Review: The Colonel and the Bee

The Colonel and the Bee by Patrick Canning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Colonel and the Bee is an interesting book, and very different from anything I’ve read before.

It tells the story of Beatrix, who escapes from abusive employment in a circus, to the giant airship belonging to an enigmatic man known mostly as the Colonel. They then embark upon a hazardous adventure to find a treasure - though the Colonel’s true motives remain mysterious for most of the book.

I didn’t enjoy the first part of the tale, before Bee escapes the circus. Reading about abusive relationships is really not my cup of tea.

Although this book goes to darker places than I in general prefer to read about (abuse, deaths etc), it is well written, and leavened with much wit and interest.

This book felt more realistic than many I read, as the majority of the characters were not wholly good or evil. They all had their faults and foibles.

It was great to see Bee gain confidence and come into her own as the book progressed, and the ending was satisfying, if a little brief.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and different adventure, with airships and a treasure hunt.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews