Zebulon Crabtree, better known as Zeb, is being sent to work for his Uncle Seth (much to his disappointment). His Uncle Seth works with furs, Zeb is deathly afraid of campfires, splinters, heights, dark places, and sneezes intolerably around fur. He is trying not to cry thinking of how his father did not even wave goodbye after he hastily disposed of him on the steamer, when a nicely dressed man comes to comfort him. After measuring him, giving up, and finally coming back, does the man make Zeb shed blood to swear secrecy and loyalty to the brotherhood of ship gambling. This mysterious man is like Robin Hood, cheating the rich and giving to the needy. Zeb wonders if he made the right choice working for him, but can't see himself in a fur barn. This wordy book is so capturing you will wonder if you made the right choice reading it. Fear of crows, mystery, romance, and more -- this story has a taste of everything and big bite of suspense. It won't let you stop halfway through. Sit tight and read this complex cobweb of a plot.
I like how this book goes from one character in the first chapter then the other character in the other chapter. This intriguing story is about a kind and gentle reindeer in addition to two mating sparrows their names being Bette and Piorello. These sparrows are from the same group and each have a special talent making them stand out, Bette is a beautiful singer and Piorello is a daring flier. Later on when Bette hatches two chicks and sends Piorello to gather seed to feed their hungry babies, he sees a beautiful white flower he thinks, "Oh, I'll get that flower to garnish our nest." Meanwhile Bette calls over and over to Piorello but there is no answer. She hopes he's just playing one of his tricks. She hopes he'll come darting through the willow, calling "Here I am Bette." She calls and calls all night, yearning for an answer but she never hears one. This is a story that you will not be able to put down. While Ceasar the gentle leader is trying to find his dear friend Ole and Gaino, Bette and her fledglings call to Piorello over and over again on Ceasar's antlers. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat, never knowing what will happen next.
Basil was lost. He had never even known what kind of animal he was. All around him, everybody was somehow magical, he had felt like a regular locust. With his bat like wings and two big ears, he felt useless. Not until a heron figured out he could change smell did he know he had any magic at all. But later when Dagda (a god of wisdom) tells him he is very special, he stands up to all tasks. As Basil fights endlessly with Rhita Gawr (the BAD god of war) he sees himself anew, not Basil the Floppy Winged Lizard, but Basil the Great,