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| Publisher's Hardcover ©2019 | -- |
The newest (and smallest) of Buckingham Palace's lagomorphic protectors once again proves his worth is time when the Ratzis, rodent minions of internet kingpin Papa Ratzi, scheme to create an international incident and (worse yet) embarrass the Queen by making the visiting American president look like a fool. But even as the numerous and toxically flatulent Ratzis mount a diversionary attack on the Royal Rabbits' Grand Burrow (beaten back with the help of ROTUS, a contingent of American jackrabbits-in-black), young Shylo Tawny-Tail escapes kidnappers and makes his way past vigilant corgis and other obstacles to arrive at the palace's state dining room just in the nick. Still, following appearances by the Queen and various royals (including the "Duke of Cumbria," and his "Indian princess" wife), the mysterious Papa Ratzi steps briefly from the shadows to presage future threats. Readers, particularly Anglophilic ones, who will get more of the jokes and references, will want to stay tuned. Hindley adds fine-lined, full-page views of the dapper secret agents and their unkempt, comically bumbling adversaries.
Kirkus ReviewsThe sequel to The Royal Rabbits of London (2018) picks up six weeks after young Shylo Tawny-Tail left his cozy home in the Warren for bustling London on a quest to foil a plot to harm the queen.Shylo's courage has earned him admittance into the legendary secret order of brave bunnies who live under Buckingham Palace in order to protect the royal family from evil-doers. Speaking of evil-doers, those vile, stinky gossipmongers, the Ratzis, are at it again. Their leader, the mysterious Papa Ratzi, has ordered them to find and kidnap Shylo in order to uncover the secrets of the Royal Rabbits. That's phase one of his nefarious plan. Phase two: embarrass the king and queen and humiliate their ally, the president of the United States of America. You see: The alliance between the United States and England helps keep peace in the world, but peace is a Ratzi's worst enemy—bad news sells, after all. Can little Shylo prevent catastrophe, or will the Ratzis stop him first? Front- and backmatter include a stylized map of the story's locales, facts about U.S. presidents and the White House, and a "Which Royal Rabbit Are You?" quiz, all of which complement the book's tongue-in-cheek fun. Flourishes include the Ratzis' elaborate tech and Hindley's amusing illustrations. Readers need not have read the first book, but they'd be doing themselves a disservice by not starting there.Another whimsical trip down the rabbit hole. (Animal fantasy. 7-12)
ALA Booklist (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)
Kirkus Reviews
CHAPTER ONE
IT WAS SIX WEEKS SINCE Shylo Tawny-Tail had left the small country farm he called home and set off on his mission to find the Royal Rabbits of London; six long weeks. Two rabbits in the countryside were missing him terribly. By some stroke of luck, they were about to find one another. . . .
Horatio, the old, wise rabbit, was sitting in his shabby armchair, reading a newspaper he had "borrowed" from the garbage can outside Farmer Ploughman's cottage. His burrow was warm because it was summer and the scent of sweet grass and pine wafted down the tunnel from the forest above. But Horatio was lonely.
At times like these, he thought of Shylo. The small bunny used to visit Horatio to hear stories from Rabbit folklore. Here, in this burrow, Shylo had enjoyed learning about the Great Rabbit Empire of the past and the secret order of Royal Rabbits who still lived under Buckingham Palace and protected the Royal Family, and Horatio had loved teaching him. Then came the discovery of a plot to harm the Queen by a gang of super-rats called Ratzis, and Horatio had sent Shylo to London. His mission? To warn those Royal Rabbits and help them foil the plot.
Horatio had long suspected that, although Shylo was a weak and feeble bunkin with a squint, he had a brave heart. And the small bunny had become a hero just as Horatio had known he would.
The old buck sighed and tried to concentrate on the newspaper, but, without the prospect of a visit from Shylo, he felt heavy of heart and strangely restless.
Just then, Horatio heard the light scamper of hesitant paws coming down the tunnel toward his burrow. He lowered his paper and narrowed his eyes.
"Who twitches there?" Horatio growled. He rose from his chair and put his paw on his walking stick, drawing out the secret sword that was hidden inside it. Horatio had once been a Royal Rabbit and had only just escaped the Pack of snarling corgis--losing half an ear and earning many scars in the process. Now, on this quiet farm a long way from London, he was always ready and vigilant.
He sniffed the air. It didn't smell of dog, but rabbit.
The scampering grew louder and then stopped in the mouth of Horatio's burrow. There came a soft thumping noise, for rabbits thump their hind paw politely when they arrive somewhere. "Excuse me," murred a gentle, female voice. "I'm looking for Horatio." Then a small, anxious brown doe hopped into the light.
Horatio slid the blade back into his walking stick and looked at her curiously. She had big tawny eyes; a long, elegant nose; and large ears. Horatio had seen those ears before. "You must be Shylo's mother," he said.
As the doe took in Horatio, her big tawny eyes grew bigger still. He was an enormous buck--quite different from the country rabbits she was used to. One of his ears looked as if it had been bitten off, he was missing one hind paw, and his front left paw was wrapped in a bandage. The leaders of the Warren said that Horatio was crazy and dangerous, and Mrs. Tawny-Tail could see why they were afraid of him, but she wasn't. If he was a friend of Shylo's, she knew she had no reason to fear him.
Excerpted from Escape from the Palace by Santa Montefiore, Simon Sebag Montefiore
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
Mission Impossible and James Bond have nothing on this wily bunch of rabbits who are pledged to protect the Queen of England—and the President of the United States—from a dastardly plot in this charming second novel of the Royal Rabbits of London series.
Life is an adventure. Anything in the world is possible—by will and by luck, with a moist carrot, a wet nose and a slice of mad courage!
Little Shylo Tawny-Tail is proud to call himself one of the Royal Rabbits of London, a secret order who live under Buckingham Palace and fight evil across the world. But high up in London’s famous skyscraper, the Shard, the horrible ratzis are plotting to cause chaos during a visit from the President of the United States. And when the Grand Burrow is attacked and Shylo is kidnapped, it looks as though they might just manage it! Can Shylo escape in time to save the day?