Review: Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Published: 2010

Pages: 391

Synopsis: “Ever since Jacob Reckless was a child, he has been escaping to a hidden world through a portal in his father's abandoned study. Over the years, he has made a name for himself as a finder of enchanted items and buried secrets. He's also made many enemies and allies--most important, Fox, a beautiful shape-shifting vixen whom Jacob cares for more than he lets on.

But life in this other world is about to change. Tragedy strikes when Jacob's younger brother, Will, follows him through the portal. Brutally attacked, Will is infected with a curse that is quickly transforming him into a Goyl--a ruthless killing machine, with skin made of stone.

Jacob is prepared to fight to save his brother, but in a land built on trickery and lies, Jacob will need all the wit, courage, and reckless spirit he can summon to reverse the dark spell--before it's too late.”

Rating: **

Cornelia Funke is a name that has been around for pretty much as long as I can remember (I'm 27), but I've only ever read the odd one or two. I didn't pick Reckless up because it was written by Cornelia Funke either, I didn't realise that until I'd read the blurb and decided I would give it a go.

At its heart, Reckless is about two brothers and the lengths one will go to to save the other. This is something that will resonate with all siblings who read it, regardless that its set in a fantasy world.

There isn’t much you can critique about such an established and well-loved author such as Cornelia Funke, but I did think there were too many fantasy elements thrown into Reckless and I think it would have benefitted from being a bit narrower in that sense and not having so much going out.

But overall an enjoyable, relatively quick read about two brothers doing what they have to do, with a little romance and a lot of fantasy.