I love Zilpha! And I love this book! A young boy goes out into the world with his "dog" and rescues his father from the dungeon without bloodshed -- what is not to love? Brings back happy memories of when the boys were little. ( )

Fun enough little adventure, but without Snyder's magic touch. ?áI prefer Adam of the Road, which is more historical, less fantastical. ( )

I think this is probably Snyder's most successful book since her heyday of the late '60s and early '70s, which is unusual, because it's also one of her very rare forays into true fantasy (as opposed to her more common fantasy-tinged realistic stories). It's also unusual in that the book follows a pretty traditional adventure plot - a boy escaping his father's captors and trying to survive - without taking on any popular young adult "issues."

That doesn't stop Snyder from her trademark examinations of childhood fears and concerns, though, especially those surrounding a child's understanding of a seemingly "weak" parent. Add to that the fun and imagination of Snyder's faux medieval world, where gargoyles might just come to life, and you have a very solid and enjoyable novel perfect for any 10- or 11-year-old. ( )

This is the most charming book I've read in quite some time. I loved Snyder's The Egypt Game and Libby On Wednesdays as a kid and enjoyed this book as an adult. Set in an anonymous (though rather European) medieval world, it features endearing characters, tense escape and action scenes, and a very adult portrayal of politics and social commentary for anyone willing to look for such. I'm not going to say anything else about it, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who might one day read it.