Fantasy Book Review: Have Sword Will Travel

Have Sword Will Travel by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

Synopsis:
It is strange enough that Odo and Eleanor have stumbled upon a sword in a dried-up river outside their village. It is even stranger that Odo is able to remove it from where it’s buried. And it’s REMARKABLY strange when the sword starts to talk.

Odo and Eleanor have unearthed Biter, a famous fighter from earlier times. By finding Biter, Odo instantly becomes a knight – a role he is exquisitely unsuited for. Eleanor, however, would make a PERFECT knight — but she’s not the one with the sword.

Review:
Odo is a strong and humble young man who doesn’t have any desire to be a knight. Whereas the brave Eleanor dreams of being a night. But an enchanted sword chooses Odo to be a knight, when they pull it from the river. For their first quest, the friends decide to investigate the river drying up. Odo is convinced he can give up being a knight then and pass the honor to Eleanor.

Have Sword Will Travel is a fantasy for middle readers that all ages will enjoy. The story is full of humor, adventure, and excitement. It reminded me of one of my favorite fantasy authors – Lawrence Watt-Evans. Specifically, his classic – The Misenchanted Sword. I loved that both men and women can be knights in this land, and Eleanor has an attainable goal if she can prove herself. This is a fun story with engaging characters that I thoroughly enjoyed. I would love to read more adventures of Odo and Eleanor – this would make for a great series.

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