The magician's trap

by Eileen Piper

Vintage Children's book

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens

79 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Capn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harold the Daring was a young prince with a taste for adventure. His exploits were known far and wide, and so Duke Rollo, the evil magician envious of the King and his lands, hatched a plan to trap the foolhardy prince at the bottom of the Sargasso sea.

As you would expect, the prince succumbs to the magician's trap, and the King seeks a champion to rescue his son in return for 12 barrels of gold. Three men (a knight, a lion tamer, and a thief) accept the challenge to rescue Prince Harold. Three men fail. Elsa, the blind girl, accompanied by a turtle (a sea turtle, I presume, though it wasn't drawn that way) succeeds.

Favourite aspects of this were the Sargasso tea that allows one to breathe at the bottom of the Sargasso sea; and the illustrations (black and white) were very interesting, the faces of the characters being quite detailed. Points in favour for Elsa's bravery, but points against for the too easy solution of marrying the prince and having her sight restored, because there was a great bit where the turtle asks if she won't use the one wish to restore her sight rather than restore the prince to the King, and she declines. I thought we'd hear about how her blindness was her advantage, her special skill. She gets the gift of sight anyway in the end, and is overjoyed and marries the prince and yadda yadda yadda. Stock stuff. Ah well.

[Kate Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has stayed with me since childhood. I have often thought about it over the years. It truly made a strong impression on me. I remember it very fondly and am now seeking it out for my own children.

[Jeff Cliff · Rating 1 out of 5]

cute. -1 star for being still under copyright

[Laurah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books growing up. The story holds up thirty some years later. I finally got to read it to my son last night and we both loved it. Also, the illustrations in this book are amazing!

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite book as a child. I think because it was so different from everything else. Great story.