Title: Emba Oak and the Beckoning Bones

Written by: Jenny Moore

Cover illustrated by: David Dean

Published by: Maverick Publishing

Wow! From the first page to the last Emba Oak and the Beckoning Bones is a marvel. I love this series and can’t wait to join Emba in the next book in the series, Emba Oak and the Screaming Sea. Jenny Moore’s writing is clever and flows perfectly, drawing the reader seamlessly from one well structured event to another. The cover illustration by David Dean with the dragon skull would entice any young fantasy reader to pick the book up and certainly made me excited to start reading.

Emba is a fantastic well-rounded character. Her dragon skills are beginning to emerge and she endeavours to control them. Throughout her adventure she is plagued by dreams of her dragon mother. She is constantly worried Necromalcolm will return as he still needs her blood to complete his spell.

I was pleased to see that Emba Oak and the Beckoning Bones continued with the ingenious chapter headings that I loved so much in the first book, Emba Oak and the Terrible Tomorrows. I was pleased to see the continuation in this book of using double chapters, as there are two chapter ones, one showing Emba’s hopes and dreams for what is going to happen, the second showing what really occurs. I also love the alliteration used in all the place names.

When they find their home is ransacked Emba, Odolf and Fred consult the Tome of Terrible Tomorrows, which suggests they travel to find the hidden crypt under the Ruinous Rocky Mountains for answers. Their journey takes them through the Perilous Peaks to see the Hushed Hermit of Hibbert’s Hill, to fight a giant killer scorpion with two tails and to fall into the clutches of the Sleep Sucking Swirl of Slumber. On the way, Emba reluctantly befriends a wasp snake and meets Merle who is eager to help them on their quest and despite her friends warnings, Emba still trusts.

The ending is a real twist and a half. My jaw literally dropped. Emba Oak and the Beckoning Bones is another exciting, well-written adventure, which I have come to expect from Maverick Publishing, ideal for KS2.

As previously mentioned, but is worth repeating… I loved it.

You can read my review of Emba Oak and the Terrible Tomorrows by Jenny Moore here: Book Review: Emba Oak and the Terrible Tomorrows.

You can buy copies of Jenny Moore’s books direct from the publisher Maverick Publishing, from your local bookshop, or you can also purchase copies online at uk.bookshop.org, an organisation with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.

I would like to thank Abi Reeves at Maverick for sending me a review copy of Emba Oak and the Terrible Tomorrows. Thank you.