A witty time-slip story in which Midge's life is revolutionised when Hollywood pin-up Dylan Blane comes to sleepy mid Wales to star as Twm, the Welsh Robin Hood.

Stori ffraith sy'n adrodd am dro ar fyd ym mywyd Midge pan ddaw Dylan Blane, un o sêr Hollywood, i ganolbarth hamddenol Cymru i actio rhan Twm, y lleidr pen-ffordd enwog.

I was very taken with the manga-esque front cover of Playing Twm, although it did lead me to expect something rather different from what I got! Anticipating a Princess Diary set in Wales, the novel is actually much deeper and more satisfying.

A London girl moves to Wales and struggles to make new friends. She is thrilled to discover that her favourite Hollywood star is coming to the area to make a movie. Despite her mother’s protests, Midge gets involved with the film-making, and finds the reality of it to be very different from her expectations.

The theme of being an outsider is personified in Midge, first as a London lass moved to Llandovery, where she is bullied, then as a 21st century girl transported back to the 1500s, where she falls in love and grows in confidence. Image versus reality is also studied, most notably in Dylan, the superficial movie star, but also in Twm Sion Cati, whose legend is used for the movie’s plot.

Though a fantasy novel in some aspects, the well-researched description is such that the 16th century feels just as real as the modern world.

Great writing, and a pleasingly un-formulaic plot made this a really enjoyable book to review.

Sally Owen

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio’r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.