Review by Lennycat -- Belas Rift

[Lennycat]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Belas Rift" by Stephan von Clinkerhoffen.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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This is a review of Belas Rift: The Hidden City of Chelldrah-ham (Volume 3) by Stephan von Clinkerhoffen. It is written in the sci-fi/fantasy genre and is geared toward middle-grade children.

The book begins with a scene where two thieves break into a Huntsman’s barn and steal his hounds by luring them into a lorry containing a dead fox. In the following chapters, the reader is introduced to Meg and Stig, two human-like creatures from another universe who fly through a rift on a motorized trike that transports them to modern day England. Meg (a protector of all living things from Polandrea) and Trig (a Manna from Cheldra-Ham) are on a mission to save their Motherland from the evil Anet.

Anet’s plan to destroy all Manna and take their gold for her own evil greed is disrupted by Meg and Trig through a series of madcap antics and humorous misadventures. Meg and Trig are invisible to normal human beings, but manage to find a few characters to aid them in their quest along the way. The book reads somewhat like a wacky treasure hunt with clues leading to the next series of events. Over the course of each escapade, Trig leaves golden buttons from his coat to pay for stolen clothing and destroyed property.

Belas Rift is a charming and humorous tale that children who are fans of fantasy/science fiction may enjoy. The black and white illustrations scattered throughout the book were well done and left me wishing for more. Meg and Trig’s close relationship is strongly developed and I enjoyed the winsome and cheeky characters they met along their adventures. The author’s description of Meg and Trig’s perception of modern day England is interesting. For instance, they use smelly copter for helicopter and dogs are called snappy snarlies, while a fire stick is another name for a gun.

I found the author’s transition of regular type to italics for different scenes distracting and unnecessary at times. It became confusing why there was a change between the two types and I found myself going back in the story to make sure I didn’t miss something. Parents may find Meg and Trig’s relationship unusually close for middle grade and younger readers. At times, the sexual innuendo felt highly inappropriate, such as when Trig sees Meg naked and feels certain feelings. Also, the violent scenes at the end of the book felt way too graphic or this age group. For example:

She looked for Stig, who was wrestling Anet on the ?oor, holding on to her ?re stick, trying to stop her from using it. Three more humans rushed down the room towards them. Stig strained against Anet and pointed the ?re stick at the humans. Another bangbang rang out, and one of the humans ?ew backwards, airborne, with half her head splashing over the ceiling.

and:

Meg gasped when she came across one of the humans still up-right but staring straight ahead and not moving. There was a hole the size of the human’s head bored right through her stomach;

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I didn’t give the book 4 stars because the wacky escapades and inconsistencies in the plot felt tiresome after a while. In my opinion, the plot became a bit repetitive when the characters went through the same schtick, giving golden buttons away again and again. However, Middle grade kids who are fans of Harry Potter and fantasy/science fiction may enjoy this book and the silliness will appeal to younger children. Parents should be advised of some graphic violence and sexual innuendo.

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Belas Rift
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