Well, when a place is called Brutalia you just know it isn't going to be *a peaceful, lovely place with delightful shores*!
This is definitely a jump straight into a VERY, VERY different world.
Can you imagine telling someone you're going to read them a book set on *an island of terrifying ugliness*?
I've never read a book with a brutal king & queen rule the land & there are laws against everything beautiful, like birthdays or singing.

Grouchy people, scared to do anything 'wrong' - visitors were NOT welcome - Ravens circling above, dreaming of eating eyeballs or brains (& they each had their own favourite, tasty part)!
The motto is LIVE or DIE!

Mort is a pacifist - but he is also the Royal Executioner so we have to wonder how can he fit in here?
The names are something to check out too - Mort (meaning death) Ono (meaning name) and Weed, Gosh & Gee, there's a lot to keep us smiling even before you consider the story.

Shocking ideas + crazy twists & turns, you'll have to expect the unexpected!! There's so crazy punishments in the story but also a lot of humour.

Can there ever be peace or happiness in this island community?
The writing style & narratorial humour will make the adults laugh as well as younger readers. I think the short chapters are superb, add to the pace & can be a real confidence booster for even the most reluctant reader.
The illustrations by George Ermos are a stylish addition to the chapters, with the added bonus of ravens telling jokes to open each section.
Secrets within this adventure story will make you juggle your ideas of the plot & even Mort has to wonder about EVERYTHING HE THOUGHT HE KNEW. Will he be able to save his best friend?

Enjoy a jump into Mort's unusual world.

What a ride! This was a quick read for me, being a children’s book full of illustrations and big type, but no less enjoyable for that. It was definitely as funny as advertised in the description, which was inevitable in a story about the only pacifist in a kingdom called Brutalia. The narrative follows Mort, who is forced to become Royal Executioner after his uncle dies, and his first victim is to be his best friend Weed. Can Mort come to terms with his violent task, or, better yet, can he find a way to save his friend?

It definitely has an element of violence, which I sort of expected, but it sometimes surprised me. There might be parents who wouldn’t feel it’s appropriate for their children, but I have a feeling that most children would enjoy it, because the humour and the characters make you view all the horrible things going on as just another funny slapstick, and the text is certainly not condoning it.

My favourite aspect of the story was probably the narrator, and the way they would continually have asides, speaking to the reader directly. This worked very well and didn’t interrupt the flow of the story, and younger readers will love it, I am sure. The other fun thing was the way each chapter began with a little conversation between the ravens of Brutalia, lamenting the lack of shipwrecked bodies for them to feed on and usually throwing in a pun or two for good measure. All in all, it’s a feel-good romp for younger readers that will have them laughing out loud. I am certainly going to read the next book, and recommend the series to others!

Thank you the Little Tiger and Netgalley for the eARC

A hilarious quick read. I was originally captivated by the cover (the illustrations were brilliant!) but the book itself was also great. It follows our protagonist, Mort, a pacifist in a brutal kingdom. When his uncle passed away, Mort is forced to take over and execute his best friend. It's a interesting concept with a mediocre plot. What I really enjoyed was the hilarious writing style. It was witty and laugh out loud worthy, something quite popular with the middle grade audience. That was quite refreshing and sweet. However I wasn't very fond of the short chapters and the execution of the plot. It could have been more fleshed out but I guess that wouldn't be a problem with the target audience. With that in mind this is a four star from me. Would recommend if you're into funny middle grade fiction.

This was unfortunately not a book for me, and I ended up being unable to finish it. This was in part due to the widespread use of capslock words, which kept throwing me out of the text. I liked the premise of this story, and I can see that this is one that will be popular with many young readers, it just wasn't for me.

