Publication Date: 6 January 2022

The Blurb

Around the unfriendly, rocky island of Brutalia, the waves are awash with brave sea-farers, on a treasure hunt for their demanding Queen. Among them is Mort, but rather than hunt for treasure, he’s more interested in looking for his family who are lost at sea. Unfortunately, his shipmate Punky has her eyes firmly on the prize.

But when the pair find the tentacle of a mythical sea creature, their adventure takes a dramatic turn. Is this the prize-winning treasure Punky and the Queen seek? Or could it be a monstrous twist in Mort’s rescue mission?

The Review

Having loved Mort when I met him in the Ravens’ Revenge, I was delighted to be heading back to Brutalia for his second outing in this brilliantly funny series.

The laughs, puns and word play come thick and fast from the very first page as the reader is warned what is to come, a tale dark and grim, as the Queen declares herself a God and is even more unpleasant than when we first met her.

Mort holds firm to his pacifist beliefs in the face of his treasure hunting partner, Punky, who lives up to her hard as nails, rock-crusher stereotype until he comes face to face with the terrifying sea monster that has probably eaten his Dad and siblings. We see how hate can harden the kindest of hearts, impede rational thinking and damage friendships as Mort becomes set on revenge.

I love how Punky evolves through the story and realises that she doesn’t have to follow the path set out for her, and how through asking difficult questions of himself, Mort is able to find his way back to himself. His ability to see the best in people and find peaceful resolutions to the most difficult situations might make him a wimp in the harsh world of Brutalia, but has won him a place in the bookshelf in my heart.

George Ermos’s illustrations throughout the book bring the characters and settings to life in his wonderfully warm and witty style, and lobsters Larry and Bruce set the tone for each chapter perfectly with their jokes.

Great for fans of:

• The Nothing To See Here Hotel by Steven Butler and Steven Lenton
• Stitch Head by Guy Bass and Pete Williamson
• Mold And The Poison Plot by Lorraine Gregory

Huge thanks to Little Tiger Press for sending me a copy and inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour for Mort The Meek And The Monsterous Quest. Do make sure you check out all of the other stops.