A classic children's series that hopefully will still be loved decades into the future. For fans of Watership Down or the Redwall books. Prepare to be dazzled by your new favourite author.

I loved this book!
Podkin One-Ear is a legend among the rabbits, but where did his story start? A traveling bard shows up at the Warren on Midwinter night and tells the story of how little Podkin lost his ear and became a great warrior.

Podkin One-Ear

written by Keiran Larwood

illustrated by David Wyatt

288 pages in hardback

Paperback out March 2017



Summary from Faber & Faber the publishers

A thick white blanket covers the wide slopes of the band of hills known as the Razorback Downs . . .

Podkin is the son of a warrior chieftain. He knows that one day it will be up to him to lead his warren and guard it in times of danger. But for now, he’s quite happy to laze around annoying his older sister Paz, and playing with his baby brother Pook. Then Podkin’s home is brutally attacked, and the young rabbits are forced to flee. The terrifying Gorm are on the rampage, and no one and nowhere is safe. With danger all around them, Podkin must protect his family, uncover his destiny, and attempt to defeat the most horrifying enemy rabbitkind has ever known.

*****

Winner of the Best Story Blue Peter Book Award 2017

Fighting rabbits, ancient evil threatening the balance of nature and a good dollop of humour make Podkin One-Ear a pleasure to read. The way the countryside comes to life through adventure fits well with books like The Rising by Tom Moorhouse and of course, Watership Down by Richard Adams. However, it's much easier to read than the 1972 classic - and with rather stronger female characters and a lot more fun.

The confident old-school telling of the story with a narrator gives warmth and reassurance ideal for younger readers or listeners. It would work well as a book to share with a group of children (not surprisingly since the author is a teacher). The artwork by David Wyatt beautifully underlines the epic nature of the tale - these are not cute fluffy bunnies.

Expect peril, magic, cunning and a few laughs amongst all the action. Pause to enjoy moments of loveliness - and shiver with horror on occasion. With family and nature at the heart of the tale, (a little like The Dark is Rising books by Susan Cooper) Podkin One-Ear will suit reasonably confident readers in primary school.

I'm happy to report there's a sequel due out in October - if it's as good, The Five Realms series could become a much-thumbed favourite on many shelves.

This title was labeled as Redwall meets The Hobbit and I found this to be delightfully true! The characters were an intriguing rag-tag bunch of bunnies that I feel emotionally invested in now and I can't want to read more about them! I will definitely be able to recommend this to young readers looking for a mix of animals and adventure!

Let’s be honest here. As soon as I saw this on NetGalley, realized it was about rabbits, and was compared to WATERSHIP DOWN, I smashed that request button. Thankfully, HMH has been unbelievably kind to me in accepting my ARC requests and I was approved the next day.

This is definitely a middle grade book. I’ve seen a few reviews on Goodreads that say the book is childish and I mean… yes, it totally is. Because it’s intended audience is definitely in the lower part of the middle grade demographic. However, I enjoyed this book tremendously.

Our book starts out with a bard coming to a warren on Bramblemass Eve. In exchange for room and board, he tells the warren a little known story about Podkin One-Ear. We learn that most stories the rabbits have heard about Podkin have been when he was older and more established as a leader. This bard tells the story of Podkin as a child, before he lost his ear, and before he was the brave rabbit of legend.

Since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed stories about anthropomorphic animals, especially rabbits, and PODKIN ONE-EAR did not disappoint me. I read this one to my godkids and they enjoyed it as well. Larwood does a great job in creating a very diverse cast of rabbits and took pains to show that even good people (rabbits) will do things that are not so good in order to protect themselves. We also get just regular ol’ villians and people who just want to do good, no matter the personal cost. I particularly enjoyed that the hero Podkin seeks out is a blind warrior who is still a great warrior despite being struck blind years ago by a witch.

The villains in this story are truly terrifying. Rabbits who have been taken over by a long forgotten god and are turned into iron clad monsters. Some of the scenes were a little heavy for my younger godkids, so I wouldn’t definitely take care before letting your own young ones read this, especially if they are easily frightened.

