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Description
Nahoko Uehashi's The Beast Player is an epic YA fantasy about a girl with a special power to communicate with magical beasts and the warring kingdom only she can save. Elin's family has an important responsibility: caring for the fearsome water serpents that form the core of their kingdom's army. So when some of the beasts mysteriously die, Elin's mother is sentenced to death as punishment. With her last breath she manages to send her daughter to safety. Alone, far from home, Elin soon discovers that she can talk to both the terrifying water serpents and the majestic flying beasts that guard her queen. This skill gives her great powers, but it also involves her in deadly plots that could cost her life. Can she save herself and prevent her beloved beasts from being used as tools of war? Or is there no way of escaping the terrible battles to come?… (more)
Publication
Square Fish (2020), 368 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member electrascaife
Elin is the daughter of an outcast; her mother is a foreigner who was loved by the prince of the people they now live among, loathed yet needed by them for her special ability to care for and train the water beasts -the Toda - that they use as weapons. But when one of the beasts dies, she is
Hm. It's...okay. The story is fine: it's fairly interesting if not wholly original - it's so much in the vein of the How to Train Your Dragon movies (*not* the books) in concept (and minus the humor) that it's difficult to believe either that Uehashi was heavily influenced by the movies or that both have been influenced by another, older work (which seems more likely, really). The dialogue is stilted in places, although I'm not sure whether that's an issue with the original text or a product of the translation. Overall, I enjoyed this one fine, although I'm not invested enough to read the second volume.
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sentenced to death. She leaves Elin saved yet orphaned, carried on the back of one of the warrior beasts to another life, but one in which she will return to the skills of her ancestors, possibly dooming the kingdom with the discovery of her birthright abilities to communicate with Toda and Royal Beasts alike.Hm. It's...okay. The story is fine: it's fairly interesting if not wholly original - it's so much in the vein of the How to Train Your Dragon movies (*not* the books) in concept (and minus the humor) that it's difficult to believe either that Uehashi was heavily influenced by the movies or that both have been influenced by another, older work (which seems more likely, really). The dialogue is stilted in places, although I'm not sure whether that's an issue with the original text or a product of the translation. Overall, I enjoyed this one fine, although I'm not invested enough to read the second volume.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in The Beast Player duology. I borrowed this on audiobook from the library.
Thoughts: I really loved this and thought it was incredibly well written. I enjoyed the characters, the world, and, of course, the Royal Beasts. I am eager to start the second book
The book mainly follows Elin. Initially, Elin lives with her mother in a small town where her mother is responsible for caring for the serpent-like beasts (Toda) that they raise there. When disaster strikes, and Elin's mom is sentenced to death, Elin's mother saves Elin by sending her off on the back of a serpent. Suddenly Elin is all alone and left to fend for herself. Luckily, she finds a kind old teacher who helps raise her and helps her realize her talent, with not only the serpents, but also the Royal Beasts. As the world discovers Elin's talent for communicating with all of these "beasts" she quickly gets drawn into dangerous politics.
I really loved this book a lot. I especially loved the beginning where Elin is living with the teacher and learning all about nature and wildlife. I didn't enjoy the end as much, as Elin gets drawn into the politics of the world. The Royal Beasts are definitely front and center and are one of the things I adored most about this book. My only complaint is I had trouble picturing what both them (the Royal Beasts) and the Toda look like. The Toda are serpent-like creatures. I pictured the Royal Beasts more like griffins or dragons but looking at the cover of the book now it seems like maybe they are something else completely.
I loved the characters in this book. Elin is a quiet but stubborn and patient girl who looks at the world through very different eyes than most people do. This allows her to do things and communicate with the Royal Beasts in ways that other people can't imagine. I loved watching her learn and loved that she found people who were willing to take a chance on her and work to understand her points of view.
The writing is beautifully done and has a very peaceful, tranquil quality to it (at least for the beginning of the book). The settings are well described and the characters are very engaging. I loved all we learnt about beekeeping in the beginning and really enjoyed watching Elin apply those lessons to the Royal Beasts.
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend reading this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks. The narration was very well done.
Just a caution that this does end at a low point and pretty much right in the middle of the story. So make sure you have "The Beast Warrior" on hand if you don't like cliffhangers.
My Summary (4.5/5): Overall I really enjoyed this book. It's an intriguing world, with wonderful characters, some adventure and of course amazing beasts. If you enjoy reading about things like dragons or other animals you will probably enjoy this. It is beautifully written and very thoughtful and I really enjoyed it. I am definitely planning on picking up the final book in this duology "The Beast Warrior" soon.
Thoughts: I really loved this and thought it was incredibly well written. I enjoyed the characters, the world, and, of course, the Royal Beasts. I am eager to start the second book
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in this duology.The book mainly follows Elin. Initially, Elin lives with her mother in a small town where her mother is responsible for caring for the serpent-like beasts (Toda) that they raise there. When disaster strikes, and Elin's mom is sentenced to death, Elin's mother saves Elin by sending her off on the back of a serpent. Suddenly Elin is all alone and left to fend for herself. Luckily, she finds a kind old teacher who helps raise her and helps her realize her talent, with not only the serpents, but also the Royal Beasts. As the world discovers Elin's talent for communicating with all of these "beasts" she quickly gets drawn into dangerous politics.
I really loved this book a lot. I especially loved the beginning where Elin is living with the teacher and learning all about nature and wildlife. I didn't enjoy the end as much, as Elin gets drawn into the politics of the world. The Royal Beasts are definitely front and center and are one of the things I adored most about this book. My only complaint is I had trouble picturing what both them (the Royal Beasts) and the Toda look like. The Toda are serpent-like creatures. I pictured the Royal Beasts more like griffins or dragons but looking at the cover of the book now it seems like maybe they are something else completely.
I loved the characters in this book. Elin is a quiet but stubborn and patient girl who looks at the world through very different eyes than most people do. This allows her to do things and communicate with the Royal Beasts in ways that other people can't imagine. I loved watching her learn and loved that she found people who were willing to take a chance on her and work to understand her points of view.
The writing is beautifully done and has a very peaceful, tranquil quality to it (at least for the beginning of the book). The settings are well described and the characters are very engaging. I loved all we learnt about beekeeping in the beginning and really enjoyed watching Elin apply those lessons to the Royal Beasts.
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend reading this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks. The narration was very well done.
Just a caution that this does end at a low point and pretty much right in the middle of the story. So make sure you have "The Beast Warrior" on hand if you don't like cliffhangers.
My Summary (4.5/5): Overall I really enjoyed this book. It's an intriguing world, with wonderful characters, some adventure and of course amazing beasts. If you enjoy reading about things like dragons or other animals you will probably enjoy this. It is beautifully written and very thoughtful and I really enjoyed it. I am definitely planning on picking up the final book in this duology "The Beast Warrior" soon.
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Language
Original language
Japanese
Physical description
8.29 inches
ISBN
1250233267 / 9781250233264