Someone get me a ticket to the inside of Rachel Delahaye's brain! 'Wikedly funny' they said. And they were right! Delahaye's writing is clever and hilarious and bursting with creativity! That's clear from page 1. I only meant to dip in one day but I got carried away! And here's a confession for you: I'd never normally pick up a grisly/gory book (though PLENTY of readers love that and I have to say this book is never tooooo much!), but when I saw the author and that phenomenal cover, I was 100% sold on this one and I'm so glad I dived in. Mort is such a wonderful character - a pacifist of all things in an astonishingly brutal world - and I think he's going to be very well loved. I'm going to need to see more of him!

(And goes without saying that George Ermos's artwork is PERFECT!)

Unfortunately, Mort is a pacifist. And he's to be the next axeman, known in this city as <i>the Brutal</i> - to make matters worse, his first job should be his best friend.

This is geared towards the younger end of the middlegrade spectrum, with very, very short chapters, fast-paced plot and not too fleshed out characters.
So most of what I'd usually have to critique in a book is already taken care of by genre and target audience.

I liked how Mort stands out from his home crowd, but for a good reason - and how he has to rely on other abilities than strength to accomplish his goals.
But to be honest, what appealed mostly to me were the ravens who had their time to shine on the first page of each chapter, with jokes like "I am on a seafood diet - I see food, I eat it.", and discussing which part of a human brain are most delicious. That's the content I am here for.

This is slightly grisly and never gory. I probably won't look out for further installments, but that is more about me being a tad too old for this than about the book itself. I am sure the reader it's meant for will get great joy out from this.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

I so enjoyed Mort the Meek and the Ravens' Revenge. The zany narratorial humour reminded me of Andy Stanton's Mr Gum series, which was a big favourite in our house. I loved the fantasy setting - Brutalia is brilliantly awful - and Mort makes for a great relatable hero. Who can resist a pacifist executioner?! I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

This was very funny in places and generally quite a hoot. But I did feel that it's not for everyone and some children may find the guts and gore a bit much, even though it's supposed to be funny. Also, it dragged a bit and I think this was to enable it to be a series, which is what publishers seem to want at the moment. Although I did enjoy this on the whole, I can't envisage myself being desperately keen to read another one. But some children may be hooked and eagerly await the next one.

This is a funny story seen through the wry eye of the narrator. At its heart there is a sympathetic character in Mort who is more grown up and knowing in some ways than anyone else on Brutilia as he can see their senseless violence for what it is-senseless. I found this story funny and engaging and I liked the character development as 'Mort the Meek' becomes 'Mort the Bold'. There is plenty of slapstick humour to appeal to kids here as well as some wry observations that may appeal to a more grown up reader.

We love Rachel Delahaye at school and have done ever since she was our Book PenPal so I had been following news of this book on Twitter and was very excited to be approved to read it through NetGalley.

It did not disappoint!

Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop, even to explain to anyone quite why I was laughing so much. The ravens at the beginning of each chapter are especially hilarious!

The book tells the story of Mort, who lives in Brutalia, a kingdom ruled by a king and queen who love nothing more than tormenting their subjects and thinking up the worst punishments - wasp baths and spiky underwear, for example- for crimes such as playing in the sun or growing fruit. Things get worse for Mort, a pacifist, when he accidentally becomes the new Royal Executioner and is instructed to kill his best friend.

The story is brilliant and the humour will appeal to both adults and children. I can't wait to read this aloud to the children at school.

I didn’t really know what to expect going in to this. Mort lives on the island of Brutalia, a terrible, rough and tumble nation, where being horrible and fighting is the way of life. Except, Mort is a pacifist. So when he becomes the official executioner, he has to work out a way to save his best friend and avoid breaking his pacifist vows. Full of action, humour, and really terrible told by the resident ravens of Brutalia, this is a hilariously dark adventure for anyone who wants to stand up for what’s right.

Brutalia is a horrible place full of raging and fighting folk, rampant ravens and one pacifist! Mort the Meek is the island’s only pacifist, though only he knows this fact!

To survive in Brutalia, you must be strong, eager to fight and willing to do whatever the King and Queen wish! The island’s motto is Live or Die- simply put and all are expected to follow this one rule! The King and Queen delight in the executions, fighting and general misery of their island.

Mort’s best friend is falsely accused of a crime .and is facing an unfair trial and execution- with Mort at the helm as newly appointed executioner...the plot thickens!

Mort is Meek, mild and yet mighty! He makes a brilliant character and as we learn more about him and see the tale unfold, he is one I would wish to have as a friend. Willing to risk life and limb for his best friend, Mort faces some interesting situations.

He must prove his worth in a few ways and it takes his considerable knowledge, skill and new friend Ono to ensure all goes to plan!

There are secrets worth holding on to within this tale, ones that turn the plot around and make Mort question all he has ever known- Don’t we just love that in books!

Mort is the new hero and I hope for plenty more adventures with him!

A laughter-inducing read!

Brutalia is a brutal place rubbing off on its inhabitants, but there is one person who does not enjoy the brutality all the others seem to love: Mort is dubbed ’the Meek’ by his family. When hMort’s uncle the executioner dies he is given the most brutal task of all. His first execution is that of his best friend and he only has a week to figure out how to stop it, he is a pacifist after all...

This book dealt with some great themes in a funny lighthearted way. I sped through the book, loved the illustrations and the funny narrative style. I can imagine it not being everyone’s cup of tea, but would definitely recommend giving this a try!

Recommended to an audience of MG and adults, as this book addresses important themes as meekness, pacifism and truth to personal values. Mort is forced to take on a role in society that he does not want, and which is against his personal pacifist values. He has to work against this new role without people realising what he is planning. Trying to change his whole society’s outlook and beliefs whilst working undercover. Full of brilliant and sometimes shocking twists and turns, this is an excellent read by an excellent author. Well done Rachel Delahaye.
thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.

Officially given 4.5 stars by the ten year old son.

This is such a fun book! Mort is unexpectedly tasked with being Brutalia’s executioner. However, as the only pacifist on an island that has the motto Live or Die, Mort struggles with this. Especially as his first victim is to be his best friend. This book is a wonderful and fun read that pulls the reader in by talking directly to you. I really enjoyed it. Thank you, NetGalley.

A rip-roaringly funny read from the queen of comedy, Rachel Delahaye. Mort the Meek and the Ravens’ Revenge is a totally bizarre, yet hilarious read which will be enjoyed by children of all ages.

Mort is a pacifist living on Brutalia, an island where violence is celebrated and only the toughest survive. An unfortunate turn of events sees him being appointed as Royal Executioner. Will it really be survival of the fiercest or can this peace-loving protagonist find a way to cheat death?

I loved the brilliantly bonkers narrative style of this book - each chapter begins with talking ravens full of very bad puns and the author speaks directly to the reader in a very knowing, tongue-in-cheek way throughout the story. It’s a refreshing take at the comedy genre and has almost a Dahl-esque quality to it. It’s a silly, laugh-out-loud book which doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC - I look forward to purchasing a copy as I know it will be enjoyed by many children in my class.

Things are different in Brutalia but not in a good way, and they are only getting worse as no one is brave enough to challenge the Queen. You can’t be a pacifist in such a violent place, and you certainly don’t want to get stuck being the Royal Executioner who is expected to kill your best friend. Unfortunately Mort is such a person and he needs to quickly come up with plan or he’s doomed. In fact, he’s worse than doomed, he’s likely to be the next one to be sentenced to death.

The first in a series of books that will entertain and amuse the target audience with its interesting characters & names and the delightful ways that Mort manages to outwit the menaces on his community. The illustrations are fantastic and work well with the story. I loved the raven’s at the start of the chapters which made the story seem a bit more unique.

Mort the Meek and the Ravens' Revenge is simply hilarious. Rachel Delahaye cuts straight to the point with her writing to deliver a quippy and amazingly bizarre narrative that had me laughing out loud. I loved Mort and his pacifist outlook on life. I loved Brutalia and the ridiculousness of the island and the situation Mort finds himself in. I will definitely be purchasing this - I think many of my students will love it!