Neil Gaiman's 2008 children's short novel Odd and the Frost Giants is ... odd. It feels as though it's striving — to be engaging, uplifting, innovating — and instead it's ... flat. The plot: pedestrian, with no real surprises. The language: workmanlike, with minimal imagery or metaphorical twist. The characters: gray, with voices that fade into each other. Akin to Gaiman's 2013 adult nightmare story Ocean at the End of the Lane, but at the JF/YA level. "Happy" ending. Page count achieved. Assignment completed. Meh ...

The illustrations by Brett Helquist, on the other hand: good!

(cf Rules for Writing (2010-03-07), ...) - ^z - 2019-02-27