The King’s Councillor

Critical reviews

Makis Tsitas, with his narrative ease and grace, with his vivid language and noteworthy craftsmanship brings his heroes to life, spinning imaginative stories that can attract the attention of children, while at the same time instill in them certain values. This he achieves without being in the least didactic, indirectly, critically and suggestively.
Agathi Georgiadou, Peri Ou, 01/06/24

Makis Tsitas knows how to play with kids. This is an advantage of the confidence that comes from a broad experience of setting basic principles into a story and expanding his imagination as a teaching asset.
And this is the reason why children love his stories. With his inventive tales he activates their thoughts to a higher, more stimulating level of learning so as to transmit to the child pleasant conditions as their first reading experiences, equipping them with optimism and trust.
Dimitris Varvarigos, culturebook.gr, 22/01/24

Makis Tsitas’ book is a good introduction to political thought in the guise of a playful fairy tale, with beautiful illustrations by Marilia Fotiadou. It could not be more essential reading in these dangerously apolitical, superficial times.
It is obviously aimed at children aged three and over. But for slightly older children, it can serve as a fine departure for good discussions at home or in the classroom, while also being easily adaptable to wonderful theatre.
Eleni Lintzaropoulou, fractalart.gr, 9/1/24

In this book one can also witness the ability of children’s literature to bring up and process subjects that concern human beings generally, independent of age, and which, for precisely this reason, are particularly effective in guiding a child towards maturity by taking a path that not only respects but preserves our faith in the value of childhood.
Eustathia Dimou, Chartis journal, January 2024

In his new book Makis Tsitas touches on a serious and topical issue through a simple yet fabulous narrative. He conveys that we are ourselves also responsible for allowing our opinions to be swayed by people of dubious value, as we are unable to contest and reject erroneous advice and suggestions due to our lack of knowledge and awareness. Capturing this issue is challenging, especially when addressing children, requiring a simple and meaningful presentation that is suitably innocent. Inspiration, talent, and experience infuse Tsitas’ writing, allowing him to express the essence of his message in a simple and easily understandable fairy tale.
Toula Repapi, frear.gr, 27/11/23

Makis Tsitas, an acclaimed and widely translated writer, master of the story-telling art for which he has won many awards, manages to address adults as well as preschoolers and first graders without compromising his talents. This series, Little Goodnights published by Metaichmio, consists of short bed-time stories to be read to kids but which also demand to be read and discussed [by older people]. Makis Tsitas’ feat in The King’s Councillor, as in its predecessor in the series, Here Comes the Giant, is that he meets with absolute success the demands of his two different audiences.
Ada Katsiki-Ghivalou, oanagnostis.gr, 10/10/23 

As if in a game, the writer guides the reader into perceiving the importance of making the right choice of advisors in order to take the right decisions. Deciding on who is going to advise you is perhaps among the most important choices we make. Our leaders should read this story, since one of the features of a good governor is to know how to select the most competent co-workers.
Erika Athanasiou, Kifissia newspaper, Σεπτέμβριος 2023

Makis Tsitas’ new children’s book is full of humour and imagination.
infokids.gr, 15/07/23

Makis Tsitas, in his book The King’s Councilor, contributes in his own way to stimulating the dreams and imaginations of the younger generation in the midst of our mechanized contemporary existence. Our complicated life depends on economic, political and social factors. Technology may have made enormous strides, but it cannot replace the human mind. The author, cleverly and artfully, blatantly inserts the glimmer of contrast: the old councilor, with his wisdom and proven insights and the young person/era in a role he has given to a [robotic] machine . . Another exceptional story by Makis Tsitas that must be read by as many children as possible.
Lilia Tsouva, literature.gr, 24/06/23

In the King’s Councilor, we have a story that permits children to develop critical thinking, to evaluate events and to draw their own conclusions. By themselves! Not because some adult thought on their behalf and charted a course. Mr Tsitas offers young readers a fairy-tale like story, which contains a reversal/upset that will amuse all ages) and allows the kids to identify with the sufferings of the heroes, to choose their own favourites, to agree or disagree with some characters, etc., without paying attention to his strategy. In other words, without producing pre-digested food, he presents an interesting story with a development and upset and leaves it up to the reader to imagine the rest and draw their own conclusions.
Jenny Koukidou, koukidaki.gr, 22/06/23

