Review:
The Tyrant's Nephew by Sophie Masson
Random House Australia 2006.
ISBN: 1741660599
11+ The Tyrant’s Nephew is the third in the series, Chronicles of
El Jisal, however it can be read as a stand-alone. It is the story of
Omar, a quiet boy who has been chosen to be the heir of the Vampire,
the dictator of Mesomia. He is brought from his peaceful refuge in the
country to live with his uncle. On the way to the palace his car is
attacked and he is rescued by Latifia a young girl and Keeta the cat,
who is a jinn in disguise. As dark events unfold, he gradually begins
to realise the enormity of the evil that his uncle perpetrates and
tries, with the aid of Keeta, to help overcome the spell that his
uncle’s magician has cast on Latifia.
This is a story of courage. Omar is initially an unlikely hero who did
not choose to be the tyrant’s heir. He is afraid and finds it difficult
to withstand the pressures of life in the palace. However he realises
that he can’t let Latifia die and although fearful, embarks on a series
of adventures to find an antidote to the spell. Readers will enjoy the
vicarious thrill of riding on a magic carpet and climbing dangerous
mountains and will also emphasise with the boy who has unwillingly
become a hero. Omar knows that he can’t take on all the troubles of his
uncle’s rule but he does know that he must do his best to save just one
person. That is a very valuable lesson for the readers.
Masson researched dictators before writing this book and there are
clear parallels here with the reign of Saddam Hussein. It would be a
useful book to use if a class was studying political systems and
dictatorships.
Pat Pledger
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Consulting, 2007