The Accidental Highwayman, Ben Tripp
The Accidental Highwayman, Ben Tripp
2 Rating(s)
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The Accidental Highwayman
Being the Tale of Kit Bristol, His Horse Midnight, a Mysterious Princess, and Sundry Magical Persons Besides

Author: Ben Tripp

Narrator: Steve West

Unabridged: 9 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/14/2014

Synopsis

The Accidental Highwayman is the first swashbuckling adventure for young adults by talented author and illustrator, Ben Tripp.
In eighteenth-century England, young Christopher "Kit" Bristol is the unwitting servant of notorious highwayman Whistling Jack. One dark night, Kit finds his master bleeding from a mortal wound, dons the man's riding cloak to seek help, and changes the course of his life forever. Mistaken for Whistling Jack and on the run from redcoats, Kit is catapulted into a world of magic and wonders he thought the stuff of fairy tales.
Bound by magical law, Kit takes up his master's quest to rescue a rebellious fairy princess from an arranged marriage to King George III of England. But his task is not an easy one, for Kit must contend with the feisty Princess Morgana, gobling attacks, and a magical map that portends his destiny: as a hanged man upon the gallows….
Fans of classic fairy-tale fantasies will find much to love in this irresistible YA debut by Ben Tripp, the son of one of America's most beloved illustrators, Wallace Tripp (Amelia Bedelia). Following in his father's footsteps, Ben has woven illustrations throughout the story.
"Delightful and charming. A swashbuckling adventure in the vein of Robert Louis Stevenson." —#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson

About Ben Tripp

Ben Tripp grew up in the US in a creative household of travelers and artists. He spent a year in England at age seven, followed by a year roaming throughout Europe in a VW camper van. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design for illustration and at the age of 22 he became the youngest show designer ever recruited by Disney to work at Walt Disney Imagineering. He is the author of the adult novels Rise Again, Rise Again: Below Zero, and Fifth Chamber of the Heart. The Accidental Highwayman is his first novel for young adults.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Rashika (is tired)

You, like me, might scoff and roll your eyes at how this book is being compared to The Princess Bride. It’s understandable to be wary considering what a masterpiece The Princess Bride was, but that said, don’t be. This book isn’t The Princess Bride but it’s definitely written in the fashion of it an......more

Goodreads review by Gavin

I'll keep this brief as I do not want to waste any more of my time on this book. It was a total bore. I did not care for either the characters or the happenings. Even the humor fell flat. I'm very disappointed as the synopsis and the title both made this sound like it would be a very fun read. It wa......more

Goodreads review by Choko

*** 3.25 *** There is nothing really wrong with this book. It is actually pleasant and has a ton of potential, it is just missing that special spark, that would make it special... It checks all the boxes that, in theory, should make it perfect for me, but it just doesn't get quite there .. Maybe for......more

Goodreads review by Jacob

My opinion of this book wavered greatly while reading it. It started off amusing, but sank almost to boredom around a third through. Indeed, I let it sit for nearly a week and only cracked it open to retrieve my bookmark. That point happened to be particularly engaging, though, with a few laugh-out-......more

Quotes

“Delightful and charming. A swashbuckling adventure in the vein of Robert Louis Stevenson.” —#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson

“Readers will root for star-crossed lovers, Kit and Morgana, and delight in their ‘opposites attract' romance, drawn onward by a rollicking plot…. Fantasy readers, especially fans of Catherynne Valente's work, will enjoy the author's elegant turns of phrase. A first purchase for all fantasy collections.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review

“Spells, wishes and fantastical creatures aside, this rollicking yarn owes more to R.L. Stevenson than J.K. Rowling. Kit's wry voice provides a fine pastiche of old-fashioned tale-telling… enlivened by breakneck pacing, colorful similes and a sly wit aimed at modern sensibilities…. Kit himself is as brave, clever and good-natured an orphan lad as ever buckled a swash. The promise of more adventures to come provides happily-ever-after enough. They can still write 'em like they used to; hurrah!” —Kirkus Reviews

“While the journey isn't quick, it never grows tedious--danger, magic, and intrigue wait at every turn. Tripp infuses his story with whimsy, humor, and derring-do, and his miniature spot illustrations and handful of lovely full-page pieces add to the overall charm.” —Publishers Weekly

“Tripp builds a richly imagined fantasy world, captured both in Kit's dry, witty first-person narrative and Tripp's detailed illustrations. The complex political machinations… make for a compelling and quietly sinister background thrum that builds until the exciting concluding battle, which handily leaves room for more adventures in the planned trilogy. Fans of classic adventure will find plenty to like here.” —Booklist

Awards

  • Junior Library Guild Selection
  • School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
  • School Library Best Books of the Year
  • Audie Award Finalist
  • YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults
  • ALA Best Books for Young Adults
  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Guide to the 100 Best Books of the Year
  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Best Books of the Year
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