Everything is perfect, functional and on target: the text, illustrations, graphic and typographical detail, an aesthetic that matches the content, and a size that matches the bedtime purpose of this series. Exemplary book, original and a model [for others].
Konstantinos Bouras, fractalart.gr, 21/06/23

Makis Tsitas, always clear, immediate and direct when he addresses young readers, addresses an unusual subject here. In the end, the character turns out to be someone who knew only how to say ‘no’, but probably did not know why he did it. By extension, we often misunderstand people or come away with mistaken impressions from them and then build on them. But this can be fatal. This story is somewhat strange – I won’t say dark. This constant ‘no’ can be heard like a game in the ears of children, but it’s not an easy subject. Tsitas is daring in his choice of subject, with no pretenses, flourishes or useless ornamentation. Moreover, the text is beautifully complemented by the strong, rich and skilfully expressive drawings by Mairilia Fotiadou, which give it greater impact.
Asimina Xerogianni, Peri Ou, 17/06/23 

Yet again, in this second in the on-going series Little Goodnights, the distinguished author Makis Tsitas skifullly offers an impeccably orchestrated philosophical story with the probity of the classic. The well-known virtues of perfect fairy tales are still present: absence of direct messages and teachings, indirect formulation of issues and philosophical questions, simplicity in the narrative, absence of hyperbole or displays of supposed narrative wealth, a well-constructed plot, straight-forward development. Tsitas is a maitre of this style of writing.
Apostolos Pappos, elniplex.com, 10/06/23

It needs a special art to transform into simple words, understandable to the youngest reader, timeless existential problems and/or more complex issues that arise from our contemporary way of life. This is the case of Makis Tsitas, the talented storyteller, who at the same time has composed important prose works for adults. He selects his subjects carefully, setting the right stage for his story so that the fewest possible number of words can transmit the whole initial premise.
Dione Dimitriadou, fractalart.gr, 06/06/23

Makis Tsitas’ story emphasizes in a fairy-tale like manner the constant vigil and trust that we must show to people, especially if we don’t know enough about them. How easy it is for someone to be swayed by others, when we are not sure of our own decisions and perceptions. This story demands our attention, judgement and strong opinion. With what ease we can be swept along when we don’t know [enough about] the situation and the personalities [involved]. . .Superb language, tremendous imagination and “contemporary challenges,” up to truth and catharsis.
Eleni Beteinaki, cretalive.gr, 27/05/23

Like the wise fairy tales of old. Short and easy to understand, symbolic for those who love fairy tales, with an echo of old, beloved myths.
Although Makis Tsitas focuses on literature for adults, he has never forgotten stories for little ones. In these, his style sounds and reads like the yarn spinners of old.
Eleni Sarantiti, bookbar.gr, 31/05/23

. . . The writer has created a full, fast and easily understood story for kids . . . A story which explains that naturally it is not bad to seek out and eavesdrop on the opinions of the other people around us, but that we must never forget to filter whatever we hear. This is a story that aims to develop our critical thinking and which mainly teaches us that in order for a thought/opinion to be valid, it has to be accompanied by rational arguments.
Kyriaki Ganit, ivivliovamon, 28/05/23

Makis Tsitas, in this so original book that pinpoints the value but also the dangerous side of the human beings who surround us and advise us, demonstrates to both children and their elders in this beautiful, concise story that we need to be careful with the people around us, because things are not always exactly what they seem. . .
Lefki Sarantinou, Literature.gr, 26/05/23 

Makis Tsitas is a real presence – one of the few in our country – who breaks through literary classifications and shows us how he knows how to use words in various ways to bring to life his own literary world every time. All his works bear his personal stamp, which, without losing its character, he manages to adapt to every genre he decides to tackle. He is a contemporary “storyteller,” who with simplicity but with exceptional analysis of each of the subjects he deals with, briskly unfolds the story and at the same time, with admirable skill, allows traces of the message to energize the action.
Manos Kontoleon, bookpress, 25/05/23