While I applaud an author for broadening their range, I just didn't really like this one. While I could read Billionaire Boy or Boy in the Dress again and again, this one isn't likely to be repeated on our school runs. It took SO LONG for something to actually happen. David Walliams is defo not Dahl's successor, but I guess if you like Roald Dahl's work, you'll like his work too! As an adult, I didn't particularly enjoy this, but listening as someone who needs to be aware of children's tastes and trends, I can't see this making waves as Walliams' comic efforts have done. While Alfie of course becomes a braver hero than he starts out as, it's a genre (or mix of) that is better suited to the adolescent who can deal with the more mature themes more comfortably. There is a lot here that will puzzle and put off.

Bakingemas briesmonis ir kārtīgs piedzīvojumu gabals, distopija par nākotnes Londonu, kurā varu pārņēmis ļauns vadonis. Well, this is my first David Walliams book and as I am aged 44, I suspect I am not really his target demographic.Ne znam kako vi, ali ja, kada vidim da se pojavila nova knjiga iz pera Davida Walliamsa, ne skidam osmijeh s lica, bolje se osjećam i jedva čekam vidjeti što nam je ovaj put pripremio. Naslov odličan, sinopsis obećava, naslovnica genijalna, a i uvod u knjigu nama knjigoljupcima ne može biti bolji! Zver iz Bakingemske palate nas vodi u postapokaliptični London, u 2120. godinu, u doba kada je svet devastiran, možete pretpostaviti, ljudskom sklonošću ka autodestrukciji. Vlast u Britaniji je srušena, narod živi na ivici egzistencije i gladuje, a kraljevska porodica sa svojim zaštitnicima ne napušta Bakingemsku palatu. Kroz priču pratimo avanture mladog princa i naslednika trona Alfreda, bolešljivog i slabašnog dečaka koji kroz pokušaje da ispravi nepravde nanete njegovoj porodici od strane zlog Lorda zaštitnika, stiče hrabrost i snagu da povede pokret otpora poznat kao "revolucionari" protiv nametnute vlasti i izvede pravdu na videlo. Međutim, mračne sile deluju iza kulisa i jedna mitska zver je krvnom žrtvom oživljena. Da li će mladi princ uspeti da pobedi zlog neprijatelja, spase svoju porodicu i spasi britanski narod od propasti? U svojoj borbi zasigurno neće biti sam. If you have a middle grade reader in your life, you have to get them some David Walliams novels. Trust me, they will absolutely love them. In fact, why not start them off with this one. There's no time like the present. David Walliams said, “This book is a real departure for me. It is a science-fiction fantasy adventure set in London one hundred years in the future. I hope my readers will love coming on this magical journey with me.”

Travel forward in time for a fantastical adventure – a story of myth and legend that will enthral you right to its thrilling end. I love reading books with Erin. Us reading our bedtime story is my favourite part of the day. This book was really funny and had us laughing out loud in places. Even Raj makes an appearance! I really enjoyed it and seeing Erin enjoy a book makes me so happy.Ukoliko ikada planirate da krenete sa čitanjem neke Valijamsove knjige, uopšte ne pomišljajte na neke druge važne obaveze u toku dana. Pitate se zašto? Odgovor je jednostavan - njegove knjige se BUKVALNO ne ispuštaju iz ruku! Taj neverovatni duo, književni tandem koji zaista, doslovno otelotvoruje magiju - Dejvid Valijams (pisac) i Toni Ros (tvorac fantastičnih ilustracija koje bogate Valijamsove knjige) ima tu neobičnu sposobnost, tu veštinu da vas uvuče, infiltrira u svet koji stvara tako da vi nemate ni najmanju želju da se iz njega izvučete.