The Firebird
Sophie Masson

A Hodder Sci Fi/Fantasy Book 2001

249p pbk  $16.95

0-7336-1307-1         

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Ivan is the youngest son of the powerful and greedy Tsar Demyan and is resigned to a life of misery and humiliation at the hands of his brothers – Yuri and Igor.  The girl Ivan has loved forever, Princess Tamara, has been promised in marriage to Yuri.  Then Ivan sees the Firebird alighting on the golden apple tree.  His father is obsessed and sends his sons out on a quest to capture and bring the bird to him.  Ivan’s determined to find the bird before his brothers but does he realise what he is getting into?

The Firebird is a mixture of fantasy and science fiction.  By the language, choice of style and presentation used, one would guess that this book is for young teenagers and it is a read alone book, however it could be read aloud, chapter by chapter.  The choice of topic is good and the quality of the storyline is not bad.  It would appeal to young teenagers.  However, having to wear glasses, I found the text hard to read and other readers with glasses may need to take this into account.

I did not enjoy this book.  I found it hard to get into; because it was hard to read because of the font and it did not suck me into the story.   However, I would still suggest others read this book as all books are worth reading and many people will be of a different mind then myself.

Carmen, aged 17, Burnie, Tasmania

Ivan is the youngest son of the greedy ‘Tsar Demyan’.  His brothers, Yuri and Igor, constantly torment him. Ivan’s father cares nothing about Ivan and very little about his brothers, because he is very selfish and wants everything for himself.  Ivan has grown up with the lovely Princess Tamara whom he has loved all his life, and is heartbroken when Tamara is promised to his brother Yuri.  One day Ivan sees the magical firebird sitting on the golden apple tree in his father’s garden.  As soon as the Tsar finds out, he becomes obsessed with the firebird, and sends his sons to find it and bring it back to the palace.  Ivan is determined to get to the firebird first, because he knows that if he can hold the bird for more than an instant he will then possess the power of the firebird – which will mean that his brothers can never torment him again.  Ivan’s journey is full of magical, mythical and mysterious things.

This book belongs in both the fantasy and action genres and will appeal to those who enjoy adventures with mythical creatures, princes and princess.  I would recommend it to people aged  13 years and over.  Anyone younger may not understand some of the words. 

I would have given the basic storyline only 6 out of 10 because I have read many books with storylines that are similar, but once you add in the characters and their personalities, and the mythical creatures, the story becomes exciting and enjoyable to read.  I enjoyed The Firebird a lot and it kept me wanting to read more.  I would give it 9 out of 10 and definitely recommend it to others.

Damita, aged 13, Burnie, Tasmania

Ivan is the lowly son of a tsar in Russia, his father dislikes Ivan because he does not praise him up like his other two sons do, but Ivan knows that his two elder brothers are mean and evil, but hasn’t the courage or the heart to do anything about it. Then one day he is walking in his father’s sacred garden and he sees a beautiful bird on his father’s most precious tree, the tree of Avalon whose apples grant the eater immortality. The tree has only one apple on it and the tsar has ordered guards to stand around it. The bird eats the apple and Ivan fearing that his father will catch the bird and cage it, scares it away. It leaves a feather behind and when the tsar sees it he sends his sons on a quest to find the mystical fire bird and bring it back to him. Now Ivan’s eldest brother is due to wed Ivan’s childhood sweetheart to whom Ivan still has affections for, so he vows to get to the fire bird first and stop his brothers from capturing it themselves. So starts a magical adventure into the heart of Russian fairy tales…

The book has an enthralling plot and a very good ending. The story is quite good but leaves a few small loose ends. I would recommend that anyone who likes a good fairy tale type story should read it.

Sam, aged 15, Canberra, ACT

The Firebird by Sophie Masson is somewhat an awe-inspiring novel because of the complexity of the plot. It involves a fantasia of characters and describes a long journey of trust and faith. After Ivan (son of the Tsar of Marossiya) sees the legendary Firebird alighting on the golden apple tree in his father’s garden, his father becomes obsessed with the magical creature and orders his sons out on a quest to capture it for him.

This adventure is the most exciting and intriguing part of the narrative and entices the reader to comprehend and relate with it. The novel has two main genres, which are romance and fantasy. The author, through the characters, cleverly explores romance, with several different relationships developing as the story progresses.

Reading this book was not a chore or hassle but an easy relaxing break from schoolwork because of the fast-paced, action-packed, storyline. So, personally, I recommend this book for the more capable and mature readers because there are some complex themes.