The Legend of Hobart

The Legend of Hobart is a really cute little fantasy adventure about a little boy who dreams of being a heroic knight, despite his current status as the nervous little boy who gets picked on by his peers daily. That opportunity comes knocking, and Hobart sets about earning his way into Knight School with a few hard-earned wins to his name. This was a cute, quick read, and I really think it will capture young imaginations. This is exactly the sort of book I’ll be offering to my daughter when she’s looking for fantasy reads at around 8-10 years old. I do appreciate the fact that this book addresses kids being made fun of by their peers for things they can’t control, like their given names, and I hope this will be one of those stories that make kids feel better about themselves and perhaps even teach them to stand up to their bullies. This book isn’t without its flaws. As another reviewer pointed out before me, there are definitely deus ex machina plot events that wouldn’t feel so convenient if the magic of this world was better explained. Since it’s for middle-grade readers, I’ll be gentle, but there are going to be some very bright Type-A 8-year-olds who will bring it up with their teachers and parents when a forest fire starts during heavy rainfall and quickly gets out of hand. Overall this is a great middle-grade level high fantasy novella that can be enjoyed by all ages, and for us adult readers who sometimes stray into younger material, it’s an afternoon of light reading. Check it out! I was granted complimentary access to The Legend of Hobart as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Lola’s Blog Tours. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

4.5 Book source ~ Tour Hobart of Finnagen is 12 years old and he desperately wants to get into the King’s School for the Education of Future Knights, but he’s having a hard time completing a task that would label him a hero. To add insult to injury his nemesis, William the Tormentor, constantly makes fun of his name, his stutter, and his dismal heroic attempts. Hobart finally comes to the conclusion that the only way to get into the school is to slay a dragon. So, off he goes on his quest. What a heartwarming and delightful tale! Hobart is laser focused on getting into Knight school so he seeks out feats that would declare him a hero. Except they don’t turn out anything like he planned. Along the way, he helps people and makes friends. And as all these stories usually end up, the story is more about the journey than the deed itself. This is not an in-depth take on a 12 year old pursuing his dream and facing fears bravely, but it doesn’t need to be to get the story told. The characters are great and the writing is decent. I found a few errors in formatting, but that just may be my copy. It did not take away from my enjoyment. Hobart is a wonderful kid who stoically continues on even when faced with setbacks. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Middle Grade Fantasy.

I think the best way to start this review, is by sharing an excerpt from this tale for all tails: "In case you’re wondering, becoming a hero is not as easy as you might think. I tried rescuing a damsel in distress. But all of our local damsels practice martial arts and assured me that the last thing they needed was rescuing. Saving a baby from a fire would have been perfect, but the housewives in Finnagen are far too careful. We haven’t had a decent kitchen fire in years. Last spring, when a bull broke out of its pasture, I thought I had found my chance. But when I caught up with the bull, the stupid animal managed to hook his horns through my belt and flip me up onto his head. William the Tormentor already called me Ho-brat instead of Hobart. After that day, he started calling me Ho-brat Bull Hat." And just like that, I don't need to write a review at all! Because you all want to read The Legend of Hobart without me meowing another word. Right? A tale for all tails! Even if you want to count my age in cat-years, I'm still a middle grader of about 11 years old now. That means I'm at that age where I start to realize adults are dumb and stupid and that I'm cooler than catnip. It also means that I'm at that age where I just know I can conquer the world - all I need is a quest, a talking horse, a dragon and an unlimited supply of salmon. Poor Hobart, he is also at that cooler-than-catnip age (if only he was). He also wanted to conquer the world, aka The King's School for the Education of Future Knights. But alas, his stutter and lack of any heroic deed or a cat, was a bit of a boulder in the road to knighthood. Where he lacked courage, he gained determination and desperation that lead him to an epic adventure. Like most boys who are at the cooler-than-catnip age, he set out on his quest with no sword, no shield and no idea where the heck he's going. As long as there will be a dragon to slain or an ogre to kill along the road - who cares. Thankfully, he crossed paths with a wise woman or two along the road. What boys will do without all the wise women in their lives, beats me every time. I should bestow some more credit to Hobart. Unlike most boys who are at the cooler-than-catnip age, he did stop to smell the roses along the road and he sure proofed that a friend in need, is a friend in deed. And that is what this story is all about. A random act of kindness can sometimes be the most heroic thing you will ever do. Oh and realizing that there are more value in the quest than in the conquest. Yes, I know I sound like a Hallmark card, but this precious little book brought out the Hallmark gold stamp in me. We need Hallmark cards in this life to cope with the mundane realities of Sky News or CNN. Who cares if there were a few things that didn't add up in the story, it still adds up better than real life and that gets 5 stars from us. Thank you Heather Mullaly for sharing The Legend of Hobart with us. Please write a few more of these. The only suggestion we would like to give is, please bring a cat into the next tale. Preferably a fluffy white kitten to match Albert's shiny white coat.