.
Victor is such a sweet character. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed and the reason why he’s not too afraid of going on this quest is not because he’s particularly brave, but because he ‘had almost no imagination.’ ‘A person with imagination... would think about ghosts and wailing banshees, and would get very nervous waiting for something to drop down out of the branches’ when riding through the Dark Forest of Nevermore. But all Victor was thinking about was the pumpkin scones and apples he was going to eat for lunch soon.
I love Freeman’s simple but effective writing style. She says a lot with only a few words. ‘She leaned forward and kissed him. He spilt his custard.’
It’s full of funny, interesting characters, unexpected surprises and little giggles everywhere. A very endearing story.
Victor is such a sweet character. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed and the reason why he’s not too afraid of going on this quest is not because he’s particularly brave, but because he ‘had almost no imagination.’ ‘A person with imagination... would think about ghosts and wailing banshees, and would get very nervous waiting for something to drop down out of the branches’ when riding through the Dark Forest of Nevermore. But all Victor was thinking about was the pumpkin scones and apples he was going to eat for lunch soon.
I love Freeman’s simple but effective writing style. She says a lot with only a few words. ‘She leaned forward and kissed him. He spilt his custard.’
It’s full of funny, interesting characters, unexpected surprises and little giggles everywhere. A very endearing story.
April 13, 2010
This was the book that got me into reading!
May 25, 2024
Victor was stupid, or so most people thought, especially his mother. She sent him on a quest to find his princess and save her.
He sets out on his horse Quince on an adventure into the Dark Forest of Nevermore, populated by Very Large and Ferocious Orange Bats, a flock of Eagles, and a witch casting sinister spells. But though Victor sails through his many trials and tribulations with flying colours, the girl he meets is not a princess at all!
'But she will be after she marries me,' says Victor, sending his mother into a flap!
This is a charming little book. I love Pamela Freeman's books, and this is no exception. With illustrations by Kim Gamble famous for the Tashi series of books, you can't help but be delighted with this tale.
He sets out on his horse Quince on an adventure into the Dark Forest of Nevermore, populated by Very Large and Ferocious Orange Bats, a flock of Eagles, and a witch casting sinister spells. But though Victor sails through his many trials and tribulations with flying colours, the girl he meets is not a princess at all!
'But she will be after she marries me,' says Victor, sending his mother into a flap!
This is a charming little book. I love Pamela Freeman's books, and this is no exception. With illustrations by Kim Gamble famous for the Tashi series of books, you can't help but be delighted with this tale.
July 4, 2024
Freeman Frolics #1
Part way through a series but I decided to read it anyway, and I suspect it did not make much difference.
Average read, quite forgettable, and well not much else to say.
Some will like, some won't and other like this reader will be indifferent.
Part way through a series but I decided to read it anyway, and I suspect it did not make much difference.
Average read, quite forgettable, and well not much else to say.
Some will like, some won't and other like this reader will be indifferent.
January 2, 2014
Read this back in 2006 when I was in primary school. I think I was 7 years old at the time.
This was the first actual book I read and I will never forget it because it was my gateway book to the world of fiction!
Once I finished this book, I was motivated to read more books. By then end of the school year, I had finished over 10 actual novels!
It had some great elements. Easy to understand, fast paced story, and overall a great book for children!
This was the first actual book I read and I will never forget it because it was my gateway book to the world of fiction!
Once I finished this book, I was motivated to read more books. By then end of the school year, I had finished over 10 actual novels!
It had some great elements. Easy to understand, fast paced story, and overall a great book for children!
April 17, 2013
Aw, it seemed so much longer when I was a child, still great though :)
February 19, 2014
Just finished reading this to my year 3/4 class. They loved it. Some great descriptions that are excellent for predicting and visualisation lessons.
January 21, 2015
This is a great quest for kids. Victor our quirky hero embarks upon a journey, drawing upon his strengths, wit courage and kindness.
May 4, 2012
Not what I'm supposed to be reading. WOOPS :D
April 25, 2017
Pamela Freeman has written a beautiful children’s fantasy bursting with down to earth characters who are full of surprises and fun.
Prince Victor is off to find himself a princess to marry. There is just one problem, Victor isn’t a heroic prince in the conventional sense. He isn’t very smart and he's really only going because his mother wants him to. The queen wants him to ride a fiery stead when rescuing his damsel in distress. Victor takes his old trusty mare Quince along. Thankfully, Quince is very smart.
With useful gifts and advice from his friend and his pack full of muffins Victor heads off. His comical encounters lead him through the Dark Forest of Nevermore, home to ferocious giant bats. He must outwit a witch, who is desperately in need of hand cream, help out a flock of eagles and conquer a mysterious mountain.
Will Victor find the princess he is supposed to marry or will his quest be too much?
Pamela’s writing is fresh and lively and Victor is an endearing character. This book is a lot of fun. My young sons and I listened to it on audio book during school runs and when it finished we started it all over again.
Prince Victor is off to find himself a princess to marry. There is just one problem, Victor isn’t a heroic prince in the conventional sense. He isn’t very smart and he's really only going because his mother wants him to. The queen wants him to ride a fiery stead when rescuing his damsel in distress. Victor takes his old trusty mare Quince along. Thankfully, Quince is very smart.
With useful gifts and advice from his friend and his pack full of muffins Victor heads off. His comical encounters lead him through the Dark Forest of Nevermore, home to ferocious giant bats. He must outwit a witch, who is desperately in need of hand cream, help out a flock of eagles and conquer a mysterious mountain.
Will Victor find the princess he is supposed to marry or will his quest be too much?
Pamela’s writing is fresh and lively and Victor is an endearing character. This book is a lot of fun. My young sons and I listened to it on audio book during school runs and when it finished we started it all over again.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews