Defender of the Realm: 1

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This is not a bad read, barring my inability to really tell whether this is YA or middle grade, the two occasionally overlap and this feels like a good transition point from one to the other. Alfie is resilient, stubborn and tougher than he looks, the product of all the setbacks he’s faced in life including the divorce of his parents and the death of his father. Alfie is so uncertain of himself but when he comes into his own it gives you such a victorious feeling. King Alfie must raise an army and take back his country – or is that exactly what Lock’s evil master wants him to do?

My personal favourite history lesson of the book is that Vikings didn't have horns on their helmets (as this was the first lesson we were taught at uni). It really is an upgrade of an iconic classic, whilst being loyal to the past with its flat back, rounded front and rounded lights. It makes me feel like an advocate or ambassador for the Defender, when I thought I would most likely be a critic. Just having defeated the Black Dragon at his coronation, Alfie is trying to focus on making less of a fool of himself in his day job, something the Prime Minister is keen to encourage as much as possible, when a new threat hits the Kingdom. The main theme is responsibility, and the core message is about the difference between having superpowers and being a hero.The second book in the series DEFENDER OF THE REALM: DARK AGE was published in June 2017 and the thrilling conclusion to the trilogy, DEFENDER OF THE REALM: KING'S ARMY is published 7th June 2018 by Scholastic. L'idée d'un monarque à la double vie est excellente, même si l'histoire ne nous présente pas un garçon à la hauteur du rôle dévolu. Language:PG (1 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content:G; Violence:PG-13 (impaling with description of bloodshed). cards, including 23 from the original game, 9 from the Dragon Expansion, and 52 that are brand new to the game. Alfie is trying to save the Kingdom by night, rule it by day and keep his family together, all the while knowing if he fails, we could be thrown into another dark age.

Not just the two protagonists, but every side character has moments to show who they truly are, and I found that enjoyable. A legendary superhero, fighting a secret, centuries-long, battle to protect the nation from monsters and super-villains. The boxy design of the original Defender has circumnavigated the world with iconic shots of the Defender everywhere you can possibly go on the planet. Defender of the Realm is funny and heart-warming and beautifully British in both its subject matter and sense of humour. I wrestled with whether to give it four or three stars, but because of some issues I had with the pacing in the later chapters, I ultimately bumped it down.Both my kids loved it (my 11 year-old has read it 5 times and passed it round all her friends, urging them to read it so they can discuss it).