The artwork in the book is BEAUTIFUL. There are several illustrations that I would love to have as posters. I think the illustrator did a fantastic job in capturing the different moments shown.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes a story with tiny heroes!

Podkin is next in line to be chieftain in his hollow, but he's not too interested in learning the skills he needs to use. When they get attacked by the Gorm, only he and his older sister and younger brother escape. His father dies and he's afraid his mother might have died, too. He's on the run but he's not sure where to go...

Clarion Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published September 5th.

Following a note from their mother, they make their way to another rabbit warren, where a lone rabbit resides. She's a witch and they're not sure if she's kind or not but they find out she is. They stay there long enough to recover from their run and the cold they suffered. Then she sends them on again to another hollow that the rabbits who escaped the Gorm are hiding. It's an overcrowded bad smelling place. They are looking for a mercenary soldier who will lead them to safe ground and protect them from the Gorms. All Podkin could trade for was a blind old rabbit who was a soldier in the past. He's got skills though, even if he doesn't have his sight.

The Gorm keep coming and Podkin and his family try to evade them at each location. But when Podkin finds where they have caged their captives, he knows his mother is in the bunch and he wants to rescue her. He puts together a madcap plan, uses the friends he's made, and the witch helps.

The story teller goes through the tale and is asked if he's Podkin. He assures him he's not. But there's a little twist at the end of the story that made me smile.

Here's a grand tale of brave rabbits who fight for right and good, how could you not like it?

This is one heck of an adventurous romp with one of the sweetest, lovable heroes ever. Perfect for lovers (or future fans of) the Redwall series!

I have never wanted to read Watership Down and wasn't keen on reading a "bunny" fantasy initially.

However within the first few pages I changed my mind. This is the nearest equivalent to The Hobbit I have read.

Podkin is the spoilt lazy son of the chief on the Munbury Burrow. He doesn't take much interest in the weapon training classes or map reading (whereas his sister Paz does)

One fateful day the evil iron- clad Gorm arrive (think of Star Trek's The Borg) and invade the Burrow. Will the children escape and if so what can young rabbits do against these mechanistic Gorm who are taking over the Rabbit world?

The story is told as part of a storytelling by a Bard , as the rabbits celebrate Bramblemas , with some funny asides from the young audience and some comments on what makes a good story

"so this is just made up then...Well if you're going to make up a story anyway, you might as well put in vampire rabbits. Vampire rabbits are exciting "

Podkin is like Bilbo Baggins in being an unlikely, at times comic hero but with deeply hidden pockets of courage. There is also a magic weapon which aids him

Larwood creates a completely realised "secondary" world with its own belief system ( the Goddess Rabbit ) culture, traditions and society. You really believe in this other world which is the hallmark of a great fantasy.

Wyatt's atmospheric illustrations hark back to the Anglo-Saxon times of a "mead hall" as in Tolkien's Rohan and Meduseld.

I loved this fantasy with its echoes of Anglo-Saxon/ Norse myths although it is truly originally brilliant too.

We will be handselling this book to customers as it is Waterstones Children's Book of the Month. This is one I can genuinely recommend without reservation.

This might be the best childrens book I have read in a long time. Brilliantly written, an exciting story and lovable characters. I can't wait to recommend this to my customers

This book tells the story of Podkin, his sister Paz and little brother Pook. It is well written with vivid descriptions that transport you to the Lanica five realms, in this realm humans are extinct and the animals are the intellectual and dominant beings. They escape with the help of their aunt and go on the run from the Gorms who overtook their warren, killing and transforming others by evil works, Their journey to safety is filled with unexpected perils, hard lessons about family love, and other adventurous and thrilling things. All this with the Gorms following them, seeking to get their father's magic blade which was given to them by their aunt as per their parents request. This story creeps upon you and you are soon in its grasp, you just want to keep on reading, it is that gripping. Awesome work and well written.